As im going to need a motorway cruiser soon as dont fancy using my e30 up and down the country, I have been looking at 5 series and decided that a E39 528i would suit my needs very well.
Does anyone have anytips or can guide me to a website like E30zone but for the E39?!?!
Cheers!
Ps - am well aware of the nikasil issue that some suffered from!
Thinking of buying a E39 528 on a R plate.
Moderator: martauto
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RugbySteve
- E30 Zone Newbie
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- Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Norwich - 1986 318i Owner
Thing very long and hard about an old E39. They were hailed as the best car in the world when new, but now they're old. The Nikasil block is the least of its problems - in fact I'd rather have one with the Nikasil block. If it's got this far and it rusn okay it'll be fine.
An autobox on one of these is £1000, and so is an engine if the head gasket goes as they aren't really fixable. You get issues with the instrument clusters (pixels). Water pumps are well known as are radiators where the top stub breaks off, dumping the coolant. Rear ABS sensors corrode into the hubs and the alloy bodied dampers don't seem to last that long. Parts are a bit pricey and you don't have the option of raiding the breakers. Every electrical component is coded to the car so you cannot just swap motors etc.
If you can find one, a late manual 525i E34 is a better car, certainly more durable. E39's are okay but they are not DIY repairable.
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/index.php
An autobox on one of these is £1000, and so is an engine if the head gasket goes as they aren't really fixable. You get issues with the instrument clusters (pixels). Water pumps are well known as are radiators where the top stub breaks off, dumping the coolant. Rear ABS sensors corrode into the hubs and the alloy bodied dampers don't seem to last that long. Parts are a bit pricey and you don't have the option of raiding the breakers. Every electrical component is coded to the car so you cannot just swap motors etc.
If you can find one, a late manual 525i E34 is a better car, certainly more durable. E39's are okay but they are not DIY repairable.
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/index.php
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curryp
- Formerly cuzz1510
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- Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:00 pm
- Location: Peterlee, County Durham
i have a late mdel 528i sport.they are a lovely motor to drive and are great on the motorway.however,should it go wrong it never seems to be simple.at the moment mine has a vacuum leak under the inlet fannymould making it run like a bag of poo,a sensor has snapped off the rear hub and is jammed in there,the bushes appear to have disappeared from the steering and it has a tendancy to chew through rear bulbs and all in the last fortnight.
apart from that.........
apart from that.........
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Morat
- E30 Zone Team Member
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- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:00 pm
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Hmm, we had a 540 E39 and it was awesome. Then again there was no nikasil nonsense on them. The weak spots are the cooling system and gearboxes as Andy said. We had a new rad/expansion tank fitted by our local BMW main agent for £350 all in so its not exactly crippling. The rest is just hoses really. There are reports from the states of fan bearings going and causing nice amounts of damage from spinning fan blades, but this again can be fixed in advance.
Manual Gearbox is a good thing, although significantly rarer on the 5 series than the 3.
The pixels on the display do go, and are a pain, but some people have had sucess in getting BMW to cough up part or all of the replacement costs. I guess it'll depend on your relationship with the dealer more than anything.
I wouldn't rule out an E39. They are supremely comfortable and pretty much perfect for the motorway. The 540 is a total guzzler but E36 M3 fast in a straight line, while very capable in the bends if lacking in front end feel. The six pots with rack an pinion steering really can be hustled on back roads with a lot of confidence.
As Andy says, stay away from the autoboxen - lifetime oil was a mistake. You'll need to make sure you've got a good one, and look after it. I wouldn't take an ebay punt on an E39 like I have with E30s!!
Manual Gearbox is a good thing, although significantly rarer on the 5 series than the 3.
The pixels on the display do go, and are a pain, but some people have had sucess in getting BMW to cough up part or all of the replacement costs. I guess it'll depend on your relationship with the dealer more than anything.
I wouldn't rule out an E39. They are supremely comfortable and pretty much perfect for the motorway. The 540 is a total guzzler but E36 M3 fast in a straight line, while very capable in the bends if lacking in front end feel. The six pots with rack an pinion steering really can be hustled on back roads with a lot of confidence.
As Andy says, stay away from the autoboxen - lifetime oil was a mistake. You'll need to make sure you've got a good one, and look after it. I wouldn't take an ebay punt on an E39 like I have with E30s!!
E30 Touring 0.35 cD - more slippery than prison soap 
Praise the Lard... and pass the dripping!
Praise the Lard... and pass the dripping!
Morat wrote:Hmm, we had a 540 E39 and it was awesome. Then again there was no nikasil nonsense on them. The weak spots are the cooling system and gearboxes as Andy said. We had a new rad/expansion tank fitted by our local BMW main agent for £350 all in so its not exactly crippling. The rest is just hoses really. There are reports from the states of fan bearings going and causing nice amounts of damage from spinning fan blades, but this again can be fixed in advance.
Manual Gearbox is a good thing, although significantly rarer on the 5 series than the 3.
The pixels on the display do go, and are a pain, but some people have had sucess in getting BMW to cough up part or all of the replacement costs. I guess it'll depend on your relationship with the dealer more than anything.
I wouldn't rule out an E39. They are supremely comfortable and pretty much perfect for the motorway. The 540 is a total guzzler but E36 M3 fast in a straight line, while very capable in the bends if lacking in front end feel. The six pots with rack an pinion steering really can be hustled on back roads with a lot of confidence.
As Andy says, stay away from the autoboxen - lifetime oil was a mistake. You'll need to make sure you've got a good one, and look after it. I wouldn't take an ebay punt on an E39 like I have with E30s!!
Agreed. A 98 528i SE manual was one of the best cars I have ever owned.V/quick,and comfortable and high 30's MPG possible. Only buy the very best available.
If it aint broke don't fix it!
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RugbySteve
- E30 Zone Newbie
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The one im looking at is semi auto, but would get the gearbox oil and filter changed straight away! As ive read somewhere that even the lifetime oil should be replaced every 60k then the gearbox will last for lifetime of the car!..........famous last words!
As for the pixel display, that has started to go but im not too fussed about that!
It does seem to be mechanically sound and body is in great shape!
As for the pixel display, that has started to go but im not too fussed about that!
It does seem to be mechanically sound and body is in great shape!
I have a 98 528i too. As has been said, great long distance cars, but be prepared to have the airbag warning light glaring at you permanently, once they come on once they're impossible to get rid of. Also for some strange reason they seem to have problems with the rear window mechanisms, before you buy make sure they work !
These are sensations as hard to forget as they are to ignore.....
I had the airbag light too.It was a simple fix,something to do with the wiring under the drivers seat cushion.That was on a 2001 530i .It had numerous electronic glitches and I eventually sold it in frustration. The earlier 528i I owned was fault free.....clipper wrote:I have a 98 528i too. As has been said, great long distance cars, but be prepared to have the airbag warning light glaring at you permanently, once they come on once they're impossible to get rid of. Also for some strange reason they seem to have problems with the rear window mechanisms, before you buy make sure they work !
If it aint broke don't fix it!
I bought a 528ise a few weeks ago and after a couple of weeks and a thousend or so miles I was bored stupid with it and sold it. It was possibly the least enjoyable car I've ever owned! Mechanically though it was tip top even with 136k on it. My sister's got it now and she loves it!
I recently picked up a nice 328 sport, much much better car. Will cruise in comfort yet still stick a smile on your face in the twisties. Plus gives good economy.
Tried a M3 evo as well out of interest and allthough it was quicker than the 328 it didn't feel as sharp on the handling.
Trust me, 328 sport is the way to go if your sticking with beemers in that sort of price range.
I recently picked up a nice 328 sport, much much better car. Will cruise in comfort yet still stick a smile on your face in the twisties. Plus gives good economy.
Tried a M3 evo as well out of interest and allthough it was quicker than the 328 it didn't feel as sharp on the handling.
Trust me, 328 sport is the way to go if your sticking with beemers in that sort of price range.
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RugbySteve
- E30 Zone Newbie
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- Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Norwich - 1986 318i Owner
I have my e30 for sharpe handling enjoyment of the B roads! 5 series is wanted as am in need of a lazy mile crunching machine! Plus as im nearly 30 its about time I started to put a fleet of cars together! 
The 328 is a baby M3 but I would always go for the M3 if running / maintaining costs were not a consideration! The e36 M3 GT1 is the best of the bunch!especially on track where it will distroy 911's easily! I have proof!!
The 328 is a baby M3 but I would always go for the M3 if running / maintaining costs were not a consideration! The e36 M3 GT1 is the best of the bunch!especially on track where it will distroy 911's easily! I have proof!!
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RugbySteve
- E30 Zone Newbie
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At the mo I have one and the missus has one! But want to add a 5 series and then a 2 seater soft top for summer fun (Cant stretch to a Z4 so Z3 is current thinking!) and then maybe a 4x4 at somepoint! (ol skool landrover maybe!) But at mo house only has parking for 3 cars max! So full fleet will have to wait til bigger driveway comes along!! Plus missus cant comprehend the need for more a car each! Bloody woman!! but manages to convince her about the need for a motorway cruiser! next step convincing her about a soft top summer fun car aswell!!!