Thinking about buying an E39 as a daily driver

[capri_rob]

It seems that the arse has well and truly dropped out of the "Big petrol engine" luxury car market.

I've done less than 3000 miles since the beginning of May in my Audi A4 diesel daily driver - and to be fair its a solid car thats never broken down and always returns more than 50mpg. However it is a little dull.

As I'm not doing a lot of miles now I have watched prices of previously unaffordable cars plummet down to my kinda level and now I'm seriously contemplating part exing the Audi for one.

My main criteria is that its at least a 530i, and preferably a sport. Fuel consumption isn't a massive issue so can even look at a 535i or 540i. Preferably a 2000/2001 car - so fixed road tax rather than emmissions based, ideally less than 100k with dealer history, and obviously leather and all the toys. Looking on autotrader £5k - £6k would seem realistic for this kind of thing.

Does anyone have a link to some realistic performance figures ?

Does any zoner currently run one of these as a daily ?

[leeparkes]

I had a 540 auto for a couple of months and it was brilliant!
heaps of power and that V8 sound!
fuel consumption wasnt too bad considering the size of the engine (motorway)
but round town it could drink it! also if you have a heavy right foot!
mine was a 99,

go for it!

[Blitz]

I think the 530i is the best choice, also has a better steering rack. Ebay is good for E39 bargains

[robsy]

Had a 525i E39 for a year and it was ace - a lovely motorway cruiser but a bit thirsty round town..

[gazm3]

Rob, you have the tax disc from my 525tds a great car.
I would imagine the big petrol engines are thirsty to run.
530d would be my choice.

[capri_rob]

Looks great in my 325i gazza

Petrol engines might be thirsty - however I'm spending less than £60 a month on diesel based on my last few months mileage - my A4 returns about 55mpg.

I am used to spending £120 - £130 on fuel so I reckon a 20 - 25mpg car will be do-able without too much pain.

I only give the car the beans occasionally so I reckon its worth a punt.

[Jon_Bmw]

The 530i sport seems to have hit an all time slump now. If I wasn't going back to uni in a few weeks, a manual one would be on the drive. They go for as low as £2900 these days, but thats going to be a bit rough around the edges. £4000 would get you a 'pre silly tax' one with a manual box I reckon.

[cecotto479]

I'd go for a 528i or a 525i.

The V8 has a steering box which is a bit woolly compared to the rack on the six cylinder cars.

Other than that they are superb day to day cars.

I put 135000 miles on one (which already had 90000 on it) and had to spend nothing, but maintenance and consumeables until well after 200000.

Marvellous car, but £6000 is top, top money now. E60s are getting under 10000.

[Jon_Bmw]

The early 528i's are going to be on dogey ground though with the nakasil issues? Its quite easy to check, but its enough to put me off.

[cecotto479]

Anything after March 98 I think is OK. It's easy enough to tell and by now it's either been fixed or it wasn't affected.

[Morat]

Check the cooling system, if the plastic expansion tank cracks you've got about 0.0001 seconds to shut down before the engine gets a serious overheat. The received wisdom from E39 forums is to change the rad/tank (its all one piece) at 80k whether it looks fine or not. BMW charged £350 all in to do mine (540 touring manual - sadly departed).

[jamie323i]

I ran a E39 528i se for 5 years,cracking car,pretty useable power when needed.

Mine was a sept 98 car so no nikasil worries.

I'd say go for it,you wont be dissapointed.

[AlexBaur325]

You can get a V12 E38 for that money......

[capri_rob]

Thanks for the info guys - If my business keeps going OK for the next couple or 3 months I could well be putting an E39 on my drive.