E39 Advice

[yeah_mick]

The time has come for me to get rid of the e30 and be sensible for a while as i will be a daddy soon. So i thought why not get a nice diesel old mans car, so im looking at e39's atm.

Just wondering on common problems, things to look out for, realisticly what kind of mpg can i expect from a 525d or 530d? will probably be an auto as its not going to be a fun car, it will be for crusing around in comfort so auto makes sense.

feed me some info please, also any forums you know fo checking out would be great to.

[Jeltuh]

I don't know the mile per gallon, I do know km/l for a 530 it will be 1L on 11 km for a tds 1:14 I think.
A big problem with the 530's are the valves in the inlet manifold. These are closed on low RPM and open on high RPM. I think these control the amount of exhaust gasses from the EGR.
Anyway these valves happen to break and then go into the cylinder and do a lot of damage. I would just erase these valves in precaution. It happens with 100k miles but also a lot later.
Further the 530's have excellent motors, before you turn of your engine let the motor run idle for a minute. This will save you a turbo. I have replaced a couple by now.
The TDS engines are fine too but run less smooth, the injectors break eventually.

[B7]

I don't know the mile per gallon, I do know km/l for a 530 it will be 1L on 11 km for a tds 1:14 I think.
A big problem with the 530's are the valves in the inlet manifold. These are closed on low RPM and open on high RPM. I think these control the amount of exhaust gasses from the EGR.
Anyway these valves happen to break and then go into the cylinder and do a lot of damage. I would just erase these valves in precaution. It happens with 100k miles but also a lot later.
Further the 530's have excellent motors, before you turn of your engine let the motor run idle for a minute. This will save you a turbo. I have replaced a couple by now.
The TDS engines are fine too but run less smooth, the injectors break eventually.

They are not valves they are swirl flaps. Delete kits are readily available.

I run a 530i Sport as a daily. Go in with eyes wide open. These are getting on now and have a plethora of common issues. See my thread "B7's Daily" for a true experience of running an e39 over 18 months. Great cars but it hasn't been cheap.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=131014

[yeah_mick]

Great cars but it hasn't been cheap.

dont like the look of this, but ill give the thread a good read

[Blitz]

How many miles will you do a year?

[mattrs]

I loved mine but it was 540 petrol, I drove it very hard for well over a year and my mate who I sold it to the same (he did a track day in it too). Other than a diff all it’s ever had is brakes, a clutch and a service or two. Sounds a lot, but given the stick it took I think it’s pretty good not to mention very strong!

I too am looking at diesels but I had ruled these out due to my budget and the (assumed) moderate efficiency due to the weight.

[yeah_mick]

ill probably do 15k a year in it.

[clipper]

A lot of luck involved with E39 ownership. For me it represents the cross over from reliable BMW simplicity (E30 and E34) to over complicated computer based electrickery (E60).

I've had two, the first was a bit of a liability but was high mileage, the second, with FBMWSH seems to be much better. The FSH probably has a lot to do with it IMHO.

[tomson]

Its only the 3.0L D auto's that have the swirl flaps, manuals dont have them.

Sounds to me like an E46 320D is what you need

[mrLEE30]

would also agree the owning of an E39 is a tightrope! my 540 is a great machine but i always worry when i hear a "bing" from the OBC, or a new light that does not go straigh out on in the christmas tree dashboard however to date most have been sorted quite easily once you know what they are for.

But as a car they are fantastic. they have a complicated rear end so any noises or squeeks from there mean new control arms, same at the front but these are fairly easy to replace. listen for rumbling from the wheel bearings, they tend to die with anyhing bigger then 16 inch wheels after a year or so.

the window lifters have a limited life so check all elec windows several times, and noisy or slow ones means beware. same is true for all interieor electrics.

personally the E39 to go for is the latest model (with the round foglights and no chrome on the door/bumper rubbing strips) and the lowest interior/engine spec you can find. with this you will have a reliable daily runner, once you add the elelcric toys the it becomes a different animal.

as far as rust look carefuly in the fuel filler flap, water is held here and causes rust.

[burtcocain]

I also have a 540 touring......which is an awesome car-a have had it for 2 years now and all I have had to do is service it and put fuel in it (alot)...i do about 40k a year

[yeah_mick]

alot of what has been said is kind of putting me off with the little problems people keep mentioning.

Im swaying towards a c class at the moment, as so far iove not heard of any probl;ems with them. i just want a car i can get in an drive, but i do want the luxuries with it, i know everycar will need work at some time or another, but e39's seem to be a guarante that it will have to be worked on sooner or later.

[Blitz]

C class. Not a good era for Mercedes.

[Andyboy]

C class. Not a good era for Mercedes.

I don't think Mercedes ever had a good era. The W123 was about as good as they got.
The C Class (first gen) diesels aren't bad though, and the C250 is quite good. If you can get a rust free one (i.e one that's had the wings replaced) they're not bad.

[B7]

C class. Not a good era for Mercedes.

I don't think Mercedes ever had a good era. The W123 was about as good as they got.
The C Class (first gen) diesels aren't bad though, and the C250 is quite good. If you can get a rust free one (i.e one that's had the wings replaced) they're not bad.

I'd have a 39 over a Merc every time!

[yeah_mick]

a few people are saying not a good time, but why? ive been given reasons not to get the bmw, but why isnt it good for mercs? must be a reason. we can all say a car is shit, but without reasoning it dosent really make sense.

[/// KAMI]

iv got a 530d perfect cars done 4 thousand miles in 6 months.....

[Andyboy]

a few people are saying not a good time, but why? ive been given reasons not to get the bmw, but why isnt it good for mercs? must be a reason. we can all say a car is shit, but without reasoning it dosent really make sense.

The E39 was a great car new, but they don't make good bangers (and sub 3 grand cars are 'budget') because they're not very DIY. If the ABS controller goes, they're an expensive recon that needs coding to the car. If the light control module fails, you can't just plug in another one because it needs coding to the car. Every repair to an E39 costs money, you can't fix them for a tenner like you can an E34. You might be lucky and have little trouble, you might be very unlucky and need an autobox rebuild when the reverse gear drum splits open (that's when, not if), or a new turbo when the old one goes phutt - that's assuming no bits go into the engine and write it off.

Still want an old 530d?

Mercs are perhaps more reliable engine wise, but they still have rust, electrical and autobox problems. They are another very complex car which is now old and well used.. Reliability with old crap like this is a bonus, not guaranteed.

[Andyboy]

iv got a 530d perfect cars done 4 thousand miles in 6 months.....

I should hope any car would do such a small annual mileage without going bang.

[Morat]

Andyboy, is any of this coding possible at home using off the shelf kit or is it still dealer only? I'm much better with a computer than a spanner so it would help a lot in my case.

[DanThe]

You think some BMW's have bad electrics, MB are 10 times worse, the more expensive the car the more problems they have..

[irish320i]

2 c classes I look after w203 models one a 2001 and the other 2005 have had no end of eletrical faults, both of then have have the clusters replaced, one has had a front sam the other had to have the fuel pump part of the rear sam bypassed or it would of had to be repalced aswell. non of this is cheap. Have had them for other bits and bobs like suspension knocks aswell this is in the space of 18 months so not excactly well made or simple to fix.