anyone know what these are like to live with? 5 series

[iceox]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-51-BMW-5 ... 27c6ebf132

anyone know what these are like to live with? just find it weird how there all so cheap?

cheers
josh

[mrLEE30]

they are cheap because they are now two generations old.

Very good cars the E39, suffer only from dodgy window lifters and central locking actuators. some interior trim is prone to break but otherwise a good car inside. this is most likey a poverety spec with manual adjusting seats etcs...this is perfect as nothing to go wrong! basic AC and stereo is the way forward on these cars. The display under the speedo that gives odometer and OBC are prone to faliing with half the pixels not working. its an easy fix with a ribbon cable for a few quid, or a new dash for hundreds....good luck with that!

Other bits that can be costly is creaks/squeaks/knocks from rear suspension - they had quite a complicated aluminium wishbone design with control arms, and thus the parts can be pricey. Front is not too bad basically same as all other BMW's so prone to bushes and ball joints. Basically drive it over a rough road with the stereo off and the windows down, any squeaks or worse then get a quote to fix before you buy.

ABS lights should come on with ingnition and go off when engine started, if not then its the sensors that are cheapish or ABS pump...expensive. Airbag light should do the same, if not then generally seat occupancy sensors. give it a big footfull on a wet or slippy road and ensiure the traction control light flickers, again if its not wokring or it stays on then its the cbale from ABS to the inlet TB, or ABS pump. both are annoying/expensive to fix. push the button too to see it turns off (when off or working the display on the dash is lit)

It has 18 inch rims on that make them drive a little bit nastily/choppy/bumpy, 17 are best but the 18's do look nice.

other than that they are a great car, plenty of romm and very practical, and still look good to boot.

I had the 540 for a while and it was good fun.

[Podge72]

I bought a 520ise when they were only a few years old. I paid 11k for mine. Mine was silky smooth even though it was only a 2 litre. Interior was full leather. Personally if it doesn't have leather and the steptronic auto I would find one that does. Mine was a pleasure to own but don't get it serviced at main dealer as they'll still charge you fortunes. As already advised any unusual knocks, squeeks or bangs whilst driving find another one.

You'll do well to fing one with rear cup holders in tact!!

To be honest I'd still have mine but with Mrs pregnant and baby on the way at the time had to trade for a Zafira!! I know...!

I say go for it.

[iceox]

cheers guys, nice to know. just seems alot of car for the money and yeh i would have windy windows if i could lol all these gadgets are great untill they break then are just a pain in the ass

i think i'm gonna be getting one once i sell my bike, 600 quid fully comp aint bad at all

[B7]

mine drives fine on 18's. Firms it up nicely but not too firm.

i'm on my third 39. Go in eyes wide open and you won't be disappointed. As long as you don't think it's going to be as reliable as a 34 or e30 when they were that age, you really cannot go wrong.

That IS cheap. albeit a 520i with cloth. Photos look greaat but don't be surprised to find a few issues.
Leather is nice but an auto on this mileage can be a bit of a liability. Being a lowly 2.0, a manual would hustle it along a bit better. If I think back to my auto 523 and compare it with my mates manual 523? night and day.

it looks a clean car and for 1300 quid, would I rather this or a ratty 325 e30 touring awaiting it's next introduction to the welding torch??? I know which camp I'd be putting my money in.

[DanThe]

Is it all tourings that have the airbag rear suspension? Its a recovery truck home when they fail, which they are prone to. Has to be the main thing that kept me with E34's TBH

[iceox]

Is it all tourings that have the airbag rear suspension? Its a recovery truck home when they fail, which they are prone to. Has to be the main thing that kept me with E34's TBH

this is what i'm worried about, i dont want something thats scrap once something breaks. i can afford a few hundred quid every now and then but when they bills start getting 500-600 theres no way i can fork out that much

are these ok to work on or do you need a super computer to change a spark plug?

[iceox]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-e34-535-S ... 1e6ec06b04

now this is a beut, shame its a 3.5 otherwise i might of had a punt, cant justify an anchor to the missus lol

[iceox]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-525i-Tour ... 2ebe43d7ef

oh hang on a minute, i think this might be a winner.

arch is slightly fooked, but at that price who gives a fook.

so what are these e34's like to live with? common faults?
sorry to pick your guys brains but thats what the zone is all abooot

[B7]

The airbag thing is a worry but its more of an iconvenience that a wallet buster?

Depends on what you want really.

[clipper]

My 2001 525 touring is on springs but I think that's due to my location (Euro spec).

TBH the 525 is about as small I'd want to go engine-wise, mine is OK but I'd hate to think how lethargic a 520 touring could be fully loaded up hill....

I'm on my second E39 and I would say that service historyis king, a poorly looked after one can cost thousands in suspension / electronics, whereas a dealer maintained one is much more likely to have had the issues corrected as they cropped up.

Window actuators are a very easy fix, I even managed to fix my airbag light issue on my 528i for no money, but I think I got lucky.