Rosc0's e39 ownership thread.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Hai! Hope all are well. Looking for a little help. Left my job, having to hand back my company car. Got about £2k to spend on something to use as a run around. It needs to be in reasonable condition as I'll be visiting clients in it.

Was looking at a nice 320d touring or saloon, circa year 2000, but I'm thinking I may be about £500 short of something decent enough as a run around. Thoughts on these cars? The diesel units are pretty good right? Anything to look out for??

I'm going to look at a W reg 530d se auto in a bit. Same question really, if it looks ok, will it potentially offer me 2 years of ok motoring, or do these things go to the dogs quite quickly? The car I'm going to see has FSH and is bang on budget for me.

Any thoughts opinions or suggestions would be awesome.

Thanks
x

[Fal_325i]

Mk4 Golf GT TDi, Bora TDi or Passat TDi, with the bomp-proof PD130 engine.

[bss325i]

Hello Nathan!

Where to start! At this end of the market it can be a minefield for diesel E46's and E39's.

If we stick to E46/E39 diesel specific issues for now then you need to be checking for noisy or smokey turbos, any running or starting issues which can be caused by failing fuel pumps, (there are 3 of them!) or dying injectors and the odd MAF.

Also check for oil leaks as this can be a sign of a blocked oil breather separator and this should be changed regularly as they can block which can cause the turbo to "run away" which basically means the engine runs on its own engine oil at full chat till it goes bang!

Glow plugs are common for failing and so is the relay control unit.

Early M47's dont have swirl flaps.

TBH, if your budget is £2k, get your self a nice 318i with the M43 engine and NOT the N42!

A 318i with the M43B19 will do 35-38mpg on a run and are pretty reliable with only the odd thing like a MAF or vacuum leak to cause a running issue.

The one common thing with the M43 is they like a head gasket at about 80-120k. Try and find on thats had it done and you'll be ok for 80-120k.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Thanks for the input! My gut instinct is at this price, anything I look at will be a gamble. I'd not be entertaining this 5 series, if it wasn't for the FSH. Fingers crossed in 18 months to 2 years, I should be in a position to lease something better, I just need something that looks respectable that'll see me through.

I'm going self employed, so need to build up my income before committing to any extra monthly outgoings. So I need to hedge my bets on something that stands a chance of lasting.

[bss325i]

A well looked after E46 318i with the M43 engine is the best bet. Look for one with plenty of bills for work done.

Plenty about in the £2k price range including tourings.

Go for a manual for the best performance/economy and not having to worry about an autobox dying.

[Andyboy]

Diesel stuff is just a nightmare when it's old. Yes it'll do 40 mpg but diesel is 25p a gallon more expensive and there are the reliability issues Barry mantions. Not worth it.
These days I'd be tempted to get a six cylinder car rather than a four. M43 head gaskets love to go wrong, but almost every one I've fixed has been redoing someone elses job - using cheapo gaskets, not replacing head bolts or the coolant elbows - to do an M43 head gasket properly is £200 plus in parts and not many garages will do that thorough a job. I'm very wary of them now tbh. In contrast, the M52TU engines seem to be very good.
I'd look at clean E46 323i/328i saloons and even cheaper, the E39 523i and 528i. They're just for buttons now. You'll pick up a clean, everything working 528i manual for a grand. Avoid autos because you don't want a £1000 repair on a £1000 car. Carefully driven you'll get 25-30 mpg.

If you must have diesel, look at a 1.9TDi Passat or A4. The original 136 bhp 320d is good as long as it's a nice cared for example without silly miles - good luck finding one of those!

[bss325i]

Yep, i go with an M52tu over and M43 as Andy mentions as they are more reliable, i just thought as you were thinking of a diesel, fuel economy with a 4 pot petrol would desirable.

If you can run a 6 pot then the M52tu is pretty bullet proof with regular oil and coolant changes. The cam sensor can fail giving running poblems as als vacuum leaks from the intake book and cyclone valve pipework. The cyclone valve itself can block causing running issues to. Watch for the odd oil leak, make sure the cooling system works as it should as a thermostat, water pump can fail and the rad's on all E46's and E39's dont last forever.

I had a E46 328Ci with the M52tu which i sold with 228k still running like a watch and dry as a bone! Used no oil either!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Fair enough, think I'll swerve this one then eh? Was hoping it would be the 'nice cared for' example making it a little safer as a punt. I don't have the luxury of time to hunt around too much as I'll lose the use of the company motor at the end of the week. Andy, you still on the same mobile number mate?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Oh, are the autos best avoided at all costs? Seems the 'sealed for life' autos tend to shit themselves eventually?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

So a 320 or a 325 petrol would be a safer bet. Thinking about it, I'll not be doing the miles I used to...

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Hmm this is looking a good idea:

Dealer will let it go for £1100

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used ... s/4/page/3

[bss325i]

A 325i would be a good choice!

The post 2000 320i uses a 2.2 M54 with 170bhp and its no rocket but pleasant enough.

Avoid auto as it just rules out a potentially expensive problem that may or may not happen.

[Curr946]

with your budget if you want a diesel I would agree with above I would be looking at a passat, a4, golf or an Octavia for 2k you'll pick up a good example of any of these and you'll still have the German build quality plus the vw diesel engines are bomb proof

[pacerpete]

with your budget if you want a diesel I would agree with above I would be looking at a passat, a4, golf or an Octavia for 2k you'll pick up a good example of any of these and you'll still have the German build quality plus the vw diesel engines are bomb proof

No such thing as a 'bombproof' 10 year old car . Though I will add my +1 to the others above who agree you are safer with a petrol turd when looking at cars of this age with 100+ miles.

[Andyboy]

Hmm this is looking a good idea:

Dealer will let it go for £1100

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used ... s/4/page/3

Although you can never tell from a pic, that looks like it wants buying. What a lovely way to travel for 1100 quid.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Off to the dealer in a sec..

Thanks for you help

xx

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Car was awesome, purchase transacted. Collect Friday. Thanks again xx

[bss325i]

Which one? The link just brings up a page of cars.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Soz



The advert has been pulled now 126k miles, FSH 2 owners, very clean car, lots of receipts.

[bss325i]

Ah the 523i!

Just as well its a manual as the auto is a bit of a road block!

Looks a nice tram with low owners etc.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Yeah the slush o matic was a 530d. This just looked really clean. The plastic covers on the lights look a bit cloudy. Any easy fix, or just replace?

Not going to set any performance records, but should waft about quite nicely.

[Kos]

fuck me, another peado joins the e39 club

[Curr946]

with your budget if you want a diesel I would agree with above I would be looking at a passat, a4, golf or an Octavia for 2k you'll pick up a good example of any of these and you'll still have the German build quality plus the vw diesel engines are bomb proof

No such thing as a 'bombproof' 10 year old car . Though I will add my +1 to the others above who agree you are safer with a petrol turd when looking at cars of this age with 100+ miles.

In my experiance ive known of a few VW diesels with more than 100k still to be going strong. my mate recently sold his 98 passat with 225k on it it still averaged 50+mpg and pulled like a train when I had a shot of it. in its defense I believe the newer PD engines aren't as good as the older engines but if you go with the skoda they still used the older style TDI engine rather than the PD up until 2004 hence my brother went from VW to a Skoda for his taxi

[Kos]

i've seen a few uber reliable VW dervs that have shit themselves

no used car is "bombproof" certainly not at 10 years old. petrol & manual cars if anything are the more reliable options to go for.

[B7]

Yeah the slush o matic was a 530d. This just looked really clean. The plastic covers on the lights look a bit cloudy. Any easy fix, or just replace?

Not going to set any performance records, but should waft about quite nicely.

Hi Nathan. The headlights on those are stripable. The later facelifts are not so easy. The lenses you have there are removable and readily available new. OR you can wet sand them with 1500 wet and dry and machine polish to a clear finish.

Personally I'd be getting a set of these for ease.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E39-95-00 ... 20c67c11d0

Oh and order a set of replacement adjusters and change them while you're in there! Notorious weak spot!!!!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Good shout mate. Looking at them under the bonnet, there's huge holes that are gaffer taped over. Like they should have bungs in them.

Think I will replace the headlights.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

That's cheap isn't it.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Worth a punt?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-e39-Xenon ... 19d63e2ccc

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Is it possible to get to the lenses in situ, could do with a temporary fix unti I get new ones.

[B7]

The holes at the top (which I think you are refering to) should have twist lock bungs in them.

Item 22 on here

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=63&fg=05

Do a check on your own chassis number though Nath as thats for my facelift car.

The headlights have to come out to change the lenses but it's 4 screws (IIRC) and the plugs is all that has to be released to get them out.

That link you have posted above is only for 1 headlight I think.

For ease I'd see if this guy would do a deal on both together for spares. Then buy a set of new lenses and build up 2 really good lights with good adjusters etc.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/95-03-BMW-540 ... 43b4101438

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/95-03-BMW-540 ... 43b410191c

[pacerpete]

Fook wasting money on an old turd ! 1500 grade paper and a quick polish, job jobbed !!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

The Jew in me wont let me spend much mate

I fuking hate manual labour, so would sooner just replace them. Got my eye on a couple on ebay at the minute...

[B7]

Fook wasting money on an old turd ! 1500 grade paper and a quick polish, job jobbed !!

Pete, I've done a few and it's a fooking time consuming job. And time is money. Unless you are all peado'd up with the right gear it's more Agg than it's worth. Considering it's a prefacelift with proper removable lenses its New lenses FTW in my book.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

I'm watching these council-tastic efforts. They look fine, just worried about the retard's spelling