540 Touring

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:45 am

My GF has decided to get a new car. She's just sold her house so she's got the cash to get a damn ferrari (oh, I wish!) but being a girl and fixated on having silly things like a roof over her head is looking at a 540i Touring (manual preferably) instead.
I'm absolutely made up at the idea of having one in the house, but is my lust for 4.4litre V8 goodness making me too keen to see her buy it?

I realise the fuel bills will be nasty. Does anyone (especially our BMW mechanics) have anything to say about reliability and repair costs? What we're after is something that can hold 3 dogs like the one in my avatar in the boot (about 80kg of Basset!) while being fun, comfortable and reliable in the long run. We'd take a view on the fuel after a few months and convert to LPG if it will be worth it in the long run (budgeting about Ã‚£2500 for that for a professional job).

Are we mad?

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:24 am

E34 540i is just that- nikasil laden traps of 4.0 danger.

E39 540i is a 4.4 lump, and much fun.

Personally though. e39 530d touring with all the toys and FSH is the way to go for me

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:17 pm

too many trhinks break and go wrong on the diesels like mafs and turbos and it's a case of when they break not if!

4.4 likes the odd headgasket and a few other issues but is not a bad engine.

e34 540 tourings are rare, and so i'm told only 35 manual ones were sold here. theres a good few autos. You'll have an easier time finding a manual e39 540 touring. Watch the tailgates for rust! they rot from the inside so have a good look at the tailgates

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:43 pm

Manuals are rare in either shapes but the e39 540i is a weapon.

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:02 pm

My dad has a black 540 touring auto, its a f*cking rocket. The only missing part is the manual gearbox, and a 6 speed at that i believe. E39 540i, I highly recommend it.

Only faults I beleive his has is a couple of the LED's in the dash are going, its done 70k and going strong on a 2000 "V" plate.

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:49 pm

e34 540's are 6 speed manuals aswell!

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:58 pm

cant you convince her about the merits of an m5 touring? i know e34 m5 tourings are pretty rare but i seen one a few months back for about Ã‚£7000 iirc. im not sure if they did a e39 m5 touring? ive never seen one thats for sure but i have seen the newest m5 in touring form. 500+bhp in an 'estate'? ok then, i suppose if i must

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:01 pm

540i Touring will be a great weapon/workhorse!

E34 M5 Touring is even better, LHD only though.

No E39 M5 Touring though.

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:26 pm

Read an article in Germany about a bmw engineer who built his own e39 m5 touring because he was pissed off that bm never brought one out, i believe its still the only one, as for me E34 3.6 m5 touring would be my weapon of choice.

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:26 pm

IIRC they only came in 3.8.

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:40 pm

It's a bit miley for the money, but a right weapon

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audi-RS2-315bhp-S ... dZViewItem

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:49 pm

E30BeemerLad wrote:It's a bit miley for the money, but a right weapon

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audi-RS2-315bhp-S ... dZViewItem

hero chariot, mucho respect. touched by the porka leg ends!

Post Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:12 pm

4.4's are okayish but aren't as reliable as the 4.0. Head gaskets, timing chain top rails, electronic thermostat, oil pump bolts(!) plus the heater hose on the back of the head fails. The usual E39 bollocks like the airbag rear suspension on tourings, dash pixels. A good one is nice, but fuel bills are the least of your worries. These things can consume lots of dollar. I'm not a big fan of E39's, nothing like as 'reliable' or 'quality' as they should be.

Post Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:17 am

A mate of mine was selling his E34 M5 Touring - can find out the details if you like - but it is original so LHD

Post Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:45 pm

Well once she makes her mind up...
We now have an e39 540i sitting outside. 6 speed manual, sports seats and suspension.
Goes like a damn rocket, I was amazed.

I don't know how long the ad will be up, but it was This one. A hell of a long way from York but the smile on a certain someone's face was massive.

I'm feeling a bit of beemer envy now! My E30 touring is looking a bit small

Post Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:53 pm

G/F,wish 'er indoors was as easy to sell to.....

Post Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:26 pm

Simon13 wrote:e34 540's are 6 speed manuals aswell!

Same 'box as the E39 M5 isn't it?

Post Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:19 pm

MrDazzle wrote:
Simon13 wrote:e34 540's are 6 speed manuals aswell!
Same 'box as the E39 M5 isn't it?

no i think it's the same as the e34 m5 3.8 box

Post Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:31 pm

Yeah sorry, mis-read what you'd written. E39 540 manual is the same box as the E39 M5...

Post Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:45 pm

it will be the same box as the e39 m5 .

the v8 bellhousing is unique

Post Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:05 pm

Plenty of scope for tuning then!

I've seen supercharger kits for the E39 540 that look far too tempting. Luckily I won't be allowed to get one, its not my car. To be fair, the standard car has enough grunt for anyone as a daily driver and 450 bhp would be a bit silly

I'm just trying to get hold of the keys more often!

Post Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:23 pm

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/229748.htm

Post Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:01 pm

Jealous. Iv always said E30 Touring's are poo. Big fan of 5 series shooting breaks.

Post Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:10 pm

Moseley Motorpsort have a very interesting set of e34 540 touring leather (inc door cards) from what was an individual spec car. Sounds garish but it's really pretty cool in black and purple. Could suit a few colours. Just throwing this into the pan in case you get cloth and want to spice it at all ;)