E39 525d / 530d thoughts

[georgen]

Uh oh. The wee one's getting bigger, more stuff to carry around, 2nd baba on the way we think etc etc. Does anybody see where I'm going with this ? It looks like I'm going to need a bigger estate car....

I'm thinking about an E39 525d / 530d touring, maybe an auto. Does anybody have any experience of these cars ?

Cheers

George

[stuartgallafant]

fantatsic cars, the Sport option being the better of them.

go for a 2001 or later model, which will give fibre optic and LED rear lights and angel eyes at the front, and a much better looking interior and exterior package

check the turbos, especially around the 80-100k mark. They may have already been changed? Other common problems are rear lower arm bushes/ball joints, rear upper arm bushes/ball joints and the occasional leaky steering box.

the more service history the better, esp. if its dealer history

get a good one n you wont regret buying it

[gazm3]

Im current having a real problem with mine.

E39 525tds. It has a warm starting problem.

Get a late one, leather, auto with the toys.

They are not cheap to fix, look for BMW service history.

Its like driving your sofa compared to an E30.

[georgen]

Thanks chaps. Looks like my good lady is happy to just nudge her seat froward a touch to create a bit more room in the back. Don't think we can bring ourselves to part with the E30 yet !!! An E39 beckons in a few years time though..

Thanks again

[320Touring]

Thanks chaps. Looks like my good lady is happy to just nudge her seat froward a touch to create a bit more room in the back. Don't think we can bring ourselves to part with the E30 yet !!! An E39 beckons in a few years time though..

Thanks again

get an e34 drives like an e30 on the backroads, cruises like an e32 on the motorway...

sure you could talk the boss round to an m5

what a way to take the kids to nursery

[gary]

I have a 525tds touring and it is a cracking car if not a bit under powered. With 182k on the clock it still runs strong and the only problem i seem to have is when it runs low on fuel and I fill it up it struggles to start.

My mate has a 2001 530d saloon and I have have to say this is a better engine.

My wife has a 330d and is similar to my mates 530d

[Pad]

I have a E39 530d touring with the auto box. 530d (and later 525d) have the common rail engine which is much better than the tds engine, in economy and power. Auto box suits it well, just wafts along nicely. Mine is a pre facelift in Titanium Silver with black leather, but with Alpina spoiler, Sport alloys, factory dechrome, white lights all round and I have to say it looks the tits and I love it. Boot isnt as big as you might think, but we have 2 small children and manage.

Get about 28 mpg about town, 40 mpg on a long run. Goes quite well (would show my 325 sport a clean set of heels once rolling I suspect). We looked at 530i petrols but the idea of 20mpg around town is a bit depressing for a family motor...

Things to watch are turbos, injectors, MAFs, lower arms, rear subframe bushes... personally I would walk away from anything that doesnt have a Full dealer and/or specialist history. When it goes wrong it wont be cheap, which is why I got a warranty from warrantydirect which covers pretty much everything, unlimeted claims upto £5K a year and I can get work carried out at a BMW dealer - all for £43 a month which in my book is good going.

pop over to www.bmw5.co.uk if you want more info..

Cheers

[Ziggy]

I'd be very wary of any modern BMW diesel, after my mate's 4 year old 320d $hat itself to the tune of £7k for a new engine. BMW are paying for most of it luckily, but still! I don't know which engines are similar, but I'd certainly be doing a lot of research...

[Pad]

way I see it you would be mad to have a car like this unless it had a decent warranty..