E39 touring, any good?

Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:43 pm

Hi guys, im still on the look out for an estate and come across this. Its local to me and was thinking of taking a look at it. Can I ask some advice on what to look out for and if it looks any good to you? Also is what he is asking for it right? Any info would be much appreciated.

THanks

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:53 pm

I've got my FiL old E39 525 tds touring for sale in Mcr.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:58 pm

No doubt a lot of car for not much cash but they are very heavy and with the smallest donk in the range even with a manual box the performance will be glacial - I'd expect it to have quite a thirst too. Nice car but if you're going to buy something slow it also needs to be frugal.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:12 pm

Do you have a 2.8 donk ready to drop in? If not I wouldnt bother, you will soon get sick and tired of changing gear

Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:21 pm

no good

Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:39 pm

Thanks for the info guys, Also not really after a diesel. what are the bigger engine ones like? 525, 530 etc.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:05 pm

Needs a minimum of 3.0 given the weight of the car IMO - and even then whilst it will have respectable performance it wont be blazingly fast - and just as thirsty.

My 330i Touring is a lovely car but that weighs a ton - I wouldnt want an E46 with a smaller donk than 3.0 let alone an E39

Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:17 pm

So underpowered it will return v poor mpg probably worse than some of the bigger engined e39's

Shame as looks nice in red and not expensive given the mileage.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:23 pm

my sisters 525i is a great tram but its under engined a little. Not enough torque as said big heavy car. Drive and handles fantastic being a sport. they get about 22mpg out of it but its always driving about town and its auto.

Having been in a 530i they really fly and are no worse on fuel if not better due to the extra grunt.

Huge boot, as good as any volvo

Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:53 am

Simon13 wrote:my sisters 525i is a great tram but its under engined a little. Not enough torque as said big heavy car. Drive and handles fantastic being a sport. they get about 22mpg out of it but its always driving about town and its auto.

Having been in a 530i they really fly and are no worse on fuel if not better due to the extra grunt.

Huge boot, as good as any volvo

Bargain money now. I run a 530i as a daily and as Si says' it's quick despite being a barge and a fully loaded heavy one at thet.

People alwayssay go for the diesel. But they now have lots of miles and have turbo and flap dramas. Honestly, the i's make more sense.

Watch for suspension wear. They love a joint and abush (a bit like some on here

) and don't think they are as reliable as the e34 / e32 / e30 was at the same age. They are not, suffering from electrical glitches, warning lights etc. But get past that and they are still a nice car.

Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:02 am

Simon13 wrote:
Huge boot, as good as any volvo

You will get more in an E34 touring boot!

Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:27 am

520i's aren't that bad. If you're a p[ress on driver then yes, a bigger engined car is for you. But for ordinary running around and motorway cruising they're okay. They're so quiet and refined, you'll not be too worried about driving fast everywhere.

Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:51 pm

I've got a 525 touring, but only because I couldn't find a 530 when I was buying.

525 is just enough 95% of the time, but I wouldn't want anthing smaller in the donk department. MPG is virtually identocal to my 325.
Mine is a Euro spec (no SLS air bag suspension) and handles very well for a barge.

Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:12 pm

My 523i is a fantastic car. Allegedly quicker to 60 than the 525. Has enough power to tinker at traffic light GPs and a lovely car to smoke about in. MPG is awful on short town journeys. Get it on a proper jaunt and it's not too bad at all. Should feel very solid and a nice quiet cabin space. The CD changer is a crock of shit and the lights are a pain in the ass and likely need replacing.

Absolutely love mine. Paid £1150 for a T plate with 125k and full service history. As Andy said, very quiet and refined.

Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:29 pm

My wifes old 540 touring was a great car...but with around 9mpg town driving it was a thursty old bus....but served her well,she done about 75k miles in it without any problem......

Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:12 pm

The 523 is the smallest you'd really want to go here. And preferably a manual at that. My 523 auto was a bit of a slug if I'm honest. The 528i is a different beast and far more livable with no additional cost to fuel really.

I'm in the process of buying a 98 S 528iSe with leather and barely 100k up for 500 quid. If we can prize it out of the mugs grasp!!!

Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:40 pm

What about 530d ??

Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:52 am

S38B38 wrote:What about 530d ??

Old large CC Diesel+turbo/injectors/diesel pumps/Swirl flaps(?) = high potential for financial ruin.

Nice when they were new but far too much potential for credit card misery now.

Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:09 am

capri_rob wrote:
S38B38 wrote:What about 530d ??
Old large CC Diesel+turbo/injectors/diesel pumps/Swirl flaps(?) = high potential for financial ruin.

Nice when they were new but far too much potential for credit card misery now.

^^^^ this

You'll hear of people getting 40+mpg but in real terms thats rare. The difference in MPG between the petrol 3.0 and the 3.0d is there but it's not as big as people expect / think and soon becomes negligible when you add in the factor of how much more you are paying for dieselas you pour it in the tank.

Add that to the fact they are now a mecahnical ticking bomb as above, they just do not warrant the premium's people unaware are paying for them.