BMW E39 540i

I don't know about that. That may be true in the later model years, but I'm Pretty sure the manuals on the earlier years (97ish) were not sport pack. I remember driving quite a few of them that had the spoked wheels...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydw-6J_vyCw

 

Maybe an M5 that needs a little be of maint, or has higher (>100K) miles? Then there is a price jump to get the 01-03 face lifted M5, and another jump to get 50-60K miles....it's like the Ferrari disease on a lower dollar level (but similar % increases I can get a 360...but for some more a 430...then may as well look for a higher than average but still reasaonable mileage 458)

Car option 1 sounds good to me- I like the stick shift

 

I own the ultimate E39 6-speed. It's a 2000 Black/Tan M5 with a Dinan S3 supercharged package. 540 rwhp. Comes with Dinan headers, Dinan intakes, Dinan suspension, etc. It was a very costly undertaking at the time. I've owned it from new. I'd consider parting with this beast at the right price-point.

 

Yeah, I think around '99 sport became standard with manuals. Probably around the time the M62TUB44 came out.

 

Uh oh....

Wouldn't it be funny if bart12, who started out looking for a 540i sport for his dad, then figured "maybe I'll pick up a nice condition more pedestrian non-sport automatic sedan for myself too for a few grand" wound up with a stick shift supercharged V8 Dinan beast able to out accelerate many modern Ferrari's/Vettes/Porsches etc?? This is what I'm talking about- F-chat is a slippery slippery slope

 

Friend of mine has a 2001 540i 6 speed, black on black, 83,500 miles, has some Dinan upgrades. He recently scraped it parking in Boston and did a little paintwork on it but not an accident. Recent tires, valve covers, alternator, power steering pump. He's had it since 33k miles and got it in 2007 or so. Just had his first kid so wants something bigger. PM me if you want details.

 

87,300 miles.

 

Sounds like a winner!

 

I have a Black with Beige leather interior 1998 e39 540ia Sport with 79K miles that I bought new. Was one of the first cars in Maryland. It has been in storage for maybe 7 years now. A real time capsule. Inside and outside surfaces were showroom quality before storage. No scratches anywhere. In fact, always used the dealer black plastic on top of the floor mats so no shoes ever directly on the mats and the rear seats were seldom used. Its crazy, I know. However, it is not turn key. I garaged it when the driver window regulator failed with window up and rear driver window regulator failed down. The sunroof will also not retract. The car has never spent a night outside the garage. I'm not sure what to do with the car. Always thought that it would be a classic of sorts some day and that it would be perfect for a BMW mechanic. The radiator has a white drip stain from the small plastic fitting on the top tank. I was also chasing what I though was a catalytic converter issue as it threw a 'cylinder mis-fire' code. I have not started it in years and its becoming a barn find - dust and all! Anyway, was nice to talk about it again and good luck finding your dad his new present.

 

Sounds like a gem! Where is your vehicle located?

 

Cabriolet Motors

 

Maryland at private residence. I still have insurance on it believe it or not. Just wish I had the time to get back to it. I think I drove it for about 8 years, maybe less. The sticker was something like $54K back in '98 if I'm remembering correctly. What a great handling car though and fast for its time. The wheels are very sexy forged and riveted. I remember buying factory brake pads for it but couldn't bear to put them on because the ones on it were so thick they didn't need to be replaced.

 

Bart,
I'd not get so hung up on miles. Your dad ought to be the first to confirm that condition trumps miles on these cars. A damage free car with good interior is what I'd be looking for. Low miles aren't worth paying a large premium.
Every 100k or so they are due for suspension and cooling system refreshing and you are looking that scenario straight in the eye.
All of the usual, previously very expensive, foibles of these cars have been addressed by the aftermarket so if you see dead dash pixels etc. don't sweat it.
If dad works at a dealer he may well be insulated from the aftermarket solutions for everything that goes wrong on old BMWs. Do some reading at the popular BMW forums before coughing up $$$ to the Bavarians for parts.

 

After 15 years with my 540i, it was time for an upgrade. Just spent too much money on an 02 M5- should be here next week or so. Fully sorted (and I mean fully/ turn key car), under 50k miles, lemans blue on caramel. Needless to say I'm very excited. Im going to keep my 540i for the winter (has winter tire set on it) then probably sell it in the spring. I've wanted this car since 2002- it is the feature color combo from the M5 brochure, which I've had since I went to the BMW dealer to purchase my then 2 year old 540 stick/sport as a certified pre owned. It's crazy how excited I am... if you gave me almost any new sedan costing 2 or 3 times as much (new Bmw, Maserati, Audi, benz) I would not be as excited!

Sorry I didn't mean to hijack this thread but keeping on topic of the 540i and e39 in general, if a car guy buying another same chassis/generation car after owning it for 15 years, with the intention of keeping the new acquisition for another 10+ years isn't a testament to be car's design, I don't know what is . The dealer sent me a picture of my car at dusk with just the angel eyes on... all I could think is how beautiful, and what a curse the bangle era was right after the e39

 

YEP. Company went from the penthouse to the basement in just a matter of a few short years LOL. But remember, it was the 2002 745 that kicked off the ugly duckling tour! May have to get an M5 E39 one of these days in Lemans (best color IMO). But I don't won't to let go of my 740 sport short. Only other Bimmer I am at all interested in are the 1999-02 M roadsters, but the prices on them were getting ridiculous as of last summer so I said hell with it and bought a nice R129 Merc. instead for less money which I'm extremely happy with.

 

How about a 2002 525i E39 with 23750 miles? Black/Tan, Brand new M Parallel Wheels/Continental DW Summer tires, mint condition. Very low miles for the age, it was a Grandpa car. Some people shy away from the 525 for some reason and go straight for the 540/M5. I just don't like the troubles of the 4.4 liter V8. (Valve cover gaskets, rear main seal, Timing chains, etc)

This is great car for the evening out or for the daily driver.
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Searching for a 540i but just drove a 2003 525i/5 sport and can confirm that it was a pleasant surprise. Obviously doesn't have the tremendous grunt of the 540, but the I6 was creamy smooth and felt much stronger than its 184hp, I could honestly live with it. There's nothing like a BMW inline six.

 

Agreed, it floats at 120 MPH and the engine is silky sooth.

 

Do you own this car personally?

 

That's awesome!

 

This is my personal car. Clean Texas title in my name.

 

That's a beautiful car. Are you wanting to sell it? Or just wanting us to drool over it? Lol