[Shorn]

i'm currently in the market for a e39 540i, or the 'poor man's m5', and was wondering if anyone owns/has owned one of these and have any insights on the car's reliability and common problems? also what to look out for when checking them out.

i've read some stuff online about the V8 valley pan gasket and radiator problems, but just wondering if anyone had any first hand info about that.

trying to look for one with around 100k on it.. but getting a little hard cause the car is more than 10 years old now. thanks!

[IMASA]

My father has a 2002 E39 540i with 140k kms and yes he's had various cooling issues, ie cracked radiator end tanks, leaking overflow tank, seized replacement water pump, and the infamous valley pan gasket leak. He gets all his work done at the dealership and follows all the regular maintainance schedules, but still seems to have these cooling gremlins. The cooling system is mostly plastic, so it would probably be a good idea to change everything every 4-5 yrs.

There was a problem with the HVAC fan only blowing 1 speed, a known issue with some relay, forgot the real name, but it's known as the Hedgehog. I was able to install that for him, saved him $600 from the dealership.

He also has the issue with the LED "dots" on the digital dash failing.

After tallying up his maintainance bills and repair bills, it works out to be $2k/year, again, all done at the dealership.

[GabAlmighty]

But it is a nice lookin car

[PreludeSRV]

I've had my E39 540i since the day I bought it in 2001. some common problems:

1. LED on Dashboard fading ($200 fix if you decide to send it to someone online to do it).
2. Radiator replaced at 45000km
3. Alternator failed at 73,000km and replaced

so far the car has been relatively good. I have 78,000km now (very low driven). I'm actually considering to sell the vehicle. PM me if you want more info. It's an Auto. Cosmos Black Metallic.

[Mr.C]

Read:

www.540i6.com - Common Problems and Fixes (http://www.540i6.com/probsfixes.html)

Then also:

edge motorworks - 5 Series 1995-2003 (E39 & M5) (http://edgemotorworks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=55)



As it has been mentioned, Cooling System, Valley Pan Gasket, Valve Cover gasket are the main ones.

[freakshow]

Although the LED dashboard lights are an issue, I wouldn't let that stop you from choosing one e39 over the other. it will most likely fail on you eventually anyways even if it hasn't yet.

[Shorn]

Yeah..funny thing is with all these potential problems I still really want one. Guess I'm a little obsessed haha
Thanks prelude i might shoot you a PM in a bit! And thanks for the replies. The styling of the car has really gotten to me. The only other 5 series that looks good to me is the newest generation but also too expensive for me and too much electronics in the car. I'm driving an e90 right now and it can't even match the older BMW's connection to the road.

[lowside67]

This was my 03 540i M-Sport that I had for a little bit:

http://www.uhlmann.ca/mark/2006_1220_540i/1.jpg

http://www.uhlmann.ca/mark/2006_1220_540i/3.jpg

Very cool car! The 02-03 M-Sport was a very different car with shorter gears, etc and was a very pimp cruiser. Awful on gas, the 4.4 motors have a few common issues, the 5 series has a few common issues, but all in all a sweet ride.

Mark

[kwy]

That's a really clean 540.

I was in the market for one..what kept me away was the bad fuel mileage and the cooling system issues. They've depreciated a lot though in the past couple years.

Even with the issues that they have, the E39 540i is still most likely the best exec luxury sedan from its time. Way better than the W210 or an A6, etc.

[bcrdukes]

Shorn,

Is this why you're selling the E90? If so - :fuckyea:

[Shorn]

Yeah.. 200hp just not cutting it for me hahaha. Need more torque!

[toyota86]

are you are mechanically inclined, have sources to inexpensive parts, and have a reliable daily driver?
if not, don't do it!
seriously

i have a 540i and a 740i. trust me.

[RRxtar]

had one. loved it. couldn't keep up with the maintenance costs tho

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/g2mike/random/rims2.jpg

[Shorn]

i'm kind of on the edge now.. guess it depends if i can find a good condition one. and save up for the repairs. if i can find one thats been taken care of and not trashed.. thanks for the insights!

edit: scratch that i still really want one. its one of those things that you know is probably not the brightest decision you'll ever make but you're still determined to go through with it. sigh.. now someone should give me reasons TO buy one!

[Renthal]

i've been on the lookout as well.. a least for a standard shift 540i.. but with rising gas costs, and a car that takes premium, higher running costs… maybe if a screaming deal comes along..
here are a couple over here in victoria i've been eyeing.

1998 BMW 540i *93,000km!!* Oak Bay, Victoria (http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/1998-BMW-540i-93000km_16879974)


BMW 540i West Shore: Langford,Colwood,Metchosin,Highlands, Victoria (http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/BMW-540i_17085547)

ah hell just buy this!
2000 BMW M5 Imola Red (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/2861792499.html)

[wstce92]

Try to find a M-Sport 6-spd if you can.
My pops had a M-Sport 6-spd, and my mom had a regular auto.
Two completely different cars imho. The M-Sport 6-spd was amazing; would've bought it off him was I not in uni with no money at the time.

[ts14]

had one, was a nightmare with a 11 grand repair cost for a motor replacement by the previous owner...... but its was still a nice car to drive around in lol

[Renthal]

what about a gs400?

[Shorn]

what about a gs400?

i'm not really a fan of lexus other than the is350. the styling of the gs400 doesn't really appeal to me and i really like the steering feedback and handling of bmw's (even a fatass like the 540i is fun to drive).

$20,000 for the m5 is a little out of my price range.. and i assume the maintenance would be even more than a regular 540i?

[wstce92]

i'm not really a fan of lexus other than the is350. the styling of the gs400 doesn't really appeal to me and i really like the steering feedback and handling of bmw's (even a fatass like the 540i is fun to drive).

$20,000 for the m5 is a little out of my price range.. and i assume the maintenance would be even more than a regular 540i?

Really depends on the car.
I'd really recommend dropping ~$100 for a inspection at a shop like CG.
Two of my friends bought e36 M3s recently around the same time; both 97s. One of them spent the money to inspect 3 cars over a long period of time before buying the third one which was immaculate. The other bought his on a whim, with just a carfax.
As such, my first friend hasn't had any issues, just an oil change so far, my other friend on the other hand has spent about $7k already fixing things. :heckno:

[bcrdukes]

I'd personally have it checked out by a different shop.

[godwin]

Honestly you are buying a 10 year + car.. it is be time for a lot of the parts refurbishment anyways.

Comfort Relay and missing LCD pixels are common for that generation of BMW

There are good things about BMW and german cars in general when it comes to repair (especially when it comes to Asian cars):

1. The repair documentations are often public, you can get it from Bentley etc.
2. The repair tools are generally available (from knock offs to full version real mccoys).
3. There are plenty of DIYer that have done it and have documented on the message boards.
4. I give BMW extra bonus over Mercedes, is their part commonality between models is higher.

Really depends on the car.
I'd really recommend dropping ~$100 for a inspection at a shop like CG.
Two of my friends bought e36 M3s recently around the same time; both 97s. One of them spent the money to inspect 3 cars over a long period of time before buying the third one which was immaculate. The other bought his on a whim, with just a carfax.
As such, my first friend hasn't had any issues, just an oil change so far, my other friend on the other hand has spent about $7k already fixing things. :heckno:

[Nismo Fanboy]

Btw, this one seriously looks really nice (mileage is around 160K which is not too bad IMO) from the description. However, its from a Kingsway dealership, so do watch out! M technic body kit with M interior and its a 2002! So you get the upgraded lights. 2002 BMW 540i M Pkg, BLACK ON BLACK, LOCAL, NO ACCIDENTS, (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/ctd/2958912535.html)

Anyways, please do have the car checked by places like CG as mention above before you make the purchase.

I bought mines last year, and so far, the major things that occurred are the valley pan leaking gasket and the replacement of the steering wheel pump. If I remember, CG charged me around $1700 for both inspection II and and leaking gasket, and around $700 for the steering pump problem. The car drives really nice now and CG did an awesome job.

Some other minor things like overheating due to lack of coolant also occurs too! But they were easy to fix.

[Toast]

How about a 530i M sport, standard transmission?
2002 BMW 530i M PACKAGE (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/2937052453.html)

Used to have a 330i with the same engine, great car and much better on gas compared to the 540i. Also seems to have a different steering system iirc (rack and pinion vs recirculating pinball) which makes it different (better to some).

[Nismo Fanboy]

^Wow, that is one of the best colors on the E39s!

[Shorn]

I'd personally have it checked out by a different shop.

who else is good? i've heard some good things about nixon automotives too

[fetched]

Nixon is in Burnaby, their pretty much on par with CG.

They quote higher than CG in some areas, so make sure you call for a quote.

[bcrdukes]

How about a 530i M sport, standard transmission?
2002 BMW 530i M PACKAGE (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/2937052453.html)

That car has been on Craigslist for close to a year, if not, longer. There was a thread on BCBimmers regarding the condition of it.

[Shorn]

BMW 540i M Sport (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/cto/2940188023.html)
this one looks really clean but 200xxx kms.. and i'm weary about such high mileage euro's.
what if it was properly maintained though? he says its 'very reliable' :accepted:

and i really want that v8.. not interested in the 530i. it'd probably be similar in speed to my current car which is the one of the reasons i'm getting a 540i. color looks sick though!

[bcrdukes]

Say no to auto! :D

In my experience, a long as maintenance is up to date, they're perfectly fine. If they're highway miles, that's ok. But if that's all city... :inoutugh:

[Shorn]

i want a manual one too! but only one i can find is this one: [ 2001 BMW 540i Sport with over $30K+ in upgrades ] (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/ctd/2912720377.html)
and its pretty much fully modded.. which i don't want. also for that price i can buy an m5.
that car has the word 'dinan' written on it more times than on the dinan website.

[bcrdukes]

Just wait. The manual transmission M Sport cars pop up now and then.

[Tapioca]

Why not opt for a 530 with a stick? Sure you won't get mind blowing power, but the inline-6 is BMW's bread and butter, costs less to insure (probably) and costs less in fuel. The M54 is a relatively robust motor and the cooling system on the inline 6s is fairly simple to maintain (radiators rarely fail, water pump and cooling tank every 100K.)

The E39 looks great though - understated, but elegant.

[Shorn]

cause i'm driving an e90 with an i6 right now already :buttrock:

but yeah a 530 wouldn't be a substantial enough power increase for me to want to change cars especially when the newer car is much more reliable than the old one. 2 more cylinders on the other hand.. :fuckyea:

[SB7]

BMW 5 Series - 540 iA (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/3088788071.html)

What do you guys think of this car? Looking to check it out sometime soon...

[swfk]

Pay a little more, and get the one with the M tech

[too_slow]

The 530 does have the rack-and-pinning steering, as opposed to the recirculating ball thingie on the 540i (the steering is better on the 530i)..
They're both rare as hell with a manual, let alone a M-Sport package. GLW your search!

[too_slow]

BTW, check this one out
[ 2001 BMW e39 540i Sport 6-Speed ] $30K+ in performance upgrades (http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/ctd/3065023378.html)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s267/M-CARS/BMW/2001%20BMW%20540i%20Sport/IMG_0001.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s267/M-CARS/BMW/2001%20BMW%20540i%20Sport/IMG_0007.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s267/M-CARS/BMW/2001%20BMW%20540i%20Sport/IMG_0026.jpg


and more importantly,

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s267/M-CARS/BMW/2001%20BMW%20540i%20Sport/IMG_0035.jpg

[swfk]

2002 BMW 540i-M package (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rch/ctd/3047558236.html)

Auto but has M pack

[freakshow]

BTW, check this one out
[ 2001 BMW e39 540i Sport 6-Speed ] $30K+ in performance upgrades (http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/ctd/3065023378.html)

Sounds way too high for a 540.. $30K in DINAN upgrades doesn't mean much since the DINAN mods are so insanely priced.

[vitaminG]

BMW 540i E39 for sale,new price! (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/3068592527.html)

my buddy almost bought this "M5", until i showed him this thread... http://www.revscene.net/forums/666211-dynod-my-bros-bmw-1997-e39.html

2000 BMW 5 Series 540i 6 Spd,113,000 KM, FULLY LOADED, MUST SEE! (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/ctd/3067539966.html)

this one was a little out of his price range, but low kms and 6 month warranty. id buy it if i was looking.

[too_slow]

Sounds way too high for a 540.. $30K in DINAN upgrades doesn't mean much since the DINAN mods are so insanely priced.

Holy sh*it, I totally missed the price tag!

http://t.qkme.me/35onan.jpg

Yeah for that price I'd look for a one-owner 2002 M5

[Bahhbeehhaaaa]

i'm not really a fan of lexus other than the is350. the styling of the gs400 doesn't really appeal to me and i really like the steering feedback and handling of bmw's (even a fatass like the 540i is fun to drive).

$20,000 for the m5 is a little out of my price range.. and i assume the maintenance would be even more than a regular 540i?

The dealers did my E39 M5 brakes for 600 bucks. Even though it is super expensive to maintain it is one of the best car i've ever owned. I kept her for about 4 months and sold it.. it cost too much to keep her alive. =)

[westopher]

18k for that 540i is batshit. About 3 years ago I test drove a 2001(?) 540i that was similar in how heavily it was modded and it was priced at 16k. The big difference, is instead of that little dinan intake there was a supercharger there. I wouldn't pay more than 13k for that because in the end 30k in upgrades still doesn't put it in the same league as a stock m5.

[knight604]

The dealers did my E39 M5 brakes for 600 bucks. Even though it is super expensive to maintain it is one of the best car i've ever owned. I kept her for about 4 months and sold it.. it cost too much to keep her alive. =)

Gotta have $$$$ to maintain and keep a money3/5/6 (M's)

[skylinergtr]

BMW 540i E39 for sale,new price! (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/3068592527.html)

my buddy almost bought this "M5", until i showed him this thread... http://www.revscene.net/forums/666211-dynod-my-bros-bmw-1997-e39.html


LOL at those polish vinyl wrapping gypsies.

i saw this car at german car fest and it was a load of shit. They own and operate a vinyl wrapping company, but their work on both of their bmw's were horrible.

this guy was "mr rev my engine" at the meet also, revving the shit out of it and disturbing others.

dont even consider looking, run!

[Bahhbeehhaaaa]

Gotta have $$$$ to maintain and keep a money3/5/6 (M's)

yupp that's very ture... sometime in the future i'm gonna pick up a E39 540i, is just too fun to drive around with it =)