e39 which one is the best spec..?

[imhotep]

hi everyone..sorry for my broken english..i'm very new to continental car and especially to BMW that a lot of rumor about its Banyak Makan Wang characteristic after several year thinking..saving and thinking again..now i decide i need to have 1 of my dream car since i have my 1st job 6 years ago..actually i really need a car that good enough for traveling north south (jb-kangar every month) but..after several time went down for surveying..i'm quit confused on its variable spec..can someone advise me on the spec that i found below..?e39 :- 520 2.2cc - 523 2.5cc - 525 2.5cc- 525 2.5cc M-SPEC-japan spec vs UK specmy driving character is..town - rileks2highway - as fast as i can see other car :1:so..which one is the best for handling + power + fuel + reliability of engine/maintenance and good when driving at high speed..200km/h up..?can someone advise me..?

 

[IsaacVky]

525i or 530i M-Sport

 

[kacman]

Bro

The higher the spec, the higher the price, the better the car handles. What's your budget anyways?

 

[kevster30]

530i M-sport. Best value for money IMHO. Of the e39s, this is the best balanced car. The 530i consumes less fuel than the other models (520i, 523i, 525i, 528i, 540i) and gives excellent performance. Best power to weight ratio. M-sport spec includes sports suspension, sports seats, sports steering together with bodykit and 17" rims.

A 530i should be competitively priced on the used car market as well, due to the road tax.

Do yourself a favor, find the time to test drive the various models and see which one suits you best.

Cheers!

 

[imhotep]

Bro

The higher the spec, the higher the price, the better the car handles. What's your budget anyways?

my budget is maximum 2k monthly installment..and prefer 5 to 7 years installment period..for handling actually i'm not a road racer..but when i'm tapped my 'touch n go' its like automatically i saw everything is moving so slow


my current ride is perdana V6..quite okay for speeding..but when every time travel in a long journey and clock over 200km/h..it's seem like my V6 unable to hold anymore..a lot of strange sound coming from chassis and body..and even from the engine..!!!

 

[imhotep]

530i M-sport. Best value for money IMHO. Of the e39s, this is the best balanced car. The 530i consumes less fuel than the other models (520i, 523i, 525i, 528i, 540i) and gives excellent performance. Best power to weight ratio. M-sport spec includes sports suspension, sports seats, sports steering together with bodykit and 17" rims.

A 530i should be competitively priced on the used car market as well, due to the road tax.

Do yourself a favor, find the time to test drive the various models and see which one suits you best.

Cheers!

530 seem like too much power to handle..is't true the fc is lesser from 525..? but when looking for the roadtax i'm prefer 2.5cc below..heh..but with high spec..is't worth spend RM140k for 525i M sport spec..?

 

[azan23uk]

e39 to buy or not to buy

hi everyone..

sorry for my broken english..i'm very new to continental car and especially to BMW that a lot of rumor about its Banyak Makan Wang characteristic

The rumour is true as long as you dont compare with italian makes.

after several year thinking..saving and thinking again..now i decide i need to have 1 of my dream car since i have my 1st job 6 years ago..actually i really need a car that good enough for traveling north south (jb-kangar every month) You gonna do a lot of mileage. You should consider buying a new car but..after several time went down for surveying..i'm quit confused on its variable spec..can someone advise me on the spec that i found below..?

e39 :

- 520 2.2cc
- 523 2.5cc
- 525 2.5cc
- 525 2.5cc M-SPEC
-japan spec vs UK spec

If u buy an auto bavarian spec, its pretty much high spec. if u buy the grey imported ones, that's when things can be a bit tricky. some grey imports don't even come with electronic seats. So, determine the spec u want.

my driving character is..
town - rileks2
highway - as fast as i can see other car :1:

e39 suits u pretty well. its a wolf in sheep's clothing

so..which one is the best for handling + power + fuel + reliability of engine/maintenance and good when driving at high speed..200km/h up..?

Go for the 525i 2001 model or later. As for top speed, even the 2.2ltr 520i can top 220kmh. Reliability is a big gamble. Don't expect a Toyota / Honda's tuang-minyak-jalan reliability.BMW needs TLC. Just like having a supermodel as a girlfriend. Feel good 'riding' it, feel proud showing it to mates but has high maintenance

can someone advise me..?

You got a bit here already.

 

[skinhead]

mebbe the owner shud listed here their average fuel consumption from obc for various model for comparison...

520 - xx mil/gal
525
528
530
M5 etc...

 

[imhotep]

wahhhhh..thanks mr azan23uk,skinhead..

just a bit curious..what the different between 523i(2.5) and 525i..?
and how about 520 (2.2) performance compare to 525..? too far..? or just a bit..?

and i also heard a rumor that japan spec is better from UK spec due to its radiator differential..japan spec can take more heat than UK spec..is't true..?

 

[azan23uk]

e39 to buy or not to buy

wahhhhh..thanks mr azan23uk,skinhead..

No prob.

just a bit curious..what the different between 523i(2.5) and 525i..?

Same c.c but 523i is detuned to produce 170 bhp, while 525i is 190+bhp.

and how about 520 (2.2) performance compare to 525..? too far..? or just a bit..?

It's very subjective.' Far' for me may not 'far' enough for u. I drove the 2.2 ltr before. My personal opinion is..tak cukup oomph. But bear in mind that power is addictive. My 528i 280 Nm torque was enuf in the beginning. Now i yearn the extra 50 Nm from the 530i.It's never enuf lah..others can testify to that

and i also heard a rumor that japan spec is better from UK spec due to its radiator differential..japan spec can take more heat than UK spec..is't true..?

Not that i know of

Do more research. The more you know, the more you are ready.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

my budget is maximum 2k monthly installment..and prefer 5 to 7 years installment period..for handling actually i'm not a road racer..but when i'm tapped my 'touch n go' its like automatically i saw everything is moving so slow


my current ride is perdana V6..quite okay for speeding..but when every time travel in a long journey and clock over 200km/h..it's seem like my V6 unable to hold anymore..a lot of strange sound coming from chassis and body..

I am driving a 525 and this is what I think. 525i is good enough especially if you want to terrorize all the cars from the kiasuland. 200km/hr? No problem. The extra money you saved for not paying 530 road tax can be used to terrorize more cars from kiasuland. That's my definition of good economy. That day I terrorize one Lexus IS 250 southbound to kiasuland. He started the 'war' first when he started to trail inches away from my rear. I was on the overtaking lane waiting for the car in front of me to move to the undertaking lane. My signal light didn't stop blinking. That Lexus however, being a kiasu started to overtake me from the undertaking lane. That was it! He accidentally activated the Aryton Senna in me. Bad move. Really, really bad move. However, this ia a very patient Senna. I let him go until he was the size of a 10 sen coin. After that, my afterburner kicked in and justice is about to be served. Now, I was getting millimetres away from his rear. He still didn't want to move to the side. Never mind. I slowed down to 110km/hr. When he got to the of a coin, I stepped on the pedal again. But for some reason his car can't go beyond 190km/hr. That's when I found my dirty blue and white propeller logo staring eerily at his face. If that was an aerial combat, he was on missile lock already. He could hide but he could not run. Finally, while still wearing his kiasu badge the Lexus IS250 moved to the undertaking lane. So, don't buy a Lexus. Not good. Buy a BMW. Get a 525 for extra fun and guilt free motoring.

Cheers.

 

[imhotep]

I am driving a 525 and this is what I think. 525i is good enough especially if you want to terrorize all the cars from the kiasuland. 200km/hr? No problem. The extra money you saved for not paying 530 road tax can be used to terrorize more cars from kiasuland. That's my definition of good economy. That day I terrorize one Lexus IS 250 southbound to kiasuland. He started the 'war' first when he started to trail inches away from my rear. I was on the overtaking lane waiting for the car in front of me to move to the undertaking lane. My signal light didn't stop blinking. That Lexus however, being a kiasu started to overtake me from the undertaking lane. That was it! He accidentally activated the Aryton Senna in me. Bad move. Really, really bad move. However, this ia a very patient Senna. I let him go until he was the size of a 10 sen coin. After that, my afterburner kicked in and justice is about to be served. Now, I was getting millimetres away from his rear. He still didn't want to move to the side. Never mind. I slowed down to 110km/hr. When he got to the of a coin, I stepped on the pedal again. But for some reason his car can't go beyond 190km/hr. That's when I found my dirty blue and white propeller logo staring eerily at his face. If that was an aerial combat, he was on missile lock already. He could hide but he could not run. Finally, while still wearing his kiasu badge the Lexus IS250 moved to the undertaking lane. So, don't buy a Lexus. Not good. Buy a BMW. Get a 525 for extra fun and guilt free motoring.

Cheers.

:top:

ya ya..i hate someone drive a saloon but in the same time thinking of ferrari..if u want to overtake,just overtake and dont cucuk2 like that..and a lot of people unable to mange their patient when overtake..huh..!!

anyway maybe that lexus hav a cut off..

huhu..m spec m spec..arghh....

 

[funfer_fahrer]

:top:

ya ya..i hate someone drive a saloon but in the same time thinking of ferrari..if u want to overtake,just overtake and dont cucuk2 like that..and a lot of people unable to mange their patient when overtake..huh..!!

anyway maybe that lexus hav a cut off..

huhu..m spec m spec..arghh....

M spec? Don't be a poser la bro. M series la:top:. Ha ha

 

[bimmerholic]

hie, tumpang a bit ya...

How to differentiate from a CBU and a CKD?

1) Say for instance, there's 2 e39s..i.e both 523i or both 525i in front of you.
Now by looking at the exterior, can one tell if either one is a CBU or a CKD?
How does a VIN number differ from a CBU,Japan,UK,local spec unit?

2) I did come across some models termed 523i se. Is this a CBU unit?

3) When we say CBU, it means it's completely built up from Germany? Can it be from any other plants in another country?
4) So now when we say it's a Japan or a UK spec, does that mean it's CBU for us as well?
5) Do we classify Japan/UK spec as grey imports?

All in all, I know that CBU has better sound proving and dampening materials on the chasis. Apart from that, is there anything else that differ from a CKD?

Thanks in advance.

 

[alpina b5]

if u get japan specs, it comes with more goodies like the sat nav screen(not sure if it works), electric seats etc. uk spec usually the condition is better.

ckd models have "MSG" glass, imported models have "sicursiv" glass on it.

 

[azan23uk]

hie, tumpang a bit ya...

How to differentiate from a CBU and a CKD?

1) Say for instance, there's 2 e39s..i.e both 523i or both 525i in front of you.
Now by looking at the exterior, can one tell if either one is a CBU or a CKD?

The 190bhp 525i only came up in 1998/99. So if the 525i in front of you is a pre 1998, then you've got a car wt shady history. Some grey importers rebadge 523i into 525i and sell at a premium.

Yes. One tell tale is local one got glass labelled 'MSG' and imported ones are 'Secursiv'. Look at the bottom part of the glass. CKD also no sunroof i think. But bear in mind that 528i sold by Auto Bav is a CBU unit. But you can always call BMW Malaysia centre, give them the VIN number and they can tell you where the car was first sold. UK, Japan, Malaysia, S'pore etc.

How does a VIN number differ from a CBU,Japan,UK,local spec unit?

I have not done research on that one.

2) I did come across some models termed 523i se. Is this a CBU unit?

Can be both CBU or CKD. Check the glass and finally call BMW Malaysia Centre.

3) When we say CBU, it means it's completely built up from Germany? Can it be from any other plants in another country?

I think it can be S.Africa also. Not sure

4) So now when we say it's a Japan or a UK spec, does that mean it's CBU for us as well?

Yes

5) Do we classify Japan/UK spec as grey imports?
Yes

All in all, I know that CBU has better sound proving and dampening materials on the chasis. Apart from that, is there anything else that differ from a CKD?

No evidence to claim that CBU has better sound damping. But makes sense also as CKD unit do not need those winter insulation.


Thanks in advance.

Ur welcome

 

[bimmerholic]

if u get japan specs, it comes with more goodies like the sat nav screen(not sure if it works), electric seats etc. uk spec usually the condition is better.

ckd models have "MSG" glass, imported models have "sicursiv" glass on it.

Thanks for the reply B5.
I've been browsing some of the e39s in this forum and some has the in-dash sat-nav. They also did say it's a Japan unit.

I've also seen some e39 with a much smaller sceen with phone numpads( i think) at the side of the screen. And it has TV tuner as well. Anyone knows which model is it and weather it's Japan/UK?

 

[imhotep]

hmmm..too much spec that they have..need properly seeking..:stupid:

 

[E28driver]

hmmm..too much spec that they have..need properly seeking..:stupid:

Is that Yoda-speak?

 

[funfer_fahrer]

hmmm..too much spec that they have..need properly seeking..:stupid:

There is a misconception that a jap spec car comes with more goodies. I've came across a UK spec car that has the same spec as a Jap spec, including TV screen and sat nav. But it was very very rare. Our forummer, omegaoracle is driving one. The price was also on the high side and according to him and, by invitation only.