Need advice for 2nd hand E39

[socrato]

Tested drive a year 2001 520i today.Engine is smooth and quite. Steering feels heavy compared to my Sonata.Mileage 95000 km . Was offered RM80000 by the car dealer. Very very itchy. First impression is that the interior is very well maintained. Engine sound is smooth and quiet. Gear changing is smooth too. (Pls don't bombard me cos I'm really noob in BMW). Seems like it is newly painted, dunno is there a catch here?Will bring a BMW specialist to check before committing.....

 

[infinityKL]

525...528... good luck

 

[socrato]

how can I know the engine is single vanos or double vanos?it is a 520i manufactured in 2001

 

[infinityKL]

M52 or M54? 2001 should be a double if im not mistaken, better confirm it...

 

[Gerald 5]

Double Vanos, M52 and M54 have a full head cover in front of the engine cover as shown in RED "circle" in the pic ( The attached pic is D Vanos )
Single Vanos, M50 only has a half cover as the green "circle"

 

[socrato]

Cool, thanx for the picture explaination. Looks like that car is a double vanos . 2.2 cc
Actually fell in love with that car. Tip top looker. Plan to use it as a family car only ...
To wait and source for another 525i , .....eee... tak boleh tahan ....gatallll

By the way, is it normal for E39 steering to be quite heavy?

 

[Gerald 5]

Cool, thanx for the picture explaination. Looks like that car is a double vanos . 2.2 cc
Actually fell in love with that car. Tip top looker. Plan to use it as a family car only ...
To wait and source for another 525i , .....eee... tak boleh tahan ....gatallll

By the way, is it normal for E39 steering to be quite heavy?

Yes relative to other made of car. I suggest that you get a reliable mech to check b4 signing as it will be difficult to gauge your defination of "heavy". If it is the "normal" heavy, you only need a day or 2 to get use to it, after that, you should be able to enjoy the tight steering feel and the precision of the UDM will give the extra confident of the car/road that you are attacking.
Warning: It will be extremely difficult to find that feeling if you dicided to change car. This includes the E60. It happened to me. This is only my opinion.

520 M54 double vanos is a good choice for normal drive. It should be sufficient, not unless you are one who is going more for power. Try google www.bmwheaven.com for the spec

Type 520i LCI
Transmission
Series 5 (e39)
Body Sedan
Built '00-'03
Weight 1570kg
Dimensions
Length 4775mm
Width 1800mm
Height 1435mm
Performance
Top speed 226km/h
Acceleration 0-100km/h 9.1s
Elasticity 80-120km/h (4th gear) 9.4s
Fuel Consumption
City 12.2 l/100km
Highway 7.1 l/100km
Combined 9 l/100km
CO2 emissions -
Engine
Type M54
M Number M54 B22
Management -
Displacement 2171cc
Cylinders 6
Valves per cylinder 4
Arrangement inline 6
Stroke -
Bore -
Compression Ratio -
Weight -
Fuel type petrol
Power 125kW / 170HP
@ RPM 6100rpm
Torque 210Nm
@ RPM 3500rpm
Redline -

 

[Jerman]

Socrato,
Gerald 5 is spot-on in his comments above. The steering is relatively heavy as compared to other vehicles. RM 80k appeared to be a very good price. This model is with 10 airbags, just in case you did not notice! Yes, get a mechanic to have a final check.

The following websites provide lots of info on E39.
http://www.bmwtips.com/

http://www.official-auto.net/oa2/77/Bmw E39.html

http://www.e38.org/e39/

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/5series.html

http://bmwheaven.bmwsport.net/compon...page/Itemid,1/

Service checklist
http://edgemotorworks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemi d=5


If you need the Owner Manual, look under E39, the Manual at the bottom of the page.

http://www.e38.org/e39/

 

[socrato]

Yup, I noticed that the car comes with 10 airbags.Indeed E39 is a jewel with l with this kind of price. Only thing is the maintenance.
I wonnder how is the maintenance of a E39 compaed to volvo S60 or S80. My partner likes S60 and I opt for E39, trying hard to convince her : )

 

[Jerman]

Yup, I noticed that the car comes with 10 airbags.Indeed E39 is a jewel with l with this kind of price. Only thing is the maintenance.
I wonnder how is the maintenance of a E39 compaed to volvo S60 or S80. My partner likes S60 and I opt for E39, trying hard to convince her : )

I believe you need to put aside RM 500-700 per month for the E39 while it's relatively higher for the S60 & S80. If you are after low end torque power, go for S60 T5. Year 2002-2003 model, going for about RM 75-80k. Much cheaper than the E39 of the same age and faster too :top:

 

[Gerald 5]

Yup, I noticed that the car comes with 10 airbags.Indeed E39 is a jewel with l with this kind of price. Only thing is the maintenance.
I wonnder how is the maintenance of a E39 compaed to volvo S60 or S80. My partner likes S60 and I opt for E39, trying hard to convince her : )

Never own any S60 or S80 before. but...........
I was driving a S70 for about 3 years, maintainance is equal to my e39 if not higher. An expansion tank for volvo is about 400+ and E39 is less than 300. 3 year maintainance for my Volvo based on my bill was about 23+k and a year of ownership of my e39 530i is now approching 9k but it was with an initial bill of 5k.
As far as maintaining the car is concerned, imho it is about the same. Driving pleasure, it is a million miles away, as regard to torque for T5 or T6 or even top speed on paper, Volvo seem to be better but handling?? once you test drive the E39, you would undrstand what I am talking about. Cheers.

 

[drbone]

E39

Bro, go and see few more E39 520i/523i/525i, motor trader/Ontheroad adv. will give you some input...test drive and feel the difference among 3 versions and then make your final decission, and make sure full service records is available and including the bills if possible. This will give you some idea of maintenance cost. Be carefull with those recond E39, check the VIN.

Good luck...

 

[initialM]

Bro, go and see few more E39 520i/523i/525i, motor trader/Ontheroad adv. will give you some input...test drive and feel the difference among 3 versions and then make your final decission, and make sure full service records is available and including the bills if possible. This will give you some idea of maintenance cost. Be carefull with those recond E39, check the VIN.

Good luck...

I dun think u can get service record from used car dealer. There are few E39 for sale in the forum classified. Altough it might be sligthly higher, u are dealing wt direct owner which I believe more trustworthy. Try to nego for win win situation which is better than used car dealer.

 

[alpina b5]

you won't regret buying one

 

[socrato]

Checklist

* Radiator: early models can suffer thermostat and radiator faults. Watch the temperature gauge and listen for the engine fan. If it cuts in soon after start-up, walk away.

* Water pump: these fail in older cars - even those with low annual mileages. Some say it's a design fault, with 'plastic' impellors in the pump being the weakness.

* Engine: the 520i, 523i and 528i models up to September 1998 can suffer premature engine bore wear. BMW replaced many units for free, so check service records.

* Windows: electric window regulators fail. Ensure all operate, including the 'one touch' function - although if this is wayward, it can be reset by holding the button in 'close' position for 30 seconds.

* Wheels: front wheelbearings have been known to wear prematurely on models that are driven hard or those that have been fitted with excessively large alloy wheels.

Guys , got this from the net. Wonder what it mean by engine fan cut in soon after start -up, how soon is normal?

 

[wc9922]

The aux electric fan cuts in at high speed mode even when the car is idleing. That's what it means......

 

[Lionel_Koh]

For 5 sili .......Buy at least 525 and above .....Possible double vanos version if u dun want later u going to complaint tat Kancil can overtake during d accerelation ......

If u not familiar wit d car ...better send to reputable workshop for inspection, spend some money for GT1 checking if possible.......

E39 is a very nice n solid car ....Good luck .....

 

[azan23uk]

socrato bro, there are a few forummers/ members here selling off their precious rides. these rides are amongst the best-maintained e39s in the country. you may pay a bit extra but u have a fantastic ride, known history and previous owners to give u advise. think about it. take the advise from us who sudah 'terkena' before and save urself some money and spare u the agony. used car salesmen can be worse bunch of con-man.

 

[initialM]

socrato bro, there are a few forummers/ members here selling off their precious rides. these rides are amongst the best-maintained e39s in the country. you may pay a bit extra but u have a fantastic ride, known history and previous owners to give u advise. think about it. take the advise from us who sudah 'terkena' before and save urself some money and spare u the agony. used car salesmen can be worse bunch of con-man.

Seconded:top: win win situation for buyer & seller minus the used car dealer

 

[Kubica]

E39 is way way way better than G8. G8 besar tapi rasa kosong...