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martin528 
Groupie
Joined: 27-September-2005
Location: Hinckley
Status: Offline
Points: 67
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 Topic: E39 - My least reliable car ever!!
Posted: 24-January-2006 at 16:47 |
Hello Everybody,
in September I bought a 1998 E39 528i SE, with
pretty much every option, electric leather, teptronic, etc...I was well
chuffed. It had done 115k with full main dealer, impeccably stamped,
history. Even has BMW warranty until May 2006! Having come from the
vauxhall vectra camp, I thought the car was amazing.
However, the bubble has now well and truly burst! 
4,000 miles later, it has the following problems:
1. The ABS and ASC light is on permanently, and the ABS cuts in on even
the most gentle of stops (BMW is looking at this tomorrow under
warranty)
2. There is now a slight top end ticking from the engine, and a gentle
hunning/buzzing noise from the same area (inlet side). The engine was
silent when I bought it! It also seems to make a sound like the exhaust
manifold is blowing (light ticking sound)!
3. It has a judder / vibration from the suspension at certain bands of
speed...Dunlop SP2000s buckled and split, with 7mm tread left on!
Changed them, but ride still suffering..may be balancing still, reading
other threads.
4. And as of yesterday, the automatic hold its gears for ages!! If you
accelerate gently to 50mph, the revs rise to 3.5 - 4k rpm, then if you
let of the throttle, the revs do not drop like they should, but behave
like they would if it were a manual (i.e. reduce linearly with speed)
Has enyone else had such a bad experience, or got any advice. I'm at
the end of my tether...and as a graduate automitve engineer, I can't
believe how bad the car is!
Regards
Martin
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Triumph Speed Triple 2006, and E39 528i SE...not bad for a 26 year old!
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Stone-IslandV8
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 31-January-2003
Location: North Somerset
Status: Offline
Points: 3015
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Posted: 24-January-2006 at 17:17 |
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Not gonna help you much Martin but theres good cars and bad ones...unfortunately you sound like you got a bad 'un.....as I have, a 1999 520iSE
Within 8 months-
1-new cyclone valve
2-new front shocks
3-worn antiroll bar links-not yet rectified and possible cause of vibration around 75mph
intermittent losing pixels
4-NEW ENGINE!!!
5-new thermostat
6-2 new fuel gauge sender units...0ne was done,nobody saw anything wrong with the other 1 til I filled up with £60 fuel and lost about £20 worth on the forecourt and the road outside my house!
Worst car I've had......previous I had a 1995 M3 which in 3 yrs cost me new top shock mounts,new rad and that was it.
I don't think its all E39s,just individual ones.
John
Edited by Stone-IslandM3
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Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea
Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit
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Fey!
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Funs over, Scotty; beam down my clothes!
Joined: 28-February-2005
Location: Galway
Status: Offline
Points: 4161
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Posted: 24-January-2006 at 17:18 |
Wheel wobble - usually balancing. Judder whilst braking? Maybe you've warped a brake disc.
Tyre split - any chance you clipped a kerb that might have weakened the tyre wall?
Other stuff - at least you have a warranty!
If it helps, I had a LOT of teething problems. Coming up on a year now, and I couldn't be happier! And that's saying a lot, seeing as I had 2 bulletproof Hondas before this!!!
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martin528
Groupie
Joined: 27-September-2005
Location: Hinckley
Status: Offline
Points: 67
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Posted: 24-January-2006 at 17:33 |
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It had new front discs at BMW Inspection II 9k ago, so not discs I'm
guessing. Tyres show no sign of impact on the one that is split (right
through the wire!), and the the other one is 5mm on radius out of
round...I'd never buy Dunlops ever again!
When they collect the car under warranty tomorrow for the ABS and ASC
light fault, I'm gonna get them to look at the Auto box and Engine
faults as well. I HOPE they're all warranty items!
If i give in andd sell it, I'm gonna buy a Maestro Diesel, 60mpg, never ever breaks down...ever, ever. £200 to buy.
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Triumph Speed Triple 2006, and E39 528i SE...not bad for a 26 year old!
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 24-January-2006 at 18:16 |
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Just to balance the books, I've got a '97 523i that I've run for 3 years from 44k to 98k currently with little more than normal servicing and a few wear and tear items.
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev:
e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci.
e39 523i SE.
e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE.
e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.
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Toxic
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 14-October-2003
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 841
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 05:36 |
 Dergside wrote:
Just to balance the books, I've got a '97 523i that I've run for 3 years from 44k to 98k currently with little more than normal servicing and a few wear and tear items. |
Wait till she hits the 100k, get back to us in another 3yrs Diarmuid
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Tom
E39 1997 523i
Oxford Green (Sold)
___________________________
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Drew540i
Really Senior Member II
Available from all good newsagents!
Joined: 15-August-2005
Location: The Mansfield Massive
Status: Offline
Points: 632
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 05:44 |
Bring back the E34, all is forgiven. You should read
some of the USA 'Lemon' websites and some of the
BMW E39 horror stories.
There's only one way to buy a BMW - manual
gearbox, FSH and high mileage so it's nice and
cheap. The higher the mileage, the more bits will
have been changed!
All those Fords that do 100'000 miles without a
drama........ 
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 09:20 |
Toxic wrote:
Wait till she hits the 100k, get back to us in another 3yrs Diarmuid |
Tom, considering I've already had this car longer than any other I've owned, the chances are I won't still have it in another 3 years!
My point really was that there are plenty of e39 owners on the forum and the experiences outlined here do seem to be exceptional.
Wear and tear is to be expected. For example, I changed all the shocks on mine a couple of months ago, but the originals had well over 90k on them so it was hardly premature failure and therefore I don't consider it to be a quality issue or a black mark against the car.
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev:
e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci.
e39 523i SE.
e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE.
e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.
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Keefyboy
Groupie
Joined: 30-November-2005
Location: Tipperary
Status: Offline
Points: 90
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 10:30 |
I'm in Agreement Dergside....I dont think the E39 is neither exceptionaly good nor specifically weak in any area. It is, (and this is only my personal opinion some 3 months into a 520I although I known my car a while as the previous owner is a pal and had it for years) however a good solid reliable no nonsense saloon and a pleasure to drive........The E34 was a tank in disguise with a bulllet proof engine and is a modern day classic and there is no better site than a mint one well looked after.....maybe some of the people above were just unlucky with a particular car.
Keefyboy
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bpc101
Newbie
Joined: 08-September-2005
Location: Bishops Stortford
Status: Offline
Points: 31
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 11:02 |
I also bought last September a 1999 528SE with 102k on the clock.
In those 4 months I have had the ABS/Traction control unit "repair kit", 4 new wheel sensors, cyclone valve, rocker cover gasket, new alloy (previous owner had buckeled several of them), fog light clip. And needs still some more work on it with link arms, gearbox service etc etc.
Not the cheapest 4 months of car ownership, but it is my 4th BMW and I love them. Had issues with an E34 with a broken gearbox, but other than that it ran well. My E36 323 coupe was the most fun and with no issues.
I hope that it all works out and that the warranty covers all your issues.
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whitey
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 15-May-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 450
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 13:02 |
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Mines the worst BMW I've ever had. Numerous problems in the last 3 years. Won't be sorry to see it go.
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2000 e39 523i with full factory sport kit.
1989 e30 325i Convertible
1999 Golf GTI 1.8T
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Bill-
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 06-July-2005
Location: 5 miles from Brands Hatch
Status: Offline
Points: 434
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 13:12 |
Bugger me sideways  am I glad I have an E34
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Hayabusa
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Bill-
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 06-July-2005
Location: 5 miles from Brands Hatch
Status: Offline
Points: 434
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 13:14 |
15,000 miles since June and just s sip of oil and 2 tyres needed 
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Hayabusa
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whitey
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 15-May-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 450
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 13:36 |
I had 2 e34's (a 2.5 12v and a 2.5 24v) and very few problems in 7 years. The last 3 years with my e39 I've had:
1. Replacement dash due to pixels problem at 3 years old. Now a further 2years and 10 months it's starting to go again.
2. 2 rear wheel sensors due to the afore mentioned ABS / ASC light up and cruise not working.
3. 2 PDC sensors
4. Thermostat stuck open
5. Airbag light stuck on
6. vibration's galore. Some wheel balancing, some bushes worn and it's still there. FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION DUNLOPS. I HAVE THEM AND HAVE HAD SOME GO OUT OF SHAPE. I BET IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN!
7. Front Strut tension arm bushes knackered
8. rear suspension integral link worn out
9. Transmission cooler leak
10. power steering pipes leaking from the resovior
11. rear suspension upper arm shot.
12. Headlamp adjuster broken for no reason!
13. drivers seat clicks under cornering.
Can't think of anything else but I have had enough of it. It sits on the drive filthy as I've just lost all enthusiam for it. My e34's were never dirty for long and after 5 years with the 24v I still loved it but wanted to "step up" into an e34. It has ended up being a big "Step Down".
Edited by whitey
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2000 e39 523i with full factory sport kit.
1989 e30 325i Convertible
1999 Golf GTI 1.8T
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Drew540i
Really Senior Member II
Available from all good newsagents!
Joined: 15-August-2005
Location: The Mansfield Massive
Status: Offline
Points: 632
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 13:42 |
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E39's are gaining a bad reputation now they're
getting old. The 525d and 530d are terrible cars with
real problems - leaking injectors, failed turbos, air
mass meters etc etc. One on car with 150k an ECU
problem held an injector open so it flooded one
cylinder with diesel and hydraulicked the engine.
Build quality under that shiny paint and wood trim
isn't that great - for example the plastic washer
nozzle pipe splits and breaks up in cold weather
because it's cheap and nasty. Sadly BMW really cut
costs with these and it's starting to show.
They are nice cars but the older stuff was so much
better built and less complex - and 'fixable'.
BMW E39 is an expensive Peugeot.
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whitey
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 15-May-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 450
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 14:01 |
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Yeah, you've reminded me. When it freezes the washer pipes blow off the nozzles soaking the engine bay!
Edited by whitey
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2000 e39 523i with full factory sport kit.
1989 e30 325i Convertible
1999 Golf GTI 1.8T
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Anders
Newbie
Joined: 20-September-2003
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 29
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 15:45 |
martin528 wrote:
Hello Everybody,
in September I bought a 1998 E39 528i SE, with pretty much every option, electric leather, teptronic, etc...I was well chuffed. It had done 115k with full main dealer, impeccably stamped, history. Even has BMW warranty until May 2006! Having come from the vauxhall vectra camp, I thought the car was amazing.
However, the bubble has now well and truly burst!
4,000 miles later, it has the following problems:
1. The ABS and ASC light is on permanently, and the ABS cuts in on even the most gentle of stops (BMW is looking at this tomorrow under warranty)
2. There is now a slight top end ticking from the engine, and a gentle hunning/buzzing noise from the same area (inlet side). The engine was silent when I bought it! It also seems to make a sound like the exhaust manifold is blowing (light ticking sound)!
3. It has a judder / vibration from the suspension at certain bands of speed...Dunlop SP2000s buckled and split, with 7mm tread left on! Changed them, but ride still suffering..may be balancing still, reading other threads.
4. And as of yesterday, the automatic hold its gears for ages!! If you accelerate gently to 50mph, the revs rise to 3.5 - 4k rpm, then if you let of the throttle, the revs do not drop like they should, but behave like they would if it were a manual (i.e. reduce linearly with speed)
Has enyone else had such a bad experience, or got any advice. I'm at the end of my tether...and as a graduate automitve engineer, I can't believe how bad the car is!
Regards
Martin
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Some of the stories here are pretty scary - mine has been very reliable so far, even though it is one of those "terrible" 530d.
Martin, you certainly have had some problems but you are in the rather fortunate position of having a BMW warranty until June, so why don't you make the most of it and book the car in, have everything fixed FOC and enjoy the replacement car meanwhile?
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martin528
Groupie
Joined: 27-September-2005
Location: Hinckley
Status: Offline
Points: 67
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 17:57 |
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Car is stayin in overnight. The believe the ABS and
ASC light are wheel speed sensor related. The engine sound is normal
according to 3 BMW technicians, and is most likely to me being
paranoid, but the 'ticking' from the exhaust is due to a bent catalyst
cover.
The judder from the front is (hopefully) due to a
the other front tyre (also split) being out of round (NEVER BUY
DUNLOPS).
As for the auto 'box holding gear, they believe its
also wheel speed sensor related. Apparently the auto box speaks to
these sensors, and when the car believes its cornering, it will not
change up a gear. Faulty wheel speed sensor will fool the car into
thinking its cornering!
It seems the route of my problems is just a wheel
speed sensor, but will only know for sure when they replace it. Also,
I'm gonna bin my current wheels, and fit a set of the standard Turbine
ones, which look nice and solid with Continental tyres. I now
officially hate Dunlop with a passion, due to their tyres buckling long
before wearing out.
I'll keep you all posted.
Martin
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Triumph Speed Triple 2006, and E39 528i SE...not bad for a 26 year old!
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Stone-IslandV8
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 31-January-2003
Location: North Somerset
Status: Offline
Points: 3015
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 18:11 |
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Turbines??look nice if IMO a little small on 16s but make sure you get a good pressure hose for cleaning them...takes forever and a day with sponge or brush!
Good news on the fault tho'
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Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea
Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit
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Drew540i
Really Senior Member II
Available from all good newsagents!
Joined: 15-August-2005
Location: The Mansfield Massive
Status: Offline
Points: 632
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Posted: 25-January-2006 at 18:34 |
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When my local cab firm can run a 406 or Mondeo
diesel up to 200k without failures or problems, a
BMW oil burner that can't get much past 100k without
blowing up/leaking fuel/smoking is crap by any
definition.
Sure, they drive well and go admirably but they just
aren't built to last high mileages and most BMW
mechanics are convinced that they are to be avoided
unless you have the BMW warranty. I saw two in at
my local specialsit today - one 02 plate 525d that
smokes like a chimney (60k) and a 530d auto with
two leaking injectors. Quality stuff!
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E39 - My least reliable car ever!!