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Dergside View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dergside Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-August-2010 at 15:14

Good man KB!!  No messing around there.

Will you need to learn Japanese for the SAT NAV?  What is the Japanese for Mad Cow interchange?

If its as tidy as it seems and as it should be with that mileage then you've got yourself a bit of a bargain there.  When you consider what we both paid for our '97's when they were this age you realize what a change there has been in the marketplace and in values in that time. 

I feel like I got great value out of my last one.  At half, or in my case a third, of the price of those then there is the potential for a lot of cheap motoring.  It seems strange using that word in a sentence referring to cars with 2.5l engines!!

Best of luck with the purchase and enjoyable motoring!

Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.

Prev:
e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci.
e39 523i SE.
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e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.
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kbannon View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-August-2010 at 15:27
TBH, I didn't bother looking at the satnav but the menu works in English so maybe the satnav does too (I don't really need satnav anyway)
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Andrew Rolland View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrew Rolland Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-August-2010 at 18:07

Nice one K, looking forward to seeing more pics.  Did you trade in the 523i?

Dergside, how did you work out that it was a Jap import?

Intersting, so that has just come of the boat from Japan then straight to the Emerald Isle then?  Or did someone bring it over with them or does that dealer specialise in imports?

I suppose it's not like its a model that we don't get here.  So it won't be a "grey import" then will it?

PS you won't need a pipe and slipper set with that Auto, it will be potent enough!

Oh aye and make sure you get the autobox serviced....drone....on....

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'04 04 E60 545i SE Auto
'03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen)
'98 S E39 523i SE Auto
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-August-2010 at 18:20

The square plates identify it as an import (mandatory to have a square rear plate on an import).

It was apparently sitting in the docks for a year (liquidation sale allegedly).

I still have the 523i and once I own the 525i, I'll look at getting rid but I'd get more selling it for parts, etc. than as a trade in.

Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-August-2010 at 18:25

Oh and all the cup holders work (another sign that it wasn't used!)

The Japanese for mad cow interchange is ¿ñÅ£²¡¥¤¥ó¥¿©`¥Á¥§¥ó¥¸ or Kyougy¨±by¨­ int¨¡chenji.

 

 

Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dergside Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-August-2010 at 18:58

Originally posted by Andrew Rolland Andrew Rolland wrote:

Dergside, how did you work out that it was a Jap import?

The bootlid is different on Japanese models.  Not sure why they did one specifically for that market, but see part number 1 - http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DM32&mospi d=47539&btnr=41_0055&hg=41&fg=60



Edited by Dergside
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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Dergside View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dergside Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-August-2010 at 19:03

Originally posted by kbannon kbannon wrote:

The Japanese for mad cow interchange is ¿ñÅ£²¡¥¤¥ó¥¿©`¥Á¥§¥ó¥¸ or Kyougy¨±by¨­ int¨¡chenji.

Useful to know - pub quiz trivia and all that!!

I dare say you probably won't want to do it yourself, if possible, but if you break the old one let me know.  I'll take a few bits off you!

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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote b318isp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2010 at 13:19
Congratulations, hope it serves you well. The E39 has got to be one of the best bargains out there. Brilliant car in all its versions, but you knew that already .
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stephen520i Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-August-2010 at 17:47
Originally posted by kbannon kbannon wrote:

I'm going to check this girl out later: http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/525-M-SP/201032199 190412/advert?channel=CARS

Price includes VRT & NCT (both to be done).



Why can't I view the car when I check on the link? It just default to view all cars.
E34 520i auto leather

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-August-2010 at 22:48
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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kbannon View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21-August-2011 at 01:48
(sorry for resurrecting this old thread)
I have this girl nearly a year now and the odometer today crossed the 40,000 km barrier (~25k miles).

In the year, I've had two issues - the pump for the washer jets stopped working and needs to be replaced.
The front pads went the day before I was due to sail out to Franceland. Picked up a set of pads on departure day from GSF but these turned out to be incorrectly labelled (were for an E39 but didn't fit so I guess a factory error) but they delivered a set of alternative pads to the house.

During a the trip, the car loved the autoroutes. Cruising along at about 160km/h with a roofbox and not a bother (fuel consumption aside). (Someone made a light 6" scratch on the bonnet and I'm gutted - feckin French).

The tyres are near the legal limit but given that they are the originals, its not bad.

Not a bad buy in fairness!
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dryle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-September-2011 at 16:02
KB my e39 went the whole way through the UK with a loaded roofbox, book and bike rack and then some on the other side before running out of petrol at 1:00am. doh. Was easily doing a 90 mph most of the way down. This was a few years back.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BMWFann Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-September-2011 at 00:08
I have seen a 530i with the price of $9900. It was produced in 2001 but it is very maintained and looks very cool. It looks aproximately like the car from the image... if you want to give you the contact information then please let me know. thank you! Smile

[image]http://www.bmwcoop.com/wp-content/images/2011/08/bmw-5-series-35.jpg[/image]
Image from: http://www.bmwcoop.com/2011/08/18/bmw-5-series/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dergside Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-September-2011 at 18:11
KB - Glad to hear that its been a good buy.  In fairness, other than issues that might have been related to its previous lack of use, it was practically out of the box when you bought. 
 
I had a similar washer pump issue with my first 523i, not an overly expensive fix but a bit of a pain because the bottle and pump are hidden under the wing.  I've added 32k miles to mine since early last year but only about 2k since about May (and 1k of that was over 3 consecutive days last month!) as I was using Mrs D's old 328i and the 325i for most of the summer.  It has been absolutely reliable and you can't ask for more than that. 
 
I've used its recent lack of use to get a bit of a vibration from the rear sorted.  It wasn't anything major but took a couple of attempts to eliminate as there seemed to be a couple of contributing factors coinciding (rear wheel bearings, a slightly stiff inner CV joint in a drive shaft and a couple of rosejoints and bushes rear and front).  None of these have been ruinously expensive to deal with but I had a similar stage with the previous 5 where it needed a good bit of TLC at the rear but has run on another 60k since then without need of anything further. 
 
Even with this spend though the maintenance costs, in terms of cent per mile, have been about 40% less than the last car averaged over 100k miles.  Also, in terms of depreciation, if this car was depreciated at the same rate per mile as the last one (that worked out at about 17c per mile over 7 years) then it would now have a written down value of â‚¬60.  On that basis, by the end of next week I'll be having to give cash with it if I sell!  Might as well hold on then!
 
Gotta love slightly upmarket bangernomics!
 
Re. cruising the autoroutes of France I have to say a word for the capabilities of the slightly less powerful BMW's.  Just back last weekend from a 2k mile spin around in Mrs D's e91 318i.  Over that distance it averaged 40.3mpg according to the obc.  This included a 650km stint back to Cherbourg and home loaded with 90+ bottles of the finest output of French vinyards in addition to all our hiking and sun/sea/sand gear.


Edited by Dergside - 14-September-2011 at 18:14
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steven.seed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-September-2011 at 00:10
Hi Killian,
I have to say my 2000 E39 520i touring is a top, top motor.
It's now 200 miles off 150k miles and since i bought it has been totally reliable.
It's nice to drive, smooth, quiet, pretty fast, powerful ( tows my large caravan no problem ), roomy (lots of room for the dog in the back and a pair of ladders with the rear seats folded down), has all the features you need ( including about 10 airbags ) and I love it to bits,
The only issue is the fuel consumption ( 2 liter 24 valve six pot ) which is about 25/26mpg  normally but towing the caravan on a run is a pretty good 22/23 mpg.
Your decision to stay with the E39 is a good one I think, a great car
Cheers  Steve.
1998 E36 318iS Saloon   
1989 E30 318i. Coupe
2000 E39 520i Touring

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrew Rolland Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-September-2011 at 08:54
I still miss my E39 even after virtually 4 years of E60 ownership.  That means I've owned an E60 for longer than I owned my E39...Time flies.....
 
I came accross photos of my E39 on my 'puter the other day and felt a tug on the old heartstrings.  It was a slightly better looking car and I preffered the colour of my E39 to that on my E60.  The E39 had a couple of things that just made life that bit easier than the newer E60 has.  The E39 had a boot release button down at your right ankle, the E60 just has a blank.  The E39 had a curry hook on the inside of the boot/rear wheel arch liner, the E60 doesn't. 
 
Steve your consumption is quite low er high, I mean poor.  My 523i did better than that as does my E60.  Although you get better mpg when towing than I do when I'm towing with my E60.  Might be worth investigating?
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'04 04 E60 545i SE Auto
'03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen)
'98 S E39 523i SE Auto
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steven.seed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-September-2011 at 10:47
Your right Andrew the consumption is on the high side but to be fair I don't use it much and apart from going away with the caravan the journeys are short so it hardly gets warmed up.
Also added to that is the fact that I have a heavy right foot. LOL
I suppose because of that I have put up with the high use of fuel. Maybe next service I'll get them to investigate.
It does run very well and there's always a bit of  'if it ain't broke don't fix it'  at the back of my mind.
It's a really practical car with some nice features like the built in dog guard and split boot with the glass opening separately and of course the tailgate release etc.
It also has the self levelling suspension which is great for towing the caravan.
Yes for my lifestyle its definitely 'fit for purpose'Thumbs Up
1998 E36 318iS Saloon   
1989 E30 318i. Coupe
2000 E39 520i Touring

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrew Rolland Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-September-2011 at 12:14
I did wonder but though better of suggesting short journeys coupled with a heavy right foot.....
 
If it ticks all the boxes you would never change it.
 
As Dergside mentioned, bangernomics, more like oldexecutivebargenomics.
 
Got to love themSmile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steven.seed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-September-2011 at 08:06
Originally posted by Andrew Rolland Andrew Rolland wrote:

 
As Dergside mentioned, bangernomics, more like oldexecutivebargenomics.
 
Got to love themSmile


Absolutely right and thinking about it I haven't mentioned the best bit, I only paid £1100 for it. Bought it off a chap in Scotland and went up to collect it with a mate who drove it half of the journey back and couldn't believe how great it was, reckoned its the best car he'd ever driven. Other than a couple of bonnet stone chips there is no rust anywhere.
My mechanic checked it over very thoroughly and said everything was A1.
The engine is extremely quiet and at motorway speeds its almost silent.
It's turned out to be a good honest workhorse. Never gonna be concours but its clean and tidy.

like you say, got to love them Thumbs Up
1998 E36 318iS Saloon   
1989 E30 318i. Coupe
2000 E39 520i Touring

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lisa Dodd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-December-2013 at 08:07
I've owned also have been provoked into running wide at the front end with the kerb appearing a bit too quickly at your nearside front wheel on giving a bit of right foot but not enough to get the back to swing out.
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