Back again!!buying advice
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 5 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 5 Series (E12, E28, E34, E39, E60 & E61)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=47557
Printed Date: 27-April-2024 at 21:11
Topic: Back again!!buying advice
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Subject: Back again!!buying advice
Date Posted: 14-February-2011 at 21:48
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Back again guys and looking for a bit of advice.
If anyone remembers I had the 540 touring (E39) for weekends and transit for work. Things got bad last year and had to sell the 540, then the transit died on me. For work (plastering and property maintenance) I got a Jeep cherokee cheap but that was a dog with fleas and also revealed that my daughter has a serious dust allergy. Moved on from that and got a Mitsubishi L200 truck which worked well but I've now gone back to being employed and more office based. The L200 is a painful beast if anything goes wrong but overall ability is superb (camping, bike trips, loads etc etc) but what I want is a comfortable reasonably pokey barge to do the 30 mile a day commute and also some appointments round Bristol as and when. Initial thoughts were an early E39 saloon leaving the truck to cope with camping trips but I'm wondering if an e34 might fit the bill, particularly a 525 or 530? Budget is £1000 and has to have MOT & tax. Any thoughts? John ------------- 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 |
Replies:
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 15-February-2011 at 08:22
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For that money you would get an E39, how clean/straight/true/unchavved it would be for that money is the question. Being a relatively recent surfer to the Pistonheads web site, £1,000 could get you something quite interesting. Nice to see you back on here. ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 15-February-2011 at 13:11
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If I only had a grand to spend i'd be steering clear of BMWs and looking at a Ford Mondeo, Nissan primera etc. However if you want a BMW then you need to be looking at the less popular models such as the 520. I'd go for the e34 and you'll get a cleaner one for your budget than if you go for an E39. I'd be very wary of a really cheap E39, could turn out to be a real money pit. ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 15-February-2011 at 19:26
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30 mile trip, fair bit in the morning spent in queues, trundling along A and B roads plus some town driving, no real overtaking opportunities so 520 would fit the bill, maybe a Ford but seems an ideal time to maybe satisfy a hankering for an E34.
Seen a 525 with FSH,125k on the clock and MOT for circa £700. ------------- 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 |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 16-February-2011 at 08:21
If your commute means you spend a fair bit of times in a que, an auto would be a good choice, saves the old left leg. When stuck in traffic they are a godsend, might burn a bit more juice but there is more to life than hugging trees.------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 17-February-2011 at 00:11
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An old auto is another risk though. If you can get a decent E34 525 and you're prepared to take the risk then go for it... ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Jeek@D-Tune
Date Posted: 17-February-2011 at 13:04
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id go E39 over E34 all day long! main thing to look for is auto boxes and front suspension clunks! they are cheap to fix but there is about 73 arms to change. Jeek ------------- 
D-TUNE Auto Breakers Worldwide shipping available J3eek@hotmail.com Tel: 07970601858 |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 17-February-2011 at 17:09
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Nice http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2098607.htm - E34 , bit over your budget but it looks clean and unchavved. ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: UweM3
Date Posted: 18-February-2011 at 11:29
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don't underestimate the thirst of the autobox.
523i is an option as well, won't be much more juicy than 520 but much more lively. ------------- E61 520d, slow and buzzy but my wallet likes the mpg..... |
Posted By: jetsetwilly2000
Date Posted: 01-March-2011 at 11:07
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Get an old E34 before it's too late! But beware, get a good one and be prepared to spend money on it. My 540 was lovely but high miles, and it cost me nearly twice the purchase price in bits during the three years I ran it. ------------- E90 M3 DCT, E46 330d Touring, VW T5 wannabecamper Previous: Disco 3 TDV6, 2x E34 540i6, E34 535iS |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 07-April-2011 at 20:12
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Sorry everyone for the delay in responding, and thanks for all the advice. Decision made now, the truck is going once we've done the next camping trip in May and budget should be circa £5k.
I'm thinking E39 and head saying 528 or 530, heart wants another 540. Costs will be involved but as a budget plan I worked out the truck does 26-27mpg at £1.39 a litre of diesel, 540 around 21-22mpg at £1.33 a litre so rough calculation means not much more fuel costs, insurance cheaper for a 540, servicing on the truck is every 4,500 miles. Should never have sold the touring  ------------- 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 |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 08-April-2011 at 08:31
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You know you want a V8!!!! £5k should be enough to get you into a E39 540i...... ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 08-April-2011 at 09:38
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My big concern with a car like a 540 is where petrol is going to end up. It's expensive now but if the situation in Saudi deteriorates then it has the potential to get a lot worse. Hell of a motor though If it was me i'd be after a 530i
------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 08-April-2011 at 20:15
If I'm prepared to take a risk £2.5k will get me into an early E39 540 and the old touring was superb.
Is mpg on a 530 that much better? I know what you mean about fuel though ....reasoning I'm using is that with unleaded being cheaper than diesel and the minimal difference in consumption between the L200 and the 540 it should work out about the same.........especially when factoring in the 4.5k servicing on the L200. Anyone know what the tax implications are on a 540 from 1 reg prior to 01/03/2001 to 1 reg between 01/03/01 and 01/03/06? ------------- 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 |
Andrew Rolland wrote:Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 09-April-2011 at 21:19
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LOL, and look what I found......
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2681348.htm - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2681348.htm ------------- 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 |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 09-April-2011 at 21:38
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I think a 530i will get 20-25% better economy than a 540i If that doesn't mean much then go for the 540. That touring looks ok. Not much description though and no interior pics ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 09-April-2011 at 22:49
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Should've said,thats the touring I sold last year with 130k on the clock.
Seen some nice 530 sports in budget so you could be onto something there. ------------- 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 |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 10-April-2011 at 09:20
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The difference in performance between the 530i and the 540i isn't massive and from what I can gather the straight 6s are a less trouble some ownership proposition. Mind you, they still have their fair share of issues... ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 10-April-2011 at 15:00
Do tell...... ------------- 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 |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 10-April-2011 at 16:22
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The M54 engine has a crank case vent valve that takes gasses from the top of the engine and returns them to the inlet manifold. Any oil that goes over head is returned to the sump via a connection into the dipstick. These get fouled up and stick or crack which results in them not allowing gasses to escape including water vapour which then messes up the oil and gives you mayo under the oil cap. It can also result in them sucking up oil and burning it which is IMHO one of the reasons these engines are known to use oil. 1 litre in 1000 miles is not uncommon and can work out quite expensive if you do a few miles. This valve failing is very common and the part itself is cheap but it's a pig to replace. Cam position sensors and lambda sensors fail which result in loss of power and poor economy. Mass flow meters and coil packs can also fail. The cooling system is a common weak point. Radiators bow out at the bottom and if not replaced will eventually fail. Thermostats can break open and the housing is a common spot for leaks. Expansion tanks are known to crack, as are hoses and it's no unheard of for the water pump to fall over. Many owners replace these bits before they fail as the M54 is scrap if it's allowed to overheat. The cylinder head warps/crack and replacement is often more than the engine is worth. For this reason avoid any car that has had it's head gasket replaced due to a failure. Vanos system can and do fail which is very espensive to fix if you buy the bits from BMW but Dr Vanos can sort you out for hundreds rather than thousands. You can tell if it's failed because it will be noisy especially at around 2000 rpm and the power will be down. It sounds like someone shaking nuts in a tin can. Other things to look out for are a sticky gear lever on the manual cars. When the car is cold the gear level will stay over to the right once you've used 5th and will not return until the box has warmed through. This can make gear changes with a cold car fun until you get practiced in knowing where 3rd is. Fixing this is a gear box out job although the parts are no expensive. Other than that you just need to look out for the usual 5 series issues. My 330i has just been condemed after a crash and my current financial situation coupled to a list of issues like that above means I won't be replacing it with another e46/e39. I found that even well maintained cars could rack up the bills fixing the multitude of comon problems. Good luck with your search ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 11-April-2011 at 09:19
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I wouldn't have thought that you would be in any way worse than me which is £245 for a year. The older big engined stuff with the highest CO band have a lower tax bracket than you would expect making them even more attractive. ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: jetsetwilly2000
Date Posted: 11-April-2011 at 10:29
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http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTax YourVehicle/DG_4022118 ------------- E90 M3 DCT, E46 330d Touring, VW T5 wannabecamper Previous: Disco 3 TDV6, 2x E34 540i6, E34 535iS |