Discussion
Just found this section! Thought I'd stick up a few pictures of my 5 Series. I've always wanted an M5 but I began to tire of my Ford Mondeo aged 21 which, lets face it, was far too young get a sensible insurance quote on an M5. Well that and the small issue that I couldn't afford one anyway.
So step forward the 530i Sport - looks like an M5, just doesn't go anything like one. I took 6 months to find this example - I was very fussy. I wanted an absolutely mint example with 1 owner from new, with a manual gearbox. This proved a rather rare thing indeed. Finally found this one from a single private owner from new and the condition was exceptional. I've now had it for 2 years and I love it as much now as I did when I first picked it up.
I'm focusing mainly on keeping it is as immaculate as possible rather than modifications - firstly because I'd rather not send the insurance silly and secondly because most of the modifications that I'd do are a tad outside of my budget anyway (£1k for an exhuast? err) at the moment. So it gets polished and I do rather anal things like replace the black rubbing strips for identical yet new black rubbing strips and replce the headlights for new ones with no marks on the lenses. Oh dear.
It is a December 2001 530i Sport manual with Black Dakota Leather, Xenons, 18 inch Style 37 wheels, MP3 CD changer, and Single Slot CD player.
Enough wittering - here it is:
And the inside..
And my chavvy mod..
And the awesome fuel economy over 308 miles of Motorway.
So step forward the 530i Sport - looks like an M5, just doesn't go anything like one. I took 6 months to find this example - I was very fussy. I wanted an absolutely mint example with 1 owner from new, with a manual gearbox. This proved a rather rare thing indeed. Finally found this one from a single private owner from new and the condition was exceptional. I've now had it for 2 years and I love it as much now as I did when I first picked it up.
I'm focusing mainly on keeping it is as immaculate as possible rather than modifications - firstly because I'd rather not send the insurance silly and secondly because most of the modifications that I'd do are a tad outside of my budget anyway (£1k for an exhuast? err) at the moment. So it gets polished and I do rather anal things like replace the black rubbing strips for identical yet new black rubbing strips and replce the headlights for new ones with no marks on the lenses. Oh dear.
It is a December 2001 530i Sport manual with Black Dakota Leather, Xenons, 18 inch Style 37 wheels, MP3 CD changer, and Single Slot CD player.
Enough wittering - here it is:
And the inside..
And my chavvy mod..
And the awesome fuel economy over 308 miles of Motorway.
Edited by Fox- on Friday 29th August 21:15
I'm not much older than you (22) and was thinking about this as my next car.
What's the car like to drive (urban, motorway, when pressing on)
What's your average MPG
The main reason I don't already have a 530i..how much was your insurance, if you don't mind me asking.
Oh and, lovely car
What's the car like to drive (urban, motorway, when pressing on)
What's your average MPG
The main reason I don't already have a 530i..how much was your insurance, if you don't mind me asking.
Oh and, lovely car
Diablo SVTT said:
I'm not much older than you (22) and was thinking about this as my next car.
What's the car like to drive (urban, motorway, when pressing on)
What's your average MPG
The main reason I don't already have a 530i..how much was your insurance, if you don't mind me asking.
I'm a bit older now as I've had it a couple of years. Tend to get 20-22mpg around town, 35-37mpg on the Motoway (Where I just do 70-75 really) and if I'm out for a hoon 25mpg, if I'm on a spirited long distance A road jaunt, about 28-31mpg.What's the car like to drive (urban, motorway, when pressing on)
What's your average MPG
The main reason I don't already have a 530i..how much was your insurance, if you don't mind me asking.
Insurance... first year was about 1200 quid. Now its 800.
Nice - but I would say that as it's very similar to mine! I don't have the 18s and the leather though. I did think of adding them, but the car is my daily runner and I'm not a leather man! 
Oh and I only have 73k miles on the clock! If I saw that picture right yours has 146k?!! How has reliability been? :}
Oh and I only have 73k miles on the clock! If I saw that picture right yours has 146k?!! How has reliability been? :}
I might do some mods once I've finished Uni and got a proper job - tempted by a remap and some induction and perhaps an exhuast, the thing is I'm minded of ruining the 5 Series refinement with an exhaust. Or it might be time for an M5, who knows!
Reliability wise - it's needed a new cooling system as per perhaps every 5 year old E39 in the world (£400ish), and a header blower motor (£330) plus a few bits and bobs here and there.
Despite the mileage it drives perfectly, I still can't understand how it feels so nice. We've got another E39 in the family we've had since 20k miles - this feels tighter and is in better nick.
Obviously with the current car market the way it is for cars like this its worth more to me than it'll ever be worth to anyone else. Might take advantage of this when the time comes to change and keep it for long journeys etc. It cruises silently and effortless and has not a rattle or a squeek.
Reliability wise - it's needed a new cooling system as per perhaps every 5 year old E39 in the world (£400ish), and a header blower motor (£330) plus a few bits and bobs here and there.
Despite the mileage it drives perfectly, I still can't understand how it feels so nice. We've got another E39 in the family we've had since 20k miles - this feels tighter and is in better nick.
Obviously with the current car market the way it is for cars like this its worth more to me than it'll ever be worth to anyone else. Might take advantage of this when the time comes to change and keep it for long journeys etc. It cruises silently and effortless and has not a rattle or a squeek.
Very nice, I actually prefer the look of e39 sport models to the M5, get much nicer wheels than those chrome ish ones on the M. Still, having 400bhp would be nice... When it comes to modifying it, I'd just save the money for an M5 if that's what you're really after, they're getting quite cheap now. Can get alot with high miles for around £8k at the minute, and a bit more for a lower mileage example. For the time being hope you enjoy it
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff