What’s an e39 worth today?
Discussion
I’ve had my e39 for six years next month and I’m still with my original insurer. I bought it for under £1000 and that’s what it’s insured for. But I’m sure some insurance companies would classify it as a modern classic now so I’m looking at some of the classic car insurance companies for a quote.
When I see ordinary e34s advertised now they are often advertised at £5-10k depending on specifications but haven’t seen e39s advertised regularly. I’m not expecting any great increase in value but maybe a few hundred.
Firstly, can I get my car onto classic car insurance and what companies are recommended?
Secondly what should I insure it for?
Year 2000 e39 523i SE manual.
Anthracite with black leather sports interior.
Factory metal sunroof.
BMW 17” style 71 split rim alloys.
Long life stainless exhaust.
Sports suspension with Eibach Pro springs.
Poly bushes throughout.
Alpine radio cd with Bluetooth.
No rust or dents anywhere.
Leather immaculate. (Restored by a trimmer)
150k miles (14k in the last 6years).
Full service history.
Mot to October 2025.
I know it’s a question a little like how long is a piece of string but I appreciate what some insurance companies are like. I also appreciate that it’s not a 530 or M5 but it’s a backup car for me when my Jeep is off the road waiting for parts and my 911 is unsuitable for going onto building sites.
When I see ordinary e34s advertised now they are often advertised at £5-10k depending on specifications but haven’t seen e39s advertised regularly. I’m not expecting any great increase in value but maybe a few hundred.
Firstly, can I get my car onto classic car insurance and what companies are recommended?
Secondly what should I insure it for?
Year 2000 e39 523i SE manual.
Anthracite with black leather sports interior.
Factory metal sunroof.
BMW 17” style 71 split rim alloys.
Long life stainless exhaust.
Sports suspension with Eibach Pro springs.
Poly bushes throughout.
Alpine radio cd with Bluetooth.
No rust or dents anywhere.
Leather immaculate. (Restored by a trimmer)
150k miles (14k in the last 6years).
Full service history.
Mot to October 2025.
I know it’s a question a little like how long is a piece of string but I appreciate what some insurance companies are like. I also appreciate that it’s not a 530 or M5 but it’s a backup car for me when my Jeep is off the road waiting for parts and my 911 is unsuitable for going onto building sites.
It's a very subjective area.
I would like to own an E39 530i M-Sport Touring but everything I see is either as rusty as hell or a Japanese import around the £12-14k figure.
Your being SE spec and a saloon brings that price down, but body condition is everything on these now, as that's where the bills could lie.
I dunno, I am no expert, just someone who occasionally looks at the market. About £3k?
Here's a tidy looking 523i with apparently no rust at £2750: https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1763868
I sometimes look at the smaller engined E39s in SE spec and the yare generally the same - acres of wood, beige leather, comfort seats, sometimes a lot of velour. None of it sets my heart racing, but I bet they are a really nice comfy place to sit.
I would like to own an E39 530i M-Sport Touring but everything I see is either as rusty as hell or a Japanese import around the £12-14k figure.
Your being SE spec and a saloon brings that price down, but body condition is everything on these now, as that's where the bills could lie.
I dunno, I am no expert, just someone who occasionally looks at the market. About £3k?
Here's a tidy looking 523i with apparently no rust at £2750: https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1763868
I sometimes look at the smaller engined E39s in SE spec and the yare generally the same - acres of wood, beige leather, comfort seats, sometimes a lot of velour. None of it sets my heart racing, but I bet they are a really nice comfy place to sit.
Edited by Shooter McGavin on Tuesday 4th February 14:20
Tazar said:
I’ve had my e39 for six years next month and I’m still with my original insurer. I bought it for under £1000 and that’s what it’s insured for. But I’m sure some insurance companies would classify it as a modern classic now so I’m looking at some of the classic car insurance companies for a quote.
When I see ordinary e34s advertised now they are often advertised at £5-10k depending on specifications but haven’t seen e39s advertised regularly. I’m not expecting any great increase in value but maybe a few hundred.
Firstly, can I get my car onto classic car insurance and what companies are recommended?
Secondly what should I insure it for?
Year 2000 e39 523i SE manual.
Anthracite with black leather sports interior.
Factory metal sunroof.
BMW 17” style 71 split rim alloys.
Long life stainless exhaust.
Sports suspension with Eibach Pro springs.
Poly bushes throughout.
Alpine radio cd with Bluetooth.
No rust or dents anywhere.
Leather immaculate. (Restored by a trimmer)
150k miles (14k in the last 6years).
Full service history.
Mot to October 2025.
I know it’s a question a little like how long is a piece of string but I appreciate what some insurance companies are like. I also appreciate that it’s not a 530 or M5 but it’s a backup car for me when my Jeep is off the road waiting for parts and my 911 is unsuitable for going onto building sites.
A 523i SE isn’t sought after really, £2-£3k max is realistic When I see ordinary e34s advertised now they are often advertised at £5-10k depending on specifications but haven’t seen e39s advertised regularly. I’m not expecting any great increase in value but maybe a few hundred.
Firstly, can I get my car onto classic car insurance and what companies are recommended?
Secondly what should I insure it for?
Year 2000 e39 523i SE manual.
Anthracite with black leather sports interior.
Factory metal sunroof.
BMW 17” style 71 split rim alloys.
Long life stainless exhaust.
Sports suspension with Eibach Pro springs.
Poly bushes throughout.
Alpine radio cd with Bluetooth.
No rust or dents anywhere.
Leather immaculate. (Restored by a trimmer)
150k miles (14k in the last 6years).
Full service history.
Mot to October 2025.
I know it’s a question a little like how long is a piece of string but I appreciate what some insurance companies are like. I also appreciate that it’s not a 530 or M5 but it’s a backup car for me when my Jeep is off the road waiting for parts and my 911 is unsuitable for going onto building sites.
Shooter McGavin said:
It's a very subjective area.
I would like to own an E39 530i M-Sport Touring but everything I see is either as rusty as hell or a Japanese import around the £12-14k figure.
Your being SE spec and a saloon brings that price down, but body condition is everything on these now, as that's where the bills could lie.
I dunno, I am no expert, just someone who occasionally looks at the market. About £3k?
Here's a tidy looking 523i with apparently no rust at £2750: https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1763868
I sometimes look at the smaller engined E39s in SE spec and the yare generally the same - acres of wood, beige leather, comfort seats, sometimes a lot of velour. None of it sets my heart racing, but I bet they are a really nice comfy place to sit.
A Jap import E39 530i Sport touring is worth having if you can find one… I loved mine, it was a superb car. No idea what’s happened to it now, been SORN’d since 2023 I would like to own an E39 530i M-Sport Touring but everything I see is either as rusty as hell or a Japanese import around the £12-14k figure.
Your being SE spec and a saloon brings that price down, but body condition is everything on these now, as that's where the bills could lie.
I dunno, I am no expert, just someone who occasionally looks at the market. About £3k?
Here's a tidy looking 523i with apparently no rust at £2750: https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1763868
I sometimes look at the smaller engined E39s in SE spec and the yare generally the same - acres of wood, beige leather, comfort seats, sometimes a lot of velour. None of it sets my heart racing, but I bet they are a really nice comfy place to sit.
Edited by Shooter McGavin on Tuesday 4th February 14:20
You can give an insurer any value you like, but unless you get an agreed value they'll only pay what they consider its "Market Value" to be in the event of a loss. Having said that I'd give them a figure of more than £1,000 because that might be all they'd offer, and I'm sure it is worth more than that!
My 2005 E90 330i got a tap in the rear in 2023 and the other insurer made it a Cat N. Being an SE on 121K miles, albeit a manual one with Xenons, I couldn't get them to value it any higher than £2,240.
My 2005 E90 330i got a tap in the rear in 2023 and the other insurer made it a Cat N. Being an SE on 121K miles, albeit a manual one with Xenons, I couldn't get them to value it any higher than £2,240.
^^^
This; and you'll need to provide similar examples for sale / that have sold etc
IMO it's not worth the hassle due to what's already been said (ie it's not a sought after exmaple)
When I had the agreed insurance on my Jap import 530i Sport touring (£12k) and Jap import 540i Sport Saloon (£10k); it was due to them being rare on these shores. But also none available with the level of documented work mine had gone through or similar examples with then mileage/condition etc
Insure it for £2k if you can and that should be fine
This; and you'll need to provide similar examples for sale / that have sold etc
IMO it's not worth the hassle due to what's already been said (ie it's not a sought after exmaple)
When I had the agreed insurance on my Jap import 530i Sport touring (£12k) and Jap import 540i Sport Saloon (£10k); it was due to them being rare on these shores. But also none available with the level of documented work mine had gone through or similar examples with then mileage/condition etc
Insure it for £2k if you can and that should be fine
Pedro25 said:
The Irish based journalist in the Boyzone documentary seemed to be sitting in a lovely Alpina E39, that would be worth a small fortune I'd guess, as others have stated what its worth to you isn't what any insurer will pay out in case of total loss.
I noticed that, and also that all the members of Boyzone also drive BMWs! Tazar said:
I was reckoning on a couple of thousand or so. Insuring for £2750. Can anyone recommend a company?
I’m not looking to sell it as I’d need a replacement and this, to me, is a perfect backup car for when I need one.
I've used Footman James for years. They don't ask for photos on anything valued at that level.I’m not looking to sell it as I’d need a replacement and this, to me, is a perfect backup car for when I need one.
£2750 is realistic.
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