E39 535 buying advice

[nerf]

ive read through some threads using the search function on how the E39 can be bought with very high mileage so i just wanted to ask opinions on a car ive found.

its done 46k miles on a replacement engine (fitted by BMW), the car itself has done over 200k miles. apparently its in really good nick. full service history (not all BMW). should i completely avoid it?

ive been looking for one (535 or 540) with below 100k but after searching PH ive upped the mileage a little to around 120k if one comes up. will the gearbox be hanging off?! if it drives ok, will it be ok? i guess the nikasil issue would be non existant on a newish engine but i would be concerned about other large expensive problems on what is, in effect, a very high mileage car.

looking forward to your views and advice
cheers nerf

[off_again]

I have a 535 and its a pretty good car. BUT, if you have a choice, get a 540. Unless this one is a stonker then you should look at a 540 instead. Why? Because the 535 is the runt of the E39 range. Its not the highest power but you get the fuel consumption of the 540. The 528 and 530 are close to the same performance given that the engine is much lighter. Why did I get one? Because it was a very good price and a good spec - so unless this one is then I would look elsewhere.

Nikasil issue? Nah, the M62 engine in the 535 and 540 did not have the nikasil issue - so I would ask the questions on why the engine was replaced. As for mileage, well its only just run in at 100k so at half of that should be taken in its stide. However, the car needs to be checked out that its really good condition. They are heavy cars so bushes need to be good, it needs to track straight and with no wobble at any speed. The aircon needs to work and it needs to be a good spec - otherwise its just not worth it.

But, above all it needs to be a very good price. There are plenty of jokers out there who think an early 535 is worth £6k or more. Strangely they dont sell. Get down to the real value and its a cracking bargain. For example a 120k 98 model with a good spec is worth £3k - £3.5k at most and even less in the trade.... so it better be fantastic...

[nerf]

cheers off_again.
the bloody car sold! it was on auto trader for about 5 hours i think so i didnt get a chance to see it. i dont know whether to be gutted or not. dont know if i explained the mileage properly but the car on its original engine had done 22000k , the engine was replaced at 170000ish i guess and has since done 40 odd thousand.

ive been a bit fussy with my car searching, wanted black or silver with black leather and i only have between 5 and 6k to spend. i would prefer a 540 but they seem few and far between (ive even deviated and been to look at a merc 300sl), and they all have sport suspension (which i have on my E34).

i was interested in what you say about the 535 not being much more powerful than the 530, do you know the figures? i'll take a look at the 530s in a minute, but i had all but dismissed them as i do like a little grunt.

thanks anyway for your thoughts, much appreciated

cheers nerf

[off_again]

I am afraid that I am a sucker for a V8 and the BMW one is a good one. Its punchy, reliable and actually pretty econmical (I get a standard 26-28MPG out of it!). I just wanted a smooth quiet ride with a bit of power when I needed it - and it was to be automatic and the V8 is perfect for this. An automatic 535 is about .4 seconds quicker to 60 than a manual 530i - so not a lot in it. Get beyond 60 and the gap opens up, but not much. A well driven manual 530i will loose a 535i on the twisties. Mines got the M-Tech suspension package (standard on all UK 540i's) and its been chipped to a conservative 265BHP - so its not giving away much to a 540i now.

There is plenty 535 / 540s around so be selective. A 528 and 530 is lighter and has better steering and a nicer package - a tweaked 530i is pretty damn near perfect. Personally I just love big V8's - as they say in the US, its all about the cubic inches....