Discussion
Usual E39 stuff:
1) Suspension and steering - known weak points on that period BMW
2) Bushes - big car and heavy on the bushes
3) Service history - it helps but look for decent service record - they run and run though
4) Dash display - common fault, live with it or £400 to replace
5) General electrical niggles - make sure it all works
6) Aircon - compressor AND pusher fan - difficult to test this time of year, but make sure it works
7) Water pump - as mentioned on here, water pump common to fail
8) Leaks from gaskets - common but should not be major
9) Radiator - on the V8's they are prone to leak, not expensive to replace, but a ball ache
Other than that, they are pretty damn fine cars. Nothing major with the engine, gearbox or drive train. A well looked after E39 will run to 200k+ miles without major issues. But the biggie is make sure it tracks straight and true, brakes in a straight line and that there are no vibrations at speed. They are vulnerable to this and isolating them is a nightmare and expensive. But other than that, best condition and spec you can get.....
1) Suspension and steering - known weak points on that period BMW
2) Bushes - big car and heavy on the bushes
3) Service history - it helps but look for decent service record - they run and run though
4) Dash display - common fault, live with it or £400 to replace
5) General electrical niggles - make sure it all works
6) Aircon - compressor AND pusher fan - difficult to test this time of year, but make sure it works
7) Water pump - as mentioned on here, water pump common to fail
8) Leaks from gaskets - common but should not be major
9) Radiator - on the V8's they are prone to leak, not expensive to replace, but a ball ache
Other than that, they are pretty damn fine cars. Nothing major with the engine, gearbox or drive train. A well looked after E39 will run to 200k+ miles without major issues. But the biggie is make sure it tracks straight and true, brakes in a straight line and that there are no vibrations at speed. They are vulnerable to this and isolating them is a nightmare and expensive. But other than that, best condition and spec you can get.....
off_again said:
Usual E39 stuff:
1) Suspension and steering - known weak points on that period BMW
2) Bushes - big car and heavy on the bushes
3) Service history - it helps but look for decent service record - they run and run though
4) Dash display - common fault, live with it or £400 to replace
5) General electrical niggles - make sure it all works
6) Aircon - compressor AND pusher fan - difficult to test this time of year, but make sure it works
7) Water pump - as mentioned on here, water pump common to fail
8) Leaks from gaskets - common but should not be major
9) Radiator - on the V8's they are prone to leak, not expensive to replace, but a ball ache
Other than that, they are pretty damn fine cars. Nothing major with the engine, gearbox or drive train. A well looked after E39 will run to 200k+ miles without major issues. But the biggie is make sure it tracks straight and true, brakes in a straight line and that there are no vibrations at speed. They are vulnerable to this and isolating them is a nightmare and expensive. But other than that, best condition and spec you can get.....
1) Suspension and steering - known weak points on that period BMW
2) Bushes - big car and heavy on the bushes
3) Service history - it helps but look for decent service record - they run and run though
4) Dash display - common fault, live with it or £400 to replace
5) General electrical niggles - make sure it all works
6) Aircon - compressor AND pusher fan - difficult to test this time of year, but make sure it works
7) Water pump - as mentioned on here, water pump common to fail
8) Leaks from gaskets - common but should not be major
9) Radiator - on the V8's they are prone to leak, not expensive to replace, but a ball ache
Other than that, they are pretty damn fine cars. Nothing major with the engine, gearbox or drive train. A well looked after E39 will run to 200k+ miles without major issues. But the biggie is make sure it tracks straight and true, brakes in a straight line and that there are no vibrations at speed. They are vulnerable to this and isolating them is a nightmare and expensive. But other than that, best condition and spec you can get.....
10) Exhaust Cats - can fail - recent MOT should ensure all ok,
I'd agree about the tracking straight and no vibration from the wheel being the indicator of a well maintained vehicle/fastidious owner, there is a multitude of causes of this and it can be very difficult to find the right expertise to fix it. This can disturb the otherwise refined driving experience!!!, have a look at 540i6.com for other stuff, rad neck snaps with engine rock is the classic, pixels is a p.i.t.a mine done under warranty failing again 3 years later, how cr*p is that, bmw should put VDO up against the wall and shoot them! rust in the rear arches worth checking out not unknown on BM's
some of my pixels on the on the central display come and go.
My radiator cracked near the top hose recently, new rad was only £140 and was very easy to change.
I did have a vibration during braking and the odd clonk, which was cured with new front anti roll bar bushes - now drives perfect again.
oh, and try to get a sport version as they come with the big bumpers
My radiator cracked near the top hose recently, new rad was only £140 and was very easy to change.
I did have a vibration during braking and the odd clonk, which was cured with new front anti roll bar bushes - now drives perfect again.
oh, and try to get a sport version as they come with the big bumpers
Edited by eliot on Saturday 9th December 17:24
eliot said:
oh, and try to get a sport version as they come with the big bumpers
I'm not sure what you mean here.
From your picture, it looks to me [ I could be wrong ]
like the bumpers are the same size as the ones on a
non-sport model.
They do appear to have a different colour [ rubber ? ] strip
in them though. This extra strip might be cosmetic, might
be a parking aid.
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