BMW 540 Saloon or Estate

[Slowly Slowly]

At the moment I am running an E34 520i saloon but seeing as I have recently acquired a V8 engined triumph I now find myself hooked,(On V8s) should I take the plunge and buy a E39 V8 to replace the E34.
The E34 is the best car I ever had but now I've tasted the forbidden fruit I need to know whether an E39 V8 will be at least as good.

[dave_s13]

It will be better in every respect I reckon.

Do you need an estate? If so get one, if not don't.

I think the saloon e39's are a little cheaper to buy than the touring.

ps I have an e39 toouring (528) and the inline 6 is a peach as well...oh and it's for sale... blatant plug.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/176854.htm

[Hammerwerfer]

Get the V8 with the manual gearbox. I have a 540i Touring with the manual and it is a great car! Just a tick below an M5 really.

[Orangecurry]

dave_s13 said:

It will be better in every respect I reckon.

Do you need an estate? If so get one, if not don't.

I think the saloon e39's are a little cheaper to buy than the touring.

ps I have an e39 toouring (528) and the inline 6 is a peach as well...oh and it's for sale... blatant plug.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/176854.htm

IMHO it will be worse in every respect; sorry - the E39 was made cheaper, the E34 (and E30) was the pinnacle of BMW build quality - downhill since.

If you do look at E39 tourings, check the rear 'hatch' very carefully; they rust from the inside as the drain holes block; I know two people with this problem.

[Prince Rupert]

Estates are much cooler then saloons IMO (just compare RS6 saloon and avants)

[paddington]

Prince Rupert said:

Estates are much cooler then saloons IMO (just compare RS6 saloon and avants)

I agree. The 5 series touring has gorgeous understated looks - there's a fantastic example on the barge bargains thread probably a few pages back now. They ooze style and class in my opinion.

[Smifffy]

Surely the post above says it all - Buy an M5

Edited by Smifffy on Tuesday 5th June 00:18

[Mark V8]

I've owned both the saloon and Touring 540i, and can say that they are truly terrific cars.
However, why not go for gold and consider the BMW ALPINA B10 V8 ?
My insurance premium remained unchanged from the 540, incidentally !
4.6 litre, 340+bhp, astonishing performance and, (if you drive gently) 30 mpg is acheivable.
Mine (ahem) just happens to be available at the moment and has just been reduced to £7500.
Full details and pictures can be found at.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/180664.htm

[Smifffy]

Anyone else want to sell their car - post a plug here pimponheads.com - your place for a free ad.

[Kinky]

Having had both (and currently with the estate) I'd personally go for the estate, as it seems and feels a better all-rounder to me.

K

[dave_s13]

Mark V8 said:

I've owned both the saloon and Touring 540i, and can say that they are truly terrific cars.
However, why not go for gold and consider the BMW ALPINA B10 V8 ?
My insurance premium remained unchanged from the 540, incidentally !
4.6 litre, 340+bhp, astonishing performance and, (if you drive gently) 30 mpg is acheivable.
Mine (ahem) just happens to be available at the moment and has just been reduced to £7500.
Full details and pictures can be found at.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/180664.htm

That is a gem of a motor mate, hope it goes to a good home.

[SJobson]

I recently changed an E34 530i Touring (V8) for an E39 540i Touring (also V8). The E34 feels like it will go on for ever, while the E39 feels like a much newer car. They're quite different though; the E34 feels low and lithe, far more sporty despite the lower steering ratio, and quite heavy and old-fashioned to drive but in a good way. The E39 feels more aloof, spacious, comfortable. The auto box in the E39 is vastly more modern and efficient, changes are seamless compared to the old car, and it has the manual override which wasn't available on E34s unless you paid through the nose for an Alpina Switchtronic system.

Biggest differences are that the 4.4 V8 is much more effortless than the old 3.0 V8, and the E39 has TCS and DSC which my 530 didn't.

Best of all worlds would be an E34 540i Touring with Switchtronic, I think. The E34s are still relaxing cruisers on the motorway but they're much more fun on B-roads, IMO.

[Mark V8]

dave_s13 said:

Mark V8 said:

I've owned both the saloon and Touring 540i, and can say that they are truly terrific cars.
However, why not go for gold and consider the BMW ALPINA B10 V8 ?
My insurance premium remained unchanged from the 540, incidentally !
4.6 litre, 340+bhp, astonishing performance and, (if you drive gently) 30 mpg is acheivable.
Mine (ahem) just happens to be available at the moment and has just been reduced to £7500.
Full details and pictures can be found at.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/180664.htm

That is a gem of a motor mate, hope it goes to a good home.

Thanks mate, I genuinely love this car, and if there was anyway I could keep it, I would.
I've had lots of interest, but all from guys who are not quite in a position to buy, either offering (slightly) unsuitable part ex's or having to sell thier car to buy mine, still, early days yet - It'll go this week or next.

[The T Boy]

I've found this a bit late but for me the answer would have to be the Touring version. Why go for the saloon when the Touring is exactly the same size but far more practical and much better looking?

I'd also stick with the E34 as it's built like a tank and again (IMHO) looks better than the E39.