'99 5 Series

[Twin Turbo]

Hi all

Looking to (possibly) purchase a '99 (ish) 5 Series Touring. Can the passenger airbag be de-activated for a child seat?

Cheers

Paul

[dave_s13]

I think it can. Will check my manual later if no-one gets back sooner.

As it happens I have a 1999 Touring for sale (528 auto)

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

PM me if any questions etc.

Edited by dave_s13 on Tuesday 5th June 12:51

[Twin Turbo]

Cheers fella.

Don't want to swap with a 1.8 Zafira, do you??

That's certainly a nice example you have there, although ideally I'd prefer a leather interior.

Won't be seriously looking for a couple of weeks as we're off on holiday next week, but I'll keep 'em peeled in the classified.

[Pickled Piper]

I believe the passenger airbag can be deactivated by a dealer. The question is, why would you want to put your child in the from seat? Also, yu have side airbags in the front which will also need deactivating.

Not wishing to preach but its a lot safer for them in the back. Also, I can get three child seats in the back seat of my saloon. So there has never been a reason to put a sprog in the front seat.

pp

[Twin Turbo]

Thanks Pickled Piper.....3 child seats in the back would be ideal.

My wife is a childminder, so the carseat in the front would be for emergency use only. But if 3 fit in the back (assuming all come with 3 point belts?), mores the better.

I was amazed to find the Zafira (Mk1) had a lap belt in the middle and no way of deactivating the front airbag

[Pickled Piper]

Hi twin turbo,

The saloons come with three three point belts in the back. It's worth checking on the Touring.

You have to choose your seats carefully but three will go in the back. I've got a three and a six year old and we often pick up on eof their friends.

pp

[Twin Turbo]

Cheers PP, I'm looking forward to shopping around in a couple of weeks

[Kinky]

I've got a '99 523 Touring.

What exactly do you want to know? I'll go dig the manual out.

K

[Twin Turbo]

Hi Kinky

If you can confirm you Touring has 3 3point seatbelts in the back, that'd be a great help. Also, although not as important now, is whether or not the front passenger airbag can be switched off (either by user or dealer).

Also, are there any known trouble spots to look for?

Cheers

Paul

[dave_s13]

Twin Turbo said:

Cheers fella.

Don't want to swap with a 1.8 Zafira, do you??

That's certainly a nice example you have there, although ideally I'd prefer a leather interior.

Won't be seriously looking for a couple of weeks as we're off on holiday next week, but I'll keep 'em peeled in the classified.

Just had a look in the manual and it states that (small) children should never be in the front seat and no mention of airbag deactivation unfortunately.
Rear seats have 3no 3 point belts.

I know what you mean about the leather but don't let it put you off the cloth in e39's is still very good quality. I wanted leather too but finding the exact spec at my price was is hard, there's not many touring E39's for sale.

And bear in mind I've just spent nearly £500 on mine, all it'll need is taxing in the next year

In fact I may actually consider a Zafira, but it depends on price. I'm looking to sell my e39 and get something a little cheaper to run around in for work and a motorbike as well so it would have to be your car and cash.????

[dave_s13]

RE trouble spots...A samll list based on my personal experience of owning one and general internet research when buying myself:-

Look out for sagging rear end when engine turned off and/or hissing noises from rear end. Lifespan of the self level rear suspension airbags is limited as they perish over time. Mine went about 6 months ago.

Steering wheel wobbles/shimmy at speed. E39's are well known for having a very sensitive front end. Any discrepancy with bushes, brakes, tyres can give you a bit of a wobble.

Rear tailgate can rust.

Rear windcreen wiper spindle - seizes over time.

Other than that it's just the normal stuff to look for. Specifically though the engine should start instantly, be very quiet and the temp gauge should sit bang in the middle regardless of outside temp, engine load, speed etc.

Make sure there's no bangs when slecting any gears and the change should be virtually imperceptable when driving gently.

Good luck finding one anyway

[Twin Turbo]

dave_s13 said:

In fact I may actually consider a Zafira, but it depends on price. I'm looking to sell my e39 and get something a little cheaper to run around in for work and a motorbike as well so it would have to be your car and cash.????

We're looking for around £5k as a private sale (although I need to do a bit more homework and make sure that's a fair price).

It's a 1.8 Elegance (so top spec inc' air-con/privacy glass/alloys etc). It's got around 56k on the clock with FSH. Excellent interior and exterior, 5-speed manual. Oh, and it's dark blue.

I'm sure the moderators will be along in a 'mo as this isn't the classified so feel free to e-mail me at [e-mail] (not the same as my profile - I need to update that!).

I'll keep you in mind as we'll be shopping around w/c 18th June when we get back from holiday.

Cheers

Paul

[dave_s13]

Hmmm a bit pricey at 5k (not that it's not worth that). I'm looking to free up the cash so I have about 2.5-3k for a replacement car then the rest on a stupid fast bike

Not to worry anyway.

[Egbert Nobacon]

Twin Turbo said:

Hi all

Looking to (possibly) purchase a '99 (ish) 5 Series Touring. Can the passenger airbag be de-activated for a child seat?

Cheers

Paul

Paul,

I bought a 1997 e39 528i, the original owner had had the passenger airbag deactivated, and it had to be done at a BMW dealer.

The original owner also had to sign a disclaimer and BMW agreed to reconnect it free of charge.

When I put it in for reconnection it took about 30 mins.

[dcb]

Pickled Piper said:

You have to choose your seats carefully but three will go in the back. I've got a three and a six year old and we often pick up on eof their friends.

I find bags of room in the rear seats of the E39 saloon.

Certainly enough room for one fifteen stone adult
and a couple of kids in kiddy chairs.

Put the younger child in the centre also helps
with rear mirror visibility for the driver.

[Twin Turbo]

Thanks for all the words of advice

[Scamp's Walker]

Not sure whether this helps but my touring has child seat built into the base/squab of the two outside rear seats that you just pull up when you need to carry younger children. It saves you having to remember to transfer the child seat from one car to another given the new regulations and also as there is a proper seat belt in the middle it means that you can carry the "three wise monkeys" all at one time!

[Kinky]

Scamps - which model do you have?

K

[Scamp's Walker]

'98 523i SE Auto

[Kinky]

You must have the option for the child seats - I don't have that in mine.

But I do have the 3-point centre belt.

K