I agree 100 % your saying. I am an so called professional in this field. I bought a E39 530d Touring 3 years ago from the first owner in top condition. Silver with black leather. Now the beauty is almost 24 years old and drives better than any new BMW. You have to look after them and they serve you for decades troublefree!
These are so insanely good! I got mine as a short- to mid term winter beater. Fast forward 3 years, and I get genuinely sad when I think about selling it. It's a keeper. You can already tell that they are becoming classics. Getting clean ones is borderline impossible now.
perfectly said. something about making things your own, especially things we sought after that even our parents couldn’t afford. & now in todays market, they’re everywhere, in all different condition & options, at all kinds of price points & packages. we literally could not have asked for more as kids! it’s like legos for young adults! it’s either old cars, expensive cars, or boring cars, & you may be able to pick 2 out of any 3 but i’m sure as hell not picking the boring or most expensive!
This is the generation I would have & a Touring or the E38 7-Series. I did look at a number of them a few months ago before ultimately sticking with Rover 75/MG ZT which share many components with this generation of 5-Series in the electronics & the same separate opening tailgate glass which is a feature I adore. Running a modern classic is cheap to buy, but sometimes requires that hands on DIY effort or trying that bit harder to find a garage willing to tackle the problems of older cars whilst finding parts is a mixed blessing between new old stock, remanufactured or whats available off scrap cars as they dry up.
I own two off these cars. The things that have to be said is to replace all the fluids including the transmission oil 13-14l in total in that box. Make sure to weld the jacking points or get a relative to do it. Oem the thickness is 0.8mm which is very thin. I recommend 1.5mm or 2mm plates. Also very common is the two intakeboots going bad and ccv causing vacum leaks causing the engine to run very bad. Doing these will give you a very reliable car to own. Just did my mot at the bmw dealer and changed a wheel bearing and a headlight level sensor and it passed with flying colours😎
I bought an E39 530i Aegean edition with the M sport parallel alloys , lotus white leather about 10 years ago and I normally get bored and shift motors every few years... But i still have it! Its such a rewarding overall ownership satisfaction thing with these E39's . No regrets
Perfect car. Not so happy to spend their years in Australia, but, still magnificent to own. And then frustratingly expensive to repair. And then relieved to sell. And then... Missed like hell
I think the E 39 is the last elegant 5 series. Mine is a 1998 523i with 280.000 km on the clock. Would never sell it; especially now with all those modern BMWs looking pretty awful.
Great video! Also 2:00 it's not just me then, I can't wash, photo, work on my car without multiple people walking past saying hello / wanting a chat 🤣 like it it's nice but sometimes you just wanna get on! I have been thinking of getting an E39 for years, currently got an E63 6 series V8 but miss my E46, although I'd miss the V8. So here I am again after about 7 years look at E39 540is again, although they are now way more expensive than they were!
Completely agree with the overall thoughts on the design and build quality. But I can share that anyone considering Tourings with sunroofs be on guard for potential interior leaks that can destroy your GM III and when you find a replacement module, it will require coding. And if you're set on the 540 version be prepared to do the timing guides/chains and rebuild the Vanos while you're at it. Mine went at less than 90k miles despite never missing a oil change and having replaced the tensioner. But if you're ok with taking that on, by all means, go for it! People say the steering is better in the 6 cyl. and yeah having a manual is the thing (if you're under 50 and not commuting), but having owned a 525i manual sedan, the E39 540i Touring automatic is in another class altogether... including the gas mileage.😂
I completely agree with you. These are fabulous cars and yours is just beautiful. I would love to have an E39 again, but a touring this time. My only concern is that with a 300 mile weekly commute I would probably have to go for the diesel… and that’s what I’m unsure about due to the way things are going at the moment. That’s my personal dilema
I’ve had my 2000 e39 BMW 540i 6spd for 19 years! It has 175K miles. It’s such a joy for me to drive. I also have a 2018 430i paddle shift and it’s also a joy and super lightweight to throw around. And my 2013 X5 6 cylinder twin turbo sports premium is great for camping and family trips. I can’t believe I have 3 BMWs now. I never planned that. It all started when I first drove a 1995 325i 5spd and was blown away. Been hooked since.
my E39 is 25 / 140k miles. still showroom cond. just removed the intake manifold to replace the starter and hard cooling pipes. best car ever. easy to fix.
Yes. The modern headunit brings the E39 right up to date except for the transmission. An eight speed automatic or six speed manual short shift kit will bring it right up to date. Maintenance is key. Most new owners of a 22 year old e39 don't even know how to set the a.c. properly. Older owners just accept that leaving the sunroof and windows closed is a fact of BMW life.
I love the e39 platform. As an owner of 3 bmws. 1997 540i/6 (my 1st bmw) a 2000 m5 and a 1991 850i/6 . The e39 (especially stick shift ) has the the perfect balance between comfort and performance. The E39 chassis is actually not that big . I think the newer 3 series is similar in size. Great build quality and beautifully designed. Fairly easy to work on and parts are reasonably priced (from the net). I love my 850 too but my 540 and M5 put a bigger smile on my face because they do everything so well.. They are higher maintenance than the Nissan maximas I previously owned but a lot more rewarding to drive…
You are a lucky man!! That’s a very sweet lineup! I have had a 2000 540i/6 for 19 years and love it. Also have a 2018 430i and 2013 X5. All of them have the M package but are not M cars. I recently test drove an M235i paddle shift. It was a lot of fun. Might potentially add it to the fleet if they work with me on the price.
Among the greatest vehicles ever but far from flawless. I own two. A 1999 528iT and a 2003 530i. My red 528iT has 268,000 miles. I bought it with 80,000 miles 20 years ago. My blue 530i has only 138,000 miles which I bought 5 years ago which I bought with 100,000 miles. I get constant compliments on the condition of each of them. Maintenance is very important.
Recently having bought a 1996 Z3 I am looking for a classic BMW to carry my dog around. I would love an E34 but they are getting very hard to find. I think this is it!
I bought mine nearly 3 years ago. Paid way too much for what is was then (my bad, obviously) and had to triple the investment to make it the car it is today. With over 420.000 kilometers on the clock it runs, drives and feels quite like a new one now but it took a lot of effort to get there. So yes, they are great but be very aware not to buy a total or even minor neglected example of the E39 because they can be terrible moneypits.
I feel like the newer cars you have were designed to look "modern" where as the E39 was designed to just look "good". Two very different design philosophies going on. I think that's why it's just been a very pretty looking car then, it's still a pretty looking car now, and I don't see that changing as time goes on.
I think im gonna buy an e39 gasoline one when i do buy a car because i just like it and i dont have big money towards a car so i buy it because its the cheapest cool car in my opinion👍 rwd inline 6 cylinder and it has a lot of speakers and well obiously i like bmw anyway
Bought an E39 325iA touring last year. My favorite car so far but expect to do the basics on everything unless the PO can prove it has been done and with OEM or OE parts. Do not cheap out on for example cooling system parts.
I agree 100 % your saying. I am an so called professional in this field. I bought a E39 530d Touring 3 years ago from the first owner in top condition. Silver with black leather. Now the beauty is almost 24 years old and drives better than any new BMW. You have to look after them and they serve you for decades troublefree!
These are so insanely good! I got mine as a short- to mid term winter beater.
Fast forward 3 years, and I get genuinely sad when I think about selling it. It's a keeper.
You can already tell that they are becoming classics. Getting clean ones is borderline impossible now.
E39 has always been my favourite 5 series
Sold my 2012 Ds4 for Mercedes CL203 facelift MY 2007 cant be happier . People need to save old cars and run them as long as it goes
perfectly said.
something about making things your own, especially things we sought after that even our parents couldn’t afford. & now in todays market, they’re everywhere, in all different condition & options, at all kinds of price points & packages. we literally could not have asked for more as kids! it’s like legos for young adults!
it’s either old cars, expensive cars, or boring cars, & you may be able to pick 2 out of any 3 but i’m sure as hell not picking the boring or most expensive!
This is the generation I would have & a Touring or the E38 7-Series. I did look at a number of them a few months ago before ultimately sticking with Rover 75/MG ZT which share many components with this generation of 5-Series in the electronics & the same separate opening tailgate glass which is a feature I adore. Running a modern classic is cheap to buy, but sometimes requires that hands on DIY effort or trying that bit harder to find a garage willing to tackle the problems of older cars whilst finding parts is a mixed blessing between new old stock, remanufactured or whats available off scrap cars as they dry up.
I own two off these cars. The things that have to be said is to replace all the fluids including the transmission oil 13-14l in total in that box. Make sure to weld the jacking points or get a relative to do it. Oem the thickness is 0.8mm which is very thin. I recommend 1.5mm or 2mm plates. Also very common is the two intakeboots going bad and ccv causing vacum leaks causing the engine to run very bad. Doing these will give you a very reliable car to own.
Just did my mot at the bmw dealer and changed a wheel bearing and a headlight level sensor and it passed with flying colours😎
I bought an E39 530i Aegean edition with the M sport parallel alloys , lotus white leather about 10 years ago and I normally get bored and shift motors every few years... But i still have it! Its such a rewarding overall ownership satisfaction thing with these E39's . No regrets
Perfect car. Not so happy to spend their years in Australia, but, still magnificent to own. And then frustratingly expensive to repair. And then relieved to sell. And then... Missed like hell
I have a 2003 525i sport touring. Lovely car. Very practical. Just need to keep on top of maintenance.
I think the E 39 is the last elegant 5 series. Mine is a 1998 523i with 280.000 km on the clock. Would never sell it; especially now with all those modern BMWs looking pretty awful.
100 per cent agree with everything you said in this video. these e39s are cracking cars. Once these are looked after they will run forever.
Great video! Also 2:00 it's not just me then, I can't wash, photo, work on my car without multiple people walking past saying hello / wanting a chat 🤣 like it it's nice but sometimes you just wanna get on! I have been thinking of getting an E39 for years, currently got an E63 6 series V8 but miss my E46, although I'd miss the V8. So here I am again after about 7 years look at E39 540is again, although they are now way more expensive than they were!
My 1997 528i with 62k on the clock is sublime machine. Faultless to own in 18 months so far
Completely agree with the overall thoughts on the design and build quality. But I can share that anyone considering Tourings with sunroofs be on guard for potential interior leaks that can destroy your GM III and when you find a replacement module, it will require coding. And if you're set on the 540 version be prepared to do the timing guides/chains and rebuild the Vanos while you're at it. Mine went at less than 90k miles despite never missing a oil change and having replaced the tensioner. But if you're ok with taking that on, by all means, go for it! People say the steering is better in the 6 cyl. and yeah having a manual is the thing (if you're under 50 and not commuting), but having owned a 525i manual sedan, the E39 540i Touring automatic is in another class altogether... including the gas mileage.😂
E39 530d Touring is a dream car.
I completely agree with you.
These are fabulous cars and yours is just beautiful.
I would love to have an E39 again, but a touring this time. My only concern is that with a 300 mile weekly commute I would probably have to go for the diesel… and that’s what I’m unsure about due to the way things are going at the moment. That’s my personal dilema
I’ve had my 2000 e39 BMW 540i 6spd for 19 years!
It has 175K miles. It’s such a joy for me to drive. I also have a 2018 430i paddle shift and it’s also a joy and super lightweight to throw around.
And my 2013 X5 6 cylinder twin turbo sports premium is great for camping and family trips.
I can’t believe I have 3 BMWs now. I never planned that.
It all started when I first drove a 1995 325i 5spd and was blown away. Been hooked since.
5:37 M57*
I am green with envy for that KUDA Phone mount. My interior is black and I cant track a complete one down. Great video btw
my E39 is 25 / 140k miles. still showroom cond. just removed the intake manifold to replace the starter and hard cooling pipes. best car ever. easy to fix.
They are fab cars! Wouldn’t be without mine! 😁
Cracking watch. Subscribed.
Yes. The modern headunit brings the E39 right up to date except for the transmission. An eight speed automatic or six speed manual short shift kit will bring it right up to date. Maintenance is key. Most new owners of a 22 year old e39 don't even know how to set the a.c. properly. Older owners just accept that leaving the sunroof and windows closed is a fact of BMW life.
I love the e39 platform. As an owner of 3 bmws. 1997 540i/6 (my 1st bmw) a 2000 m5 and a 1991 850i/6 . The e39 (especially stick shift ) has the the perfect balance between comfort and performance. The E39 chassis is actually not that big . I think the newer 3 series is similar in size. Great build quality and beautifully designed. Fairly easy to work on and parts are reasonably priced (from the net). I love my 850 too but my 540 and M5 put a bigger smile on my face because they do everything so well.. They are higher maintenance than the Nissan maximas I previously owned but a lot more rewarding to drive…
You are a lucky man!! That’s a very sweet lineup!
I have had a 2000 540i/6 for 19 years and love it. Also have a 2018 430i and 2013 X5. All of them have the M package but are not M cars.
I recently test drove an M235i paddle shift. It was a lot of fun. Might potentially add it to the fleet if they work with me on the price.
Among the greatest vehicles ever but far from flawless. I own two. A 1999 528iT and a 2003 530i. My red 528iT has 268,000 miles. I bought it with 80,000 miles 20 years ago. My blue 530i has only 138,000 miles which I bought 5 years ago which I bought with 100,000 miles. I get constant compliments on the condition of each of them. Maintenance is very important.
Recently having bought a 1996 Z3 I am looking for a classic BMW to carry my dog around. I would love an E34 but they are getting very hard to find. I think this is it!
Should I buy e39 525D auto? Or is too boring to have automatic gears
Depends what kind of driver you are, get manual for sportiness and auto for relaxed cruising
Agreed 100 %
I bought mine nearly 3 years ago. Paid way too much for what is was then (my bad, obviously) and had to triple the investment to make it the car it is today. With over 420.000 kilometers on the clock it runs, drives and feels quite like a new one now but it took a lot of effort to get there. So yes, they are great but be very aware not to buy a total or even minor neglected example of the E39 because they can be terrible moneypits.
I feel like the newer cars you have were designed to look "modern" where as the E39 was designed to just look "good". Two very different design philosophies going on. I think that's why it's just been a very pretty looking car then, it's still a pretty looking car now, and I don't see that changing as time goes on.
Yes but I real like the new i4 i5
When are you taking it to the Artic?
Watch Motorweek 1999 BMW 528i
I think im gonna buy an e39 gasoline one when i do buy a car because i just like it and i dont have big money towards a car so i buy it because its the cheapest cool car in my opinion👍 rwd inline 6 cylinder and it has a lot of speakers and well obiously i like bmw anyway
Bought an E39 325iA touring last year. My favorite car so far but expect to do the basics on everything unless the PO can prove it has been done and with OEM or OE parts. Do not cheap out on for example cooling system parts.