1998 E39 BMW 528i 5 speed Manual-The most sufficient car.
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- Опубліковано 16 лип 2016
- This is a review of the 1998 e39 BMW 528i.
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My Son asked me the other day what my dream car is. I told him we were driving in it. 2003 E39 540i. What a great car it is.
Hey, those 98-03 are the best ever.
DAD
Me too...lol.. this same one 528i
I tell mine the same thing about my 2000 528:).
i got a 1998 pre vanos 540i
220,000 miles on my 1998 528i 5 speed, the greatest car ever!!!
mine 240k keeps going, loves peeling out of work every day
Agreed! My 530D has 301k miles but drives like it just like it was born yesterday.
332,000 miles on my 1998 528i 5 speed and going strong.
The e39 is still known worldwide as BMW's best 5 series. 80 year olds will tell you this, 20 year olds will say same. I'm fortunate to have had many BMW's over the last decade(at least 15). I've settled on keeping my 95 540i/6, 2001 540it wagon, 2001 740i msport.
Great choices but why no I6 engines? They are more reliable, tunable and nimble.
@bag2963 very true, but I'm far more familiar with the M6x engines, as they're the ones I really started working on when I first got into the addiction.
@@Transportador33 You're still a winner, that's the thing about E39s :) getting one is one of my main goals now(be it 2.5, 2.8 or 3.0). There are tuners who tune 3.0 engines to 370HP NA around my area for about $3000.
@bag2963 Say what!!?? 370 HP in an M54?? Where do you live, how is this possible, and what can they do for NA M6x?
@@Transportador33 I'm from Tbilisi, Georgia. Give me your contact info and I'll send their videos.
Have a 528iA too with 322000 km (200000 Miles) is a third part for this engine!
Thanks to all the fans in the states.
Greets from good old germany ;-)
Buying one of these cars was probably the best money i have spent thus far. The looks are unbeatable.
I bought a 528i about a week ago...it is the best car I have ever driven. Its practicly the same, except its a double vanos. m54. So smooth...so quite, then becomes an absolute beast that handles like a lighitweight. The car is amazing after 20 years!
BTW your video made me choose the e39 over Saab 9-3 or volvo s60
@@markobegus I dunno if I would touch a 9-3. I had an ex who had two of these and both had turbos that seized and caused other problems, had rings that wore out before 150K, and practically everything in the interior was broken over 120K even though the cars were not abused. They were also a total nightmare to work on.
@@equid0x must have been your ex trashing it, lol. My Saab is awesome, runs better than my bimmer and hasn’t had any problems, however I do regular maintenance and don’t wait for failure like some people, really solid built Swedish cars.
I agree. My 2.8 L turbo 9-3 has been a dream to own.
M54 engine in a 528i? So somebody switched out the engine at some point?
I think your opinion of the automatic version of this car would change if you tried one. They shift really nicely and have a strong 1st and 2nd gear. The shift point RPMs increase if you keep it in 3rd. The only issue is that it feels like it needs a 5th gear on the highway.
this car does not get old! E39 528i Highline is a good choice too.
They're timeless cars, that's for sure.
Diego Rodrigues love my e39...
Winter in the city 21.38 MPG, 29.40 MPG highway
@@Reamees1 That's what I get, too. About 21-22 city depending on AC usage(I live in a desert) and about 29 on long distance highway trips. I say not bad at all considering the weight and age of the car.
This is my favorite car of all times.This is the best bmw from all bmw.
The fact that Mercedes had the e class they did at this time makes the E39 an even more impressive vehicle. Ages away from each other. End of this month I'm travelling down south to get my 2nd E39, an 01 525 m sport. Americans mind find it lacking, but I'm coming from a 96 523i.
i just bring mine the mechanic was amazed the original clutch and water pump were the orignal they failed at 332000 kms !!!! it's my second e39 best sedan ever !!! give a try to the e46 COMPACT it's handle great and you can have it with the l6 2.5i !!! and no weak chassis like the sedan or the coupe !! so one e39 for long road , e46 compact for the daily in the city and the Z3 E36 for love and the X5 E53 for adventure ;p et voila the golden age of bmw !!!
377820 miles that still going luv my E39
I love my BMW E39 528i 2000😎
I own BMW e39 528i, sedan, single vanos, manual gearbox, 1996 y and this the best engine of BMW, thats ever made!!! I will never change!!!
I watched this video years ago when I really wanted a car like this (I wanted the touring specifically), but couldn't afford it.
A few years later and now I'm a proud owner of a 528i Touring w/ manual transmission, and I couldn't be more happy with it.
While it isn't the best in any particular thing, it really excels in bringing a great mix of performance, comfort and practicality.
I live close to Germany, so I get to drive it on the Autobahn frequently, and you can tell that it's made for high speed cruising :)
I just got a 528i touring.
E39 is solid piece!
If you can work on these cars yourself, you can take this car up to 300 - 400k+ mi. easy. It's not too difficult a car to work on too. Tons of info on the Internet. The other day I saw an immaculate black debadged E39 in my condo's guest parking lot - great looking car, just a little bit lowered and tasteful taller BMW rims. Subtle and very nice!
My 1999 5 Series has 224,000 miles and still running smooth. The biggest issue I've had with her is the driveshaft but besides that she's perfect!
Love my 5spd manual 528i. The steering feel and smoothness + lack of road noise can still stand against 2005-2010 cars. As a child carrier it is no longer sufficient, because of the lacking safety features, but as a second car, a hobby of sorts, it goes perfectly.
I have a well taken care of 2000 528i. This one has the 5 speed 5L40E GM Trans manual/auto hybrid "motronic" style. Low speed torque is disappointing but once the car hits 3rd it really takes off. Its not a total slouch off the line, though. This was the car I always wanted when I graduated HS and years later, when I finally got a point in life I could afford one, I bought it. I agree its not completely amazing in any particular way, but it is reasonably fast, comfortable, reliable, has a lot of features on recently introduced to more modern cars, and still looks pretty modern. I find that people are often surprised when I tell them that the car is nearly 20 years old. With the overall design of the car they still think its fairly new! I've actually been asked a couple times before if this is the new 528i this year and imagine their shock when they find out how old the car is.
I replaced the seals on the Vanos which restored a good but of the low end pickup. Other than that, no major repairs have been made to the car aside from an ABS/DSC module failure(bad contacts inside, common issue), and lower control arms on the rear suspension that had worn ball joints(caused looseness in the rear end and terrible tramlining on grooved pavement), and various cooling system parts(also common - radiator, hoses, expansion tank, thermostat) all of which I was able to change myself. I'd say not too bad for a 20 year old car.
Interior-wise, the SO busted the flimsy cup holders (replaced with an aftermarket cupholder tray that's not so flimsy and poorly designed), there is a crack on the flip down cover for the tape deck(every single car in the junk yard had the same crack in the same spot), and the pistons for the trunk have worn out, and the 3rd light brake light has needed multiple replacements of the bulb socket that warps from heat and causes the light to malfunction($7 part), and a broken plastic sun-visor hook($1.25 part). Otherwise, the rest of the interior is original and still appears practically new.
The local BMW yard has about 20 of these all of which are well over 250K and some of which are over 300K miles. I suspect the cars were still running when driven into the yard but they all have interiors that were pretty beat and probably got scrapped when someone bought a new car. At least around here, I see several others still on the road pretty much on a daily basis.
528i has enough power to enjoy it
As a 528i owner I can agree
I am lucky enough to be sporting a 2003 E39 530i M Sport for a year now - love everything about it! Balanced in every way. Will be looking after this modern classic. Nice review, thanks.
Awesome, hope you enjoy it! Ill probably making a video soon with an update on the e39 and how its held up over the years.
So at 245000 runs like a top 530i is one tight work hourse
I own E39 3 litre petrol. The best car I've ever had
i bought a 2003 e39 530i about 6 years ago as just as a short term run about for the short term....
i still have it !
they are just brilliant all round cars
I own one of these but it's a 2000. Literally the most fun car I have ever driven.... And my mom and dad both drive newer Mercedes. The mechanical feel is unmatched.
My 523i is already great
The epic b28 is awesome imho
Fits perfect to the e39
I owned a '99 manual 528i in met silver. I replaced it with an '03 E60 530i 6-speed manual. The interior is not as good; it looks as though it's been costed down. However, it does have less wind noise and the 6th gear is handy.
However, as I was missing the E39 style and quality, I bought an E39 M5.
I know this is an old comment, but the transmission bolted right up? No adapter plates or fabrication or anything?
@@OmariFoxhellahandsome
I meant the old car, not just a gearbox swap of an E39.
Although I'm sure it would be a straight swap.
My dads got a 528i touring it’s a great car and the sound is amazing, we are working on it at the moment, just going to remap and lower it to make it better. He used to have a 330d but the 528i is way better imo
Your videos are good watching- and listening 👍🏻
I just got a 520i 2002 manual and love it already, only had it 1 day.
The reality is this is the best used e39. I currently own a 97 5 speed. The iron block single vanos from 97/98 is the most reliable inline 6…..and the pre Sept 1997 clutch has a better feel than post which was a self adjusting with a spongy feel. I experienced the same with the 540i 6….That makes the pre 1997 5 speed the best used 528i …..I owned 2 5406 speeds when they were new in 97 and 98…..and I recently drove a very low mileage one and jumped back in my 528i and was shocked that the difference was not as much as I thought it would be. The power band was better in low end torque by a little bit on the v8….but the 528 had s nicer top end. Better steering feel too with the rack. You can also work on these yourself….hands down the best used BMW.
Nice,i've a 540i 1997 still looking good 112k milles on it.with 18" M Parallels and i love it.
Great video.
Very nice review!!
Great car. The best looking 5-series ever made.
Great video man lots of good info thanks!
Thank you for the great video, I'm thinking of buying one!
Extremely good car
Loved my '98 E39 5 spd but love , love my '01 E39 M5! That 400hp V8 and 6spd are Magic! Still have it!!
Awesome Video...
I drive mine daily. I LOVE this Car. Like a tank with a library inside
I have that same car
With a few mods & a remap 18 inch M5 wheels it out performs my mates 530i top speed & acceleration
I use a 1998 528i single vanos auto 5 speed as my daily... Apart from the somewhat high fuel consumption and the steering wheel size, it does everything so well.
Great video!
Thank you!
E39 is arguably the apex of BMW engineering. A mechanical marvel rolled-up in a sleek design that's been emulated but never equaled in over 20 years! These cars are cherished by BMW enthusiasts and are destined to skyrocket in value in the near future. If you can get one today under $5,000, you should jump on it. NOS parts are still available at reasonable prices.
The pleasure of driving the E39 cannot be accurately conveyed without sounding like an exaggeration. The Germans got this one directly in the sweet spot!
Great car and what a guy !! totally handsome !! Sorry had to say it . Thanks for the videos !!
That car is exactly the same as mine. I mean exactly. It's like the guy stole my car to make the video.
I M BuckdeSystem then you sir, are a lucky man!
Lol same
He stole your identity. He is you.
@@slam44
I don't know who the lucky man is supposed to be. Him or me?
I never had a bmw and I bought a 528i 1997 by chance and I do not see myself with another car
same here :D I tried Tesla, it is good but something is missing... but I have just 523i
I know what you mean about the gear stick throws, I shopped around before I bought my 1999 528I Manual(great minds think alike eh?), but I chose mine because the car had only one owner with a gentle 105K miles on the clock and because the car was an SE with the M sport wheel and gear stick, which completely transforms the gear shifts and the smaller steering wheel makes cornering so much better, But most important, because its only an SE, it gets harder wearing cloth seats, and perhaps best of all a slightly better ride, I suspect this odd combination also dropped the price a bit as well.
I have a 1997 E39 528i auto an it's 5 speed. It drives superbly and manual gear selection works well with the auto box if you want to exploit the car more.
Easily the last car I would ever own if I could find one! My BMW moment came when I bought a 1 owner, 1995 E34 525ia from the original owner, - 105,000 miles with all maintenance records and 15 years old. A "milk toast" BMW by all accounts but after a few hundred miles I knew that there was BMW and then there was everything else. It magically came alive at 80 mph and became more than a reliable, drum hauler and family car, it became the machine. It's on it's way to 300k so when I find the right E39, I'll be a happy old man.
Looks brand new
Nice informative video, thanks.
I love e39
Currently i own my third one
Incredible cars
My dream car
I have a 2000 540i Touring and it's pretty fantastic as a daily driver. The engine still has enough power to be quick even by today's standards, and the 5HP24 automatic is not a bad transmission for everyday driving, though I do wish the 540i tourings were available with a manual.
sounds like an awesome daily!
Yeah, it's been very solid, especially right now while I'm moving to a different house. All that cargo space is quite useful! 186,000 miles and it just keeps going.
535 manual 👍🏻
This was my first BMW. And I have to say.., you will fall in LOVE with the E39. And I dont mean that in any overrated shlt. I dont talk nonsense. But you will truly feel genuine love. I liked it so much I bought the E46 2 months later.
well, if you loved it so much then why did you switch it for an e46 only after 2 months? or do you have both?
great video, but i'm gonna have to disagree on one point : the speaker system sounds hella great ! i use the stock radio tape player with a tape/jack 3.5mm to be able to play music with my phone, and the sound is astonishing honestly
Mine is with M52B28TU and i love it
This model has great accecoires
I have a M package 530i 2003 and its the best car i ever had. Hope ill get the 540i soon
Leo King the 530i is the best of the e39s
The 540i is way more expensive and the v8s are less reliable
Just bought an e39 with the 5 speed for 1500usd. A little rough but it's all cosmetic. It's so fun to drive compared to my newer corolla
I envy you, this car in my country cost more than 10000US$ and i couldn't afford even the cheapest one
@@nicolasmacchiavello8201 really? For a car that's 22 years old? Where is this? I used to live on the philippines and a car like this in good shape is probably going to be 6000usd.
The e39 I bought here in the united states' was in very rough shape and I needed to fix some things to make it run better
I can't wait to post my vids
How would you compare the handling to an E46 323i with stock non-sport suspension?
I ran a 528i SE with the ZF Steptronic Auto for some years. Very comfortable and refined. Loses a bit of performance to the manual but a 528i isn't really a fast car anyway. I think 0-62 mph (100 kph) was around 8.0 seconds. The 5 speed manual probably chops about a second off that figure. But for me the Step Auto suited the car well. If you want fast then get the 540i. These cars are a little long in the tooth now but good examples are still reassuringly expensive. Target model would be a 530d for me.
I have a 98 528ia and i have a 5 speed auto and singel vanos...
Man it's hard to imagine the e39 with a 4 speed. Australia only ever got the 5 speed zf auto and manual transmissions.
I looked up every car on UA-cam and everyone always say there car is the best lol
I seamed familiar this style of speach and when i saw whos speaking, i just wanted to ask one question...hows your w211 amg dooing?!))))
great work! but it seems like you are reading off a script and it doesn't sound natural. keep it up man!
i think he's doing a great job, and his presenting honestly isn´t that bad
I guess for us in Europe it would have to be the E39 530d, literally identical identical performance to the 528i but 130 more Nm, and 25% more fuel efficient
only problem is that it's a crapy Diesel so the sound is horrible, the drivability is horrible cause after 4k rpm there is nothing, it smokes so bad if it isn't well serviced and performances aren't good. I know what i mean i have a 528i and my uncle has a 530d and jesus that crapy diesel isn't bad but it is so much worst than my M52.
Well I disagree, but seriously you should drive the diesel, it will surprise you, it doesn't need to go above 4K rpm cos the with all that torque low down the powerband is so wide relative to the total rev range, (1250-4000) so the gearing is longer. Just saying, ive driven not the 528 but the 2002 525i 192PS, theres no way id choose it, the 530d is quicker, more economical, longer lasting, I actually like the sound its more discrete and still a 6 cyl but hey, each to their own
having driven the 2 the 528 is a lot beter to drive than the 530d even if you can tune the diesel and make it more performant to me it still awfull to drive becuse of the sound short gear ratio and the fact the usable power band is too small ending at 4500 rpm
The 530D is good. But petrol is always better than diesel
i had stage 1 and +230Hp and 500 Nm
and if you get some custom made exaust+tips, the car will sound better, but the fkin problem at my 530 it's the turbo, it's like consumable, i need to change it second time now...
and my fc is like 11-12 % in the city
It is still a benchmark.
What RPM do you get at 62 mph on fifth gear with manuel speed?
Same style video about e46, that would be nice
evokki0075 the e46 is nowhere near as good as the e39
That light reminder sound is less annoying than my e36 at least
Good video. Quick question: How many horse tranquilisers did you take to achieve your speech/voiceover? A "sufficient" amount?
Haha
If you get the ZF 5speed Auto they are good, I prefer that over the manual for a daily drive used in traffic.
I still have this car mines is forest green peach interior.I have a automatic and it’s fast so idk what you mean about the 5speed is only fast that’s not true.Its still looks nice to this day
what about e39 3.0D? the face lift one xD ? For us in Europe it's a good choise as a diesel
This very young person does not do this car justice at all. ! Needs to experience more BM's. I have six BM's of various power trains including a 2000 E39 2.8i manual that I have had for 15 years and it is certainly the most reliable and handles like a good 'un if you know how to drive. Now has 190.000 miles and still drives perfect.
540 is a insane sleeper
Yeah too bad you can't find one with manual transmission. Automatics promote gear slippage which dampen the acceleration. And we're talking about a car that weighs almost 2 tons.
AJ Price you cant find manuals cuz they were never made as manuals
But the 535i is also a great sleeper
Mine looks like a grandpa car nobody expects the v8
@@robinkonig5828 my mate has a 540 manual they made loads of them big mouth
Robin König I got a 540 six speed my man
❤️
My car !1998 528ia in Taiwan Tainan.
I did not know that steering was different in I6's than V8's.
Is not rack and pinion in 535i or 540i?
Do they have a worse system?
It sounds strange being higher specification models.
Thanks a lot for the video anyway, like of course.
recirculating ball steering in the v8's. packaging requirements, i suspect.
do you still drive it ?
1:39 very simple cuz you have the base model my fathers 1998 528i had monitor sunshades and other features
147NITRO I have a very basic model too, no sunshade, no sun roof, no dsp sound system -but I swear this is the nicest car I ever owned I'm so proud of my baby... I'm thinking bout doing a $3500 upgrade to the engine to get me 320 horses to the ground. I can't wait, I'm undecided if I wanna really spend all of tht tho... I will be posting videos soon
JAH Cousteauu what would you get done for $3500???
sell and get a better one :D?
Do it
In germany gasoline versions all were with zf 5 speed automatics, sure there were 4speed GM's?
It depends on the year and model. The reason why I mentioned it was because BMW had used GM 4 and 5 speeds in the earlier, lower displacement e39's. From 2000 or so, you're correct that all automatics on the e39 were ZF's.
I own a '97 528iA built in July and mine has a ZF 5 speed automatic gearbox. AFAIK in Germany (europe) only the diesel models got the 5 speed GM automatic transmission throughout it's entire life.
My 1997 528i 2.8l has a 4 speed gm auto.
Ali Sakran You sure? AFAIK The GM Auto's were only used on Diesel models.
Yes I'm sure. It is a GM auto. I just changed the fluid two months ago. All 97 models were GM autos. It should have a sticker on it near the bell housing that says "GM made in France".
A question for 528i owners:
Has anyone ever attempted a powerplant exchange from the standard 2.8 liter to a 3.0? I hear the 530i is rated at 225hp which seems like ideal numbers for a sedan of this size and weight. To me 190hp is a little anemic by today's standards. My car struggles to get up to speed merging onto the highway. The idea of finding a good used 3.0 block is appealing to me since we're looking at a 35hp increase between the two models. I don't want to modify the engine since I live in a state where emission laws are very strict. If anyone has ever successfully transplanted the 530 engine into their 528i please share your experience with me. I am curious to know if any modification needs to be done to the firewall or radiator housing to make it fit, and also if the original engine mounts can be reused. I intend on keeping my 5 series around for as long as I can.. it's been a great car over the years but I feel the engine may be wearing out. Looking for a solution to increase the power output without going crazy on modifications.
Thanks.
BJ Price I was thinking the same thing for my 528i, other alternative is just boosting it :/
Having a forced induction system installed, and doing it the right way, can be expensive. Plus you have to be certain of the overall health of the engine before turning a wrench, otherwise you could be looking at disaster. I'm fairly sure my car in its current condition won't take to turbocharged power, and even so another big issue would be getting it to pass emissions, which by then it probably wouldn't.
Just get a 530i instead. If you want to wrench, the intake manifold from an M50B25 fits on the M52B28 and that one is much better flowing then the original one, so there you can gain 10-15hp! The exhaust manifold from an S50 is also bolt on and can free up some horses. Also, tunes for the engine can be bought online.
i have a 530i and man is that leaps on hp from the 528i. plus the the torque feels a lot more sooner i would suggest to get on instead of swapping because i could become a headache.
Trust me merging with this car is well enough. The 2.8 liter only offers 1 more horsepower than the 525 but instead it offers way better tourqe. I have the 2000 wagon with 160k miles on it and it is just as smooth as you would ever want it.
You think they dont have much torque down low? Maybe compared to turbos oe big v8‘s
I think its absolutely great for 2.x
They actually have real good down low torque if the vanos seals are replaced! Replace the vanos seals not hard to do and watch it come alive down low.
It’s a simple and forgotten service that once done restores low end torque, all vanos seals are worn out at 100k which throws off the engine timing.
Night and day difference.
These cars are truly amazing for how they drive after 20 years of service. Best era for Bmw build quality.
@@spaceexplorer6636 yes my friend, i agree completely
I had it in 5 speed automatic with steptronic (+/-)
I got automatic 5 gear dont know why ur saying 4 gear automatic ? Its a super great car amd mine still at very good condition almost no rust!
I got a 1998 528i 285k miles
5 speed automatic, not four.
When they say 4 speed usually means 4 gear with out the D
I think BMW did not add the 5 speed until 1999.
Auto has a crappy 4speed GM transmission 🤮
This is one of the most timeless and elegant cars BMW ever made. I have had 3 of them and would happily have 3 more! There are a few things I don't like, such as the cheap looking fake wood trim (can be change easily) and the rust prone wheel arch area, and I would say the E34 had a better gear change and exhuast note than the E39.....but overall it is still an amazing all-rounder of a car that is refined and good to drive even by modern standards, the fact it has been around since 1996 is quite incredible.
soundseeker63 it’s not fake wood
I have one. Turning it into something from hell.
Pour moi s'est le meilleur moteur de BMW le fameux M52B28 M52B25 👍🔥🔥⭐⭐⭐
Me in 2022 getting one when I was born in 2003 and my 350z was made in 2004 😭😭
1:29 i came
Just bought an E39 for 450 bucks rums and drives. Just needs a new clutch.
But doed it have a dipstick
i only got 60k miles on my 2000 528i
I have an automatic and I it’s a 5 speed is that cause they changed it in 2000 or did he just make a mistake
N Tyn they change to zf5hp19 on later production. As long as i know it start at 2000 or after facelift