Planning on buying my first Bimmer

[RebSoldier21]

Hey guys. I am in need of a car really soon. Just had a baby born in December and also have a soon to be 3 yr old. The car I am driving is a piece of junk tiburon. WAY too small for my family. I have found a 1997 540i Sport Package with 128k on the clock for $6,500. I like the idea of having a 6 spd manual and the luxury. Does that seem to be a fair deal. Might be heading up to see the car this weekend. They also have a 2001 540i Auto with 90k on the clock for close to $9k. So I have my options to look at when I head up there. Anything to look for in particular? Thanks for any advice you can give me.

[FP5241]

Definatley get any car you are considering a PPI.
(pre purchase inspection)

The last thing you want is to get an e39 that needs alot of work.. especially with the new member to the family. ;)

Cooling systems are weak on these cars..

Good luck!

[Jason5driver]

I would lean towards the manual transmission for sure.
I think the 1997 540i might be pre-vanos, but it is older, and might not have the proper maintenance.

Take a look at some of the common problems on the check-list from the link:
http://edgemotorworks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=55

Having the car taken care of from a single owner is a plus, IMO.

Suspension and the cooling system will be key items to look at.

Jason

[adam1979]

Depending on colors, options, $6500 sounds like a fair price. You might even be able to get it down to $6k. Resale on these cars has plummeted in the last six months :-(

Definitely go with the 6-speed, especially if you are partial to manuals anyway. Reliability of the auto tranny seems to be hit or miss, so you would have one less thing to worry about with the 6-speed. The 6-speed is cooler anyway.

97 is indeed pre-vanos. Vanos was added starting with Sept '98 build dates. For all the talk about about avoiding Vanos, I don't recall any threads about the vanos actually failing on an M62. I think it is more a problem with the double vanos I6s. Having said that, if the single vanos fails on a V8, I don't think you can fix it for a reasonable amount of money.

[uholmes]

I'm in the same boat, thanks for the link Jason. I'm looking at the 528 though, just because that seems to be more readily available around here, and I want to stay in that price range. I found a car at a delear a few hours from me, but I have no idea what work was done on it, and after looking at the list...I'm thinking I either pay for an inspection or I walk away (134,000 miles). The pics seems to look OK..but you know how that is..nothing beats an eyeball inspection. The only thing I noticed was that the trunk badge was either gone or somehow broken. I see they can be bought on Ebay cheaply though.

[adam1979]

I'm in the same boat, thanks for the link Jason. I'm looking at the 528 though, just because that seems to be more readily available around here, and I want to stay in that price range. I found a car at a delear a few hours from me, but I have no idea what work was done on it, and after looking at the list...I'm thinking I either pay for an inspection or I walk away (134,000 miles). The pics seems to look OK..but you know how that is..nothing beats an eyeball inspection. The only thing I noticed was that the trunk badge was either gone or somehow broken. I see they can be bought on Ebay cheaply though.

Just pay for the inspection. It's probably a good idea on any car with high miles, BMW or otherwise.

As for the missing or broken trunk badge (I assume you are talking about the "528i" model designation and not the roundel), many people remove the trunk badge for cosmetic reasons. I like the look without the badge, and also like to keep people guessing on what exactly I'm driving. I see no reason to advertise to the rest of the driving public my exact model. That's just my opinion, you will find others on this forum that disagree. I believe it is fairly common in Europe to order the cars without the trunk badge.

Regardless of your opinion on this, my point is a missing trunk badge is not an indicator of the car's condition.

[uholmes]

Just pay for the inspection. It's probably a good idea on any car with high miles, BMW or otherwise.

As for the missing or broken trunk badge (I assume you are talking about the "528i" model designation and not the roundel), many people remove the trunk badge for cosmetic reasons. I like the look without the badge, and also like to keep people guessing on what exactly I'm driving. I see no reason to advertise to the rest of the driving public my exact model. That's just my opinion, you will find others on this forum that disagree. I believe it is fairly common in Europe to order the cars without the trunk badge.

Regardless of your opinion on this, my point is a missing trunk badge is not an indicator of the car's condition.

No, I was talking about the roundel. It looks like it's there..but washed out..if that makes any sense. And yes, I agree, it's not an indicator of the car's condition, but could potentially be an indicator of the exterior's condition. The pics aren't real close..so it's tough to call.

I'm going to cruise the usual free classifieds sites for a few days and see what else turns up. The last thing I want to do is make an impulse buy, or spend $$ on an inspection for a car that I no longer have interest in.

Sorry for the thread jack!

[RebSoldier21]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will go and take it to a local BMW dealership or import repair shop near the dealership that has the car. I am having to take a trip to Atlanta to check out the car. I definitely want to get a 6 spd. My first car was a 5spd Protege then went to a Grand Prix GTP. Had a blast with that car (got it to 13.6 1/4 mile times) but ended up having to replace both engine and tranny and I am definitely sick and tired of autos. The auto in the tiburon wants to randomly stick into 3rd gear and will not get out of 3rd unless you turn off the car then crank it back up. So needless to say, i need RWD and a manual.. lol. Looking forward to checking it out!

[adam1979]

My first car was a 5spd Protege then went to a Grand Prix GTP.

My last car was a 5spd Protege! Mine stayed stock except for an SSK though. Awesome car - part of me misses it around town. While the 540 is certainly much better overall, it can be a bit unwieldy on city streets. Hopefully someday I can afford multiple cars...

[keitaro0202]

check everything before you buy!
i got my 98 540i with 140k for $4100. after i bought this car i replaced 2 door handle so far, and they are not cheap to replace. sunroof cannot tail all the way has to be fix too.
those are the things that i miss when i check the car, be careful !

[adam1979]

For $4100 you should have plenty of headroom for repairs. That sounds like a steal even at today's heavily depreciated values.

[uholmes]

For $4100 you should have plenty of headroom for repairs. That sounds like a steal even at today's heavily depreciated values.
A pristine looking 540 just sold on Ebay today (near me) for $5000. 151K miles.

Normally, I've seen them in the classifieds for a few K more.

[gjVah]

Hey guys. I am in need of a car really soon. Just had a baby born in December and also have a soon to be 3 yr old. The car I am driving is a piece of junk tiburon. WAY too small for my family. I have found a 1997 540i Sport Package with 128k on the clock for $6,500. I like the idea of having a 6 spd manual and the luxury. Does that seem to be a fair deal. Might be heading up to see the car this weekend. They also have a 2001 540i Auto with 90k on the clock for close to $9k. So I have my options to look at when I head up there. Anything to look for in particular? Thanks for any advice you can give me.
I just got mine yesterday, 1999 540i 6 speed with 100k mint condition (apart from some colling issues that i just solved) for $5,500.. go for the stick

[adam1979]

There is a thread about prices paid for E39s that hasn't been updated since August 2008. Some of you guys getting these deals should chime in so we can see what everyone has been paying since the economy tanked. It would be enormously helpful to people either looking to sell their E39 or get into one. The thread is here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=893732&page=11

[lskywalker]

No, I was talking about the roundel. It looks like it's there..but washed out..if that makes any sense. And yes, I agree, it's not an indicator of the car's condition, but could potentially be an indicator of the exterior's condition. The pics aren't real close..so it's tough to call.

I hate that look. You see it all the time in older Bimmers that haven't been taken care of (at least, I see it a lot around here... frickin' red necks...). Reminds me of the time I saw a poor old 733, original color unrecognizable, 2 headlights busted and the exhaust hanging by a thread, bouncing up and down, being molested down the interstate by two fat women with a handicapped plate...

But I digress... I hate that. It makes the car look terrible, IMO. One styling cue about Bimmers is that blue-white contrast in the middle of the hood.

It could be a good indicator of how the car has been cared for. Typically, the ones I see with "washed out" roundels tend to have other crap wrong with them too, whereas the "pristine" roundels tend to be closer to pristine in other ways. I live on a major university campus, I see a lot of both.


As for the missing or broken trunk badge (I assume you are talking about the "528i" model designation and not the roundel), many people remove the trunk badge for cosmetic reasons. I like the look without the badge, and also like to keep people guessing on what exactly I'm driving. I see no reason to advertise to the rest of the driving public my exact model. That's just my opinion, you will find others on this forum that disagree. I believe it is fairly common in Europe to order the cars without the trunk badge.

Did you know that when it comes to American cars, at least, you have to pay extra for that sort of thing? I remember a friend who didn't want the "4x4" lettering on his Ford truck. Apparently, he asked about it when he ordered it, and they told him it would be an $80 charge to delete it. The reason? Because they not only still have to pay the guy who puts the sticker on, regardless of whether or not he puts it on, they also have to pay him to remember, or pay someone to remind him not to put it on that particular truck.

Personally, if you don't have the badge, I'm never figuring out your exact model, unless it's something obvious (like different fenders for different exhausts). I don't see why it's such a big deal? I already don't really care about the badge on the back, I look at the car and go "e39," and then I'm done. The difference between a 525 and a 540 is negligible in my eyes. Now, if you can't tell an M5 apart from the rest, I'd say you need your critical noticing skills retrained.

EDIT: Meant to say, I see a Tiburon about once a week that looks nothing like a Tiburon. All badges deleted, almost all-new bodywork, one crazy rear diffuser with a bunch of surfaces (including some side flares that look like the nose of an F1), and...

Stock Tiburon wheels. Crappy, fake rim-look plastic hubcap Tiburon wheels.

[uholmes]

I hate that look. You see it all the time in older Bimmers that haven't been taken care of (at least, I see it a lot around here... frickin' red necks...). Reminds me of the time I saw a poor old 733, original color unrecognizable, 2 headlights busted and the exhaust hanging by a thread, bouncing up and down, being molested down the interstate by two fat women with a handicapped plate...

But I digress... I hate that. It makes the car look terrible, IMO. One styling cue about Bimmers is that blue-white contrast in the middle of the hood.

It could be a good indicator of how the car has been cared for. Typically, the ones I see with "washed out" roundels tend to have other crap wrong with them too, whereas the "pristine" roundels tend to be closer to pristine in other ways. I live on a major university campus, I see a lot of both.



My first instinct was...hmmm...could be an indicator of other problems. It's just too hard to tell from the pics, so I'll probably make a trip down there this weekend. But, if I had a 528 or 540, I know d@mn well my roundel would be in good shape. Especially considering how cheap they are.


A pristine looking 540 just sold on Ebay today (near me) for $5000. 151K miles.

Normally, I've seen them in the classifieds for a few K more.

Small world.

:rolleyes

[adam1979]

A roundel in bad shape would make me wonder too. It might just be that the previous owner had bigger fish to fry and hadn't got around to it yet, but it is a small thing that makes a big impact on the overall presentation of the car. You would like to think they would fix it just to make the car look better for the sale/trade in.

Is this car at a used car lot? If you can be patient looking, you are probably better off with a private seller. A private seller will know more about the car, can sell it to you for less and will likely be more flexible with making arraignments for a PPI.

[uholmes]

A roundel in bad shape would make me wonder too. It might just be that the previous owner had bigger fish to fry and hadn't got around to it yet, but it is a small thing that makes a big impact on the overall presentation of the car. You would like to think they would fix it just to make the car look better for the sale/trade in.

Is this car at a used car lot? If you can be patient looking, you are probably better off with a private seller. A private seller will know more about the car, can sell it to you for less and will likely be more flexible with making arraignments for a PPI.

Quoted for truth.

Yeah, it's at a lot, and my first impressions of the surrounding area in the pictures was "They must not get this kind of car that often". Which then led to "I wonder how they acquired it"..etc..etc. I still might take the road trip..but you're 100% right when you say I should wait.

[fastang]

I just paid $4400.00 for my 97 540i sport package with 112k, remus catback, cold air intake, full custom stereo tied into factory headunit, Ac Schnitzer trunklid spoiler and lower rear valence. Runs and drives perfect. No leaks or mechanical issues. It is an auto. The deals are out there!!