Interesting CL find -

[carolinus]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1440043514.html

This could be a VERY good deal for a swapper. Interior is tan/gold.

[jfj707]

not fair.

[me78569]

dammit I already have one 540 for parts.... on more wouldnt hurt right?

[js22]

Ouch !

Hard to imagine a better deal unless some DUI smashes into a tree and abandons the vehicle in my yard.

Unfortunately, I don't have the time or $$$ just now.

I really wish I hadn't seen this....

[oorx7]

Just wondering... doest a 95 540i have front brake ducts. I'm new,and not sure though.

Very interesting find BTW

[filmy]

Oh come on - that car is beat to shit! Does anybody really think the mechanicals were taken care of, or that the owner of that POS would tell the truth about what s/he knew was wrong with it?

It's not worth much more than the engine/tranny - $500, maybe - but even then, you would be holding your breath waiting for the tranny to die or the engine to suck a valve. Buyer beware. :confused

[carolinus]

Owner mentioned wrecking it as the reason for it's current condition. It drives and such, so you could deal with the drivetrain. It would only be worth it as parts, IMHO. But it is a 6 speed which has some value.

[js22]

Just curious : what do you see in the photos that you would call 'beat to shit', apart from the fact that it was in an accident ? (The salvage title is mentioned explicitly.)

[filmy]

Just curious : what do you see in the photos that you would call 'beat to shit', apart from the fact that it was in an accident ? (The salvage title is mentioned explicitly.)
(It's deleted now, anyway)
For the most part, when I see translucent tape in place of light lenses, that's a red flag. I didn't read far enough to see that the owner said it had been in an accident, but the car looked tweaked overall, and not tended to - putting Band-Aids in place of real repairs, for instance (if that makes sense). When dealing with a 540i, many mechanical repairs tend to be more expensive than, say, a 535i. If the owner tends to put off the visible, easy stuff, then I shudder to think what expensive stuff was put off.

[T444E]

Just wondering... doest a 95 540i have front brake ducts. I'm new,and not sure though.

Very interesting find BTW

No, only 94s had those.

[js22]

Well, according to the seller, the car is now sold. (I had contacted him to let him know I might be interested if he still had it in a few months).

But I'm a little curious about filmy's comments.

I looked on car-part.com for a 1995 6-speed tranny, and the very lowest price (IIRC) was $650 plus shipping. Ebay prices seem about the same. And that's just the tranny : no shift linkage, flywheel, clutch hardware, hydraulics, pedal box, drive shaft, diff, or any other misc. doo-dads that you'd need. And you'd have no chance of test-driving it to see how it all felt/sounded.


I'll admit I'm still new to these cars, but $1000 for a (running, driveable) 540i6 parts car doesn't seem all that crazy. I agree that if a car has been totally neglected, its best to walk away. But I didn't see enough in those pics to convince me. (TBH, I didn't catch the translucent tape thing.)


Not meaning to start an argument here, just want to learn.

[jfj707]

Well, according to the seller, the car is now sold. (I had contacted him to let him know I might be interested if he still had it in a few months).

But I'm a little curious about filmy's comments.

I looked on car-part.com for a 1995 6-speed tranny, and the very lowest price (IIRC) was $650 plus shipping. Ebay prices seem about the same. And that's just the tranny : no shift linkage, flywheel, clutch hardware, hydraulics, pedal box, drive shaft, diff, or any other misc. doo-dads that you'd need. And you'd have no chance of test-driving it to see how it all felt/sounded.


I'll admit I'm still new to these cars, but $1000 for a (running, driveable) 540i6 parts car doesn't seem all that crazy. I agree that if a car has been totally neglected, its best to walk away. But I didn't see enough in those pics to convince me. (TBH, I didn't catch the translucent tape thing.)


Not meaning to start an argument here, just want to learn.

I'm with you. Plenty of stuff on that car that is worth some money.