Craigslist,ebay and just plain stuff

[nikatkimber]

great donor car,

That was my thought. What's a 77k mile S62 worth? 420G? M5 LSD? Plus SS headers & exhaust, coilover, UUC SSK?

Also, depending on condition, the interior is worth something, especially if complete leather.

[NordmanMg]

great donor car,

I wish I could spent some right about now, 77k Mike engine would made a great heart for my 7

[computiNATEor]

Very pretty.

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/6025711049.html

Gorgeous. I think it would cost way more than that to turn a similar US 530i into the Euro M-sport spec. Just missing the Euro dash...

That should probably be a bit cheaper... the salvage title really brings the value of these cars down. You'll have a hard time getting that money back if you try to sell it at $10k with a salvage title, even when it's all fixed up. The lack of full car pictures is a little sketchy too.

Also, quarter panel damage is quite expensive to fix— you'll need to cut that whole panel out and replace it with a good panel. Unless you're super handy with body work that'll cost a good bit to fix at a body shop. On the other hand, you'll know it's done right if you fix it, whereas buying an already-repaired salvage title M5 is way more risky.

Any body shop worth its salt should be able to fix that rear quarter panel without replacing it; not cheaply, though. I thought my rocker panel was toast for sure after my first accident, but my body shop did just fine with some welded nails and a slide hammer.

great donor car,

Amen!

[phishy]

Amen!

how did that potential craigslist deal go?

[WBAD530i]

Have seen this on CL before, but I guess he never sold it. Unique wagon that could use some love from a bimmer enthusiast.

https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/6066154095.html

[WBAD530i]

This 530 could also use some love...If I could pick it up id part that bih out. Shame the steering wheel and clearcoat is rekd tho.

https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/6054088177.html

[dannyzabolotny]

Gorgeous. I think it would cost way more than that to turn a similar US 530i into the Euro M-sport spec. Just missing the Euro dash...

That 530i is heinously overpriced at $12k... You can buy a clean silver on black 530i/5 with 150k miles for like $6k or less. Even if you retrofitted the official M5 bumpers and all the M-Sport bits you'd be well under $8k. Or heck, for $12k you might as well just buy an M5.

- - - Updated - - -

Have seen this on CL before, but I guess he never sold it. Unique wagon that could use some love from a bimmer enthusiast.

https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/6066154095.html

Wow, that's gotta be one of the basest wagons I've ever seen. Manual climate control? Yikes.

[XAlt]

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...056182269.html

[computiNATEor]

how did that potential craigslist deal go?

Mixed up the dates, unfortunately, but we're meeting tonight!

- - - Updated - - -

That 530i is heinously overpriced at $12k... You can buy a clean silver on black 530i/5 with 150k miles for like $6k or less. Even if you retrofitted the official M5 bumpers and all the M-Sport bits you'd be well under $8k. Or heck, for $12k you might as well just buy an M5.

Maybe, but when you include paint and labor for all those parts, too...

[NordmanMg]

Wow, that's gotta be one of the basest wagons I've ever seen. Manual climate control? Yikes.

But it have birch wood and looks like seats with piping on them

[dannyzabolotny]

But it have birch wood and looks like seats with piping on them

That's not birch, it's technical graphite. Which was rather common on these base models because I guess it cost less than real wood? You only got wood with the higher models or with the premium package on a 525i. As for the seats, they're the base model leatherette seats— kunstleder is the official name (which literally translates to leatherette). In order to hit a lower price point than the 528i did, the 525i came with manual climate control and leatherette seats by default, with the convenience package adding power seats + auto climate control and the premium package adding leather and wood. These leatherette seats are rather uncommon since most E39s in the US were specced decently, but I do occasionally see them in 525i's that I find in the junkyard. Here's a picture of those seats:



That touring is unusual in how basic it is, I rarely ever see ones that are so stripped down. I ran the build sheet on it and it's Topaz Blue, with the shortest options list I've ever seen on an E39:

Options
210 Dynamic Stability Control (dsc) Dynamische Stab. Control (dsc)
292 Lt/aly Wheelsl/cross-spoke Styling Lm Raeder/kreuzspeichenstyling
386 Roof Rail Dachreling
428 Warning Triangle Warndreieck
640 Car Telephone Preparation Autotelefonvorbereitung
650 Cd Player Cd-laufwerk
694 Preparation For Cd Changer Cd-wechsler Vorbereitung
785 White Direction Indicator Lights Weisse Blinkleuchten
863 Europe/dealer Directory Service Kontakt-flyer Europa
880 English / On-board Documentation Englisch / Bordliteratur

I can't imagine it'll sell at its current asking price— there are far better specced 525it's out there, even with manuals. Heck, you could get a decent 540it for that price— I paid less than that for mine.

[NordmanMg]

Ew that sounds ridiculously empty Danny, damn, no sunroof either
...

also anybody Is looking for 19" 65's?
https://denver.craigslist.org/wto/6067595755.html

[auaq]

Those seats .... It's like nobody ever sat on 'em after it rolled out of the factory ....

[XAlt]

Those seats .... It's like nobody ever sat on 'em after it rolled out of the factory ....

Muh leatherette.

[DustenA]

Wheels? https://bellingham.craigslist.org/wto/6001843026.html

[nicw]

I saw those... want, but not paying $1300 lol

[dannyzabolotny]

Wheels? https://bellingham.craigslist.org/wto/6001843026.html

Crazy overpriced considering they're just common style 32's. Heck, for that much money you may as well buy a 1999-2001 540i parts car, those often came with style 32's.

[aharbaugh9]

Apparently because it has M-Pars on it, it's an M-Sport. Terrible ad, and probably deceptive on purpose.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...057674893.html

[dannyzabolotny]

Apparently because it has M-Pars on it, it's an M-Sport. Terrible ad, and probably deceptive on purpose.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...057674893.html

I love how everybody with a 540i claims it's rare... This one is about as common as they get— it's a non-sport silver auto 540i, yawn.

Price is crazy, even if it's in mint condition.

Also, this line made me laugh: "This car has never been driven hard and has not been used for any sort of daily commute in rush hour traffic."

Who on earth buys a 540i to drive it gently on weekends? I beat the crap out of mine daily at every opportunity, that's what it was designed for, no?

[NordmanMg]

I love how everybody with a 540i claims it's rare... This one is about as common as they get— it's a non-sport silver auto 540i, yawn.

Price is crazy, even if it's in mint condition.

Also, this line made me laugh: "This car has never been driven hard and has not been used for any sort of daily commute in rush hour traffic."

Who on earth buys a 540i to drive it gently on weekends? I beat the crap out of mine daily at every opportunity, that's what it was designed for, no?

Bmw lasts longer if you drive them hard

[Dking078]

I love how everybody with a 540i claims it's rare... This one is about as common as they get— it's a non-sport silver auto 540i, yawn.

Price is crazy, even if it's in mint condition.

It's a 2003 540i NON-Msport. That is quite rare Majority are Msport.

CL is fun reading.

[dannyzabolotny]

It's a 2003 540i NON-Msport. That is quite rare Majority are Msport.

CL is fun reading.

I've seen plenty of 03's that aren't M-Sports. There is (or was) an 03 540i touring for sale in Phoenix that isn't an M-Sport. But you're right, most 540i's from 2003 are M-Sports.

Bmw lasts longer if you drive them hard

By that logic my touring should last forever. I redline that engine every day (after it's been warmed up, of course) and I drive it literally every single day. I do maintain it pretty well so let's see how long it lasts. 187k miles on the original automatic transmission too.

[The Chucker]

There's obviously some stories here, but could be a deal too (if real). Too bad no pics.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/w...066936693.html

[NordmanMg]

There's obviously some stories here, but could be a deal too (if real). Too bad no pics.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/w...066936693.html

Need some pics haha

[computiNATEor]

Bmw lasts longer if you drive them hard

Based on how hard I drove my last car, and how few things on the engine ever required attention, this is very true. I put 63,000 miles on it from Sept. of '14, and never had any engine issues outside of a bad thermostat. Zero oil leaks, too.