Tourings are hard to find!

[daka]

I have been looking, any of the ones I see are really "rats" of have over 200,000 miles (at least the E39's do)
What is the "newest" touring that was imported, I'm thinking 2008....I really want an E39 but ???

[dannyzabolotny]

Yeah there was an E60 touring here, but it was a 530xi which is hardly an ideal setup. The E39 tourings look way better in my opinion. It is tricky to find a nice clean touring but you just have to keep looking. Be prepared to travel— there are lots of nice tourings in California, for example. I flew out to LA to buy my 2000 540it and drove it home from there.

[Reefin Dude]

the most recent tourings into the US were the e61. just the updated number to the e60. they were made from 2004-2010. in 2008 the engine was upgraded to the N54 twin turbo and this was also the year for the LCI, or facelift.

back in 2008 i bought my 2002 540it sport sight unseen from Ca. had it shipped to NC. it was just a little less than $1000. when that car was crushed i tried to find another e39 touring, but they were harder to find in sport and all of the options, so i went with the e61. i had that one shipped from Ga.

G~

[Plattus1000]

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/6040743645.html

Not too hard to find.

[gaspump]

I'm sorry, but "when that car was crushed", what do you mean?. Was it that bad for Obama and his crusch team, or just bad enough you took it to the end?

[JAX S38]

I'm thinking of selling my touring if you or anyone else is interested its a 2003 540 M-sport with 6 speed conversion, silver on black, 180k, check engine light is on (not sure why runs fine), $8000.00 firm.

[daka]

Thanks, but I want a 3.0 automatic...just a D/D, a 2003 or 02 would be nice however....

[itsbrokeagain]

Took me 5 months to get mine, and still needed a lot of work to get it in decent shape...

[Reefin Dude]

I'm sorry, but "when that car was crushed", what do you mean?. Was it that bad for Obama and his crusch team, or just bad enough you took it to the end?

it was crushed from snow/ice falling off of a 3 story roof. insurance totaled it. i tried to show insurance using currently for sale options of other tourings (sports) that were for sale, but they would not believe me that the touring went for more than sedans.

G~

[Roman Empire]

I have been looking, any of the ones I see are really "rats" of have over 200,000 miles (at least the E39's do)
What is the "newest" touring that was imported, I'm thinking 2008....I really want an E39 but ???

I'm on the same boat as you, very hard to find. Been looking for 6+ months, perhaps I'm been too picky. Started a wtb thread, hopefully w/ a lil bit of luck by rejoining the forum I can find one. E61s are out of the question for me and I don't want another Audi, even though they make great wagons. I want a E39 touring!

[ColtonBH]

Thanks, but I want a 3.0 automatic...just a D/D, a 2003 or 02 would be nice however....

Only way you're getting a 3.0l wagon is if you swap the engine. All the wagons a 2.5 or 2.8. However, swapped from a 2.5 to 3.0 is P&P

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[dannyzabolotny]

Only way you're getting a 3.0l wagon is if you swap the engine. All the wagons a 2.5 or 2.8. However, swapped from a 2.5 to 3.0 is P&P

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

It's mostly plug and play but you have to be mindful of the donor car— some years/models have slightly different DMEs and/or emissions equipment that can cause headaches. I was talking to a guy with a 330i/5 touring that he swapped a 3.0 into, and he said that because he found an engine from a later car the DME was all different which caused a bunch of issues.

[daka]

OOPS, I meant a 6 cylinder...I call them 3 liters....but a 2.5 or 2.8 is fine...

[Roku35]

I have to say that after seriously looking for a decent touring for YEARS. I didn't hesitate when finding something that was "close" to what I was looking for. Not perfect, needed lots of repairs, but slowly, you will get there...

When one comes up, don't sit back and think that you are going to try and steal the car from an unsuspecting seller. Most sellers know what they have, and will easily move on to the next eager buyer ready for a decent Touring project. Seems like everyone is looking for a Touring these days. Unfortunately, supply and demand still rules the game. These older used BMWs are still great cars for what you pay for them. Whether they are $5000-$12000 cars, they are all the same. The cost differences won't break your bank. Give them some love and they will love you back.

I still recommend to purchase the best condition example that you can afford. Pay good money for good condition cars upfront instead of thinking that you're going to fix one. Spend your $$$ upfront. It is ALWAYS worth it. Trying to fix one up will just cost more and more money. I bought mine for some decent coins and it still needs thousands of dollars to get it to where I want it. What can we say, the Touring are hard to find all over the US. Hunt them down, pay decent $$$ for them and love them till they die.

Good Luck on your hunt! It really is the best part of the buying a Touring

[olds350]

I just did a 500 mile search from Raleigh NC via autotrader for 01-03 tourings and 7 popped up, mostly dealers though. A few look very nice and one was a manual...

[daka]

You'd think there might be some here in the MIA/FLL area....lately none....
Much as I liked the E39's for me that is getting a bit too old, unless a really nice one turns up I'll be looking for an 08 -10

[msvphoto]

Here's one in the SF Bay Area that I noticed pop up today that might be worth a looksee... (but it isn't a "3 litre")

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/6084046141.html

[daka]

msv
That "might" be nice, but I think the 6 cyl has a lot less problems....
Thanks anyway.
Hopefully if there is one 'out there', I can get someone to eyeball it for me...
Why are all of them out west? <vbg>

[Roku35]

Here's one in the SF Bay Area that I noticed pop up today that might be worth a looksee... (but it isn't a "3 litre")

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/6084046141.html

This is what I'm talking about. Decently low miles for a 17 year old car. Looks cared for and maintained (Needs more pictures). Said to run clean with no leaks (you are half way there with no leaks). $3000US. It probably has a few gremlins hiding and A/C may or may not be on the blink, but there is no reason to haggle over a $3K BMW. Take it for a test drive and decide if the car is for you or not. Done.

I still find it crazy how cheap the older models are to purchase at 12-20 years old. If I had a warehouse for 15 cars. I probably would have 15 older but "special" BMWs

[Roku35]

msv
That "might" be nice, but I think the 6 cyl has a lot less problems....
<vbg>

I used to think like you too. But once you feel the power behind the V8......its never the same

[dannyzabolotny]

If that 110k mile 540it is decent I'd get that. $3000 is a good price. I paid around $5k for my 2000 540it with 174k miles because it had the sport package, was a rare color (Japan Red), and had the chain guides already done. It's at 188k miles now and I haven't had to touch the engine at all in that time.

[JaxPlanet]

If you think the car is hard to find, try locating healthy interior bits for the cargo area without paying an arm and a leg.

FWIW: I picked up my 2000 528iT with 45K miles for $10,500 in 2014 from Dave at European Cars in Feasterville, PA. It was $13,999 on eBay so I made ridiculously low offer and he contacted me. He said he could go much lower, if I purchased directly because he wouldn't have to pay the eBay commission. He passed my background check so I sent him a refundable deposit to hold the car. Then I sent One Guard to do a PPI and it came up very clean so I took a one-way rental to PA, bought it, and drove it home. I only had to replace rotors and pads to pass MD inspection. Here's his eBay site: http://www.ebay.com/usr/european-car...p2047675.l2559

[msvphoto]

If that 110k mile 540it is decent I'd get that. $3000 is a good price. I paid around $5k for my 2000 540it with 174k miles because it had the sport package, was a rare color (Japan Red), and had the chain guides already done. It's at 188k miles now and I haven't had to touch the engine at all in that time.

I would be all over this one myself had we not just bought one last November.

[WBAD530i]

If you think the car is hard to find, try locating healthy interior bits for the cargo area without paying an arm and a leg.

FWIW: I picked up my 2000 528iT with 45K miles for $10,500 in 2014 from Dave at European Cars in Feasterville, PA. It was $13,999 on eBay so I made ridiculously low offer and he contacted me. He said he could go much lower, if I purchased directly because he wouldn't have to pay the eBay commission. He passed my background check so I sent him a refundable deposit to hold the car. Then I sent One Guard to do a PPI and it came up very clean so I took a one-way rental to PA, bought it, and drove it home. I only had to replace rotors and pads to pass MD inspection. Here's his eBay site: http://www.ebay.com/usr/european-car...p2047675.l2559

Dang that guy is the Non-M EAG with the prices. Though being a dealer, and finding low mileage cars like this I can understand. I hope the interiors reflect the mileage and the maintenance is up to date.

[evabraun]

I've got a 2002 540it M Sports that I bought for $6,500 with 184K on it.