Recently on CL... Wagon f/s

[Plattus1000]

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...236116513.html

No affiliation whatsoever but I can go look if needed.

[ColtonBH]

Baller wheels

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[geargrinder]

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...236116513.html

No affiliation whatsoever but I can go look if needed.

Don't look at the wheels. It may break your eyes.

Early year 540 wagons are pretty rare. Not particularly desirable or anything, esp w a worn tan interior... But not common. Of course it's not an Msport either... But... Doesn't mean it might not be a good car for somebody.

[Plattus1000]

Powder coat the wheels white, tint the glass and swap out the interior leather and ta-da, fun whip!

[dannyzabolotny]

So I ran the VIN and it's actually a 1999 540it. Which makes sense since I don't think 540i tourings were sold as 1998 models— all 540it's have the M62tu which debuted for the 1999 model year. It does have a build date of 9/10/1998, which is probably where the seller got confused. Build options say it has the sport suspension, shadowline trim, and it originally came with style 32's. Oddly enough it doesn't have the sport seats but it has all the other bits that would constitute a sport package. And it randomly has the car phone. What a strangely optioned car.

204	Drive Version Export	Antriebsauslegung Export
227	Sp/suspension W Self-leveling Suspension	Sportl.fahrw. Mit Niveauregulierung
339	Satin Chrome	Shadow Line
363	Lt/aly Wheels/radial Spoke 32	Lm Raeder/radialpeiche 32
386	Roof Rail	Dachreling
403	Glas Roof, Electric	Glasdach, Elektrisch
413	Luggage Compartment Net	Gepaeckraumtrennetz
417	Roller Sunblind, Rear Side Windows	Sonnenschutzrollo Hintere Tuersch.
459	Seat Adjustm., Electr. W. Memory	Sitzverstellung, Elektr.mit Memory
640	Car Telephone Preparation	Autotelefonvorbereitung
677	Hifi System Professional	Hifi System Professional
694	Preparation For Cd Changer	Cd-wechsler Vorbereitung
710	M Leather Steering Wheel	M Lederlenkrad
818	Main Battery Switch	Batteriehauptschalter
925	Shipping Protection Package	Versandschutzpaket

The seller is asking for way too much money though, especially since it'll likely need guides pretty soon, with the mileage being 173k. I'd pay closer to $4k for this.

[geargrinder]

So I ran the VIN and it's actually a 1999 540it. Which makes sense since I don't think 540i tourings were sold as 1998 models— all 540it's have the M62tu which debuted for the 1999 model year. It does have a build date of 9/10/1998, which is probably where the seller got confused. Build options say it has the sport suspension, shadowline trim, and it originally came with style 32's. Oddly enough it doesn't have the sport seats but it has all the other bits that would constitute a sport package. And it randomly has the car phone. What a strangely optioned car.

Yeah exactly - a '98 build date nonetheless is SUPER early. Gotta have been one of the first to roll off. Might explain the odd seat equipment. Sport tourings without sport seats are not uncommon, but only because fat ass suburbanites or dealers ordered the comfort seat option which was available to Sport cars and mildly popular w/ the wagons it seems. Sport with only base seats is odd and I am surprised you could even order it that way without being an Individual$$$... Again maybe an 'early car oddity'. Maybe it was an early corporate/dealer/press-tour car or something.

173k? Yes overpriced for what it is. I guess he's putting a $2k premium on the abominable gold wheels. It does appear to have the extremely rare Zune music player option however so there's that too.

[sooch]

Wow. If that was in my area I would totally snag that up. ~$4k like you said danny would be a solid deal. Wheels don't bother me too much, maybe a better color and M sport bumpers + black leather = this car is awesome.

I would want a bit cheaper cause I don't trust myself with the guides....

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

I did a double take on that '98 title myself yesterday. I did a quick google check, Wackypedia says Tourings were made throughout the E39 years, I'm calling bs. Or, maybe in Europe, here in the US, I thought I always knew that '99 was the first year for Tourings.

- - - Updated - - -

Those wheels need to be blown up

[sienayr]

I threw up a little bit in my mouth when I saw that poor thing with those wheels.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

I threw up a little bit in my mouth when I saw that poor thing with those wheels.

Pretty sure we all did.

[geargrinder]

Wow. If that was in my area I would totally snag that up. ~$4k like you said danny would be a solid deal. Wheels don't bother me too much, maybe a better color and M sport bumpers + black leather = this car is awesome.

I would want a bit cheaper cause I don't trust myself with the guides....

I dunno. Even at $4000 + $1000 for guides +/- depending on who labors it then + $??? what other parts etc. does it need / deserve at same time say valley pan and alternator too... + $800 for proper wheels + $500 for black touring interior (assuming you're lucky) + $??? M bumpers whether you want new or old... = before you know it you're at $7k for a 173k pre-facelift car that still may have plenty of maintenance needs.

Not an exciting example to me. Just another old used up car. Nothing to see here as the internet says.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Figured I'd get some of the vomit flavor out of my head after seeing those horrible wheels, What do you guys think of these, imagining them on my Oxford Green2 wagon.

- - - Updated - - -

Of course, I would get them in traditional E39 sizes, play with the offsets to make them fill the wheel wells perfectly. They will custom cut them to whatever specs you want. With that in mind, imagine getting them to machine custom forged Style 65's.....

https://www.budnik.com/

[Plattus1000]

2nd or 3rd on the top row of pics for my vote.

GD GG, so cynical. So jaded.. So right.

[bourkeco]

Im partial to 32's

[carlova789]

Needs black interior

[sooch]

I dunno. Even at $4000 + $1000 for guides +/- depending on who labors it then + $??? what other parts etc. does it need / deserve at same time say valley pan and alternator too... + $800 for proper wheels + $500 for black touring interior (assuming you're lucky) + $??? M bumpers whether you want new or old... = before you know it you're at $7k for a 173k pre-facelift car that still may have plenty of maintenance needs.

Not an exciting example to me. Just another old used up car. Nothing to see here as the internet says.

You're probably right, the White paint color on an e39 I think is what did me in. Cheap price tags can add up quick on these cars - especially the 540i variants. That's where my 2500 100k mile e39 ended up being.... Probably was all in around 9k before I had to let it go.

An e39 525/528/530i could be worth it in that 3-4k range barring no scary damages/sketchy past.