New E39 Owner Coming (My Son)

[usera]

15 year old has been bussing tables for two years and saving up for a jeep but switched his plans to an E39. After much searching he chose this beauty:





Flying up to Gloucester to pick it up on Tuesday. 180K on car, 30K on new (80K rebuilt) motor, KW Coilovers, Dinan Exhaust. Figure we can work on the 20 or so things I am sure it will need until he turns 16 in six months. He wants to upgrade headlights and radio to something like this:



I hope that you guys are as helpful as Rennlist has been to me for my old 911s.

[geargrinder]

LOL that's a riot.

I just noticed that car sitting in its yard a few weeks ago. Don't see it driving around town ever, so I dont know what the deal is - if the guy just never drove it or if he drove it places I don't see like off island only, or if he just moved to town or what... I'd been meaning to ask a few of the BMW locals if they knew the guy but never got around to it.

That blackout tint looks totally ghetto terrible (and illegal in Mass, surprised he didn't get cited for that...) Otherwise looks nice, esp the interior for 180k - hopefully he got it at a good price.

For the stereo / NAV upgrade... beware the cheap Chinese items, they are notorious for problems / being crappy, to the extent that one of the brand names is banned here (if you type it it will get auto-edited out...) . The smart money says that if you want to go that way, the Dynavin N6 (or new N7 I guess) is the way to go, and buy it from a reputable seller with good support like Jeff at J&T (forum sponsor here, generally excellent reputation...)

While you're here be sure to get some tasty seafood. If you want tips I'd be happy to give some. Not sure if I'll be in town that day but if I am, would be happy to meet up.

How are you getting up to Cape Ann? Commuter Rail from Boston, or rental car?

[amancuso]

Nice, it's clearly an '01. 530i and 540i? Wheels would suggest a 540 but these cars are so old now I'm sure things have been swapped around.

[geargrinder]

Aha. Found the ad. Looks pretty clean. If all the motor and suspension work is legit, then shouldn't be much for you to do... that's not a bad list for a refresh. Be interested to hear what shop did the motor in it. Odd that it needed a motor, that's pretty rare for M62's (unless it needed guides and they just swapped motor instead of fixing the guides).

Headlights need a polish, that's something you guys can put on your 'immediate project' list.

You might want to snip the wire to the button that disables the DSC traction control for a 15-16yr old tho'. The number of 540's that have been put in a ditch by teenagers who turned off traction control cuz its so fun is immense. Not normally a great choice for a new (young male car enthusiastic) driver.

---------

2001 e39 BMW 540i Sport Package 6MT - $5000 (Gloucester) hide this posting

2001 BMW 540i

condition: excellent
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 180000
paint color: blue
size: mid-size
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: sedan


Dropping price to $5,000 due to immediate need to sell (I'm moving). If the car does not sell for this price, I will store it through the winter and sell for the original price of $7,000.

NEW MOTOR with 80k miles was purchased and full rebuild performed by reputable shop (~30k since).
Car has been meticulously maintained by myself and prior owner. No rust present on the vehicle, the paint is excellent, and there are no functional issues with the car. I've driven it for the past year as a commuter car (all highway miles) and the car has never broken down. The e39 540i is a very fast and great handling car and the best car I've ever owned. I am selling the car because I am moving soon.

New clutch (30k miles), all new control arms and bushings (+alignment), battery, new fan clutch, motor, and fan housing. Other recent updates include radiator, alternator, battery, brakes and rotors, paint touch up, wheels are spotless and freshly powder coated, tires are basically new with a lot of tread (Conti ExtremeContact DWS). The only modifications on the car include: lowered approximately 2 inches on KW V3 Coilovers, dinan exhaust with stage 1 tune.

I have all the documentation for everything that has been done to the car including the engine replacement and rebuild. I also have all the stock trim that came with the car (wood grain) and numerous spare parts.

[Ajcanadian]

Plus one for the DSC! For the head unit aftermarket eBay parts are no sucess. Avin or ***** is making a unit which is very expensive. However, I have a Business radio that will support aux and I have the genuine BMW aux kit for sale very very cheap. I'd say $50 plus shipping otherwise that 540 looks good.

[usera]

Owner seems like a good guy and was pretty upfront with me on the car. Lots of good things already done to the car that many people who are selling don't do, we will see if it makes it back to Philly.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, great idea about the DSC.

[philly98540]

Looks like you found one with many typical things done and for a good price! Looks good too! Good luck bringing it home! Your not too far from me.

[dovlet]

Looks good. Good deal. Also, becarefull of chineese stereo. Dont buy stereo from china.

[JimLev]

Looks like a good find, a 6 speed to boot! Better bring a snow shovel with ya, might need it.
GG, my 25% tint was illegal too, for the 16 years I had my 540 inspected in MA they never gave me any BS about it.

[777300ER]

That unit won't fit right being a combination E39 and E53 unit. It will stick out at the bottom edge. I have heard good things about the xtron android units. Should give them a look. Not every 15-16 year old kid will dump his 540i into a ditch, I didn't! (knock on wood). Just beware that these things are fast, and young people don't understand how fast these are until you're in the ditch or sideways into a patch of trees. Would recommend some driving instruction on how to properly drive the car quickly on a closed track. Maybe a track day is in your guys' future.

[bfp9]

That unit won't fit right being a combination E39 and E53 unit. It will stick out at the bottom edge. I have heard good things about the xtron android units. Should give them a look. Not every 15-16 year old kid will dump his 540i into a ditch, I didn't! (knock on wood). Just beware that these things are fast, and young people don't understand how fast these are until you're in the ditch or sideways into a patch of trees. Would recommend some driving instruction on how to properly drive the car quickly on a closed track. Maybe a track day is in your guys' future.

This. Had an M5 at 17. Still own I️t 8 years later. First thing I did was put myself into a defensive driving course where I️ was able to learn the limits of the M5 well. You really learn to respect the vehicle after a course like that.

[usera]

I will be taking him to NJMP next year with the PCA, I have a GT4 and an old 73 RSR Frankenstein car

[justinca540i]

Damn that looks nice. Brings back good memories when I was 16/17. I definitely agree with those on a driving course, I have yet to take one tho. I'd suggest polishing the headlights, 3M has a good kit for $15. Make it look brand new and could get new bulbs if needed. Would be a more efficient and save $$ over buying aftermarket headlights. I'd look at tossing an M5 bumper on it but to each their own.

[adam.rapp4]

I always wanted (and still want) an e39. I want to buy one maybe during or after college. I have an e36 328i right now.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[DHoang]

Did u guys get insurance quote for a 15 yr old driving a sport sedan w/a 4.0 V8 motor?

My 16 yr old's coverage for driving my 528i cost me another $1600 / yr.

[RyansBMW]

Looks really nice. Color looks awesome. KW coilovers and Dinan exhaust are no joke. I don't think I've seen a tan interior look that clean on a car with that kind of mileage.

If you need some headlights or stereo upgrades, check my sig. You'll drive right by me on the way back....

[bfp9]

I will be taking him to NJMP next year with the PCA, I have a GT4 and an old 73 RSR Frankenstein car

Eh. I’d let him drive his car on the track. Let him learn the limits of it. Birthday gift some tires and 8 hours of instruction.

I’m retiring the E39 from track duty after close to 2k miles of track driving. Never skipped a beat. Once you ride in a specd Evo and Miata, you understand why the E39 isn’t in its natural environment...

[JimLev]

When I bought my 540 back in '00 my insurance was less than it was for my 14 year old '87 300ZX.
The 540 wasn't classified as a sports car.

[dannyzabolotny]

Yeah, despite a 540i being fairly quick, it’s still a family car to most insurance providers. My first 540i wasn’t too bad to insure despite me being 21 at the time.

[Ajcanadian]

Did u guys get insurance quote for a 15 yr old driving a sport sedan w/a 4.0 V8 motor?

My 16 yr old's coverage for driving my 528i cost me another $1600 / yr.

How's that possible. I'm under my father's policy 17 years old with 2 points in my license and for my past 530i(s) my insurance was $250 roughly for 6 months.

[RyansBMW]

How's that possible. I'm under my father's policy 17 years old with 2 points in my license and for my past 530i(s) my insurance was $250 roughly for 6 months.

Whaaat? Wow. Here in NJ I was paying $150 a month on my 530 and it only increased. Mind you I was also 23 when it started.

[bostonaudi]

540's are durable, have friends who run them in enduro chump races and they generally don't break. Not sure I'd do this as a starter car for a kid, bad on gas, too much power.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[dannyzabolotny]

540's are durable, have friends who run them in enduro chump races and they generally don't break. Not sure I'd do this as a starter car for a kid, bad on gas, too much power.

I always tell people I'm gonna get an E39 for my kid (when I have one and they're old enough to drive). They'll spend so much money on gas and maintenance that they won't have money for drugs and booze, haha.

[geargrinder]

540's are durable, have friends who run them in enduro chump races and they generally don't break. Not sure I'd do this as a starter car for a kid, bad on gas, too much power.

"durable"...? mmmm. OK I can kinda see that. Only because:

Durable != ( Reliable | Low-maintenance | Simple | Easy )

The rafts of neglected abused beater 540's floating around out there I guess are testament to that tho'. They may be played out and need everything and drive poorly now.... but they're still driving around... sorta...

- - - Updated - - -

I always tell people I'm gonna get an E39 for my kid (when I have one and they're old enough to drive). They'll spend so much money on gas and maintenance that they won't have money for drugs and booze, haha.

LOL that's excellent.

[cnsorial]

I always tell people I'm gonna get an E39 for my kid (when I have one and they're old enough to drive). They'll spend so much money on gas and maintenance that they won't have money for drugs and booze, haha.

Hahaha. I like that idea


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk