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Thread: Planning to buy a e39 540i Touring

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Cracow, Poland
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    E39 540i

    Planning to buy a e39 540i Touring

    Hello fellow e39 owners,

    Let me first say hello to all people on the forum as I am new here :)
    I'm planning to buy a e39 540i Touring which is my dream car. Spacious, safe, family friendly while being a sleeper with a claw :)
    I wanted to ask the forum elders about opinion regarding an offer I have in my city. I already seen the car and the engine works well and quiet, the tranny shifts smoothy, the suspension is nice with no squeaks. Mechanically it looks really nice.
    The interior is in good shape. The outer body is fine with some rust here and there but nothing too serious in my understanding.

    The car has 286k km (180k miles) on the odometer which I managed to check using my PA Soft 1.4. Unfortunately no service history, although the VIN check shows records of at least regular maintenance (with how good the engine sounds, I am not to worried about the odometer anyway).
    The computer showed me that I will need to change the thermostat, rain sensor and oil level sensor. I'm planning full fluids change after purchase anyway. The guy wants 14300 PLN which gives 3700$. I'm planning to negotiate it closer to 3k.
    Since I don't have much experience when it comes to suspension and body work I have sent a guy to prepare a report for me. It is available here(in Polish) with a lot of pictures. https://www.motocontroler.com/raport...AzMEJaMTA1NjU=

    I kindly ask you to take a look at the pictures and tell me what you think. Thanks :)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Tempe, AZ
    Posts
    7,657
    My Cars
    1995 525i/5
    A 540it is a fantastic all-around car indeed, as long as you can afford to put gas in it. They're pretty thirsty and I can't imagine gas prices being too cheap in Poland. Looks like it's a pre-Vanos M62 so that shouldn't have chain guide issues for quite some time... most make it to 250,000 miles without too many issues. The biggest problems with those engines are the ignition coils, vacuum leaks, oil leaks, and the cooling system. All fairly easy to manage.

    As for the suspension, I'd plan on replacing most of it... 4 control arms in the front, tie rods + center link for steering, all 4 sway bar links, 4 control arms in the rear, rear lower ball joints, and rear subframe bushings. At 180k miles if all those components are original they'll be way past their normal lifespan.

    $3k is a pretty fair price for Europe, and I can't imagine they're super common out there like the 525d/530d's are.
    1995 525i 5-speed - Thread

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    192
    My Cars
    2003 540iT Touring Wagon
    Car overall looks pretty clean, looks like the VCs have been powder coated with new gaskets, should eliminate that oil leaking problem, just check the back towards the firewall make sure the dimple is seated. Danny hit all the problems, I second the gas issue, cant imagine its cheap where you are. Main other issues using as a daily driver just the upkeep is much better doing the work yourself, expensive at a shop for these cars. Even @ $3700 is a reasonable price in Poland, if you can get it for $3K all the better. If its as soild as it looks I think its a good deal. Fixing the little stuff, rusted bolts, the glass rubber, rust, dents, etc, adds up...
    Last edited by SCRSUVS; 11-01-2018 at 02:39 AM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Cracow, Poland
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    E39 540i
    Thanks for the opinions guys. I know the car can be a bit thirsty although I am a calm driver so I believe I will be able to achieve a wallet friendly MPG. 1 US Gallon of gas costs 5.2$ here. Not cheap, but bearable.
    Below my log from PA Soft:

    Code:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    BMW Scanner v1.4.0.7 (14.01.2009) - P.A.Soft, 2008  HW: V144Bn9                                   Time: 12:13:49 PM 10/15/2018
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                              ZCS coding : /-------- IKE --------\ /-------- EWS --------\
                                 Chassis :  E39                     E39
                                   Model :  540iA                   540iA
                                Type key :  DJ61                    DJ61
                                  Engine :  M62B44                  M62B44
                                 Gearbox :  Automatic               Automatic
                                     VIN :  BZ10565                 WBADJ61030BZ10565
                                  ZCS GM :  59610003-B              59610003-B
                                  ZCS SA :  00010A110F344564-C      00010A110F344564-C
                                  ZCS VN :  000003E7D5-R            000003E7D5-R
    
    
     # SCAN START
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Unit      BMWTNR     HW  SW-FSW       CI  DI    BI/VI  Date    Odometer    VIN                ADFG     Algorithm
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DME   ->  1.429.884  06  30           01  31    50     25/97   -           WBADJ61030BZ10565  -        DME5.2 M62
    EGS   ->  1.423.159  2A  42           00  11    50     27/97   -           WBADJ61030BZ10565  -        GS8.55 E38/E39
    EWS   ->  8.374.945  01  03           81  81    07     27/97   289318 km   WBADJ61030BZ10565  FFFFFF   EWS3
    ABS   ->  1.164.131  57  02           06  07    32     24/97   -           -                  -        ABS/ASC5 E32,E34,E38
    A/C   ->  8.377.546  01  06           03  20    07     29/97   -           -                  010565   IHKA E39
    SRS   ->  8.374.799  02  33           06  06    00     28/97   -           BZ10565            000000   ZAE2
    IKE   ->  8.378.983  07  15           05  04    08     26/97   289318 km   BZ10565            000037   93S56 - 5 (IKE)
    LCM   ->  8.372.874  00  31           16  12    00     29/97   289300 km   BZ10565            -        HC11P2 - 2 (LCM2)
    ZKE   ->  8.376.691  16  16           04  21    07     28/97   -           -                  FFFFFF   ZKE3 GM1
    MFL   ->  0.000.000  01  01           00  03    78     00/00   -           -                  -        MFL2
    PDC   ->  8.370.872  01  10           01  01    00     28/97   -           -                  010101   PDC E38/E39/E46/E53
    AIC   ->  8.363.430  04  10           00  00    00     28/97   -           -                  090797   AIC
    RAD   ->  8.374.997  40  86           00  0D    07     28/97   -           -                  000728   Radio ZIS/BM/MIR
    MID   ->  8.360.737  22  10           00  02    05     26/97   -           -                  000726   MID E38/E39/E53/L30
    GR2   ->  8.375.497  07  04           05  03    00     29/97   -           -                  FF0565   FGR2.5
    EHC   ->  1.092.396  00  65           06  01    06     26/07   -           -                  2755FF   EHC
    LRA   ->  8.375.964  C6  05           03  01    05     27/97   -           -                  05FFFF   LWR2A
    
    
     # USER INFO FIELDS
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Unit      Date      VIN                Odometer    Assembly    Software    Service     Dealer   Tester   Program ver.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DME   ->  24.07.97  WBADJ61030BZ10565  0 km        1.430.103   1.430.104   1.427.340   000036   00000    -
    EGS   ->  24.07.97  WBADJ61030BZ10565  0 km        1.423.165   1.423.166   0.000.000   000036   00000    -
    
    
     # ERRORS IN UNITS
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Unit      BMWTNR     HW  SW-FSW       ERRORS / SHADOW-MEMORY
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DME   ->  1.429.884  06  30           1 error   / 1 error  
    EGS   ->  1.423.159  2A  42           no errors            
    EWS   ->  8.374.945  01  03           2 errors             
    ABS   ->  1.164.131  57  02           no errors            
    A/C   ->  8.377.546  01  06           no errors            
    SRS   ->  8.374.799  02  33           1 error              
    IKE   ->  8.378.983  07  15           4 errors             
    LCM   ->  8.372.874  00  31           1 error   / 2 errors 
    ZKE   ->  8.376.691  16  16           no errors / no errors
    MFL   ->  0.000.000  01  01           no data              
    PDC   ->  8.370.872  01  10           no errors            
    AIC   ->  8.363.430  04  10           1 error              
    RAD   ->  8.374.997  40  86           1 error              
    MID   ->  8.360.737  22  10           2 errors             
    GR2   ->  8.375.497  07  04           no errors            
    EHC   ->  1.092.396  00  65           no errors            
    LRA   ->  8.375.964  C6  05           no errors / 1 error  
    
    
     # ERRORS DETAILS - DTC(hex)/PARAM(hex)
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DME   ->  8B/44 - Output thermostat
              Shadow-memory:
              8B/44 - Output thermostat
    
    EWS   ->  0F/3F - Power on reset
              53/03 - Toleration of changing code increased, key 5
    
    SRS   ->  03/A0 - Supply voltage
    
    IKE   ->  91/84 - Gong tone (T2)
              C3/88 - Speed signal from engine control unit
              8B/84 - Gong tone (T3)
              92/84 - Gong tone (T1)
    
    LCM   ->  28/0A - Thermal oil-level sensor defect
              Shadow-memory:
              5E/04 - Battery for remote-control-key
              5F/21 - Check coolant level
    
    AIC   ->  01/00 - Internal hardware error
    
    RAD   ->  00/03 - Energy saving mode active
    
    MID   ->  01/01 - No valid status response of IKE
              02/05 - No valid status response of AUDIO
    
    LRA   ->  Shadow-memory:
              00/00 - Terminal 30
    
    
     # SCAN END
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As for the errors:
    Thermal oil-level sensor defect - easy peasy, I'm planning a full Oil change after purchase anyway (5w50).
    8B/44 - Output thermostat - I'm not sure about that one, is there a way I can check if the PO went with 88C thermostat?

    There is also one thing that makes me wonder, in the engine bay there are two hoses going from the radiator (I think) to somewhere... What do you guys think that is? A oil cooling? Engine cooling overhaul?
    (now working)
    https://imgur.com/gallery/iTl5fnd
    https://imgur.com/gallery/WLQPTC5

    As usual, thanks
    Last edited by Loginn13; 11-09-2018 at 10:49 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Cracow, Poland
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    E39 540i
    Quote Originally Posted by SCRSUVS View Post
    just check the back towards the firewall make sure the dimple is seated.
    You mean the CCV?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    540i
    @Loginn13 man, did you fix the

    Code:
     # ERRORS DETAILS - DTC(hex)/PARAM(hex)
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DME   ->  8B/44 - Output thermostat
              Shadow-memory:
              8B/44 - Output thermostat

    I have the same, wondering what it means.

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