To buy or to not buy?

[Ajcanadian]

Hi guys, I've been looking for an E39 540i/6 for a few months now. I've stumbled across this 540i. I am familiar with this car but I also need some other opinions. I won't bore you too much, I promise.
The car is equipped with sport package, cold weather package and has PDC. However, there isn't a button for DSP next to the heated seats(STRANGE). The previous owner also bought style 37s off a 540 M sport and they're riding on some DWS 06
There are maybe 5 dings in the whole car. Cosmetically, well my buddy (previous owner) hit a deer. The hood and fender got replaced. The fender was aftermarket but the hood was pulled off from a junkyard. This place was recommended by the local BMW specialist where I used to work but the body shop didn't meet my expectations. The aftermarket part doesn't fit well whatsoever. The fitment's sort of poor. The hood wasn't sprayed properly.There's maybe 5-6 minor dings in this car if that. There are also two rust spots and none at the gas door.

Now mechanically, I've worked on this car prior and it's sorted pretty well. I have done an alternator, waterpump, belts, sway-bar endlinks, clutch (LUK), and oil pan gasket to check any pieces of TCG. There weren't any. The car also has had a new radiator at some point in it's life and indeed it is an oem one. Right now it could use a valve cover gasket, power steering line from resovoir (seeping just a bit), timing chain tensioner, 88C thermostat, and a fan clutch. The car has 127k miles and it is healthy. There are no warning lights on the cluster. Also, the car has had a subwoofer installed and it's draining battery from the amp since the amp is on. It'll be removed very soon. But otherwise, there isn't any other issue. The car runs and drives really well! The owner is asking 6,500$. What do you guys think?

[edjack]

Kinda high. What is the MY?

[dannyzabolotny]

Hi guys, I've been looking for an E39 540i/6 for a few months now. I've stumbled across this 540i. I am familiar with this car but I also need some other opinions. I won't bore you too much, I promise.

The car is tan on tan with the wood trim. The interior is actually very clean for being tan. The car is equipped with sport package, cold weather package and has PDC. However, there isn't a button for DSP next to the heated seats(STRANGE). The previous owner also bought style 37s off a 540 M sport and they're riding on some DWS 06
There are maybe 5 dings in the whole car. Cosmetically, well my buddy (previous owner) hit a deer. The hood and fender got replaced. The fender was aftermarket but the hood was pulled off from a junkyard. This place was recommended by the local BMW specialist where I used to work but the body shop didn't meet my expectations. The aftermarket part doesn't fit well whatsoever. The fitment's sort of poor. The hood wasn't sprayed properly.There's maybe 5-6 minor dings in this car if that. There are also two rust spots and none at the gas door.

Now mechanically, I've worked on this car prior and it's sorted pretty well. I have done an alternator, waterpump, belts, sway-bar endlinks, clutch (LUK), and oil pan gasket to check any pieces of TCG. There weren't any. The car also has had a new radiator at some point in it's life and indeed it is an oem one. Right now it could use a valve cover gasket, power steering line from resovoir (seeping just a bit), timing chain tensioner, 88C thermostat, and a fan clutch. The car has 127k miles and it is healthy. There are no warning lights on the cluster. Also, the car has had a subwoofer installed and it's draining battery from the amp since the amp is on. It'll be removed very soon. But otherwise, there isn't any other issue. The car runs and drives really well! The owner is asking 6,500$. What do you guys think?

The pictures are here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

By button for DSP do you mean button for PDC? The answer for that is simple— PDC in the pre-facelift E39's was rear-only, and doesn't have a button. It just automatically engages when the car is in reverse. My 2000 540it had that, and so does my 2003 330i/5 (I don't think E46's got front PDC).

Based on the accident damage and the car being pre-facelift, I'd say $6500 is asking a bit much. Especially since there's a little rust involved too. I'd push for $4k or so, that's closer to what it's actually worth, unless your local market is ridiculously inflated and unrealistic...

[geargrinder]

- Not thrilled about the rust.
- The "CAI" is an absolute retarded joke.
- You can fix the battery drain for the sub easily by using the factory amp turn-on wire. Somebody is pretty dumb if they didn't wire that up properly, but... the CAI already told us that. Sub setup looks el cheapo though, so, would have to decide if its worth keeping.
- Don't like what looks like a cheezy pep-boys pedal cover kit. Kinda goes hand in hand with the CAI + cheapo subwoofer install though. Some cheezcesssorizing going on with this car. (granted all easily deleted...)
- Pre-facelift is personally a little negative for me, mainly for the steering wheel...
- Tan interior is personally a super negative for me
- Teensy thing but the mismatched black armrest puts me off
- Whats that oddball wiring in the engine bay? Mmmm I hate previous owner wiring projects.
- Interior is super clean I'll grant you that
- Accident stuff reflect a solid discount

Put it all together and I agree w/ Danny. Its not miles off price wise and if its mech solid, its not a rip-off, but personally I'd want it to be more of a bargain in order to own it.

[Ajcanadian]

Kinda high. What is the MY?

2000

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By button for DSP do you mean button for PDC? The answer for that is simple— PDC in the pre-facelift E39's was rear-only, and doesn't have a button. It just automatically engages when the car is in reverse. My 2000 540it had that, and so does my 2003 330i/5 (I don't think E46's got front PDC).

Based on the accident damage and the car being pre-facelift, I'd say $6500 is asking a bit much. Especially since there's a little rust involved too. I'd push for $4k or so, that's closer to what it's actually worth, unless your local market is ridiculously inflated and unrealistic...

You're right. Im gonna low ball the shit outta him at 4,000 and see what happens. If it doesn't work out I'm sure I could find something down your way and do a road trip back home

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- Not thrilled about the rust.
- The "CAI" is an absolute retarded joke.
- You can fix the battery drain for the sub easily by using the factory amp turn-on wire. Somebody is pretty dumb if they didn't wire that up properly, but... the CAI already told us that. Sub setup looks el cheapo though, so, would have to decide if its worth keeping.
- Don't like what looks like a cheezy pep-boys pedal cover kit. Kinda goes hand in hand with the CAI + cheapo subwoofer install though. Some cheezcesssorizing going on with this car. (granted all easily deleted...)
- Pre-facelift is personally a little negative for me, mainly for the steering wheel...
- Tan interior is personally a super negative for me
- Teensy thing but the mismatched black armrest puts me off
- Whats that oddball wiring in the engine bay? Mmmm I hate previous owner wiring projects.
- Interior is super clean I'll grant you that
- Accident stuff reflect a solid discount

Put it all together and I agree w/ Danny. Its not miles off price wise and if its mech solid, its not a rip-off, but personally I'd want it to be more of a bargain in order to own it.

The cheap CAI was installed by my friend. The person who hit a deer. He also had the muffler and resonator deleted and it's sticking out too much like you can tell. He's got bad taste, it's given. He also added the eBay pedal covers cause it was his choice. I agree, it's also cheap. The wiring in the engine bay is from when he had halos wired with Euro pre facelift lenses. Yeah this car looked hideous for a while. The wiring for the subs is awful. I don't plan on keeping that junk. Maybe if I had my e36 m3 I'd keep it. The stock e39 speakers are pretty good and I plan on retrofitting m5 subs. I actually like the pre facelift steering wheel with the m stitching. Love it. Granted the facelift is better but with all the airbag recalls and stuff. Now for the black trim in the interior well those are for contrast. I personally don't mind it.

I lowballed him and he simply said no. It's ok, I'll find something with the guides done for the same price easily

[geargrinder]

He's got bad taste, it's given.

Ha. Yeah I got a few friends like that. You know the saying, "You can pick your friends, but you can't unpick their bad taste".

[Mless5]

I'd stay clear even if it was half the price.

[DennisCooper]

The stock e39 speakers are pretty good and I plan on retrofitting m5 subs

The OEM speakers were mediocre when new, now after 19 years, they'd be well past that what with UV and drying out of the surround etc. If you want to fit the M Audio subs, and the car you find doesn't have M Audio/DSP, you'll have to retrofit fit it and it's simply not worth the money/time/hassle and faff due to the modest increase in quality. Owners who have the M Audio subs have junked them and replaced with better performing subwoofers and used an external more powerful amplifier and installed them properly, used sound deadening material and strengthened the parcel shelf area and got much better results. To do this, will cost you more money and time and install costs/factors. If you *must* have OEM only, then go for it, but I'd say there's much better products out there which will provide actual good, musical, tight and controlled sub bass instead of what the oem M audio subs provide.

I think there's better cars out there than this one, and in the USA, the manual 540i's are much more abundant !

Cheers, Dennis!

[Ajcanadian]

Couldn't have said that any better

[geargrinder]

And honestly doing an aftermarket sub in a sedan is pretty easy. Just don't buy the super cheap junk that guy did. Get a 1/2 decent amp and speaker, wire it up properly... The new style of low-pro subs are pretty cool actually if you're concerned about trunk space (and I would be) and don't want to get too crazy about a custom project and don't need it to be lookit-me-bass-retard level, but are actually looking for just sound-quality-reinforcement.

[Ajcanadian]

I'm not a fan of wiring so I wouldn't even mess with the Soundsystem in an e39.. however I did find an e34 535 5speed with 192,000. Looking at it sunday

[Ajcanadian]

So the seller of the 535/5 E34 sold it to someone today (2/16/19). Kinda salty cause I messaged him to look at the car on 2/11/19 (Monday) 8:45 AM. (Yes, I remember the accurate time because I was bored in class.) Seller's response was, "he could meet me the following sunday, the earliest." I agreed and today I messaged him again to see if we were still on the same page and I guess not because he sold the car to someone else today. Kinda upset since he made me wait 7 days. I guess I'll just stick to V8 E39s

[crazy4trains]

Money talks! If you wanted the car you needed to go and get it. You can't ask a private seller to sit for a week.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

LMF’ingAO!!! You have a salty taste in your mouth....You were too lazy to make the time and go see the car, the guy was willing to bring it to you, but the soonest he could have done so was sunday, you agreed, you find out he sold it, and you have a salty taste in your mouth.... You snooze, you lose. Salty taste.... Next time, get off of your knees..... Go see the car...

[Ajcanadian]

Money talks! If you wanted the car you needed to go and get it. You can't ask a private seller to sit for a week.

I guess you read wrong. I would've looked at it earlier, but the SELLER said he'd be available Sunday the earliest. But now I have come to know he sold the car to the local specialist

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LMF’ingAO!!! You have a salty taste in your mouth....You were too lazy to make the time and go see the car, the guy was willing to bring it to you, but the soonest he could have done so was sunday, you agreed, you find out he sold it, and you have a salty taste in your mouth.... You snooze, you lose. Salty taste.... Next time, get off of your knees..... Go see the car...

I would have looked at it earlier but as ive mentioned it earlier. The seller would be available Sunday the earliest but sold it to someone else yesterday. If he would have told me to see it earlier, I would have happily seen it. But turns out the person who bought the car is the owner of the BMW Indy in my town.

[crazy4trains]

I guess you read wrong. I would've looked at it earlier, but the SELLER said he'd be available Sunday the earliest. But now I have come to know he sold the car to the local specialist

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I would have looked at it earlier but as ive mentioned it earlier. The seller would be available Sunday the earliest but sold it to someone else yesterday. If he would have told me to see it earlier, I would have happily seen it. But turns out the person who bought the car is the owner of the BMW Indy in my town.

Maybe he was working another buyer at the same time he was working you. Maybe the other buyer was in line first. Move on.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

And it was most probably the simplest of repairs, the shop owners laughing his ass off, you’re still on your knees. Cars gone, you snoozed you losed.
When you see a car listed, you figure out a way to go see it and be the early bird, no matter what. But it doesn’t matter, it was his car to do as he pleased with it. You were a voice on the phone, bored in school, wtf did he owe you? Like someone else said, move on, someone else just bought another E39 you could have gotten.

[Ajcanadian]

Maybe he was working another buyer at the same time he was working you. Maybe the other buyer was in line first. Move on.

Yeah, it's whatever at this point.

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And it was most probably the simplest of repairs, the shop owners laughing his ass off, you’re still on your knees. Cars gone, you snoozed you losed.
When you see a car listed, you figure out a way to go see it and be the early bird, no matter what. But it doesn’t matter, it was his car to do as he pleased with it. You were a voice on the phone, bored in school, wtf did he owe you? Like someone else said, move on, someone else just bought another E39 you could have gotten.

Yeah you're right. I'll be keeping my eyes open and use this as a learning lesson