Now, I need a cheap car. A big one! This is a year 2000.

I’ve been offered the above seemingly really, really cheap. Comes with a new MOT and a service.
The owner has had it since it had 50k on the clock, and used it for his daily commute on the motorway. It has been maintained to a ‘no expense spared’ budget and has a full service history!

It’s being sold by a friend of a friend, so I know this is correct.

Opinions as to weather this is a good idea….

I guess it could go on for another 50k+, or it could die tomorrow. Sorry for stating the obvious a bit.

Year 2000 is quite an older model. How cheap is cheap and do you know what has been done?

Could be a good one for bangernomics if it’s running well and no expensive services due (belts)

ideal for bangernomics I reckon. That’s quite a lot of miles, but it hasn’t died yet.

As above pure pot luck on that one, if its cheap enough ,buy it and you can sell for parts if the worst happens.
You could buy a 2005 one with 100000 for over twice the price and the turbo could go in weeks

There are plenty of big beemers on auto trader with that sort of mileage, so they are obviously capable of it.
That is no guarantee it wont go bang next week though.
mate had a petrol 320i with 180k miles on it, you would never know it had went that far, it felt fine.how cheap is cheap?

If you pass it up send the details over!

actually thinking about it, the 3 litre engine so probably had an easy life and older model so less stuff to go wrong in terms of DPFs, multiple turbos etc.

Thanks!

Cheap is an asking price of £700.. Thats what got my attention!

I’ll not add much to it – maybe 7k a year. If it lasts a year, perfect, if not it must be worth something for spares I guess?

£700 – good bangernomics I say without seeing it of course

Just remembered when I had a go in a 5 series of that era. Admittedly it was a big engined petrol with m-sport kit and manual box but it was lovely.

Is it auto or manual out of interest?

Is it auto or manual out of interest?

Auto!

£700? That’s gotta be a yes hasn’t it? 😉

In that case deffo let me know if you pass it up!

£700?! and you are still asking?

get it bought – or better still brass neck it and haggle down to 500!

The owner has had it since it had 50k on the clock, and used it for his daily commute on the motorway. It has been maintained to a ‘no expense spared’ budget and has a full service history!

That’s the ideal bangernomics scenario 🙂

Ok, going to see it in a couple of days once its been mot’d and serviced.

I’ll take some cash 😉

Might be worth going on to the BMWland forum to ask if anyone has typical running costs / what you might need to budget or look for.

http://www.bmwland.co.uk

if you don’t want it, send me details of it and i’ll take it off your hands for £700… and add another thousand to it. lol

Seriously, if you don’t buy it, you’re a mug.
The auto box means that it hasn’t had aggressive shifts put through the drivetrain and, normally, those that buy autos don’t rag cars anyway. The 3litre lump will be good for that mileage again although the Auto box will probably drop after 450,000 – this seems to be their limit before being rebuilt and these can be done for £450-500 by a specialist. If you still have the car at 450,000 miles, you’ve got your 700sheets out of it, ten-fold!

This is a no-brainer for me. – Post pictures of the car when you get it home – I love seeing a bargain chariot, especially a bike-wagon!

Thought they was only good to go around twice so risky buy

If it’s really a one owner, well looked after car in good nick, get it bought as you’d break it for parts for probably £500 even if the engines gone pop!

However, drive it carefully, as any thrashing will almost certainly finish it off!

Do it!

I had a 330ci of that era with nearly 200k on the clock and it was brilliant. Pulled like a train and was really confortable on long trips. Just make sure all the obvious bits are fine so you don’t have any avoidable expense straight away. After that it’s just like any other car when it comes to maintenance.

Bangereconomic the life out of it!

the mileage wouldn’t put me off. condition trumps miles every time.

I once had an old 525i with 186k on the clock. Beware the running costs of a big Beemer. 4 tyres were £800. Exhaust parts were eyewatering. Alarm/central locking/immobiliser problem? £1000. In the end what seemed like a bargain ended up a money pit and I got rid. But maybe I was just unlucky.

But when you’re taking on an old diesel, you’re taking on an old turbocharger and whole high-pressure induction system. Just another complicated and expensive thing to go wrong?

I drive a big diesel Mondeo now. Not as flash as a BMW but as fast/powerful as the BMW and cheaper to run.

We’ve a couple of 320d’s at work with well over 130k, & they amaze me how well they drive.
A lovely big lump like that 530, if it has seen lots of motorway miles, would not phase me in the slightest.

My Mondeo has 170k.
It’s losened up a treat. 🙂
The minicab firm my brother in law drives for sold the Mondeo he drove at 350k, second turbo & couple of DMF’s, but given regular oil changes, & a good fast run (once warm), & modern diesel can go on & on.

At 700 with no odd noises id even buy it……..

I’ve had a couple of 535d’s sport touring, not of your era here but 2007 and 2009 versions, the 07 I stuck 175k on it and the 09 265k on it. Drove the things everywhere, towed racing yachts all over Europe and back, bikes/windsurfing gear all over the damn place.
Epic cars.
However both mine were company cars and I’d get them serviced at Beemer.. However in all that time they never ever missed a beat nor did anything ever go wrong with them.

Auto box will probably drop after 450,000 – this seems to be their limit before being rebuilt and these can be done for £450-500 by a specialist.

Is that based on fact or just opinion?

My 535i (e39 too) ran to 120k perfectly, and then the autobox just went into emergency mode No warning whatsoever.

Had it on the computer (codes said solenoids), the local Specialist reckoned on £900 to take it apart to really work out what was wrong… Wasn’t worth doing, so I ebay’d it as spares/repairs.

Engine, body, interior and all electrics were absolutely perfect. Apparently, according to my Specialist, lots of the early e39’s had warranty autobox’s within the first few years, done at a service with owners unaware.

If it’s been looked after it should be reet. I friend had an early 540 that got to over 300k with minimal expenditure on it. It was a great car that he kept for ages because it was just so good and cost very little to run (apart from fuel). Cars of test era tend to be fairly under stressed from a port to capacity point of view (the 540 was a 4.4 that ‘only’ produced 286bhp).

The biggest issues on these now is rust. The E39 has a tendency to rust on the boot lid, specifically around the lock. BM’s of that era also have chocolate cooling systems but if it’s been looked after that should be OK. There are plenty of breakers out ther like Quarry motors who can make running an older BM much more bearable.

2003, 180K 530D manual here. Buy it, but after checking this out :

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/18128-e39-buying-guide/

And according to wikipedia, that’s MOON mileage 😀 Moon Wiki

E39, get it. Was searching for one of these when I last needed a bike barge. Saw a 525d with 230k that just looked too nice to cack up with bikes. Ended up with a bloody Skoda because I couldn’t find what you have been offered.

Auto box will probably drop after 450,000 – this seems to be their limit before being rebuilt and these can be done for £450-500 by a specialist.

Is that based on fact or just opinion?

It’s based on a friend who rebuilds gearboxes for a living – he does on average two a day, six days a week and has been doing the job for almost 20 years – auto and manual.
He specifically loves doing the old BMW Boxes made by Getrag because very few things ever go wrong and when they do, they aren’t a killer on cost. He also loves the Mk2 Golf boxes and he rates the Renault mid-2000’s boxes as some of the best INTERNALLY that he’s seen… but agrees that the mechanism outside the box is like stirring porridge!

I help him out occassionaly, so Ive seen a few, too.

Did you get it?

I have a 2003 manual 525 Sport Touring with 202k. Engine/turbo fine (said it now) and they should go on OK provided the oil is changed when due and the right oil is used. Watch out for the swirl flaps if it’s auto – the manuals don’t have them. You can get kits to blank them off.

As stated, rust is a problem – mine is going on the front arches and boot lid. Then there are loads of irritating things – suspension is very susceptible to wear – clonks and rattles are the clues – and can lead to premature tyre wear, especially at the rear; check when the rear suspension airbags were done (probably around 150k); my bootlid supports have just packed up with the off-side one having jammed somehow so the lid closes at a slight angle; the ‘hedgehog’ packs up and gives loads of gremlins and a flat battery; ignition key barrel wears and gives gremlins; plastic water pump impeller can break and cause big engine damage so keep close eye on temps; and finally injectors often pack up at around 80k – so might be due to go soon – up to £175 each.

Lovely to drive though.

plastic water pump impeller can break and cause big engine damage so keep close eye on temps

Yep, mine did that but luckily just destroyed the waterpump, pulleys, fan, belts and various covers…

Great car but keep some cash handy for bushes and the odd niggle.

Put right and it’ll drive like a dream.

Bootlid supports – is this a DIY fix? Mine are a bit lazy…

Mines had airbags, hedgehog done. Still on original turbo + clutch.

Annoying water leak from somewhere in the boot too that I need to fix.

andyl – Member
Did you get it?

Not even been to see it yet! The guy wanted to get it MOT’d and serviced first, and I’m in no hurry, not needed till end of July when the lease runs out on my current car.

Thanks for all the pointers 🙂

Scrapll be circa £200 so worsecase no big loss. Give it a good once over and test drive it before handing over money still. Bangernomics is good but still apply common sense where you can

fluid can be changed on the auto box what ever anyone tells you.

whether you should or not….. who knows.