1997 E39 528i Auto - Good buy or not

[Jacques6912]

Good day all, i'm new to this page.

I previously owned a e30 325i and a e36 328i convertible, but did a bit of 4x4 the last 7 years and i'm now looking at a 1997 E39 528i, Calypso Red with only 155k KM done. Sounds as if a lot of preventative maintenance was done and invoices are available as proof. As per photos is it in a very good condition - i must still go and view it. Interior is beautiful tan leather and door rubbers are still in good condition - seller advised it is the executive spec with memory seats, electric rear window blind etc

What will be a reasonable price be to pay?...it's for sale for R110k and It will be a weekend car for me so i will not put a lot of mileage on it - any chance it will be a good investment?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[KarshS]

Investment = no.... Strong runner = yes

 

[TBP88]

Good day all, i'm new to this page.

I previously owned a e30 325i and a e36 328i convertible, but did a bit of 4x4 the last 7 years and i'm now looking at a 1997 E39 528i, Calypso Red with only 155k KM done. Sounds as if a lot of preventative maintenance was done and invoices are available as proof. As per photos is it in a very good condition - i must still go and view it. Interior is beautiful tan leather and door rubbers are still in good condition - seller advised it is the executive spec with memory seats, electric rear window blind etc

What will be a reasonable price be to pay?...it's for sale for R110k and It will be a weekend car for me so i will not put a lot of mileage on it - any chance it will be a good investment?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Hard to be harsh here, maybe old luxobarges are your thing - but the idea of R100k+ on a 30yr old BMW luxosedan as a "weekend car" seems utterly foreign to me. Similar money gets you a Z3 2.8 (maybe even a 3.0si with miles).

 

[msm]

If it were a nice 540i or 530i with a M sport package, then yes at that price.

For a 528i, just no at that price!

 

[Mytfine]

Yea, it's a no from me as well for 110k, 90k at most if it's immaculate and I mean 110%. If you really want a weekend warrior that's special up the budget a little and buy the 540i that's for sale on the forum, fix the little things, enjoy the car and come selling time 3-4 years down the line there might even be a profit.

 

[Budleigh]

I'll go against the grain and say that nice E39s are few and far between, and R110k gets you very little. I'd approach it as more of a nice semi-daily (or use-it-when-you-feel-like-it) car. Nothing wrong with a 528i.

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[Benji]

100k for a clean car is not a lot of money these days, irrespective of what it is. A beat up 528i sells for around 50k and they will need much more than another 50k to get them reliable. It could make for a nice/cheap daily, maybe ask @henriZA about his experience.

E39s are great luxobarges, but a 528i a weekend warrior is not. As above, something much more "weekend-y" can be had for similar money

I also doubt that a boggo 528i would be any sort of investment especially considering the maintenance it WILL demand being a 25 year old car.

 

[Jacques6912]

Hi all, thanks for taking the time to reply. I find the E39 a beautiful vehicle and a pristine condition one like this, does not cross your path regularly. It will not only be a weekend warrior, but it will not be a daily - I stay in Swellendam so everything is anyway 5 minutes away 😄 - it will be used for nice long road trips

I am not looking for a toy at the moment, so not interested in a Z3/Z4 roadster for similar money. Perhaps the E39 facelift will be a better option - a 525i/530i..but i'm not interested in the 540i

Perhaps an offer of R90k 🤷‍♂️ Will keep you guys posted!

 

[TurboLlew]

Make an offer and see what happens. Almost no cars are actual investments save for very few. Even if you lose zero or make money on the sale price, you have all the maintenance costs that come with a 30 year old bmw to take into account together with insurance etc.

 

[Budleigh]

Hi all, thanks for taking the time to reply. I find the E39 a beautiful vehicle and a pristine condition one like this, does not cross your path regularly. It will not only be a weekend warrior, but it will not be a daily - I stay in Swellendam so everything is anyway 5 minutes away - it will be used for nice long road trips

I am not looking for a toy at the moment, so not interested in a Z3/Z4 roadster for similar money. Perhaps the E39 facelift will be a better option - a 525i/530i..but i'm not interested in the 540i

Perhaps an offer of R90k Will keep you guys posted!

That car is beautiful. Buy it and enjoy!

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[AdiS]

I'll go against the grain and say that nice E39s are few and far between, and R110k gets you very little. I'd approach it as more of a nice semi-daily (or use-it-when-you-feel-like-it) car. Nothing wrong with a 528i.

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Agree


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[AdiS]

Hi all, thanks for taking the time to reply. I find the E39 a beautiful vehicle and a pristine condition one like this, does not cross your path regularly. It will not only be a weekend warrior, but it will not be a daily - I stay in Swellendam so everything is anyway 5 minutes away - it will be used for nice long road trips

I am not looking for a toy at the moment, so not interested in a Z3/Z4 roadster for similar money. Perhaps the E39 facelift will be a better option - a 525i/530i..but i'm not interested in the 540i

Perhaps an offer of R90k Will keep you guys posted!

I think many who have commented here regarding the eligibility of an e39 as a weekend car have the more common definition of a weekend car being sporty and high performance.

An e39 528i is neither of those things, but it’s a fabulous car for roadtrips, and I agree with the argument that if it’s been really maintained and in excellent condition, it will have a lower total cost of ownership than the next example that’s available at a cheaper price but needs R150k spent on it.


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[Jacques6912]

I think many who have commented here regarding the eligibility of an e39 as a weekend car have the more common definition of a weekend car being sporty and high performance.

An e39 528i is neither of those things, but it’s a fabulous car for roadtrips, and I agree with the argument that if it’s been really maintained and in excellent condition, it will have a lower total cost of ownership than the next example that’s available at a cheaper price but needs R150k spent on it.


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Thanks for your input - I am 100% with you on that!

The seller advised he is waiting on a friend of him which is also interested in the car, so i will just wait and see. I don't see many low mileage clean ones on the internet, so no rush from my side. I would rather search a few months for a good one than to settle for less.

 

[Mytfine]

Thanks for your input - I am 100% with you on that!

The seller advised he is waiting on a friend of him which is also interested in the car, so i will just wait and see. I don't see many low mileage clean ones on the internet, so no rush from my side. I would rather search a few months for a good one than to settle for less.

With 6 cylinder n/a beemers, mileage means nothing if maintenance was not done, the plastic components and gaskets of the era fail with age so you might come across a garage queen with 100k on the clock that looks immaculate but will need everything replaced 3 months in once you put some heat cycles in it, and then you have a car with 250k on it with all maintenance items replaced in the last 10k and will be good for another 75 to 100k.

Be patient the right one will come along.

 

[Sibonelo]

agreed with majority of the gents here. I have a e30 530i m sport and I absolutely love it.. actually drive it to 700km tomorrow. I take good car of it and its on 290km. as a daily its excellent... I am actually debating letting it go not for any other reason but possibly getting a e39 m5. I don't think I can live life without an e39 anymore. even with the m5 I would still keep the 530 if I could.. M tax on the M5 is a real thing.. the 530 is not hard to maintain and easier on the pocket

 

[Jacques6912]

With 6 cylinder n/a beemers, mileage means nothing if maintenance was not done, the plastic components and gaskets of the era fail with age so you might come across a garage queen with 100k on the clock that looks immaculate but will need everything replaced 3 months in once you put some heat cycles in it, and then you have a car with 250k on it with all maintenance items replaced in the last 10k and will be good for another 75 to 100k.

Be patient the right one will come along.

This is 100% accurate info. Much appreciated! The seller advised preventative maintance on the cooling system, plastic components etc was done and invoices to proof. I'm meeting up with him tomorrow for a test drive and inspection.

I'm still doing some research on the GM auto box's transmission fluid which was not changed yet. Think that will be on my to do list should i buy this one..

 

[Jacques6912]

agreed with majority of the gents here. I have a e30 530i m sport and I absolutely love it.. actually drive it to 700km tomorrow. I take good car of it and its on 290km. as a daily its excellent... I am actually debating letting it go not for any other reason but possibly getting a e39 m5. I don't think I can live life without an e39 anymore. even with the m5 I would still keep the 530 if I could.. M tax on the M5 is a real thing.. the 530 is not hard to maintain and easier on the pocket

I really love the E39 and if well looked after, i think it will serve me well! All excited to go view tomorrow morning!

The M5...well let me dream on!!

 

[AdiS]

This is 100% accurate info. Much appreciated! The seller advised preventative maintance on the cooling system, plastic components etc was done and invoices to proof. I'm meeting up with him tomorrow for a test drive and inspection.

I'm still doing some research on the GM auto box's transmission fluid which was not changed yet. Think that will be on my to do list should i buy this one..

I would probably leave the auto box alone. Sometimes changing the fluid later on in life can bring about failures. It’s a contentious issue. I would probably just drive it until the box dies, which might not be for a long time


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[Jacques6912]

I would probably leave the auto box alone. Sometimes changing the fluid later on in life can bring about failures. It’s a contentious issue. I would probably just drive it until the box dies, which might not be for a long time


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I saw some posts to just leave it. Interesting..decisions decisions but perhaps the way to go on such an old car

 

[henriZA]

I've had my 528i as a daily now for more than a year and put around 17000km on it. For me it does what it's supposed to: the daily commute (about 100km) without breaking a sweat while not being terrible on fuel (avg 11km/l). Maintenance has been reasonable so far. The entire cooling system was done before I bought it. There's more on the to-do list, but I can tick those off as time passes.

R110k does seem high for the one above (got mine for ~R70k) but I have to agree with the above sentiment - not as a weekend car. They actually make for a solid daily driver and deserve to be driven.