2000 E39 523i advice?

[anton-sa]

Actually i agree and disagree both at the same time lol

it depends what his pre-requisites are, im guessing that by looking at a 523i for 50k, i would imagine a car of 70k is out of the question ? guessing..

50k does not buy a 530d thats get in and go imho
also the 530d auto gearbox is wat more prone to failure
than the petrol auto boxes.
so service history on the 530d would be even more crucial... book value on
2000/2001 530d's is sitting at around 80k-ish right now.

the 530i's are also fetching high 60's and in the 70's and higher depending on mileage.

a e39 in manual might not be everyones choice, but it does eliminate 1 possible "expensive" catastrophe failure...

imho a lesser model with some change that you can spend on putting a few things
right, control arms,some bushes etc etc in my 2c is a more reliable proposition than a higher model thats stretching the budget where there isnt some change left to put a few things right...then begins the downward maintenane spiral..

but 50k does start becoming 528i money i would look into this!!

also it depends on the OP, performance,power etc may infact not be
primary factors...

consumption wise, yeah a 530d is tops. infact many consider it to be the best
e39 "overall". but potential for issues if you cannot TOTALLY verify pedigree
is a consideration

Hellrot...

There is an E39 528i on this forum with over 425k km on the clock. Engine and gearbox have never been opened. Vanos seals were done not three months ago.

This just proves that with proper maintenance the engine will outlast the shell of the car. It's more likely you'll have to replace door hinges etc before you have to do any extensive work on the motor.

If I were you, I would not go for the 523i unless it is from a family member or good friend that you can really get it at a bargain price for. 50k is a good price, but for that you can get a bigger engine in an E39 with the same mileage.

Go for a 530i or 530d. The 530i, in my opinion, will be lighter on fuel than the 523i as you won't need to use the engine as hard to move the body. Less revving. These cars weigh in at just under 2 tons so the more power you have, the better.

If fuel consumption is no factor, get a 540i in manual. This car is indestructible.

 

[ChefDJ]

If I can find you a 540i for 50k, I'm sure I can find you a 530i for the same amount.

The diesels are the highest valued ones, yes (bar the M5), but I don't think a 528i and 530i differ much in price.

 

[OppositeLockMT]

I also thought the price may be a little on the high side.

I used to have a manual E39 520i, it did feel underpowered but its exceptional build quality made up for it. I still turn to look at well kept E39s, great cars.

 

[anton-sa]

interesting this,
you will find, pre-facelift 540i's are actually cheaper than 530i's.
as u know, 530i 525i are (double vanos) facelifts

a facelift 540i will def set u back more than 50k.

also, 540i's run 5,x,6,x km/litre consumption...joe public knows/suspects this, dealers struggle to sell 540i's... the 530i and 525i all easily obtain 9.x/10.x km / litre city consumption which i suppose is easier to grasp for most...

but ja, the "typical" reason why a 530i is often more expensive is it will by nature be a 2000year model or up (facelift). where as many of the 540i's being sold are 96,97,98,99's pre facelift models.

If I can find you a 540i for 50k, I'm sure I can find you a 530i for the same amount.

The diesels are the highest valued ones, yes (bar the M5), but I don't think a 528i and 530i differ much in price.

 

[ChefDJ]

Look at this:

*click me*

An E39 523i with 433k km on the clock. 10 grand cheaper than what the OP can get with half the mileage almost. Based on this, 50k for the one he has seen is not bad. Also not many 523i's out for sale.

If the OP is not only trying to spend 50k because he has seen the one he's seen for 50k, then I strongly suggest spending slightly more.

For a mere 20k more, you get a newer car with even less mileage, more reliable, better consumption (I stand by this), and probably more features, like this:

*click me also*

One with higher mileage like 250k km you will pick up for 55k if it's an auto. Manual is a bit more rare.

The E39 petrol, as stated somewhere above, is at its all time low wrt to value right now. It's 3 generations old, with the fourth on the way. People think they're heavy on fuel too. They will come down in price.

 

[anton-sa]

Look at this:

*click me*

An E39 523i with 433k km on the clock. 10 grand cheaper than what the OP can get with half the mileage almost. Based on this, 50k for the one he has seen is not bad. Also not many 523i's out for sale.

If the OP is not only trying to spend 50k because he has seen the one he's seen for 50k, then I strongly suggest spending slightly more.

For a mere 20k more, you get a newer car with even less mileage, more reliable, better consumption (I stand by this), and probably more features, like this:

*click me also*

One with higher mileage like 250k km you will pick up for 55k if it's an auto. Manual is a bit more rare.

The E39 petrol, as stated somewhere above, is at its all time low wrt to value right now. It's 3 generations old, with the fourth on the way. People think they're heavy on fuel too. They will come down in price.

+1 Agreed

they say the 530i is a bit better with consumption than the 525i. i owned the 525i for almost 5years, some i spoke to, spoke of slightly higher consumption than mine, Mine was well maintained though.. never more than 10k km without a oil change etc.

km for kw i think the 525i/530i will be "lighter" on petrol than the 523i

i think at the end of the day, establish a base price, thereafter go on condition and history of car...

a car that looks right on paper but in reality has suffered some neglect, can swallow 10k of your money in parts quicker than you can blink a eye.

but upper 60's to around early 80's is really where you want to be shopping...

 

[AdiS]

Rick540 has an absolutely immaculate 528 Manual and he's done a fair bit of work. He might consider parting with it.

 

[Hellrot]

Quite a lot to consider guys. Im fairly new to BMW as I could never really afford one before ( I bought a 97 E36 328i Vert late last year and only drive it once a week). Price wise, I could go up to R80K for a vehicle but I just thought that a manual E39 523i in very good condition for R50k was a bargain. I can also get a 2002 525i in auto for R35k as it’s a code 3 but im wary about that, it was the rear sunshade, sunroof, the lil TV screen in the front and PDC but code 3 scares me. The only saving grace is that it’s a stolen and recovered code 3 and not a damaged code 3.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[ChefDJ]

And what are your thoughts on fuel consumption?

Are you conservative in that regard or are V8's on your mind all the time?

 

[Hellrot]

And what are your thoughts on fuel consumption?

Are you conservative in that regard or are V8's on your mind all the time?

I love big engines. I live in the alberton areas and used to travel to sandton areas for about 3 years for work and was very fuel conscious, now iv started working in the south which is much closer. I can relax on fuel consumption a little now but im still in that mindset of save fuel where I can which is a good thing to have.
But obviously I would like to be sparing on fuel when im not leadfooted but I do enjoy having power when I need it.

 

[ChefDJ]

Then get a 540i which you can pick up for 50k, with the balance of the funds in a savings account for if and when you need it.

 

[Hellrot]

Ill have a look around and see whats available

 

[anton-sa]

Then get a 540i which you can pick up for 50k, with the balance of the funds in a savings account for if and when you need it.

+1 AGREE 100%

get yourself that 540i sir.

i estimate on a 96/97/98 itd cost +- 20k - 25k to go over a 540i top to bottom,
as in: most of front suspension refresh (arms etc)
v8 stuff like the valleypan gasket,the knock sensors(these 4 things alone are like 6k +-)
other odds and ends, plugs, tappet cover gasket, perhaps inlet manifold gasket refresh,.
some cooling system refreshes.. but after this SHE'LL BE AWESOME!!! 210kw....ftw

so you'll be at 50k + 20k, but have a car that is for all intents and purposes S O R T E D for another 150 - 200 000 km.

only other gotcha can be, the clutch and flywheel (if manual) are VERY PRICEY.
i did the clutch and flywheel on my 530d and i remember it was similiar priced to the 540i.
about 12/13k for the flywheel (dualmass) and around 6,7k for the clutch kit itself.

 

[Hellrot]

Ill need to see whats available. Iv also got to take insurance into account. Im sure a more powerful E39 would equate to a much larger insurance premium

 

[ChefDJ]

Ill need to see whats available. Iv also got to take insurance into account. Im sure a more powerful E39 would equate to a much larger insurance premium

Depends on you.

My 530d is a grand a month.

 

[Hellrot]

:biglol: Thats quite a bit more than mine currently.

 

[ChefDJ]

:biglol: Thats quite a bit more than mine currently.

You may be quite a bit older than me :rollsmile:

 

[Hellrot]

:biglol: Thats quite a bit more than mine currently.

You may be quite a bit older than me :rollsmile:

lol. I doubt it. Iv just got 3rd party at the moment. Not too happy with my insurance so im in the process of fishing for new insurance.

 

[ChefDJ]

:biglol: Thats quite a bit more than mine currently.

You may be quite a bit older than me :rollsmile:

lol. I doubt it. Iv just got 3rd party at the moment. Not too happy with my insurance so im in the process of fishing for new insurance.

This was the cheapest I could get :dunno:

 

[Hellrot]

:biglol: Thats quite a bit more than mine currently.

You may be quite a bit older than me :rollsmile:

lol. I doubt it. Iv just got 3rd party at the moment. Not too happy with my insurance so im in the process of fishing for new insurance.

This was the cheapest I could get :dunno:

I spose for the champion E39 u have....rather be fully covered then half covered for piece of mind