540i???

sirLancelot

New member
Hi Guyz... new guy need some info please. I have a little 318is and my little toy was a uno turbo but i now have a 20L Tiburon which i had turbod. {ya ok i know its korean, but you all can give me crap about that some other time lol}
I am looking at getting myself a 540 e39. Is this a nice car and how bad is the fuel consumption to that of a 328/330? How strong are they? Whats common issues with them? Which is best>>>the auto or Man.
:thumbs:
 

rick540

///Member
I's a 4.4L V8 and the car cost nearly R600000.00 when new, so it will eat fuel and is going to cost a bunch to maintain.

Common issues include exploding radiators, expansion tanks and alternators. they need new front suspensions every few years.

If you can handle the above it's an awesome car.
 

Sankekur

///Member
sirLancelot said:
Hi Guyz... new guy need some info please. I have a little 318is and my little toy was a uno turbo but i now have a 20L Tiburon which i had turbod. {ya ok i know its korean, but you all can give me crap about that some other time lol}
I am looking at getting myself a 540 e39. Is this a nice car and how bad is the fuel consumption to that of a 328/330? How strong are they? Whats common issues with them? Which is best>>>the auto or Man.
:thumbs:


But what if I want to give you crap right now.....:cry:








:)

Welcome to the forum :wave:


You need to remember that bigger car with a bigger engine will be more expensive to maintain, but it is not unaffordable as most people will make BMW's out to be. You get more so it take a bit more to keep it in good condition, and if you look after it, it will look after you. As LZ has often said if a BMW engine is well cooled and well oiled there is no reason it should last for a very long time.

The e39 in terms of a car is also pretty much as good a car as you can buy for very little money, it is quiet, has presence, is comfortable, but at the same time it give you great feel and feedback and is a true driver's car, as all BMW's are. The e39 is widely regarded as one of the best BMW's ever made.

Now in terms of fuel consumption, it is a V8, it is heavy, it can be less so depending on your driving style, it is actually scary how frugal these engines can be. Though I can tell you out of my personal experience with these BMW V8's that the moment you fell the almost full torque that it delivers through 60% of the rev range and the sound of the V8 you will forget all about the consumption.

Oh and just keep in mind that you will have to budget for a gearbox rebuild sometime in the future as the auto boxes tend to go poof.
 

brimes

New member
sirLancelot said:
Hi Guyz... new guy need some info please. I have a little 318is and my little toy was a uno turbo but i now have a 20L Tiburon which i had turbod. {ya ok i know its korean, but you all can give me crap about that some other time lol}
I am looking at getting myself a 540 e39. Is this a nice car and how bad is the fuel consumption to that of a 328/330? How strong are they? Whats common issues with them? Which is best>>>the auto or Man.
:thumbs:

bloody good car - V8 is indestructable, common faults are radiator leaks, expansion tank but it is a damn good car for thousands of miles if you're prepared to look after it. Also, it is the lightest V8 around, so is the technologically advanced fuel mgmt system.
I'm selling mine 99 540i M-Sport auto if you want more details PM for info.
pics.

The car is in pristine condition. Good luck for finding a gem...if there are still any available.
 

naushad

Member
check out brimes's 540, you might leave your wife 4 it. Its well maintained and he is a fussy owner, His car turns heads everywhere and theres nothing to spend! BEWARE!!! once you hear and feel the v8 you will get addicted:inlove: ask him to pm usome pics, u wont regret it!
 

brimes

New member
sirLancelot said:
how strong does these v8's run. what can i compare to?

I'm not one for dicing but over the last 4 yrs:-
Golf 6 GTi - smoked
Golf 5 R32 - smoked
Focus STi - smoked
BMW M3 E46 - smoked
M Coupe - smoked
530d Chris Bangle - smoked
750i (before the new one) - smoked in midrange
Merc S500 - smoked in midrange
Maserati - smoked - yes I could not believe it too happened on M1 one Sat night in midrange the guy was fuming
135i - this guy left me 2 cars guess he was running something
CL500 stock - left me 1 car
335i - never had the opportunity


 

matt540

New member
135i will smoke e92 m3s so we can't compare that to the e39 540 its a great car I have myself a e34 540 with the e39 engine and 840 6 speed box and I must say pulling up next to guys in there e46 m3s and mk5&6 gtis and all these match box toys and giving them a clip along side the ear is the best thing ever.just do regular oil changes and if its a auto box get the oil changed on that too and u will have no problems just do all the small things and she will keep u happy that v8 is so smooth and will amaze u no doubt
 

maximus

///Member
ooooh :praise: :thumbs:

I wonder how many of us are in the E34 mafias (i.e. those who own E34's) :grin:
 

ashley

///Member
maximus said:
ooooh :praise: :thumbs:

I wonder how many of us are in the E34 mafias (i.e. those who own E34's) :grin:



E34 - 540I
E34 - 525I (sold today) :cry:
E34 535I - Mum's baby


 

Jean

New member
Hey guys... Ive also been very keen for a e39 540i and do regular "youtube speedo races" (lol i know) with it against m3's ect. My question is about the gearbox on the 540i auto... the acceleration seems virtualy identical to the m3's (e36 / e46) up until 160kph... then the autobox shifts from 3rd to 5th...?? In all the clips on youtube the 540i auto's always skip 4th gear...then the m3 starts owning.

From the looks of things the 540i's would give even these m3's a good run higher up the speedo range if they shifted to 4th.

Is this a gearbox problem? These are 5 speed steptronic gearboxes right?



 
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