E39 540i import numbers from BMW

[Gregmeister]

Hey Guys

Curious about just how rare the E39 540i manuals really are, I decided to contact BMW SA to see if they could help with some figures.

I was contacted today by a very helpful gentleman, with the following figures on E39 540i SA imports;

1997 TOTAL = 533 of which 0 were manual
1998 TOTAL = 534 of which 54 were manual
1999 TOTAL = 279 of which 38 were manual
2000 TOTAL = 240 of which 11 were manual
2001 TOTAL = 146 of which 3 were manual
2002 TOTAL = 87 of which 2 were manual
2003 TOTAL = 47 of which 1 was manual

From the figures the face-lift manuals are pretty rare indeed!

 

[Hellas]

Not if you have the likes of Uber Soldat and LZ in SA.

Very nice figures indeed.

 

[zaleonardz]

Awesome stats there dude....

Very interesting to know, that means that there are a good couple of 6 speed manuals floating around.....

 

[Gregmeister]

yea, quite a few for 98-99 - this was pre-M5 period for SA, so I guess they imported less from 2000 on as the M5's hit the market...

 

[rick540]

That means a total of 1800 odd E39 540i's were imported into SA.

look around the scrapyards....About 20-30 a month are going out of action, that means in a couple of years we should have another cult status BMW, one that was generally rated as the worlds best sports saloon for about five years during it's production life.

I think I should hang on to mine after thinking about that......

 

[Roundal]

Were these cars full imports or were they semi knock down or complete knock down? What about the 528i and 523i, imports as well?

 

[Sankekur]

That means a total of 1800 odd E39 540i's were imported into SA.

look around the scrapyards....About 20-30 a month are going out of action, that means in a couple of years we should have another cult status BMW, one that was generally rated as the worlds best sports saloon for about five years during it's production life.

I think I should hang on to mine after thinking about that......

The e39 540i is something I want to own one day, seeing this it might be a good idea to get one before the prices go all 325is or 850i on us.

 

[Gregmeister]

Not sure about the 528's or 523's. I'm sure a call to BMW SA could reveal that. I would imagine the 5 series were Built Up Exports. In the case of the M-tech's, I was told that the cars came in as European spec and then the "aero pack" as they call it was added at the VDC in Rosslyn. European spec 540i6's had all the trim items, but the M-tech body kit was an option and in America they only introduced the "M-Sport" with body kit in 2003...from what I can gather. So that's also why you see so few M-tech's around. (Not that you can't just buy kits & retrofit them of course...)

 

[zabbo]

Sjoe, really special cars.

I drove my buddy's one for a wedding on Saturday and it so reminded me of my ///M3

Really a very nice car with the kit and those wheels .. just awesome.:thumbsup:

 

[Hasso]

And how many manual facelifte(from 09/2000) RHD 540 Tourings do you have ?? ??
There is only 193 LHD made.
I need a winnumber from a RHD 6 speed facelift 540 touring to find out how many, if somebody could help me with that??

 

[whattingh]

And how many manual facelifte(from 09/2000) RHD 540 Tourings do you have ?? ??
There is only 193 LHD made.
I need a winnumber from a RHD 6 speed facelift 540 touring to find out how many, if somebody could help me with that??

According to a guy i spoke to there are only 3 540 tourings in SA. Dont know about gearbox or facelift. I know about one in PE for sale pre-facelift auto

 

[Hasso]

There is only 18 facelifte -09/2000 to 08/2003 win BH99023 to BH99041
made RHD 540Tourings with 6 speed manual.
And its made from 09/99 with M62TU engine =41 540 Touring 540 with 6speed.

 

[ashley]

And how many manual facelifte(from 09/2000) RHD 540 Tourings do you have ?? ??
There is only 193 LHD made.
I need a winnumber from a RHD 6 speed facelift 540 touring to find out how many, if somebody could help me with that??

According to a guy i spoke to there are only 3 540 tourings in SA. Dont know about gearbox or facelift. I know about one in PE for sale pre-facelift auto

One of those 3 - 540 Touring's is here in East London. It is an auto, with a blue interior
Pictures are from an advert 4 years ago but it is the same car, has EC plates, was on Gumtree 2 to 3 years age asking price around 70K

 

[Gregmeister]

Ha, I remember this car clearly when I was looking for a 540. It was on the Gum for flipin' AGES! Hope seller came right. Rare and nice car!

 

[skilachi]

Yoh! So I'm sitting with a rare gem? :rollsmile:

 

[ashley]

And how many manual facelifte(from 09/2000) RHD 540 Tourings do you have ?? ??
There is only 193 LHD made.
I need a winnumber from a RHD 6 speed facelift 540 touring to find out how many, if somebody could help me with that??

According to a guy i spoke to there are only 3 540 tourings in SA. Dont know about gearbox or facelift. I know about one in PE for sale pre-facelift auto

One of those 3 - 540 Touring's is here in East London. It is an auto, with a blue interior
Pictures are from an advert 4 years ago but it is the same car, has EC plates, was on Gumtree 2 to 3 years age asking price around 70K

Update on this Touring - I finally bought it, last year. Sadly last owner was not kind to it. Lots of rust and tlc required. But still a gem to drive and it keeps dad busy:=):.

 

[RAArmstrong]

We need a thread on this car ASAP!

 

[Dbn540i]

We need a thread on this car ASAP!

:withStu:

 

[Willy]

I wonder how many of the manuals are still running?

 

[Benji]

I wonder how many of the manuals are still running?

I saved one from township life!