E39 Appreciation Thread

[anton-sa]

sometime in january i will post photos of my e39 build.
its my 2nd e39. 1st one was a topaz blue 525i i had for 4.5 yrs.

this one is a 2000 530d in MANUAL with the following done to it:

e60 545i manual short shift
new clutch, new flywheel
h&r springs
koni yellow shocks
all seats recovered with new leather
black interior swap
headliner,a,b and c pillars recovered in black anthracite
black //m sunvisors
dynavin e39 source
shadowline //m glossblack trim instead of chrome trims
e39 m5 alloys fitted
de-cat
alternator rebuild

i CANNOT wait.

 

[Nic_s]

The amount of car you get with an E39 vs the amount you pay is crazy. Drove in Rick540's 528 the other day and it was ssssoooo comfy and smooth, but the suspension isn't floaty at all. The car felt so solid.

Some more drool:

 

[ChefDJ]

:inlove::inlove::inlove:

 

[RAArmstrong]

sometime in january i will post photos of my e39 build.
its my 2nd e39. 1st one was a topaz blue 525i i had for 4.5 yrs.

this one is a 2000 530d in MANUAL with the following done to it:

e60 545i manual short shift
new clutch, new flywheel
h&r springs
koni yellow shocks
all seats recovered with new leather
black interior swap
headliner,a,b and c pillars recovered in black anthracite
black //m sunvisors
dynavin e39 source
shadowline //m glossblack trim instead of chrome trims
e39 m5 alloys fitted
de-cat
alternator rebuild

i CANNOT wait.

Cant wait to see this raise:

 

[Gregmeister]

Indeed... Where is he!? His 540i is amazing! :inlove:

:rollsmile: Niiice thread. The E39 was designed in a time when the people working on the cars were still truly passionate about building an exceptionally good car. A car build to last, not built to be recycled in 5 years. And you just need to drive one to experience that.

Well looked after examples hold up well against the hands of time, which is what I like. They even still look pretty contemporary. Really classy, yet aggressive and purposeful on the road with that wide stance and long bonnet. There are also not thousands of them all over the place, so it makes them rarer, which I also like.

Having owned 2 now (First one was Rick's 528i) and now the 540i, there is one thing to bear in mind. Although cheap to buy, they are not always that cheap to run. Especially the 540's and M5's. Having said that, with a little digging, and a bit of savvy, you can find parts and labour (if not working on it yourself) for reasonable prices, if you try and avoid dealer prices, wherever possible. They have their issues, just like any car. But overall, they pretty tough.

After 3+ years of owning the 540, I still find it an "event" to get into and take for a drive. Which is what it's all about, no?

Some more pics:

http://www.germancarforum.com/community/threads/e39-bmw-5-series-picture-thread.47339/

http://www.mad4wheels.com/contents/filter.asp

 

[RAArmstrong]

Agree 100% with you! :thumbs: The E39 really does have a timeless design and does not look out of place on the roads today!! I cannot wait to take delivery of mine!!

I must say, I would love to at some point on a 540i Touring :fencelook:

 

[Flash-Gordon]

Thx Rob for starting this thread :ty: :thumbs:

I too am an E39 nut :inlove:

With regards to my 00'' 528i Auto

I recently relocated to PTA East. After being taken for a ride by a moving company, I was left with no choice but the use the 5'er and a trailer to move.

I did 3 trips, 1000km's in total, with a FULLY loaded trailer, and let me tell you, this car did not even skip 1 beat!! :bravo: :bravo: raise: raise:

Bearing in mind, that she had 413k on the clocks when I started to move raise:

Here's a pic so you can get an idea of the size of the trailer :



May I also add that now on 415k, EVERYTHING is still in good working order!! Not 1 thing that doesn't work. raise:

Even after the whole move, no funny noises/leaks etc

Testament to these E39's!! They truly are tanks!! raise:

 

[RAArmstrong]

Gordon, I must say I am SERIOUSLY Impressed by your 5er... It just keeps hauling! :rollsmile: Really impressive and a testament to BMW!

 

[Executer]

I had the pleasure of driving a E39 M5 over the December holidays. Thanks to Fuzz and his brothers.

WHAT A CAR!

The suspension is nothing short of amazing, and build quility in these cars are tops.
Being the ///M of the E39 range, putting your foot down in that car is nothing short of amazing!

E39 - Great Cars

 

[Dewald Basson]

I had the pleasure of driving a E39 M5 over the December holidays. Thanks to Fuzz and his brothers.

WHAT A CAR!

The suspension is nothing short of amazing, and build quility in these cars are tops.
Being the ///M of the E39 range, putting your foot down in that car is nothing short of amazing!

E39 - Great Cars

I second that!!

How is that shifter it is proper stiff ?

 

[ChefDJ]

Gordon, I must say I am SERIOUSLY Impressed by your 5er... It just keeps hauling! :rollsmile: Really impressive and a testament to BMW!

+99999999

That car is the best example of how an E39 can treat you after looking after it so well :thumbs:

 

[graan13]

Still one of my favorites!!
had 528i, 530i, M5 - would love to get hold of another!!

:thumbs:

 

[Executer]

I had the pleasure of driving a E39 M5 over the December holidays. Thanks to Fuzz and his brothers.

WHAT A CAR!

The suspension is nothing short of amazing, and build quility in these cars are tops.
Being the ///M of the E39 range, putting your foot down in that car is nothing short of amazing!

E39 - Great Cars

I second that!!

How is that shifter it is proper stiff ?

Tight as a ..... wrong forum....yes....it feels proper!

 

[RAArmstrong]

:biglol::biglol:

 

[Gregmeister]

Gordon, I must say I am SERIOUSLY Impressed by your 5er... It just keeps hauling! :rollsmile: Really impressive and a testament to BMW!

+99999999

That car is the best example of how an E39 can treat you after looking after it so well :thumbs:

Epic!! :thumbs:

 

[Executer]

Did I mention this was is Durban....everyone knows that lower altitute and NA ///M cars were meant for each other :joy:

 

[ChefDJ]

:bravo::bravo::bravo:

 

[skilachi]

It should be considered a treasonable offense if I don't contribute my 2c to this thread. :rollsmile:

I have had the PLEASURE of owning 2 E39s at the same time. People thought I was crazy but I kept thinking "if only they knew".

Now I own a 540i E39 and a 528i F10. Bottomline, as much as I love the F10, the E39 540i is still my true love. It delivers in every aspect, puts a smile on my face every time I drive it, very predictable and reliable.

In short, I will always have one in my possession for as long as I live.

 

[WyKiD]

Great thread for an epic car...:rollsmile:

Having read through the comments on this thread by current and past owners, they definitely seem to be in line with the majority of opinions on the net.

A little while back I had the idea to replace my E39 with a newer model, test drove a few of the current BMW offerings. I found the quality of materials used in the interiors to have quite a cheap look and feel to them and hearing creaks and rattles in cars with mileage below 5000km.

After having driven some of these new cars my E39 just felt much more of a quality proposition when I got behind the wheel. The quality is tangible.

All thoughts of replacing my car has been banished...:inlove:

Reading some of the mileage figures being posted here, my car with 139 000km seems to have a good few miles left in her...

 

[ChefDJ]

Reading some of the mileage figures being posted here, my car with 139 000km seems to have a good few miles left in her...

Ag nee man, dis nog n baba :rollsmile: