Looking at older BMW 5 series E39 up to E60

[i6pwr]

I know these vehicles require careful maintenance and planning when purchasing, my only BMW I have owned was an E23 so I'm not as versed in the later versions, especially the 5-series. I'm after a N/A I6, RWD (no X-drive) with a manual but will consider the auto if they are reliable with all the maintenance. As long as I don't need to remove the dash, pull a head, or rebuild a transmission every 80K, the rest I can handle in the sense of it being a worthy purchase.

With the young drivers on the scene, a RWD 5 or maybe a 3 series would be fun to have in the fleet. I have read about the water pump, oil leak issues of the E60 and while it's styling and features keep luring me, I don't know if that's a model range worth purchasing unless I can be talked into it...still on the table though.

I'm aiming for either a 530i, 528i, or even a 330/328i but I was curious if there is a specific date range, option code, etc, that's a more favorable or desirable target. I did read a good article on the E60 which gave an in-depth overview of those cars but I don't know if there is a specific "gem" of the E60.

All input, advice is welcome.

 

[f355spider]

You should be posting on bimmerfest or bimmerforums. E39 530s and 525s are a good bet for the inline 6s, those were the last years (facelifted with updated cosmetics), 2001 to 2003. Need to find one with service records for the past 7 or 8 years and pass an inspection by a BMW specialist. I have had a friend pick up a 540 6 speed manual recently and another get a 530 auto. E39s are becoming quite popular the past couple years. Along with 2001 to 2003, only look at those with the factory sport package. That will have the black window trim and sport seats with better side bolsters and slightly thicker rimmed steering wheel. They also have slightly stiffer springs, shocks/struts and thicker anti roll bars. The shocks/struts are likely changed by now, so who knows what maybe installed as replacements...

I personally have owned my 2001 E39 540 M-Sport essentially since new...currently at 390,000 miles. Never been rebuilt. But lots of suspension rebuilds, alternators, radiators, water pumps over the years...I have a pretty good preventive maintenance schedule to prevent being stranded.

The coolest new device that came out 5 years ago is Bluebus, it is a bluetooth integration device for older 3, 5 and 7 series. You can stream music, phone calls, etc. Even adds one touch turn signals from one to five flashes.
https://www.bluebus.dev/

 

[drtyler]

E60 with N52 6-cylinder are good, reliable cars. Very comfortable for long trips. The N52 has an electric water pump, but they really aren't too problematic so long as you stick with BMW or Pierburg. You may be able to get a better deal on an E60 over an E39.

The first year of the E60 6-cylinder cars used the M54 engine. Good engine as well, but it has a different set of issues from the N52.

Nothing wrong with E39's either.

Oil leaks are about the same with both cars and all of the 6 cylinder engines in them. Plan on valve cover gaskets and oil pan gaskets every so often.

The key to any is finding one in decent shape that has been maintained well. Drive a few and see what you think.

 

[i6pwr]

You should be posting on bimmerfest or bimmerforums.

I tried Bimmerpost, asked a few questions, basically the same inquiry then....well, PM me for those details as I'm not sure what happened. I'll check out Bimmerfest.

I personally have owned my 2001 E39 540 M-Sport essentially since new...currently at 390,000 miles.

That's impressive, I didn't think the 4.0 V8 was that reliable, obviously with proper care but still that's a nice run so far. I'm more for the I6 but now you have me intrigued.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I would opt for an E60 (530) or E90 (328/330) with the N52 engine and the ZF transmission. The engines are really good absent the VANOS bolt recall and head bolt recall
Imo the biggest knock from this era is that the soft touch interior plastic bits wear poorly and the weather stripping on the windshield and rear window wear poorly. I've owned two e90's.

IMO the e39's are getting long in the tooth and finding a good rust free example might be difficult. Regardless of what you buy anticipate having to spend $$ to account for deferred maintenance.

@edyvw currently owns anm E90 with N52.

 

[f355spider]

I tried Bimmerpost, asked a few questions, basically the same inquiry then....well, PM me for those details as I'm not sure what happened. I'll check out Bimmerfest.

That's impressive, I didn't think the 4.0 V8 was that reliable, obviously with proper care but still that's a nice run so far. I'm more for the I6 but now you have me intrigued.

4.4 liter...the main issue is they leak oil...just live with it...and the timing chain guides WILL fail. But mine went 263,600 miles. Which is 100k more than most. I attribute it to changing the oil religiously ever 7,500 miles since new. And only using LL-01 or LL-04 BMW approved oils. The factory recommendation is 15k miles using the oil life meter. That was probably fine if you used the proper oil, but most don't. I would talk to BMW owner friends and find even many BMW independent shops use the incorrect oil...like regular Mobil 1 5w-30.

 

[cptbarkey]

Another vote for a E39 - 540 - 6 speed, near automotive perfection.

 

[i6pwr]

The 740i drove for a short while was quite nice, always had gobs of power. Was a family members' vehicle but was able to spend a week in it.

4.4 liter

Yeah, my bad..

 

[rainman49]

We had a 2004 E60 530i (M54) with adaptive steering and suspension. I loved driving that car. It took corners like it was on rails. We currently have a 2011 528i (last year for the M54) that has been quality vehicle with 117k miles. Had to replace the starter, but it's been reliable.

 

[drtyler]

We had a 2004 E60 530i (M54) with adaptive steering and suspension. I loved driving that car. It took corners like it was on rails. We currently have a 2011 528i (last year for the M54) that has been quality vehicle with 117k miles. Had to replace the starter, but it's been reliable.

2011 528i has N52, not M54

 

[bdc101]

You could definitely get stick shifts in the 5-series up until at least the F10 series.

E60 could be had with a stick shift with the 530i (M54), 535i (N54), and also the 545i (N62) but I think these last ones were exceedingly rare. I think it was only RWD models, not AWD. I believe this was through the entire production run from 2004-2010. I'm not entirely sure of all of this since I never owned one.

F10 could be had with a stick shift in the 528i (N52) and 535i (N55). I don't recall if they were offered for all model years, they might have been canceled before the end. I test drove a 2012 535i sometime in 2014 and still wish I would have bought it. What a wonderful family car it would have been.

Edmunds actually had a long-term F10 test car with a stick shift (a 528i) and had a ton of problems with it. I recall that people think the 535i is actually more reliable than the 528i.

I only drove Japanese cars for most of my life, but I started experimenting with BMWs for ten years now, and maintaining them all myself. My advice: Buy a car with records, and never buy a V8, and then practice preventative maintenance (PM). Don't wait for things to break; go and find out what's going to break and fix it before it does. If you follow those rules you should be relatively good. I never had a breakdown in 10 years of ownership.

I ended up taking my first BMW plunge with a 2003 BMW X5 with the stick shift. It was offered for the entire run from 2000-2006 with the M54B30 and a stick shift (5-speed from 2000-2003 and 6-speed in 2004-2006). I towed my trailer with it many times.

 

[f355spider]

The 740i drove for a short while was quite nice, always had gobs of power. Was a family members' vehicle but was able to spend a week in it.


Yeah, my bad..

My garage is all V8s...the power is addicting. But the E39 sixes offer a very nice balance. Its getting harder to find the cherry ones, but they are out there. One of my mechanics owns two E39s and an E38, even though he has newer BMWs...

 

[edyvw]

IMO, E60/E90 with N52 (528/328) would be your best bet.
Now, everything depends on who owned before. I am member of several BMW Facebook groups and you won’t believe how many times I have read : “what about xyz Amazon part?”
N52 is arguably most reliable BMW engine in the last two decades. It doesn’t have any major weaknesses. Standard BMW stuff: hoses and coolant reservoir are things to pay attention every 100k.
Water pump is interesting. Since it is N/A engine, it lasts much longer then in N54/55 (same water pump) as long as it is BMW OE or Pierburg. I changed mine preventively at 105k, but I have seen them in E90 doing 200k.
Coil packs were an issue as OE were BOSCH. BMW moved then to Delphi (much better) then Eldor (far better). If Delphi and Eldor are on an engine, you won’t have issues.
Suspension is BMW tight, which means you will feel when bushings soften. I would say at 100k they are soft enough for BMW enthusiast to feel that. Rear shocks will fail at 100k, not drama to change nor expensive.
Valve cover gasket is an issue, 100k item, oil filter housing gasket (cheap). On 528 you will have standard heat exchanger on oil filter housing. If gasket fails (and they do) between exchanger and housing, it will mix oil and coolant. Also, if OFHG is leaking some time and got in contact with belt or tensioner, they can fail. Because crankshaft pulley is really big, belt doesn’t have anywhere else to go when it snaps but behind pulley. Then it gets sucked into the engine through the crankshaft gasket. You can imagine the rest.
Oil pan gasket is also 100-150k issue. Some are just wet, not big deal.
Mine is 328 xDrive stick shift with 165,000mls, of which 10,000+ are track miles, and only failure I had was TPMS module.
As long as you do all hoses when you buy a car, plus reservoir and Mickey Mouse flange, OFHG, water pump (just in case) you won’t have issues for 100k.
Automatics are good, GM or ZF, but stick shifts (ZF) are flawless with N52 combination.

 

[tvaughn]

I had an E39 525i 5-spd for a few years, what a lovely car that was. Peak BMW imo. Sold it on BAT a few years ago: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2001-bmw-525i-8/

 

[Marcozi]

The E39 is considered one of BMW's best cars. Regardless of which BMW you like, have it undergo a pre-purchase inspection performed by an indie shop that specializes in bimmers. Go to www.bimrs.org is find a shop near you.

The installation of aftermarket cooling system parts is strictly verboten.

 

[MCompact]

The E39 was one of the finest cars BMW ever built. the 540 Sport is nice but I'd lean toward a 530i Sport with a manual , as it's a bit better balanced and also gets you rack and pinion steering. It's a great car, but I'll admit that I'd be sorely tempted by a 540i Sport Touring- or an M5.
This is an interesting video from Classics World (a great magazine, by the way):

 

[Touring5]

I have a '99 528iT with M52TU engine and am the third owner, although I've owned it for most of it's life (since 2005).

I've had very few engine issues. Replaced pre-cat O² sensors, cooling system (radiator, clutch&fan, expansion tank, hoses, etc.) vanos seals and reworked the DISA valve. Bilstein touring struts were done by an indie and I've replaced pads & rotors along with rear subframe bushings (a guaranteed failure on Tourings). Also changed auto transmission fluid and filter on the GM transmissionmission.

There is rust on the rear hatch - a known issue due to clogged drainage channels. My rear hatch struts are weak & failing, but unlike most cars are a real chore to replace as the anchor points are in the roof. One of my windshield washers won't hold fluid and access requires access behind the front wheel liner so I'm waiting for warmer weather (one of the rear liners got brittle and crumbled).

All that said, it's a 27 year old car and very easier to work on, IMO. Parts availability and pricing is quite good especially with FCPEuro. I probably wouldn't drive it across the country given the age, the feeling driving it is unlike any car I've owned - solid and predictable. A good combo of satisfactory performance and luxury.

 

[rainman49]

2011 528i has N52, not M54

My bad Doc, you are correct.