Whats "high mileage" for an E39 540?
 

Hey guys,

Its been a while since i posted here. I used to have a 95 m3 but moved on and am about to buy a 540.

Just wondering how good the 4.4l m62 are? Are they still good with over 200k if maintained?


Thanks
Derek

Avoid 1999 like the plague, at least ones with engines from 1999, it seems all the knocking/tapping/main bearing issues are all 1999 cars.

But in short, the M62 is good if maintain, but must be maintain like a Nazi or you will pay for it at the end, and they rust, so pay lot of attention to the jacking points, hood, trunk lid, bottom of the doors.

I just ticked over 200K on my M5. I drove 40 K in one year. Always well maintained, runs like a bullet, for now.

look at my 540 for sale

http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145937

car looks nice but I am not looking for an auto.

thanks anyways

Engine is bullet proof and will take you well over 500K

However...everythign else on the car will break.

Outside door handles break off
Inside door handles break off
window regulators fail $$$
cooling system fails
auxilary water pump fails
valey pan gasket fails $$$
valve cover gaskets
cup holders break
pixels dont work properly on the odometer
trunk rusts
hood rusts
front door rust
power steering leaks
rear main seal leaks $$$
abs module failure $$$
speed sensors
ignition switch
drive shaft hanger bearing
headlight adjusters
Crank Case Valve (CCV)
air bad sensor in the seat cracks $$$
etc.. i could go on and on

stay away from E39 if you want my advice. Cars are too old and are prone for failures
you will dump alot of money into it and resale value is garbage.

this is bad news for me because i cant afford the newer 540 so it seems that i may have to go and buy japanese, maybe a g35.

im still going to try and find a nice maintained 540 before i transfer to the dark side lol

wow just wow....your list is extensive

and true...

Add to the list:
alternator changed (water cooled=mucho $)
my car had one of the cats blow open
auto tranny was shifting VERY hard into 4th

I have every receipt and note for my car, it isn't that bad in terms of $, if you buy parts from the US and sometime Marranelo BMW.... do a lot of the work yourself and those of you who were unlucky to have met me know I'm no mechanic... kinda wimpy actually. The car is really quite easy to work on compared to other cars and I've only encountered seized bolt(s) when working on the rear ball joint or rear suspension (damn salt brine). If you're the type to let the shop do all the work then yes it will be a money pit. I've converted a few friends to 540s and 740s in the markham area and so far no one has killed me yet.:D

Oyster, I have a friend looking at your car... if only it was a 6 speed.

6 speed swap is cheap. At least you are getting new suspension, abs module and speed sensors!

Could make more money parting this car lol!

Good God, I was thinking of getting an E39 540i manual, but I guess I'm going back to E34 540i.

So much over exaggeration in this thread.
I can make a list like that for ANY other make that has 200K under its belt.

My BMW's have been some of my most reliable cars. I guess if you buy the cheapest one you find, you are bound to have some issues later on. The other thing is too many people don't want to maintain their cars. Euro cars are not as forgiving as Japanese cars are when it comes to neglect.

The water cooled alt will cost mucho $ if you buy it from the dealer, get it rebuilt for a couple of hundred. Indies make a killing on replacing them because everyone is intimidated by the "water coolness",...big friking deal, if you do it your self your will see that it is relatively easy. The real culperit is a bad battery which causes the positve side to over heat and burn out, the brushes and bearings are top notch. The hardest thing for me with the R&R was undoing the sensor connectors (prolly cause by girly fingers), everything is straight forward. An hour and fifteen to take apart and 45 minutes to put back togeather.

My CAT is original and hasn't blown up, you guys go over board on performance CATs when all you gotta do is fit a generic one sized for a Ford Mustang... read domestic and cheap and won't hurt performance.

I agree. Many great cars have a grocery list!

I just got in my 98 540i (6speed) with 326KM :D Runs and drives like a clock. This is after selling my 1997 540i (6speed) with a mere 376000 km ;)

still tonnes of car and life for the money.