1999 BMW 540i any good?

[alf]

Found on locally for $13.5 with 72k miles guy works at same company. Sports Package 6 Speed.

These things reliable?
What to look out for?
Price OK?
Could I stick a bike in the trunk with the front wheel off?
Does it suck gas?

[RANDY P]

Tap the brakes hard while going about 30 MPH and check to see if the steering wheel jerks - new lower control arm bushings if it does.

Valve covers warp and leak, and window regulators bust now and then. Roll windows up and listen for a "POP"

Doubt the bike would fit, check to see if it has fold down seats, probably not tho.

Check for engine sludge- if he followed BMW's 15K oil changes, chances are it's all gooped up inside. Pop the oil filler cap and have a look with a flashlight.

They also blow radiators since they are plastic, typically a 100K problem, but it's relatively cheap to put back together.

Overall, they are decent cars, just be ready for the bugs now and then. If it doesn't have bugs and it clean, go for it.

Go see Ken if you need it fixed at Eastside Bavarian in Issaquah, they love to talk about things..

[David]

Do a search on the BMW V8 engines. There were a few years when they had cylinder wall problems. I think it was before 99, but better safe than sorry.

[Blanco]

these are awesome cars. Gas guzzlers though. I had one that I sold to a buddy of mine with 198k miles. Last i heard, his g/f wrecked it with close to 275k.

Maintenance is key.

[VincentVega]

Keep your gas card handy.

A friend just bought one for ~8.5k I think. No sports package, but a compliment of suspension and M mods. Nice car if taken care of.

[cairns]

Advice above is good. The V8 motors are prone to leaking valve and valley pan gaskets but can last forever. Note they have recirculating ball- not rack and pinion- steering as rack wouldn't fit with the V8. Go to BMW dealer and have them print the service history. Check to see if clutch was replaced (weak in the early V-8s).

Overall they are very reliable cars well worth the price. I have a six cylinder (528 sport) with five speed and similar mileage for sale- it's only worth 8 to 9K. IMO it's quite a value for the next owner- the most reliable car I've ever owned, excellent handling, rack and pinion from M3, all of the BMW virtues with none of the later vices.

[David]

I'll second the straight six recommendation. Even the Japanese can't touch the fuel mileage of a BMW six cylinder. They have plenty of power for most situations and they have rack & pinion steering.

[RANDY P]

I'll third the straight 6. I have a 2002 530I sport. Kind of hard to find in Manual.

Mine just hit 100K and it JUST stopped using one quart of oil between 6500 MI oil changes. Interior still smells like new, drivers seat is getting a little shiny from wear otherwise you can't tell.

Only things gone wrong with my car are lower control arm bushings, the gas cap failed the other day and I had a CEL and the radiator expansion tank blew up on the PO - I bought the car with 54K on it.

5 speed automatic, huge brakes- and that 3.0 6 gives the car some serious nuts.. I love it.

PS- I'm noticing around 24 MPG avg. between fillups.

rjp

[alf]

Thanks for the great feedback! Hmm, maybe the 6 will be the way to go; It will be a commute car. Carins, tell me about the one you have for sale. I was originally looking at the wagons for dog hauling, bike carrying and car camping.

[cairns]

A pretty much immaculate one owner 1998. Aspen Silver/Aubergine (purple). 78K, Sport Option, Two sets of wheels and tires (winter 17s are on car now). All new shocks and suspension bushings, new front brakes, replaced thermostat and water pump (the only thing that has ever gone wrong- even the waterpump was done as a precaution after thermo failed). It also got a new battery and all new belts last year. And got a new windshield as the old one was getting grazed.

I did rear end a woman in an SUV about two years ago- minor but bent the hood. Hence I had hood replaced and front bumper and front fenders painted. The match is perfect, all the stickers were replaced- you wouldn't know unless I told you. Only other things wrong are- one (Summer 17" BBS) wheel is slightly bent- noticeable when on front around 80 mph, CD changer was stolen (new one is about $300), small crack in recirculation button on interior (button works fine but it bugs me) and summer tires are worn (one is brand new though).

The spare has never been on the ground, it has the enhanced sound and a number of other options ( I actually forgot but heated seats and stuff like that), a trailer hitch (actually never used) and the built in (analog) phone. And we have all service records, the original window sticker, brochure, and.....wait for it......yes.... the VHS that came with the car.

The first 8K takes it.....

BTW I am a clean freak. If you tell me your car is clean I will put a white gloved finger under the fender and tell you it isn't.

[alf]

Got links to pictures?

[jackpine savage]

Originally Posted by alf

Found on locally for $13.5 with 72k miles guy works at same company. Sports Package 6 Speed.

These things reliable?
What to look out for?
Price OK?
Could I stick a bike in the trunk with the front wheel off?
Does it suck gas?

I believe the 97-01 V-8s had a cylinder liner problem. Nikasil, IIRC.

[Flyer88]

I just bought a 540 Sport Wagon - it gets about 17-18 mpg. Has 130K miles on it and runs great. PO had done new head gaskets, control arms, radiator, tranny and put 5K of aftermarket wheels and tires on it. Hopefully it will go another 130K - makes a great kid hauler around town (it also hauls A$$).

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by cairns

A pretty much immaculate one owner 1998. Aspen Silver/Aubergine (purple). , CD changer was stolen (new one is about $300),

Alf - if you buy this thing I have a changer for it you can have...should be an Alpine unit. I took mine out of my 5 and dropped in an IPOD controller.

rjp

[gt350mike]

I know that the earlier V-8's had issues with blocks and/or heads, but I think it was the smaller V-8 cars (like a 530i). My wife and I seriously considered an 01 540i but we have two sons with heavy feet (like father, like son) and the insurance was going to be an additional $600 a year (compared to a standard 5 series).

We test drove 2 different 540's and walked away with a big grin..........the cars are fast and stop quick for a 4-door. My friends told me to expect 15/16 mpg in the city (about the same as I get from my F-250).

[RANDY P]

Nikasil erosion was a problem due to use of high sulphur fuel in the US. It was not an issue most of the time but in certain regions of the country. If there was an issue it usually popped up within the first 30-40K miles. There are lots of them on the road still with these blocks and are just fine. Lots have been switched out under warranty as well.

The cars affected by this issue are E31 (850) E32 (7 series) E34 (5 series) with V-8. E39 doesn't have this issue..

PS- last thing, on the bent wheel on cairn's car - Dependable wheel just opened in Renton - they are an offshoot of Fosters wheel service in Seattle. THey can put the wheel back in shape for under $100 or so..I use 'em all the time..

rjp

[Tim Hancock]

I can't comment directly on the 5 series, but I will say that my '92 E36 325i manual trans BMW is probably the best car I have ever owned. It now has 283,000 miles on it and runs and drives perfectly still. It is still on it's origional clutch and uses very little oil. The only non maintenance issue I can think of off the top of my head was the cracked plastic radiator neck about 75,000 miles ago.

BMW makes (or at least they did) well built, long lasting cars.

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by alf

Got links to pictures?

I second that.

[cairns]

Sorry I have no pictures but can take some this weekend.

It does not have the wood trim but rather the (black) "technical" trim. Looks like black bamboo trim. I think all the ones with the Sport option got this.

I took the wheel to one place (Ye Olde Wheel Shop) here in Maryland but they showed me another one they had done and I said no thanks. It's a three piece wheel with a forged center and polished rims- they paint over the rims.

I have heard of a place called Wheel Works locally that could fix it just haven't been there. The bend is not so bad I haven't been able to live with it- I just speed up or slow down or put it on the back axle where I don't feel it at all. I refused to put the spare on- that's just me.