[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by the

Here's a couple I found in a quick search of AutoTrader, as examples. These are all E39 540i's with 6 speed manuals, and similar mileage. This is literally from a 3 minute search, I'm sure you'd find much better deals with some real searching.

The one you are looking at is priced too high.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=225820325&dealer_id=60566911&car_year=1999&num_records=25&model=540I&make2=&start_year=1981&engine=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&certified=&fuel=&body_code=0&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&first_record=26&make=BMW&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=92614&advanced=y&end_year=2008&pager.offset=25&transmission=Manual&doors=&max_price=12000&cardist=580

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=221352663&dealer_id=47139190&car_year=1997&model=540I&num_records=25&make2=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&first_record=1&make=BMW&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=92614&advanced=y&end_year=2008&pager.offset=0&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=12000&cardist=2454

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=230642531&dealer_id=61152955&car_year=1997&model=540I&num_records=25&make2=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&first_record=1&make=BMW&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=92614&advanced=y&end_year=2008&pager.offset=0&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=12000&cardist=847

Fair enough, though I seriously doubt those are mint condition examples. The better question, find some excellent condition E34 540/6 for under $10k. You're assuming that the E39 is preferred because it is newer, but many people prefer the E34.