Buying A BMW E39 5 Series? You NEED TO WATCH THIS FIRST !!!

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[@Fmendonca10]

I’ve bought an E39 2002 Four years ago. I thought I was going to have all kinds of problems but still bought the car because I love the way it feels and looks. To my surprise, four years later and 40,000 miles later, I’ve barely had any problems with the car. The car runs great, it’s a joy to ride and I’ve spent altogether less than $1500 over the four years with many repairs and maintenance.I must be doing something right or I’m just plain lucky. But my experience has been excellent with this vehicle. With that said, I never take it to the dealership. I’ve got my own German mechanic. I think that helps.

[@giantclam1822]

Lucky....lol

[@juanv4375]

They’re not hard to work on tbh

[@Aschmorr]

One of my favorite things about my e39 is how the a/c blows, it’s the strongest out of any car I’ve owned lol, my issues so far have been bad pixels, the broken seat trim, driver side front ball joint, and the paint, other than that it’s pretty solid, smooth running, and quick for its size, I’m glad I didn’t get one until I had almost 20 years of driving under my belt, if I was a new driver I don’t think I would be as confident owning the car as I do

[@angelramirez7747]

Thanks Nathan, this video was super helpful. I have a 2001 BMW 540i M sport with 230k that needs a clutch, front/rear struts along with other miscellaneous items. I replaced the timing kit myself but I don't want to invest anymore money into it because it will exceed the value. Im glad I watched your video. Thanks again...

[@cvstudios3572]

I bought one without fully looking into them. Got it for 1k but it did have a few gremlins here and there . i am a diy type of guy and i love how easy most parts are easily accessible to work on.

[@noomrevol9937]

I bought mine crazy cheap and is in good shape and runs great! I did have to fix a few things here and there. Thanks to your videos.

[@SamS-lv1hy]

Same here I bought mine for a pretty cheap and in good shape thanks to your videos. Thanks Nate.

[@jlee5490]

Thinking of buying one, how much total do u think I'll spend on car + fixes generally? For a used one by 1 car owner no accidents

[@dobypilgrim6160]

My 2002 530i was $1000. Immaculate, garage kept, one owner. It had 54,538 miles on it. It needed an a/c charge for $80. The tires were weak so I put a new set on it. It's frankly gorgeous. Clean CarFax too. Oh, and I did have to fix the seat twist on the passenger side. Took 15 minutes.

[@greebj]

Good job finding that deal. Low km clean examples ought to be expensive, not that cheap!

[@mcgyverb1664]

Like all your videos man, you are always upfront with the truth on various bmw models, the history of bmw problems hasn’t changed at all, I’ve yet to see a bimmer without a leaking engine.

[@fatrichardmcfatprick5766]

Mine with 300k+ no leaks and no it's not out of oil.. regular basic maintenance is the key to survival ..

[@samdixon7050]

I bought a 535i for fun with the idea of just driving it till it dies :) that was 2 years ago and still going strong ha ha... just did oil changes and standard maintenance.. almost zero costs and still drives like a train

[@dilljordan7303]

Its not to hevy for fun? Do you have manual?

[@tonys4751]

I disagree with this video. I own a 98 528i, and its a Sherman Tank. I bought it brand new and started maintaining myself 8 years ago. It's an amazing ride and I commute 105 miles a day. Look forward to the ride in the morning with my cup of coffee and seeing the sunrise. It's a smooth and solid ride. It has got to be one of the safest and finest cars to drive in the rain.

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

For a m52 as it gets from 150k to 180k you will need a fuel pump vanos seals cam sensor crank sensor coil packs cracked valve cover many water pumps and idler pulleys secondary air pump and hoses 2 or more ccv valves throttle body boots motor mounts transmission solenids drive shaft carter bearing drive shaft guibo many window regulators outer door handles radio pixels going out possible water leaks fro sun roof or door panels which rots out the fuse box in passenger floor rear passenger wheel bearing rear upper control arms all front control arms and tie rods rack and pinion abs module abs sensors radiator and almost all hoses that is just a few things that will absolutely happen to your m52, and if you ever get it hot at all it will crack the cylinder head, I have owned around 20 cars with the m52 single vans engine over the years, the 99-03 will have a lot more issues , seat twisting more coolant leaks etc

[@kolinstallman3788]

Anecdotal evidence means nothing. Buying a car is like buying a lottery ticket. New or used.

[@goclunker]

@@NathansBMWWorkshop Funny, my s52 has been BULLET PROOF, can't say the same for my n52 and n54...

[@pibblesnbits]

@@NathansBMWWorkshop I agree with above. Had an 01 E39 and nothing but problems after 10 yrs of ownership. Spent $6k in maintenance in last year of ownership.

[@tonys4751]

Fair call out. I guess as an American, I’m not programmed to tell people I drive a Panzer.

[@Birb_of_Judge]

Ok i have to be honest about 80-85% of what you said are things you should watch out for on any car. And from what I know the 520i is one of the most reliable cars bmw ever made. At least from experience. Around 400k km and the only major issue it had was an electric component, the exhaust rusting through on one spot and rust on the trunk.

[@125southernnh2]

It's not a Camry. That's why I have one.

[@ManishKumar-iv7ld]

Straightforward - Very Informative & Practical Review !! Thanks :)

[@MotogiantTL]

Nathan, since you will be doing an engine swap on this e39, I think it would be a great video series to go through the engine swap in detail. I know you have gone over the basics previously, but actually walking through doing it would probably be a huge draw to anyone undertaking this. (There are no good e39 engine swap videos on KZbin, some are partial, and some are just a stationary camera on timelapse with little to no dialogue.) Also a lot of the steps would be very similar to other models. Best regards, Paul

[@alcolaco2042]

Thankyou Sir! I'm inspecting a e39 530i soon. And your tips help me know what I'm looking for on one of these. Cheers!

[@AngeloSantelliMusic]

Great video. I was given an ‘02 525 Touring with 221,000miles as a Christmas gift from some friends just before Christmas 2018 after my Camry was junked. It ran fine as is but in Jan. I had to replace the idler and tensioner pulleys and radiator, which he helped me do. Coolant system has stripped out bleeder, 1 broken fan blade. Starting now to get a slow oil pan leak, need to replace valve cover gasket and the front end needs the struts, super nice BMW wheels but tires are getting worn on the outside edge. AC and heat broken. Seats have the twists, some pixels out on displays, some janky stuff with lo-beams from angel eyes being added by someone else. Car overall is an absolute joy, sounds great on start up, no rust (FL car) averages 21.5 mpg with 93 octane and has started a love of BMWs for me!

[@equid0x]

The issues you are talking about are all pretty minor. Order the parts online, buy a case of beer, and have your friend over for a shop hand. AC & Heat may well be bad seals in the heater valve. Also, check fuses in the glove box I think fuse 20 and 23. You have to twist the white nuts and pull the panel down with the glove box open. Stripped out bleeders may be contributing if system is not full. Change the thermostat and expansion tank with new bleeders and bleed system with car electrical in on with heat at 90F and fill expansion tank until the indicator is at the tank rim. You might be able to fix display LCDs with a hair dryer and a pencil eraser. Otherwise there are aftermarket repair kits for this. Not really a BMW problem. Every LCD manufactured with conductive glue eventually develops this problem.

[@jmy6050]

I don't think the e39 is any more of a problem than another series. You could run the same recording on the e90 and have a list of equal length of issues or potential ones. End of the day it's about how cool your beemer looks and drives.

[@nehemiahcopeland8531]

yes

[@kribar96]

I have owned an e39 m52b20 for the last 1,5years / 25k km. 255km - 280km Preventive rust treatment Passanger seat bypass 2 speed sensors thermostathousing Radiator Rear wheel bearing do to weird noise Original coils, changed the plugs at 260k for preventive maintance as they were org as well. Always started, never an issue. Im pretty happy with it so far, i do ofc everything myself.

[@mattwarren69]

I have an 03 (e39) 530i individual edition in Aegean blue. I've had it for 6 years or so and its been super reliable. 110k miles isn't too savage . The previous owner ruined the suspension with a shite after market suspension job, but I've since had it replaced by someone who knows what they are doing! its now running spot on and drives straight as it should. I had the module thing ( not sure exactly what its called ) in the auto gearbox replaced as it was a bit jerky selecting the gears , not cheap as the part and labour was £400 ! obviously i know jack diddly about fixing cars myself and i can see your point in the video about saving $ by having a good mechanical knowhow, however aside from regular maintenance and what I've mentioned its been a brilliant car so I've got no issues with throwing the money I've spent so far. its almost 20 years old after all. Still good advice , thanks

[@grahamepigney8565]

Bought a 2001 530D Touring in 2007 with 64k miles for £10k. Good price but it was a manual and had cloth upholstery, definitely not top spec in the UK. Apart from a blown turbo after about 5k miles, probably due to the car not having be used for 12 months or so, it has been ultra reliable. No rust, no trim damage, even the cupholders front and back work. Did have to have the stereo head (not satnav just radio/cd control/tape-deck business unit) repaired, common fault on the early business units. In 2012 bought another 2001 530D Touring with about 80k miles for £2k. This had the favoured leather upholstery and 5 speed GM auto box. The bodywork was a little untidy (the previous owner was obviously careless at parking). Had the dreaded swirl flaps removed. Again the trim was in great condition with working cupholders. I've just had to have the tailgate wiring loom repaired where it goes through the right-hand tailgate hinge, a common fault due to a poor design. Both of them now have about 165k miles still ultra reliable apart from phantom battery drain. Just had to service them (by a main dealer until 6-7 years ago, suprisingly cheap), replace water pumps, rebuild the lower front suspension on the manual (the auto probably wants doing soon). Had two E34s before (the 520i Touring I still have and is waiting for me to finish a front suspension rebuild) and a 520i E30 Touring. I bought the 520i E34 Touring in 1998 on the basis it would last me 10 years and do 250,000 miles. 23 years and 260,000 miles later the front suspension rebuild is the first bit of serious work I have had to do on it. Now do all the maintenance ourselves, parts are easy to obtain and not expensive. even from a BMW dealer. The electronics are simple enough to analyse with a decent analysis tool and no need to worry about having control units, battery... coded to the car. The 530Ds just soak up the miles on the motorway and are sporty enough on the wiggly bits. We have a 1,800 kilogram caravan and all that torque combined with the self-levelling suspension they are great tow cars

[@tommys_chopshop9432]

These aren’t just your everyday economy car like a Honda, ford, Toyota and so on, they’re a high maintenance and expensive car to own if you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t know how to take care of them, I had a 2000 528i and the guy I brought it off had no idea about them, i replaced the window regs, have it a service, new brakes, coilovers, tie rods and it was a perfect car again and I never had any issues, I paid $500 for it and sold it for 6k. Today I’m picking up a 530i m sport, immaculate, with 23000 k’s on the clock, basically a time capsule, just had a complete go over buy a bmw mechanic who reckons it’s like no other he has seen, if you spend the money you’ll find a good one, or if you know what you’re looking at and feeling you can pick one up really cheap if you know what to fix.. and they’re actually a great car

[@tracyphillips3325]

Great informative video Nathan. Just can't beat an old Toyota Corolla, not that I've owned one but have worked on and been around plenty. BMWs do have a certain prestige to the owners. I've always based my vehicles on how easy the repairs will be when the warranty is out. 👍

[@jayblaz-e3922]

Always glad to watch your vids it has definitely gotten me a long way getting my car fixed with out the help of any mechanic. But unfortunately I now have a mean vacuum leak sounds like a dam jet. Not sure what’s going on . But I’d like to sell it and get me a 540i point being your vids have been a great help. 👍🏻

[@equid0x]

Vacuum line is cheap cheap cheap. Are your brakes hard? Check the line going to the brake booster underneath the driver side air box for climate control. Also another connecting line running by the valve cover to the secondary air valve. The lines dry rot with age and crack or break.

[@edwinromilly4645]

great vid very informative and like the straight talking,!!! was looking at 245k m sport 530d in line 6 i assume..cheap but after watching this got me reservations.. just too much of a empty wallet misery if your not careful.. Eternal thanks

[@damianlugocantu9623]

I bought 540i 2002 for 2,700 and i spend 15,000 on fix!! But now its kind like a brand brand new!! Runs. Really really good!! No regrets!!

[@BmwMe-uh9sy]

No regrets on spending 5 times the value of the car

[@damianlugocantu9623]

Is for my personal pleasure#!! Not for business!!

[@robertsalas3984]

Pendejo

[@damianlugocantu9623]

Roverto salas so any body who rebuild any kind of car just because they wanted is stupid??? You are stupid !!

[@BmwMe-uh9sy]

@@damianlugocantu9623 I mean 15 grand will buy you a nice bmw e92 m3, you don't even own an M

[@RasSosa]

I loved bmw's at one point. However, from my 83 528e, there are a lot of changes and modern technology that made these cars like a POC now. Thanks for this video. I am going to share with my friends and ppl of interest.

[@elchino356]

Amazing detailed video. You are really good at explaining. I have very little car experience, thinking of getting a second hand one with 100k km on it. 2.5k euro. 12 year warranty at the dealer. Thing is, it’s in the south of Spain, where I’ll be using it. And it gets hot, desert hot. 40 degrees Celsius (sorry metric system in Europe). So if there are cooling issues this is going to be a difficult car to use probably. What do you think?

[@jorgenunez2310]

My first bmw was a 98 528i with 147k miles Salvaged for 1200 Honestly I’ve owned 3 bmw since then 1st - 98 e39 528i, 2nd - 07 e60 530i, 3rd - 05 e60 525i, and my latest car 4th - 02 e46 330ci I love the e60 so much and my new 330ci is pretty dope But man the sheer comfort and how smooth the e39 travels is unmatched It’s crazy every one you meet that drives a e39 says they love it Something about the e39 that gives it a soul and see why people fall inlove with it , knowing at any moment an expensive repair might be one the way Looking to get a e39 530i soon Great video lots of info I can use when checking out my next e39

[@jorgenunez2310]

I only drive BMW’s 💯

[@Clemsnman]

My '98 528i, with manual transmission, drives better than my '07 328 or my '11 528i. I picked it up for $1500 two yrs ago. Most things work, but not all the time, but the drive is great.

[@chrisxxkilla2456]

Nathan i think u should remake a catch can video for e39s fully detailed

[@sflasurf]

Giving pricing information is useless. It depends on a lot of factors. If you say "An E39 M5 will go for $14K", what does that mean? The range of E39 M5 is from $8,000 - $176,000. I know this video is about E39 530 and 540, but I would never give a range on prices. And yes, receipts are a good indicator of what has been done. If service is done at a dealership, they will use OE parts. Very valuable in the purchase factor.

[@ivarroligheten1698]

On my Bmw's from 1991, 1997, 1997 and on my two- stoke 1988 Trabant I use a lot of FluidFilm against rust.

[@DJIronChef]

buying one of thes, test drive was smooth, quick braking, not too loud when getting up. new transmission installed last year, motor has 178000 on it, 2003 530i. has oil/coolant leaks. i plan on putting some coin into it. getting it for $3000

[@equid0x]

These cars are positive camber on the front and negative on the rear from the factory... unless there is really excessive wear on the inside or outside tire treads on a a particular tire you might not necessarily be able to tell if there is a problem by looking. One thing you didn't touch on and what stuck out to me in the video is that this car has a prestone can under the hood. That's an indicator to me of either a coolant leak or overheating problem or maybe both. These cars have a solid history of cooling system failures: cracks on hose connectors, expansion tank, radiator, bleed screws.... also thermostat failures are common and typically cause the car to run cold - poor heat in the winter might be a good sign. I run one of these in the desert and after about 6 months of daily driving (25-100 miles a day) coolant was down about a quart and this was enough to also cause malfunction of the climate control system due to air bubbles in the heater valve. I had an "untraceable" coolant leak for several months and I actually found that coolant was leaking from the center of the thermostat bleeder screw and it would only happen when the engine was hot and driven on the highway. I've heard a lot about cracking valve covers on these but really, that's a simple repair. Mine hasn't cracked but I've had to change the gasket 2 times due to hardening which has lead to leaking on the rear side of the engine as well as into the spark plug tubes. There were 2 different specs of gasket for these so you need to make sure you bought one of the proper depth as well. Without a micrometer on hand they look identical - they are not.

[@SuperHumor4u]

Owned a 99 540i (v8) for about 6-7 years now and I do have to say it's been one hell of a "ride" both good & bad. That being said, when it's right, amazing car to own. The bad however is as Nathan said a moneypit. Really just a matter of if you have the money and more importantly the know-how to fix things yourself. These are old cars in 2019... Regardless it's a modern classic and an absolute joy when it works correctly.

[@inouske2975]

im thinking of getting one. 2001 540ia, major things like timing chains are done and regular maintainace was done as well. car have 195,000 km on it. idk if I should get it

[@dawhitecastle]

@@inouske2975did you get it? I’m going to look at a 540 today

[@z06king]

And Nathan , let me give you a big AMEN on "do not buy this car unless you are at least a 7/10 wrench." Work I just did on our Touring was about $3500 shop rate.

[@olakvernenestkje7332]

Always so fun to find these videos after buying one XD

[@djeremit4393]

Best five series. But it's not old Toyota with oil change only. U must know the car and change parts (coolant system etc) before they brake. I own 2000 330i e46 for 3 years now, still love this car, love m54 engine for its simplicity comparing to newer N series. Every day my car runs over 90000 kilometers and never left me on the road. Nathan, thanks for nice videos. I realy want to buy low millage e39 from Japan no matter what it costs.

[@jaredsams6537]

Just got one for free today. Previous owner said it had rod knock but also sat for 4 years. What do you think? I haven’t had the chance to start it myself yet

[@Maximilian0011]

Nathan, you vids are just great one by one, may I say that to run and keep e39 in a great condition is THE right Maintenance as BMW says, its all about the temperature and greasing-oil, if the coolant is in a great condition and changed on time as the oil then the car will be healthy for years to come, mine is such year '97

[@equid0x]

I agree. Advice is good for any car. If its low mileage, change the trans fluid every 30K or so. If its never been done and its old... don't change it. Otherwise, change brake fluid, coolant, power steering, clutch every 3 to 5 years. Change oil when dash indicator says to or if its totally black, thin, or has something else in it(like coolant - then check head gasket -probably overheating too if thats the case). Check trans oil and if its discolored, brown, milky(could be coolant leak into trans but does not apply to e39), or sparkly(trans is on its way out - fix it), or smells like burnt toast, change it(generally gold color on e39 but if its been changed with regular fluid might be red). Change or blow out engine air filter. Over 100K check fuel pressure and change fuel filter. Over 100K check plugs and change if fouled. I don't feel that older e39s are much different than other older cars. They have their own set of common failures and you should read up on like bimmerfest or wherever about these problems and keep an eye out for them.

[@greebj]

I got the white residue everywhere early on when I overfilled the res before I figured out the level indicator. Shop tried to hit me up for a new cap (assuming failed pressure relief valve) - but its been fine since being filled properly.

[@greebj]

I just bought a cheap high mileage M52TU 528i at auction that actually looked very straight very clean and ran pretty well (leaving the usual slick under the oil pan) and can completely agree there's a hell of a lot that can still need fixing. I was expecting to discover a reason why it was at a NR auction and it seems it was just the fixes it needed. I was quoted $6K at a shop as an incomplete list of jobs to pass roadworthy - but I have put on my big boy pants and attempted the work myself for about $1.5K in parts (and some tools) with only a couple suspension bits and what I'm hoping will fix the slick is the sump gasket and not the rear main - but it's been completely successful at being a learning experience as a trial run for the E34 540i that I want to learn more about maintaining (that actually IS appreciating in value, but that's irrelevant because I love driving that car so much.) I am yet to find a car post 2000 that I find myself wanting to get in and drive. They're nice to sit in and full of toys but tbh they feel soulless and boring even when fast af and I feel like I'm surrounded by superficial touches engineered to look good, instead of precise engineering designed to BE good, like classic BMWs up to the mid 90s.

[@ivarroligheten1698]

Norway speaking. I have been driving Bmw since 1977. Without warrenty. I do no mekanic myself.l run the Bmw-s for many years. 2002-74, 320-81, 525i-91, 523i-97, 316i-97(compact). To day I have the-91(434 000 km), the-97(300 000km), the-97(compact)(260 000 km.) There have been no touch on the motors. Only some plastic- and rubberparts have been changed.

[@life21812]

Battery. Alternator. Radiator. Water pump. Thermostat Upper radiator hose. Auxiliary temp sensor. Auxiliary cooling fan Camshaft position sensor. Serpentine belt pully next to the alternator. Oxygen sensor bank 1 oil pump spring .timing chain spring tentioner led power box . Hood latch caples . Recommend to spray some w40 on the metal were the hood insert locks .so when you pop your hood oped its lubricated an its easy to realse. If not some how the tention of the wire will brake the sliding mechanism an you wont be able to open you hood. An you be in for a ride trying to get your hood open. All that to say this if you can get a car for cheap an you can make your money back before it breaks down its a win but if you buy one an you have to put it money right from the start dont do it it will feel like a money pit . These cars take patients an alot of research to figuer out how to fix the its easy but challenging. Thats to the KZbiner putting out great contact on DIY vedio with out them. My BMW would been in a scarp yars two years later ..

[@troupe75]

Nathan your awesome bro, I had messaged you a week or two ago via FB about a: 2003 BMW 525i M-Sport w/200k the guy was asking $760 and I wanted your opinion although I consider myself a level 7 on the mechanic line. Lol lol I was just gonna drop in a new engine and tran for $4K as my max cost to get it the way I want. Long story short seller wanted to up the price, told him to keep it. Turned around bought a 2011 328i M-Sport coupe instead. Thanks for the video upload and the thorough explanation most of which I already know but you always bring great perspectives to each situation and I appreciate your video blog! 👌🏿👍🏿🔧🔩🛠⚙️⛓

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

Glad it worked out, I have a lot of videos up for that e90 also

[@peterhuber3625]

We have a 2003 530i which is in nice shape, is a joy to drive and (if you know what you are doing) is easy, inexpensive and (most of the time) quite gratifying to maintain. Then again I am a DIY retired guy.

[@spencerreid6484]

Love the video. I’m 18 and bought a 2000 540i sport 6 months ago after selling my 97 318ti and the difference in parts and gas is crazy and I new it was when i decided to get the 540 but damn(when you brought up the 540s I felt that😂) but Currently my 540 is throwing codes: p0443, p0303 and p0203 i know what the problems are just not a master bmw mechanic yet so if you have any information I would love to hear

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

Hey man just found your comment, the p0443 is the purge valve, locates on the front of the driver valve cover, p0303 is cylinder 3 misfire, which is the 3rd from the front on the passenger, p0203 is the injector code for cylinder 3 which is prob the connection where the harness snapped on the injector

[@spencerreid6484]

Nathan's DIY Garage thanks for the info hopefully I can get these problems fixed soon keep posting videos they help a lot👍🏾👍🏾

[@samytm26]

Hello, did you have a E39 or E60 with manual transmission ? If yes, did you removed the clutch delay valve ?

[@mikesavage8379]

So what's the story on this 530i that needs an engine swap. Did it overheat? I see the catch can. Did you install that or do any work on this car previously?

[@z06king]

Talked with Brad at AutohausAZ when replacing the front struts on our E39 Touring. I hope he doesnt' mind me sharing his opinion, as a BMW parts expert. Now, I feel like this car is worth a lot of maintenance dollars because it is really a $40,000 car, and drives like one. Brad said he wanted to buy a new car, but when he drove the new ones, they don't drive any better and cost a LOT more than maintenance items on this 5 Series, so he is keeping his and doing upgrades. We have a big leak front and rear of engine, so we change its diaper every month or so. LOL Edit: I very fortunately had a buddy who is an expert at rehabbing German cars. He showed me how to replace most of the problem parts, esp the VANOS, which in this car was the first and only thing we had to fix in the first 5 years of driving.

[@davidjoy7654]

My 528i M sport auto 1999 cost £1150 8 years ago and drives and looks like new. Inside and out perfect. Paid £1150 from a private sale near London. Every day I look at it even if I am not going anywhere as I just cannot believe such a bargain. Also I believe it is such a great looking car, designed by a Japanese guy not a German. 75 soon and hope this is my last ever car. My son does any maintenance. So yep just lucky. I believe eventually he will have it and treat it as a classic in the future.

[@andipajeroking]

That Celica is gorgeous!

[@majesticvillasphuket.7190]

Abs module on the 2003 are a problem . Bmw moved it from under the glovebox in the earlier ones and put it beside the exhaust manifold , really stupid . My 2003 530i has only 14,000 miles on it .

[@CuChiKat]

Light control module, when it goes it'll make you crazy. Then there's the fun cooling system hoses under the intake, yes, under the intake. Still I love my E39's.

[@ald6268]

TommRamon hey can you give more details of problem lens light control module can have when they go out?

[@CuChiKat]

@@ald6268 One headlight will stay on even after you turn your headlights off, sometimes both. Console light stays on and gets very hot, headlights will blink at times . After you take the LCM out of the passenger side kickboard there's a tiny yellow light that comes on next to the odometer and shows that the milage has been tampered with, lots of fun things. Whats your symptoms ?

[@ald6268]

TommRamon I just wanted to know so when it happens lol

[@jidana3194]

Wait a minute you said to check the windows to make sure they all work on a bmw e39 ? LOL

[@bolbiitp7850]

Do you have tips on how to fix my left rear back-up & brake lights? I got a new socket and bulb for them but it hasn’t solved the issue? My blinkers work but just when I’m braking and backing up doesn’t turn on

[@DerBlutsauger]

Sounds like this guy bonds more with appliances like Toyotas, not cars like BMWs. Of course you have to maintain them and of course the parts and service aren't cheap. Nothing at the apex ever is.

[@dianepracy2754]

2002 530, bought at 155,000 km's in 2017, 200,000km's now. Beautiful car to drive and own. No smoke, knocks or rattles, drives tighter than a Toyota with half the mileage. I've owned a lot of cars, this is one of my favorites...nah, its my fave.

[@jlee5490]

Ahh this is the dream. How did you find it or maintain it to drive so well? So many people with problems. Any advice for a used car buyer like me?

[@dianepracy2754]

@@jlee5490 First thing is to be patient, don't rush into it. Scope the market well in your area so you can get a gauge of condition vs cost. When you go to view, make sure the log books show regular on time servicing with the correct oil. Super important with German cars. Same goes for the transmission. When it comes to inspecting take someone who knows cars well. Mechanic mates are great! Look closely at everything!! Panels, door rubbers, bumpers, lights (hazing and function). Check the electric windows all work, door handles and seat belts operate correctly etc. Make sure you check the electric seat functions, the cables were made a little short and can come out of the motors. Check for oil leaks top and bottom, front and rear. Rocker covers, dip stick holder o rings, oil low sensor (bottom of sump) are common leaks. Look under the oil filler cap for sludge, if there is any, don't buy it. Same goes for the coolant res. (make sure the motor is cool before doing this). When you start up, listen. Engine should be smooth with with the injectors being the only tick. Carefully open the oil filler when idling and check for fuming. No fumes is good fumes. Same goes for the exhaust but don't confuse fumes for water vapour which is normal when cold. The steering should be tight with little or no play in the steering wheel. During the road test try to simulate a broad range of driving conditions, bumpy, winding, up hills. Listen and feel the car! It will tell you if something is loose or worn. Good luck, I hope this helps.

[@jlee5490]

​@@dianepracy2754 Wow thanks so much for this list. I wish you were coming with me to check out some BMW's! I was going to pounce on the first 2003 BMW 540i I saw at 155k miles (Asking $6k). It's in pristine condition but I don't know anything about engines/transmissions. Since I can't test everything you said - do you recommend I take it to a certified mechanic to inspect it? Thank you again!

[@dianepracy2754]

@@jlee5490 It is definitely worth getting a mechanical inspection if you are unsure. The V8's have a few extra things to look out for, namely the timing chain guides suffering premature failure. Again, regular servicing is a must. I have also heard that valve guide seals can be a problem on the 8's but I don't know if that affects e39's. This can be very costly. Consider how much you actually want a V8. For most driving conditions a 530 is quite adequate and a great balance of power/ economy. The do lack a bit in the torque department which I notice when the car is loaded. Perfectly fine when it's just wifey and me (oh yeah, this is Di's hubby btw) but performance drops off noticeably with adults in the back seat. Consider also if you want the m sport package or not. Do you prefer a more comfortable ride or something a little stiffer for fun cornering. The standard suspension offers pretty reasonable handling but is a little soft in the rear when getting serious in the windies or at high speed cornering. I ended up with a 530i mainly because the m sports that I road tested had all been thrashed. I console myself with the knowledge that my car had not been thrashed and that I love the color, anthracite, which is really rare down here in Oz.

[@jlee5490]

@@dianepracy2754 LOL I was like this lady is super knowledgeable about cars. I took the m-sport 2003 540i today for a test drive. The original owner took such great care of the car. It accelerated with ease and snappiness, hit 60mph in few seconds. All the electronics worked, AC blasted perfectly, little cloudy on right front light, exhaust smelled normal no smoke, sun roof worked perfectly. All windows worked. Brakes were a little shaky and weak. Leather and paint outside looks like a 60k mileage car, it's at 155k. Here are some pics: www.reddit.com/r/e39/comments/iobt0a/help_buying_used_2003_bmw_540i_155k_miles/

[@thomasstorrs6345]

I have one. Absolutley have to be able to do all the work DIY. I do.

[@Winter1256]

We never face Those failures here in Europe 😏

[@Shingypoo]

And we always are about a 1 000 000 kilometers behind aswell.

[@denkste1871]

When i show this video, i thought that the e39 is realy to much miles for the money, but when I think also about my fatherland germany, the cars would live most longer and less painfuller than in this video. Sry but the e39 is a great car and for about 5 to 7 thousand you can buy realy good ones without any big problems🤔😁

[@vitalisdeikus5812]

@@denkste1871 i bought mine in EU for 2 grand, it has recaro alcantara interior, style 66 m wheels, and has no rust which is insane, and the car it self is like 8.5/10 imo, it's insane how cheap they getting out here

[@MS-we4wi]

@@vitalisdeikus5812 what country did you buy it from? Not easy to find one without rust in my country because too much salt on the winter roads..

[@dupreymartin1]

I make just over 100k and I want one for the nostalgia yet I could only imagine the woes that come with owning a older BMW😅

[@fatrichardmcfatprick5766]

I got a xtra high miles 297k 530 I for $450... Previous owner took it to one of our local shops in Sonoma that's known for misdiagnosing vehicles told them it needed a head gasket after he overheated it and since it had high miles he went and bought a brand new car and after dealing with all the idiots on Craigslist told me if I wanted to pay for the registration fee it was mine .. so I called the tow truck had it brought up to my house because the battery was dead put water in it so I could find out if it had water in the oil or oil in the water it had neither and has been running perfect ever since almost a year now and about 10,000 miles and it runs and drives great

[@life21812]

I bought a 2003 bmw 530I two years ago it had 239000 miles on it so far I put in about 20000 thousand miles on it its still holding strong .I payed 3500 for it . Just recently ive put in about another 2000 dollars on parts not labor . Cuz I do my own work . Bot a level 10 mechanic but if i can find a DIY video on youtube im up for the challenge. I can say once rhis emgine takes a shit on me like if the. Timming chain guide give up on me or something major i might have to retire the 23 year old car hope I don’t . I dont so speed racing in the streets just cus its a nice ride to cruise on. Parts iive fix since iwning the car .

[@jeronchatman1519]

The seat twist is the least of the problems with these. But they handle like nothing else. You can fix the seat twist for free.

[@ulucio86]

Men i was about to buy one for $3200 with 79k miles

[@enzoz6928]

I'm going to get my 525 next week with Rebuilt Engine and Gearbox for 2600 AUD XD

[@durgamayar4396]

is the bmw 535i 245hp a good buy? Im used to mechanic on e39 in the past btw

[@HTPGAMINGStefan]

Idk about yall but I'm owning one for like 7 years never had a problem with it now I'm starting to tune it

[@julianocampo8805]

Any videos on E39 wagon with a manual transmission? Bought one recently... 1999

[@Anirossa]

Just looking for a winter beater to keep my E34 from the salt so much of this is meh for me

[@pinnacleupdates8698]

Pls help I have 525o 2001 ....it's start and dies so I would like to know is it a ecu if it is how to diagnose it or reset it if possible

[@erick2good]

Bought mine for $4k 2000 e39 540i this summer, mint condition but had put another $6k in repairs. Drive train, all mounts(allll), water pump, gasket covers, valley pan, thermostat, radiator hoses, fuses, spark plugs. But i bought knowing I would have to make repairs, I restore M40i and up M’s

[@BmwMe-uh9sy]

Is it atleast manual, if so then it's maybe worth it but 6k in repairs? Done by yourself or a shop

[@erick2good]

Bmw M3 e46 nope not manual. If I wanted manual I would’ve bought a e39 M5 or I can always do a manual swapp when I’m ready. But this steptronic shift so smoothly and there only 9 left on the market of my year 540i and they all look like shit. Plus I manual swapped my e34 525i. But these cars are so dated it waste of time trying to shift manual, slow regardless.

[@erick2good]

Bmw M3 e46 the drive train, bushings and mounts was replaced by mechanic 👨‍🔧 for $1500 by the book charge (lame) because I have No lift to do it myself but the rest repairs is all the done by me. This car is really simple to work on just very time consuming to get the repairs with all the disconnecting. But in reality my repairs are $2000 because I do my own work. But by the book its over $6000 in repairs. Plus my spec is so amazing and rare.

[@jgripen969]

Porsche Chevy Since it’s a 2000 be prepared for a ABS/DSC module failure. 1999 - 2000 E39 models had problems with these.

[@erick2good]

J Gripen thanks but not my first rodeo. I have several mint Ms.

[@E39Kai]

is it bad if a e39 (540i) sits for about 15-17 under a enclosed canopy?

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Good info Nathan. Here's an idea for a future video: why buy a BMW in the first place? What makes a BMW different from say a GM or even a Mercedes? Why would it be worth it to keep fixing an E39, E60 or E90? To me it would be the driving experience, the comfort, styling, ergonomics and engineering. But you probably have a lot more to say on the subject. I think a positive video such as that would balance the usual cautionary videos. After all, there is a reason we are ready to put up with our aging cars, it would be nice to tell the world :) Love your content, have a great day.

[@michaelhall9138]

My last car was a Lincoln LS; kissing cousin to the Jaguar S-Type. There is no contest between the quality of the Lincoln and our 535l's (2012 & 2014). It seems BMW's motto is why use a push-pin when a screw will do. BMW's quality is just superior.

[@equid0x]

@@michaelhall9138 I would agree with that although I do feel that older US cars like the Lincoln Mark VII were similar in fit-and-finish and build quality. Don't get me started on Jaguars because English designed cars are always ... problematic.

[@peterd1589]

These can go for like 35k usd with less than 40k miles! $ ++ E46 also steady and rising

[@yaboydryp]

About to buy a 525 with 118k miles? Any good price recommendations?

[@R3YNZ]

At least in Arizona and California for a decent one people are asking 2k-2.5k. Good condition I see them for 3-4k usually and for mint condition see them for about 5k and up. There one I found that has 103k miles all the packages(sport, tech, winter/summer, premium pkg) and lots of work done to it including the big one the coolant System. Guy says it only needs the sunroof retracked and new hood latch cable. He wants 6k for it. Good deal or nah?

[@equid0x]

A bit late but... not a good deal. Coolant system, at least to me, not a big deal. $150 in new parts and system is replaced. If you have to pay someone for labor that's a whole different ballgame. If you could verify that it was not overheated I might buy it but not for $6k. A non-running vehicle is worth close to $0 I don't care what anyone says.

[@tlister67]

My 2000 528i has intermittent front door lock issues. Changed battery. I can still use key to unlock but irritating. Both front doors, rears open every time. Sunroof tilt broken, clear coat peeling. Great to drive with 5 speed though

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

Gm5 module probably

[@terencegalati970]

Or rear trunk wire loom. Locking computer gets balled up when wires in the trunk loom are rubbing. Also check the wires in the driver door loom in the hinge area. You may need to cut the rubber jacket to inspect as some are glued on to the frame.

[@equid0x]

Drivers side front door lock gets worn. Needs lubrication. Had same problem with bad battery... low voltage. Car ran fine otherwise but started "forgetting" settings and not responding to remote... maybe bad battery or alternator/voltage regulator?

[@x0savag385]

I'm looking at a sky blue 98 e39 rn!

[@johnscarloshow5315]

Yes the engine lights on. 🤨

[@nathanmacias4913]

Where would u recommend to buy parts for this type of car ?

[@thehawk597]

im 18 and buying a 535 v8 1998 this weekend. but i know it will be ALOT of stuff to do but im only buying it to learn anyway :D

[@shitnutzx2]

How is this going lol

[@thehawk597]

@@shitnutzx2 well i bought it and its going good:) learning alot.

[@jayserna1989]

another 4 more months later review? I'm looking into a 98 as well

[@thehawk597]

@@jayserna1989 its still going good, going to replace some bushings, remove some rust and do a full service when i get my next pay check! going to sell soon tho because i want M5 :D

[@davidtheswedishtechguy]

Still buying one😂 not a five star mec here but hey im swedish and if its not fixeble it aint broke🤪

[@altrusowndg681]

My 98 has the seat twist aswell

[@demetriousmonroe3955]

What is the white tank with the red tag next to the abs module on a e39 which has a sensor it

[@jidana3194]

Oh i forgot you said in 2002 they changed the ignition coils to the E90 style ? How a car from 2002 will have the style coils from a 3 series the came out a few years later dont make any sense you mean the e90 has the 2002 e39 ignition coil style ? Just to let you know bmw e39 is a very reliable car and please let me know what state you in i need to buy a few BROKEN e39 so i can resell them in my state with out doing anything if you see the 540i for 500 bucks i will buy them all for sure you guys are going to stay without 540i

[@cnnlt200]

Here a good e39 is way more expensive than a e60 or f11. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@wombatnation1709]

Bought a 2000 528i with 95000 miles on it for $2800 great condition, previous owners bought it new and took great care of it

[@jlee5490]

Can I ask where u found it?

[@wombatnation1709]

Found it on Autotrader

[@wombatnation1709]

If you asking area it was in up in Eugene, Oregon

[@kingpharaoh3880]

Hey Nathan, I Have a 2001 e39 530i and I have a stripped bolt hole for my valve cover @11:12 It’s my back right one, i’ve Changed my valve cover gasket before and when I was closing everything up I realized. I have a leak now so i’ll Be going back in soon ( May Change my valve cover this time) but my qustion is I seen on you tube how to videos on retreading stripped bolt holes should I try this? I know taking it to the shop for that job will be a fortune.

[@equid0x]

You can do a couple things... you can buy a tap/die set and rethread the hole for a bigger bolt. Or you can do a heli-coil kit. Neither of these are a huge deal. Pretty common on restored cars, anyways. I would not change valve cover until you fix the bolt hole and see if thats the problem.

[@nastyspray]

Glide I watched this before I bought on I have no clue how to work on cars💀

[@Ableee]

E39 525d 2000 DDE light on , car runs without problems ? What could it be ?

[@mcbrian]

Guy explains what to look for on literally any used german car ever

[@brynar65]

The issues you mention differs a lot from my knowledge and experiences. As I drive a 530-01 since 15 years, (220.000km) I don't recall any of the problems you mentioned except for the pixel failure and changing a water pump. The service history is oil regular changes, some rusty break lines, breaks, and filters. Here is my point: Looking att European forums and car reviews they regard the M50-M54-motors from the 90s as the most reliable engines ever from BMW. Rust problems are probably somewhat an issue but was handled by BMW as they prolonged the guarantee to 7 yrs.. The E60 and the F10/F11 has way more problems, for instance total engine failures.due to slackened drive chain (Not sure if I use the right word..) So I wonder - Are the E39s sold in US assembled in US with different parts?

[@equid0x]

A lot of US e39s were assembled in South Carolina but I doubt that has anything to do with it. I have a German built 2000 528i VIN and I have had some of the same problems but not as many as the OP. I think the OP probably deals with a lot of people who don't really take care of t heir cars. A lot of people in the US don't. They buy the car and "drive it into the ground" and then buy the next one. My old roommate had a '99 Mercury Cougar that died right around 100K(in like 2004). When I questioned her about it, she had never changed the oil - only put new oil in. Never changed fluids... and never really did anything but change the brakes. When I asked her why she said she didn't know that she was supposed to do all that. *sigh* I asked her if she ever checked anything else (before she had it towed off) and the responses were literally "what's that?" ... "can you show me where that is?" I kinda wanted to feel sorry and maybe even pissed off but honestly, nobody ever taught her what needed to be done. She just drove the thing. Her dad had a couple of old non-running cars parked up in his driveway and it was just then that I understood why. Don't underestimate how stupid people can be with cars in the US because she's not the first person I've spoken with that didn't know anything about regular maintenance. A lot of people here... especially women... just drive it until it breaks. If it seems too expensive to fix when it breaks they buy a new car. These type of people literally know *nothing* about the car they are driving.

[@raqeeblewis5216]

I got buddy from Romania and Ukraine they know these cars inside and out

[@LovelessAndroid]

Nathan, thanks for your candor. I am in need of your opinion, I have a lead on a 2000 E39 Touring, M-sport, 155k miles... BUT it overheated and the guy wants to get rid of it for $1000 or less. I am a level 7 or 8 mechanic but I also want this wagon as my primary daily driver. Is this achievable? The owner had it for 14 years and has all the maintenance records. I don't want to get the head gasket/head bolts all done just to have the cascade of other failures haunt me. I also want to own an E39 wagon one day and this seems like my budget friendly entry to the club. Also you mention Saint Louis Craigslist... that's where I am located and where I found the post for this wagon...

[@equid0x]

A bit late but at that price the head is likely cracked or warped. You can machine/replace it and change gaskets/etc and the car is probably fine. Head bolt issues aren't as big a deal as some make it out to be. 155K? Hmmm... unless its extra special, its totaled. If its a love of labor than maybe the car can be saved. If fixed the car may well go to 250K but is working on cars something you like doing or a sideline?

[@KevinBeGood]

I got a 2000 bmw 528i, sunroof is broken won't open or close and is kinda sunk down I have a rag wedged in to keep it from leaking. Have you done a e39 sunroof repair video? Also I got wet carpets in the back seats where do I look for the weather barrier?

[@cruzinezy1968]

KevinBeGood just google E39 wet back seat. . . You will find plenty of how to fix

[@The3lloba]

What would you say the average time one might have to spend fixing a gasket/seal, or anything technical in the engine?

[@willmurray222]

Need headgasket ? Cheaper to replace engine ebay $500. 1000 labor.

[@The3lloba]

@@willmurray222 fortunately I dodged yhe urge to buy one so, I don't have to worry about none of it lol Thanks though!

[@futuratrunks6468]

e39 is the most iconic body style imho

[@cyrillecourval6316]

Is that the 540i with the v8 4.4L?

[@dennevyn05]

So I have a question for you. I'm mechanically inclined and just bought an 03 530i. Spent 3k on it and expected to do work on it. Sure enough, on the way home the fuel pump failed, but then the dealership supposedly replaced that and the battery. It starts beautifully. Third day owning it the check engine light came on. Don't know what that's about, but if I made a huge mistake, I now have to live with it. It needs some brake work and suspension maintenance; which I expected. I'm doing research on all of these issues because I want to do as much as I can by myself. Any additional advice?

[@kimkimpa5150]

How did it go with your 530i?

[@dennevyn05]

@@kimkimpa5150 It's going ok. Most of the problems with my car are things like needing an o2 sensor. Nothing major. Probably replace the fuel filter soon.

[@ricardolapa4950]

what is the best engine variant for the e39?

[@pauledwards5573]

Well mines done 187000 miles... Just run in!!

[@mamdirar8464]

E39 is the best sedan ever built

[@samisuhonen9815]

What can you say about a 540i? Is the 4.4l V8 engine better (more reliable) than the straight 6? I know my friend had one, he bought it with 300 000km, and drove (tortured) the thing for another 100 000km without anything breaking.

[@jlee5490]

Lol this is the exact comment I was looking for. How did he find such a reliable used bmw 5 series?

[@ivarroligheten1698]

I have a E39, 523i, 170 hp, year 1997, alusil motorblock. I live in Norway. I don't think nikasil- and alusil motorblocks have been sold in USA. Have changed termostathouse/ termostat , visko. The motor right now, 330 000 km. Using " no" oil. Using "no" coolingwater. I also drive a E34, 525i, year 1991, and E36, 316i, compact. On my cars l use a lot of FuidFilm. The best against rust. In the sommer I drive a Newtonmeter- tuned two- stroke Trabant.