30 Years Ago, Did BMW Create The Perfect Car? E39 540i Review

[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@alancrisp1582]

🤢 Warning the porn scammers are here again foaming at the mouth. Trading off your channel....

[@AlexLR]

About 25 years ago on my way home from school my dad said "Shall we stop at that new BMW dealership on the way home and have a look around?" A short while later he'd bought a one year old 528i for £15k. I was shocked. It felt really special, it smelled brand new and for a kid used to scrappy old volvo estates it was the fastest car on the road. He always lusted after a 540i over the M5 which I didnt understand until I got a bit older myself. So the E39 will always be something special for me. Still remember the big grin I couldn't wipe off my face after he booted it to 125mph on the A41. Thanks for the video!

[@popsbubbles1242]

The good old days. Lovely

[@ljones396]

Ah great story. My uncle had a 530 in '99 too, great cars!

[@andipajeroking]

My father in law had a 525 beside his Range P38. Great combo ❤

[@ylegeyda]

I walked into a local BMW dealership to look at a 30k base model 3 series G20 for the mrs. Walked out with a 50k F30 340i Luxury edition. Got lucky, it literally just came in, not even wiped down yet. Like new, despite being 5 y.o. I've got a feeling that 10, 20, 30 years from now, people will be making similar videos about the F30 generation 340/540s. B58 brutes that look simple and elegant, with no bs body mods but will smoke sports cars 3 times their price, especially if you bother to apply a wee bit of ECU tuning. BMW have made some misses here and there, but once in a while, they do make something very special.

[@davidcolintunstall6048]

Hi! Great vid, bagging up the mighty e39! ❤ I couldn’t get rid of mine either, although, it being also a jap import, I can’t get it into the ULEZ zones, so I’d be very keen to know if any progress was made with attaining that certificate of conformity. Best regards, Dave

[@anthonygray333]

When I started to drive in 1976, a 30 year old car looked absolutely archaic. This mid 90s Bimmer still looks contemporary.

[@TheBTG88]

Peak BMW.

[@Crispy99999]

back then, they were much rarer, beautifully designed, sporty and stylish at the same time....now, every bogan with a part-time job leases some feeble looking 2-series and think they are hot shit. Please...give me an old 850Ci or E39 540i anyday

[@abdullahjumaah43]

based.

[@camilstoenescu]

Dunno if it's the 'perfect car', but it's definitely one of the most beautiful sedans ever. And the best looking 5 series.

[@Tainted10]

The perfect car doesn’t exist.

[@jclouw321]

I would agree, however I would make a strong argument that it’s the “perfect driver’s sedan”. I learned to drive on my father’s e39 540i sedan and mother’s Volvo 850 wagon. I’ve since owned Mazdas, Mitsubishis, Toyotas, Mercedes, Saabs, and a plethora of Volvos and have driven most flavors of car/trucks including many other BMW’s. While my mother’s side won out logically (currently own 3 Volvo wagons, whoops), my father’s 540i stands out among them all as an extremely special performance sedan. Is it the most economical, practical, reliable, or even fastest sedan I’ve driven? No, 2/3 of my current wagons would smoke it in a a straight line. But the e39 has an intangible “it” factor that makes the drive uniquely fun and an experience I have not felt in any other car, BMW’s included. It was the perfect blend of old-school feel/construction quality and new-school ease of use, luxury and performance. It’s a magic I don’t think any manufacturer has been able to capture since.

[@wardog0086]

Easily the best looking BMW ever made imo. They've got plenty of great looking cars, but the E39 is on another level imo.

[@GoldenCroc]

It was hailed as the "perfect car" presupposing a lineage of automobiles having that title since old days. I.e it means the highest total summarized score in the classic categories of what people have been looking for since automobiles became a thing.

[@GoldenCroc]

@@Tainted10 It doesnt, but this was supposedly at the top of the pile for scoring high in different categories, like many a mercedes did the decades earlier.

[@davidk7262]

I was such an odd teenager when these were new. My friends all lusted after Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini, I wanted a 5 Series in Oxford Green with a Sand Beige leather interior.....

[@brendan7632]

Have an e60 5 series in this exact spec. Love that car so much. Such a great machine

[@GoldenCroc]

You were sensible! Though that simple fact is quite odd, yes.

[@alexjaybrady]

In a touring???

[@riggs1590]

I had an Oxford green E39 with the deep dish off set alloys. One of the best cars I've ever owned 😊

[@AdamAus85]

Hah, my dad’s boss had one of that exact spec. One afternoon my dad borrowed that car and picked me up in it. After only ever knowing Japanese and Australian cars, I was gobsmacked.

[@zoppotromp1958]

I am glad to still maintain mine. 300 thousand km and running strong.

[@Tzhz]

It's a shame manufacturers purposely build in obsolescence to make more money nowadays

[@I_am_Jesus_though]

Some crazy fuel bills I'd say

[@100brsta]

@@I_am_Jesus_thoughnot as crazy as depriciation of today’s new cars😂

[@Birmingham_racing]

Which engine?

[@AdamAus85]

Nice. My mum drives my old 01 525i m sport with over 410 000km on the odometer. Engine and trans still smooth as.

[@lonesomeguitarplayer]

After quite a few 4 cylinders, I finally purchased my first straight 6 BMW. An e39 Oxford green 530i Touring with lots of beautiful options, fine leather sports seats, and an interior both classic and ergonomic. An absolute joy to drive ... and listen to. With lots of thanks to my son Jim, who gave me the idea in the first place, because of his enthusiasm for his own e39 saloon.

[@petec2583]

I daily drive a 1998 540i with now nearly 200,000 miles on the clock. It's glorious, and I can still give people a run for their money off the lights! The auto actually helps with that.

[@splok2]

My US 98 528i manual has 216k and still going strong, these are awesome cars😊

[@waverleyjournalise5757]

Nothing like some good old fashioned torque converter shove. My Jaaag is the same. Terrible for economy and eats up horsepower that a manual would put through to the road, but from a standstill it jumps like a hare!

[@imwilki]

I had a mega spec 540i touring that I took to double 100's , still miss that car and esp that engine , will remember some deep lunged overtakes forever. That high speed starter as well, just class all round

[@trendyfunandgames4759]

I had 3 of them great car, the last one even had edc a rare option, my 8 series is probably my favourite though

[@EasyPCUK]

I’m 23 and I have an E39 M5. It’s hilariously cheap to insure. I’m based in Yorkshire but you’re welcome to have a go in mine!

[@kaitlyn__L]

I’m pleasantly surprised it’s cheap to insure. Enjoy it!!

[@EasyPCUK]

@@kaitlyn__L Thank you! An E39 520i was my first car and since then I’ve had a 530i, 2 540s and now the M5 and none of them have ever been more to insure than the last. I assume that’s because as I get older, my premiums would have reduced if I’d have kept the same car

[@jamesbrett6518]

That V8 E34 in that tunnel making that noise!

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@EasyPCUK that’s totally understandable, yeah. I learned to drive before covid, but I was saved from having to deal with under-25 premiums by lockdowns 😅 I heard a used 90s sedan could make up for higher fuel costs by much lower purchase price and similar premiums to modern vehicles (since they’re largely based on horsepower when assessing driver risk); but never looked-into the specifics. I’m finally looking into things though so your info is super useful! My dad had, I think it was a 540 but not 100% sure (he only remembers it was a 5 series), so I’ve got a very soft spot for this generation.

[@popsbubbles1242]

What would you call cheap, the figure?

[@timhulio1]

Can someone not show current BMW designers a photo of this car? They could even Google it if they're connected to the internet.

[@bbarling1]

😂 Too true!

[@stephen9869]

I concur sir.

[@mareksinister]

BMW now makes cars for the chinese market. They clearly dont care about their own heritage, they only care about making money.

[@theascendunt9960]

Seriously. Wtf are these new designs.

[@torgejh9189]

They are catering to China now, apparently they like these wonky designs over there.

[@Birmingham_racing]

I see a e39 I automatically click like

[@OzzieMozzie777]

I too, am but a simple man

[@bocagelandscape]

Sreten fanboys assemble

[@skylined5534]

​@@bocagelandscape No idea what that is.

[@cipriandavid4995]

you are the man

[@michaelcliffe562]

I started my appenticeship as a panel beater/body repair tecnician in 2000 at BMW in Frankfurt/Germany and the E39 was just so abundant on the shop floor, run off the mill and ordanary being a fleet car/entry managers car in Germany's finance capital city. Just as I finished at BMW in 2003 the golden era (unbeknown to me at the time!) came to a horrible end and 20 years later, still being in the trade, I see these beautiful cars in a different light!

[@gregbelial4613]

I have an e65 from 2006 with a 4.4 v8 diesel engine, 6hp32 ZF gearbox - a fantastic car - perfectly protected against corrosion and armored - so after 2003 they still had some powerful cars in BMW. BMW E60 and E70 with 3.0 diesel M57 engines are also very durable.

[@carltoncotter2614]

Someone I worked with in my part time job during high school threw me the guys to his circa 1981 BMW 528i when BMW's were still the "ultimate driving machine". It had a tweaked suspension, a special Recaro seat on the drivers side, a high end stereo and an Escort radar detector on the visor. I only drove it around for 20 minutes or so not far from where we worked - but I still remember that glorious car like it was yesterday. Since then BMWs have steadily morphed into the "ultimate soccer Mom's car that will most likely get traded in on a Tesla or hybrid SUV" And don't even get me started on whatever design genius introduced the Godzilla kidneys on the grill. God save us.

[@gregbelial4613]

@@carltoncotter2614👍

[@DouweBuruma]

I’ve been driving e39 for 13 years now, currently a 2002 530i, and I still love it!

[@domsventures3918]

E46 vs E39 in terms of looks.. Honestly couldn't call it. BMW did a great job in this era of cars!

[@ChuckFickens1972]

If counting the saloon only the 5 wins, if you include the e46 coupe then the 3 wins.

[@zaink7037]

I think the E39 is the best 5 series in looks in my opinion. Been looking at these especially the 540i in black with the sport trim

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

Both old looking cars now, good luck finding one that hasn't rusted away

[@idonjohnson6999]

Maybe very late PFL with later headlights fitted. It also has the early model M sport steering wheel.

[@BigCarKilla]

It’s ironic that the E39 was designed by a Japanese bloke, too.

[@simonh870]

Aguably the best car BMW have ever built. Build quality, reliability and styling all went down from here.

[@williammorris1384]

Correct .

[@AntoniusTyas]

In terms of good styling I'd argue we still got E9x M3, E87 1M Coupe and i8, but everything else I kind of agree

[@altblechasyl_cs2093]

​​@@williammorris1384 Nope... in case of quality it will be beaten by both E34 and E60... it got well running engines in case of the I6 but the rest... 🙄😐

[@williammorris1384]

No way ! E34, maybe, but E60? Very doubtful!😂

[@altblechasyl_cs2093]

@@williammorris1384 Yes, E60... I got every three, two E34, one E39 and one E60 at the same time. The E39 is the version with the most afford to let it run until today and the E39 and E60 have the same mileage. 🤷‍♂️

[@bernardpullon4632]

I've owned my ex-Japan 1997 540i for several years here in New Zealand. It's my favourite car. 365000km and going strong. About to put a new radiator, water pump and thermostat in. Similar sort of suspension maintenance gone into it. Magic car.

[@allanlarsen5098]

Used to work for an auto rental company from '95 for almost a decade. Whenever an E39 needed to be driven somewhere, I knew it would be a good day at work :)

[@intellectualwino8696]

I had a 2000 E39 540i 6-speed. Best car I ever owned. Not so reliable, but in terms of fun factor? Off the charts.

[@christersundin773]

Oh, I bet it was fun with a manual! My 540 has an auto box but I'd love to fit a manual at some point

[@_br7x]

I had the same. Good fun car. Went from that to an E46 M3 which was on a whole different level of feel.

[@deddogoon]

that's my current daily!

[@iamthespeakenglish]

@@deddogoon How's it currently? I'm 20 and looking to get one right now... Do you advise?

[@TheMarkyMarx]

Great review, thanks for posting. I had the 528i e39 in 1998 and loved it and once the lease expired I got the 530i in 2001 in the same silver colour and M54 engine replete with the stunning BBS style 42 (bolted) rims. 210,000 miles later and I'm still driving it today. Beyond the struts, brakes and tyres, I have had the alternator and oil pump replaced and changed the belts and various pullywheels and that is it. It still drives beautifully and looks as good as the day it came off the factory floor in Munich. A timeless design classic.

[@davidsherrick898]

I had a 1994 530i V8.. nobody believed that a BMW made a 3.0... V8. Unfortunately it was rear ended in front of my house and was a total loss.. I later owned a 1999 528i 5Speed manual and an 2001 528i automatic loved both of them! Just BMW's best looking sedan! Cheers from St Louis MO USA. Great video as always!

[@maz500]

E39 (M5) is still my pick for all-time greatest BMW

[@2702simmo]

Great looking cars but I drove one with a view to buying last autumn and as nice as it is they ain’t £20k worth as not the most fun My old e46 M3 was so much better for driving

[@AntoniusTyas]

I don't know why, even though my teenage years were defined by E60s and F10s, the E39 just feels right whenever I look at one. The proportion, the mix between modern and classic stuffs in the interior, and the simple details just work together nicely. Even the E46 didn't do that much in my book (would prefer E90 and F30/F80, tbh), but the E39 and the E38 7-Series feels so right.

[@markn4779]

It's always great to see one's old car reviewed! I drove this as an estate around the turn of the century. I had a 100 mile commute on the A7 Autobahn in Germany. This was a marvellous cruiser, pulled like a locomotive. It was my 4th and final BMW after 323i 6cyl, 328i, M Coupe. Moved on to an E55, which was even better. The only disappointment was that my Dad never got to see it. Getting a new car has never been the same since he died.

[@sorinelpustiu5674]

i had three of them The 6 speed 540i was a monster,the sound with straight pipes is where its at. Fuel consumption was quite high but i loved it

[@karlg1535]

E39 540 msport owner here for the last 10 years, i love my car its a riot on the weekends & has some dinan goodies

[@BikeisDusty]

One of the best looking BMWs. Add the BBS with Chrome lip rims, very sharp looking car.

[@TheMarkyMarx]

I have that very set up in the silver. After parking, I still turn around and look at her 23 years on.

[@DS-om3pt]

My 01 540iA is running sports cats and full system, Bilstein b12 kit and 19 bbs lm reps. Had it since 2009, absolutely love it!

[@godspeed6315]

E39 was the finest mid sized car ever designed as it looked so good with balance & driver style combined

[@TheMarkyMarx]

Couldn't agree more. I am contemplating getting an F-Type Jaaaag, but I can't let go of my old E39. Maybe I'll pass it on to my son.

[@Punisher9419]

I wish BMW still made cars as nice as this.

[@MrXerxes]

So excited to sit down and give this a watch. A 1998 Pre-Vanos 540i Sport 6SPD was my first BMW, and what kicked off my passion for the brand... and despite having owned many M5s and other M cars since... I still have that 540i with 300K+ miles on the odometer. I just cannot part with it; it means too much and is too good at what it does.

[@ianmcwilliam1753]

The pre vanos 540s with manual transmission option were simpler to maintain. A low temp thermostat helped prolong timing chain guides and clutch delay valve delete really improved the drivability I simply . Love this platform.. in all its iterations.

[@analogdriven]

I have a 97 540i 6spd as well, Oxford Green over Tan and I too will never part with it. There's just something so special about them. I'm less than 1k miles away from 200k!

[@WarriorsPhoto]

This is my favorite BMW model of all time. I enjoy the 540 and M5 for the 6 speed experience. Plus the look of these models is classically beautiful. I now wish we'd have gotten those smaller V8 models in the USA. That engine sounded great. Oh and these 540 models sound good great with only a muffler delete. 😊

[@davidbee9563]

30 years ago I was a member of the Toronto BMW club. Once a year we were invited to the Canadian head office for a test day. In 1996 they had the new M3 sedan, the Z3 and the 540i auto. At the time I drove an e28 535 manual which was fun but not very sporty. There was a loop we drove that included 2 sections of dual carriageway and some back roads. The 540 was so smooth and quiet that there was little sensation of speed and above legal speeds they seemed to get a second wind. So merging onto the highway, I put my foot on the gas and suddenly the other cars were going backwards. I looked at the dash and...that was a big number! The 6 speed manual sport was something else but we weren't allowed to drive those. The previous year, the old M5 3.8 was not available to the Canadian market, so we received a 540i Sport with the full M5 suspension and interior. They sold about 30 in total. Again we got the better version than the US. When the US M3 came out, it did not get the Euro ITB engine and we did. About 50 or so. I drove a yellow on black one back from a driving school weekend. Very nice...

[@Anirossa]

My favorite BMW will always be the E34s, especially before the M50 was introduced. I own two of them, and I am planning to keep it that way.

[@marijnmolenaar2848]

My dad has a E39 535i in dark blue and champagne-colored interiour with the wood lining. They are sooooo lovely to drive. Even to this day they are such good looking cars and I feel like a king anytime I drive it. Hope he keeps it for as long as possible

[@stephenandjeanette3095]

I have owned 11 BMWs. E39 M5 was brilliant but best car was 528se. Sold at 222k miles to a mechanic - he had it for ages. Live nr you Jemm!

[@andywhite3777]

I had a 2003 540i Champagne edition back in the day and it is still one of the best cars I have ever had (I also had a 535i E39). It is one of the only cars I ever check back on autotrader for. Elegant, comfortable, powerful enough, rapid, easy to drive and park. A joy! Think it shows that the only real change in the past 20 years is the addition of toys (and a lot of weight). Hate to say but the addition of driver distraction as opposed to driver aids.

[@alecxpro2071]

💯 agreed Sir 😁

[@frythis809]

Just watched this video. Excellent work JayEmm! My daily driver for the last 11 years is a 1998 528i automatic which just turned 231k miles. Most reliable and trouble free car I've ever owned out of 40+ vehicles over the years. I liked this car so much I bought an E39 M5 before the prices skyrocketed. Brilliant machine as well but a different animal all together. What's funny is that in the last week two guys commented on how much they liked the 528i, one at a gas station and one today at the post office. Please do a review on the M5 when you get a chance.

[@Milskavashe]

I have a 540 m sport. Best car I ever had

[@johnpaterson6112]

I had an e39 530d auto estate from new. I went to the dealer expecting to test a petrol model, but the dealer raved about the demo which had recently arrived. It was the first genuinely executive diesel, very smooth and quiet and the torque made it a great performer at legal speeds.

[@omidnamin9004]

the pinnacle of bmw era!! this along with the e38 and e46 were perfection. So sad what bmw has turned into today

[@simonjones5614]

I already regretted selling my E39 540i and you’ve just reminded me why! Lovely cars and great looking too.

[@lnr243]

Still own a 97 535I V8 and i still love driving it. Properly engineered ,built Bmw. I wont swap it for anything else.

[@christersundin773]

My late father owned a lot of different cars (including several Mercedes models from the 70s and 80s) and to his dying day, he claimed that his '98 BMW 528i was the best car he ever owned. With that in mind, I recently bought an E39 540i as project car. It needs a lot of work (the suspension is shot, for one thing) and yes, the steering is lame, but despite that, it's surprisingly fun to drive. Or at least it was... Right now, I'm in the process of replacing the valve cover gaskets. While I'm there, I'll also replace the intake gaskets. And the belt and pulleys. And while I'm there ... etc etc

[@philpassmore4922]

I have had a 530i Sport Touring and a 530D Sport Touring and l found them to be an absolute joy to drive. Suspension was perfectly set up and driving north to Skye on some of the best driving roads was just divine! I would have one again tomorrow!

[@ianmcwilliam1753]

As an owner of 3 e39s (2000 m5 , 97 540/6 and a 98 540i auto) they are fantastic cars with the perfect blend of performance and comfort. However they are old models now which means tons of maintenance to keep them performing as intended. Unless you have deep pockets plan on doing your own work and don’t buy cheap Chinese parts or you’ll quickly realize that you’re old worn out OEM parts still function better than the new Chinese ones.. plenty of repair info online to help keep them tip top.

[@DavidWhite-ci2tc]

I have had my 1998 E38 740iL, M62, from new and its done 300,000+ kms, it's well maintained, drives as it did out of the showroom, generally has not been over expensive to maintain with regular 6 mthly oil changes, just recently replaced all bushes and control arms - I drive Sydney to Queensland ~1,400 kms in a day and do the return trip about 4 times pa, I believe the long trips and oil changes are the secret to a good motoring experience - the E38 and E39 were built to be driven.

[@Mapollo95]

The E38 is the all time dream car, for me. The look, the features, overall quality, interior, handling, and everything is so perfect about it. It is top notch, a really honest, good looking, stylish german power sedan, built like a tank. Yes, the secret for these cars is dont neglect them, and wait till they earn the right engine temperature, before you give them a bunch of load.

[@contributor7219]

We've owned around a dozen BMW's over the years, but two of the few we held onto are the E39 M5 and 540i-6 M Sport. I've commented on a few videos about the differences between them, which are very few. Being a Japanese sport spec car with the auto, the tested car will have a 3.15 diff ratio as standard and it provides usefully quicker performance than the standard ratio. As tested, the car you drive is the 'half-update' car, so although it got the newer headlights and 'wide-screen' head unit from factory it misses out on the updated steering wheel, auto headlights, and revised shift lever +/- pattern - these only came in the 'full update' version six months or so later. On the suspension, the M-Tech 2 suspension (which the tested 540 would have had from factory) gives a fairly 'knobbly' ride and the factory struts are Bilstein, so there's probably not a lot in it for testing purposes. A friend has a 'cooking' version 540i and it is quite a bit softer than both our cars with their M-tech 2 suspension. My sister owned an E39 530i for many years before some idiot rear ended it. It was subjectively a much lighter feeling car, but I was not a fan of the rack and pinion steering. From memory the E39 was the first 'large' BMW platform with rack and pinion and I just don't think they got it quite right. Strangely I think the recirculating ball steering on the E39 sport pack is pretty good (as I did the E34 M5 before) when all the components are in good condition. Once the recirculating ball steering and tie rods get a bit of wear in them though (and so many on the market do) the steering feels quite dead and lifeless. You can also fit X5 thrust reaction bushes and these do improve the sharpness of the front end generally, without noticeably sacrificing NVH and comfort. The rear multi-link is prone to chewing out the insides of the rear tyres once the ball joints get worn. It's a pretty easy and cheap exercise to rebuild the rear suspension though and once back to new is a really nice setup. There are many complaints about the timing chain setup on the later M62TU. I find the complaints come from higher mileage cars with dubious service history. The chains and guides are fine, they just saw in a later generation of timing setups used by nearly every manufacturer to save weight, complexity, and cost, but they don't tolerate poor treatment. Our cars always had early oil changes and we treated the chains and guides as a service item. We've previously owned M88/S38 engined cars and BMW mandate timing chain and guide replacement on M88s at 160K (kms), yet no-one complains about doing those (which are far more expensive to do). We changed our M62 chains/guides at those kms and we'll do the same on the S62. It's just good cheap insurance given how good the cars are and how old they are getting. We're not planning on parting with our few remaining BMWs as we consider them the pick of BMW's finest era of cars. Sure, the interior fit and finish on the earlier cars doesn't compare to the E38/39s, but they are classics that 'made' BMW's reputation. The E39 540i in auto or manual form is a fantastic all rounder, and we think much underrated. More and more people are realising they're a perfect fit if you don't want the full-house M5, especially if you buy the 540i M Sport. Get one now if you really want one, because at the moment you can still get pretty much everything for them. The time will come when keeping one will be hard simply because critical parts are hard to get. A great video about an increasingly sought after classic.

[@alecxpro2071]

Well said. One of the most intelligent and interesting advice given from all the hundreds of comments.

[@dacads]

Great post. I had a 540i manual replaced it with an Alpina B10 V8. It's great most parts are still available. I'm planning on replacing the cooling system on mine soon as it's on 140k miles and never been replaced AFAIK

[@Jo3man96]

I got an E39 B10 3.3 manual, which is only about 10hp down on this, but because it has the straight 6, has rack and pinion steering instead of reciprocating ball. I think it’s brilliant, obviously. Edit: Commented before I watched the video. My Alpina E39 is currently not in pristine condition, but once I’ve had a few more bits done on it, I’d be more than happy to let you have a go! Also should say that I’ve been a fan of the channel for quite a while now, I love the videos!

[@AdamAus85]

Rare car

[@Jo3man96]

@@AdamAus85 To be honest, I was looking at E46 330Cis when it came up at a similar-ish price. I knew it needed work, but I couldn’t resist.

[@shotty.]

this car definitely needs to make it into a video

[@Jo3man96]

@@shotty.Need to get some body work and the headliner sorted first

[@MegaRetr]

Aguably the best car BMW have ever built)))

[@timwest4891]

I had 2 E34 5 series, followed by four E39’s in succession. A 530, two 530d’s and finally a 525d touring that I took from a year old up to a whopping 192k miles, without it missing a beat. In my experience, the E39 is the most complete and rounded saloon car ever made. The pick of the crop is the 530SE petrol. Without doubt peak BMW.

[@themanipulator1]

An e39 530i touring m sport has been for a decade and remains one of my dream cars

[@sva60_cyyz59]

These 530i and 540i M-Sports were everywhere in Canada back in the day… they were *the* car, other than the mighty M5 of course. Fun fact: Canada received the M-Sport 530i and 540i between late 2000 and 2003, whereas the US only got the 540i M-Sport as a special edition in the final year.

[@paulkerr9128]

I had a 1999 540i for about three years. Loved it. This car may not be the quickest car on the road, but it is properly fast. I had mine up to 155mph and it was quiet and felt perfectly stable at those speeds. I also had the next generation E60 545i with a six speed manual and although the 545I had more power and torque than the 540i, it just didn't inspire the same confidence at high speeds (it had the active steering option which might have ad something to do with it - felt twitchy at speed). I miss that 540i.

[@GoldenCroc]

Top speed is about 165 if not a smidge more delimited. I have heard nothing good about active steering, I think there was a reason the M5 didnt get it. The "modern" active of the F series cars steering is stable, but totally numb.

[@jordanbell4420]

Active Steering ruined the driving experience of every car that had it. There's a reason why the M5 wasn't available with it.

[@craigdellapenna7103]

I had the E39 M5 and yes, it was the best car I ever had and I would vote for it to be the best car ever, still miss it.

[@Micky8791]

BMW were on top of their game at the turn of the millennium. The E46, E39, E38 and the Z8 were all stunning..........what's gone wrong!

[@malthusg1115]

I drove a e39 530i a while ago and what a magnificent machine. I ended up going for e46 325ci as I felt a bit young for the 5 but that 3 litre six is a masterpiece.

[@markdance574]

I owned a full factory original blue 535i M sport , v8 petrol steptronic with full grey leather and metal inserts ( not wood ) - I absolutely adored it . Fantastic car never missed a beat- it was for me the best car up until I purchased a M sport 640D gran coupe - which in my opinion is THE best car bmw has made outside of any true M car .

[@Sam-go3mb]

Yeah the 640D seems like a bit of brilliance - did you get it brand new?

[@markdance574]

@@Sam-go3mb no I picked up pre owned - with 25,000 miles . My one had two tone cream and black leather interior. Really good car . The only gripe I had was the larger wheel size did make it abit “ crashy” over large pot holes but otherwise it was near perfect

[@Sam-go3mb]

@@markdance574 Nice, it really does seem like the perfect daily tbh

[@markwgoldsmith]

Waiting patiently outback we have an Alpina B10 V8, which served tirelessly as the family transport until 7 or so years back. Every time I catch a video like this I'm inspired to get it up & running again. By the way, "no salt in Japan" is a bit of a myth, they do, just not everywhere like we do.

[@dacads]

Definitely get it back up and running.. less than 10 on the road I believe.. including mine :)

[@Gorrila_Man92]

I bought one of these 2003 540i M sports to teach myself how to drive manual. In a year I spent on repairs almost as much as the purchase price! I love BMW but this taught me a lesson to avoid old ones unless you’re able to do all the work yourself and don’t mind constantly fixing things.

[@tastypymp1287]

E39 = Yes. Very fond memories and privileged to have had one. Still see examples on the road today with reasonable frequency. Engine sure did love oil though!

[@hartsickdisciple]

My father had an E39 540i m Sport. To date that's still the best sedan I've ever driven.

[@JohnAdams-kc8wx]

Just bought a last of the line 2003 525i Drives like new !

[@onkouth]

Myself and my brother both had these back in 2004, mine was black and his was identical to this one, despite both of us owning all following other 5 series models up until recently, this was far and away the best, looking, best built, most reliable and easily my favourite BMW. We both miss the cars so much we are looking for a nice M5 E39 we can own and enjoy jointly, but my god they are expensive now.

[@CoolHand273]

I remember seeing a new 540i at weatherford bmw back in the day. I could not help but drool. The ones with the multi piece BBS wheels were on point. It is pretty close to a perfect car especially for its day.

[@Todaysworldnews-h5j]

I have a newer bmw but really love this car I think is my first bmw I ever drive

[@honahwikeepa2115]

My wife gave her 1998 E39 AC Schnitzer 540i to our daughter before migrating to Australia. 400,000 KMs and it still growls like an angry Dog. It's her baby now. Currently driving a Kia Rio Korean death trap in Sydney Australia with 295,000 on it. It goes Really well.

[@garyhawkins9246]

I had an E39 535i in that purpley blue with a few Alpina goodies, it was bloody marvellous!

[@tambarskelfir]

The M62TU is a wonderful V8, naturally aspirated and sounds fierce. Love it.

[@carolinebiljardt7521]

I had a 528i touring in Biarritz blau with beige leather interior. It was unbelievably fast (only Ferrari's could keep up), stunningly beautiful, and a true driftmeister. We had so much fun for 10 years. I still miss that car every day. Yes, in my humble opinion this is by far the best car. Ever.

[@StevieeG]

I bought a 2002 530d SE with 90,000 miles on the clock back in 2006. 6 years and 130,000 miles later we parted ways only because I moved to the heart of London and couldn’t keep two cars anymore. I sometimes (often) wish I had sold the TVR and kept the E39. If I hadn’t been doing 20,000 miles a year at the time it would have been a 540i but there was absolutely nothing wrong with the 3 litre turbo diesel.

[@shotty.]

better than the 540! & faster too if taken care of & tuned properly. + even better handling with the rack & pinion steering

[@darknewt9959]

The answer is yes. Yes they did. I had one of these - 4.4L M Sport on a Y plate, the later 4.4 being a more robust and reliable unit. Wish I could have got one in red, but otherwise it was awesome. Sadly it yielded a long term average of about 24 MPG, which was a bit painful at times. But... the V8 soundtrack, the huge torque, the silky-smooth auto-box, the handling, the comfort, the sense of occasion. For 99% of real world usage it was a far better car than the E39 M5 (which I also had for a little while).

[@institutmorningkiss]

I've got an E34 540i. Deliberately auto, because it's my daily driver and because my other cars are manual. I love it to bits ! ❤

[@sideshowbob32]

540i is the one car I regret selling. Sepia violet with Champagne & aubergine leather, comfort seats, electric rear blind, I miss the TV and old school phone but not the bills!

[@captgutter]

The E39 was a gorgeous car. I had a 520 as a company car towards the end of the 90s. Base model with no extras. So comfortable but pitifully underpowered. Like playing Motorway chess, planning your manoeuvres 4 or 5 in advance.

[@romettalkis510]

My first car was e39 , back in 2007 ever since ive owned all versions of e39, some even many times. In my opinion the best ones are 528 and 540. Obviously i have owned other brands and styles but this bimmer keeps on pullin me back.

[@bigsiv]

@@romettalkis510 I agree with you, the 540i and 528i are the best. I’m curious if you’ve driven a 530i, and if so, why choose the 528?

[@likemetoo2]

Where i worked at the bmw specialist, we used to buy whole cars as it was the best way to source an engine for a bmw x5 if we got one in for engine failure as they held value compared to the 540i.

[@imwilki]

Criminal !

[@adrianchell]

I had a facelift 520i Sport in Imola Red for 4 years in the 2000s, before downsizing to a Ford Focus for financial reasons. I still regret it, and what's worse is that it's still out there somewhere with a current MOT, though it's done less than 1,000 miles in the past four years.

[@neilgaydon5430]

M5’s had a hand built Motorsport engine which is a big difference. I had one in the day in Le Mans Blue, caramel nappa, upgraded hifi - the best I’ve heard (I’m a high end audio guy). I’ve had and own some incredible cars and rank the M5 in my top 5 (incl. rose coloured specs). The 540i shares the bones & build quality of what was undoubtedly BMW’s finest hour.

[@smartarse93]

The E39 M5 was not hand built. The E34 was the last hand built M5

[@neilgaydon5430]

@@smartarse93the engine was hand built - apologies

[@andywhite3777]

I had a beautiful late E39 540i (2003) and it was absolutely stunning. Such a lovely driving car.

[@clivelawrence8017]

I had the pleasure of owning an E39 540i for a few years, and I still miss it nearly 20 years later. It was a lovely thing. Biarritz Blue with beige leather and wood. And that great V8... After several more family/dog oriented BMWs I've now got an E46 325Ci convertible to have some fun with, but I still miss that E39.

[@Swiss4.2]

The E39 is proof that cars peaked in the 90's; all of the modern convenience and safety features like fuel injection, crumple zones and airbags without the complexity of modern cars.

[@Crispy99999]

I once dated a young lady who's father had a pre-facelift E39 540i in dark blue...I almost fell for him more than her!! 😜😂 Utterly sumptuous vehicle. I remember reading articles about the legendary E39 528i, as it was a stand-out car and winner of so many comparisons. The 3.5Ltr V8 535i was the pick of the lot for me; when I was a young lad I lusted after one even though I should have been dreaming of Lambos and Ferraris... 😏

[@robcoles903]

I had an e39 540i sport on a late model 03 plate, 5yrs ago - wonderful car, i loved it. I now have an e46 M3 coupe (manual) with shorter 4.1 ratio diff. Not exactly apples to apples i know, but i have to say the M3 is more enjoyable for weekend and occasional blast hoonage. I adore it.

[@AdamAus85]

Lucky bastard

[@regularSenseAppeal]

My dad bought a gorgeous lowered black 528i with huge rims when I was about 20yo. He'd had only had it for a few weeks when he was going on holidays and casually said "I assume you'd like to borrow the car and Shell card while I'm away?". God bless his soul!

[@e39lwd]

I remember seeing these driving around as a kid and always thought they looked amazing. About 2 years ago I was lucky to find a very well kept example and ended up buying it. It's not a V8 but the 520i with the 2.2L inline 6. As much as I was skeptical about buying such and old car it's been a great experience. ~173,000 original km and was with the same owner since 2004 or so. I have a feeling I'll have a hard time ever letting it go.

[@Webstar666]

97-99 mirrors, 00 steering wheel, 01-03 bumpers, head unit, grill, wheels and headlights. Looks nice. I had one with a manual transmission and Dinan intake upgrades. I drove it up to 170k miles for three years. Still miss it to this day.

[@MrBdavis99]

As a previous owner of a 525i wagon, I can attest to the fact that the e39 was a stroke of BMW engineering genius!

[@thomasshepard6030]

I had a 1998 E39 528i it was a fantastic car I traded it in and bought an E60 525i i still own the E 60 it 18 years old now with only 85 thousand miles on the clock great old car never failed an MOT

[@joelbrown2782]

I have always been a fan of this generation of 5 Series. Not sure why, I think the 540i is a brilliant car and wish to own one in the future.

[@mountain_walker]

My Dad had an E39 530D. Arguably the first ever cool mainstream diesel,

[@xanders.5814]

My father has just went from an e92 335i 'back' to a perfect condition e39 530ia lci and it is just sublime, so quiet and stable with a lovely grumble. The e92 is fun but the e39 is still something else

[@Boz196]

I bought a 535i as my first car and I love it. The only negative is the terrible fuel efficiency but I don't drive much so its not too bad.

[@TheCivilizedAnimal]

Great car , great video , good editing but when I see that sweaty lump I immediately find another video

[@TrevorLeggo]

Hey Jay, watch every post. I had an e34 525i manual Touring first & then a e39 535i sedan. Currently driving a 320i Touring. Have owned various Beemers and have driven many brands. For its time and to this day I can honestly say I felt the e39 was the sweetest. The small V8 was a bit limp compared to all the glorious straight 6s. Certainly the very best handling and balanced sedan I have ever driven.

[@Tom_Selleck308]

I had a Alpine white E39 in Msport trim... Absolutely loved it. My E36M3 incredibly makes exactly the same 286 hp as the 540 4.4 V8 of the same period. This shows how much technologically advanced S50 B30 was...

[@brennanlothery5758]

Greatest car I've ever owned. Bought mine April 20, 1997. Canyon red. Couldn't drive that car below 80 on the highway. Could go over a dime at speed and tell you if it was heads or tails. So miss that car.

[@KernelKlink]

My Father In Law had one of these. It was the best car I’d ever sat in.

[@norsegolf76]

JayEmm driving an E39? High point of the week for sure!

[@AstralStef]

245k miles and had timing chain guides done before I bought it, just a tune up and cooling system refresh and she’s so happy. Just wants exhaust done and a bigger throttle body