late 90s to earily 2000 bmw 540i..any thoughts??

look at the e39 M5's too, they are near 28-40k now. I'm thinking of picking one of them up for my daily. Anyone's longterm input on them as well?

 

I would go with an M5 instead. I have used my 2000 e39 M5 as my daily driver for over 5 years and 100k miles now and have been well pleased. I had previously used an M3 and before that an M5 as my daily drivers. M cars are just the best IMHO. They handle great, are fast, look good, are reliable, have plenty of room and always put a smile on your face after a drive.

 

I do agree an e39 M5 is the way to go. I have had nothing but excellent experiences with them. Powerful and reliable. Plus they have already went through their biggest depreciation. Get one!

 

Be careful of the following:

Radiator neck cracks (lead to failures with complete loss of engine cooling)
Power steering hoses tend to leak
Trany fluid is 'lifetime' but needs to be done at least every 6 years or 60k miles
Interior instrument cluster has pixels fade in and out
Oil pump bolts get lose and fall in the pan
cats failling
AC doing all types of things (weird noises, gurggling, failing, display failing, etc)

This is what I recall off the top of my head.

Overall, they are pretty reliable. I wouldn't mind getting one. I prefer the same generation 7 series though (E38).

 

In almost 80k miles on my 2000 M5, I have not had any major issues pop up. True, if you blow the engine, its around 25k for a new one, but I haven't heard of it happening and they appear to be darn near bulletproof. I want to drive it to 250k, if I ever do finally kill the engine, I'm thinking I'll just put another one in, what else could I get for 25k that does everything the M5 does? Its a perfect daily driver, has plenty of room, is comfortable, sporty enough to keep me from getting bored, is understated and tastefull in styling. I put a widescreen nav and MKIV DVD Nav in and I can't think of anything else I would ever need to do to it.


Oh, forgot about the oil changes, 10w-60 is not cheap and I have yet to find a place other than a dealership that could get it. Otherwise nothing else other than normal inspections etc....Find a good independant and you are good to go on maintainance.

 

Budget $1500/yr to take care of the car, it has a few known relatively minor issues if you find a good independant mechanic!!! They are not maintinence free but they are relatively reliable if you do some preventative maintinence (ie change the tranny fluid & radiator every 60k, water pump every 120k, etc.) The engines themselves will go 300k+, but the 4.4litre v8's oil pump has a few bolts that sometimes work their way loose, those need to be examined PRIOR to purchase.

I don't think the M5 suffers this problem, but that motor likes to eat VANOS gear (again, not end of world if you have a great independant.)

The E39s are some of the best cars BMW ever built. The M5 is the best of the bunch by a kentucky mile, a classic I dare say.

In the end you're still driving a 70k+ car for pennies on the dollar. Even if you have to replace a few foam weatherstrips and a radiator or two every now and then.

 

M5 > 540i, BUT ... if you want a slushbox, you're going to have to go with the 540 anyway. It'll do 0-60 in about 5.5 and it's got great punch on the freeway.

Now if you want a manual and can find one, all 540i 6-speeds come with M-tuned suspension and m wheels and nice seats etc. It's a 7/8 M5.

 

But who would want a slushbox anyway?

 

If you need a slushiebox, the 540i sport with the shorter diff scoots pretty decent.