| Author |
Message |
Jeremy
Guest
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 Posted:
Fri Nov 11, 2005 4:53 pm Post subject:
E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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Considering buying 2001 E39 530i Touring SE with auto box and sat nav
(in the UK)
1) Technology changes so rapidly - is the sat nav any good - how might
it compare to the vurrent range of devices which have had 4 or 5 years
more development - is it still worthwhile having?
2) The 530i engine - any known weaknesses or gotchas?
The car has circa 65k miles on it.
cheers
--
jeremy
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Lars Knudsen
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:50 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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Hi Jeremy,
On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 10:53:46 -0000, Jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com>
wrote:
| Quote: | Considering buying 2001 E39 530i Touring SE with auto box and sat nav
(in the UK)
|
Nice car - I drive a 2002 E39 530dA Touring.
http://www.bilgalleri.dk/html/gal_visbil.asp?ID=29266 (In Danish I am
afraid)
| Quote: | 1) Technology changes so rapidly - is the sat nav any good - how might
it compare to the vurrent range of devices which have had 4 or 5 years
more development - is it still worthwhile having?
|
Definately YES - it would say. I got the original BMW nav with 16:9
screen and CD based maps in my car - it works very well I think, and a
lot better than TomTom on a PDA that I used before. It is still
possible to purchase updated maps for it, it does route calculation in
a matter of seconds. If the one you are looking on has the 4:3 screen
you would have to live with looking at that very not-high-tech
cassette deck that has been hidden behind the screen in the 16:9
model.
| Quote: | 2) The 530i engine - any known weaknesses or gotchas?
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I do not think so. It is important that it has been serviced, apart
from the the E39 is very often considered as one of the best cars in
it's class ever made.
** Lars |
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Jeremy
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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In article <f019n1pf36l8hu4s4uc5213ilibc46d88s@4ax.com>, Lars Knudsen
says...
| Quote: | Hi Jeremy,
On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 10:53:46 -0000, Jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com
wrote:
Considering buying 2001 E39 530i Touring SE with auto box and sat nav
(in the UK)
Nice car - I drive a 2002 E39 530dA Touring.
http://www.bilgalleri.dk/html/gal_visbil.asp?ID=29266 (In Danish I am
afraid)
1) Technology changes so rapidly - is the sat nav any good - how might
it compare to the vurrent range of devices which have had 4 or 5 years
more development - is it still worthwhile having?
Definately YES - it would say. I got the original BMW nav with 16:9
screen and CD based maps in my car - it works very well I think, and a
lot better than TomTom on a PDA that I used before. It is still
possible to purchase updated maps for it, it does route calculation in
a matter of seconds. If the one you are looking on has the 4:3 screen
you would have to live with looking at that very not-high-tech
cassette deck that has been hidden behind the screen in the 16:9
model.
|
I don't know if it's 4:3 or 16:9 but I do know that the advert states
only that a cassette player is fitted (i.e. no CD). Here is a picture of
the interior of the car in question:
http://www.compucars.co.uk/carpics/Lg58487-03.jpg
--
jeremy
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Kyle and Lori Greene
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:24 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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"Jeremy" <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1dde98191fc54ba498a012@news.individual.net...
| Quote: | In article <f019n1pf36l8hu4s4uc5213ilibc46d88s@4ax.com>, Lars Knudsen
says...
Hi Jeremy,
On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 10:53:46 -0000, Jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com
wrote:
Considering buying 2001 E39 530i Touring SE with auto box and sat nav
(in the UK)
Nice car - I drive a 2002 E39 530dA Touring.
http://www.bilgalleri.dk/html/gal_visbil.asp?ID=29266 (In Danish I am
afraid)
1) Technology changes so rapidly - is the sat nav any good - how might
it compare to the vurrent range of devices which have had 4 or 5 years
more development - is it still worthwhile having?
Definately YES - it would say. I got the original BMW nav with 16:9
screen and CD based maps in my car - it works very well I think, and a
lot better than TomTom on a PDA that I used before. It is still
possible to purchase updated maps for it, it does route calculation in
a matter of seconds. If the one you are looking on has the 4:3 screen
you would have to live with looking at that very not-high-tech
cassette deck that has been hidden behind the screen in the 16:9
model.
I don't know if it's 4:3 or 16:9 but I do know that the advert states
only that a cassette player is fitted (i.e. no CD). Here is a picture of
the interior of the car in question:
http://www.compucars.co.uk/carpics/Lg58487-03.jpg
|
The one in the picture is 16:9.
Kyle.
98 740iL
01 525i |
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John Carrier
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:45 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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"Jeremy" <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1dde889984c6dc2c98a010@news.individual.net...
| Quote: | Considering buying 2001 E39 530i Touring SE with auto box and sat nav
(in the UK)
1) Technology changes so rapidly - is the sat nav any good - how might
it compare to the vurrent range of devices which have had 4 or 5 years
more development - is it still worthwhile having?
|
Worthwhile? Only you can decide. BMW's nav is not the equal of that in the
Acura or Lexus, but it works well enough. IMO, NO automotive sat nav system
has quite got it right in terms of ergonomics, flexibility and features.
With nav you have the high OBC and Check Control. The instrument cluster is
prone to burned out pixels in the info area.
| Quote: | 2) The 530i engine - any known weaknesses or gotchas?
|
None to speak of. Insure all the fluids are changed. Brakes at least every
two years, coolant every two (BMW only says 4 now), differential @ 30K miles
(BMW never), trans @ 30-50K (BMW says 100K, used to be lifetime), PS every
30K (forgot that one, eh?). I synch mine with service intervals, but that
tends to be 32K and 2 years for me, so ...
There's a service bulletin on the ignition coils, but the 2001 isn't listed.
There's a service bulletin on the aux fan relay. Insure the bad part is not
in the car (underhood fires a remote possibility).
The cooling system is the weakest link. somewhere around 75K (plus or
minus) a preventative maintenance of the thermostat, its housing, and water
pump would be a good thing. The plastic radiator is a known weakness (it
cracks around the upper hose fitting), but more so on the V8's.
Mechanically, the engine should be good for 200K+ (valvotronic the possible
exception ... but there are no indications of excessive failures on any of
the special interest boards).
The E39 was considered the leader of its class for most of its production
term. You won't be disappointed.
R / John (2003 530i SP) |
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Lars Knudsen
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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Hej,
On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 07:45:28 -0600, "John Carrier" <jxc2@comcast.net>
wrote:
| Quote: | 2) The 530i engine - any known weaknesses or gotchas?
None to speak of. Insure all the fluids are changed. Brakes at least every
two years, coolant every two (BMW only says 4 now), differential @ 30K miles
(BMW never), trans @ 30-50K (BMW says 100K, used to be lifetime), PS every
30K (forgot that one, eh?). I synch mine with service intervals, but that
tends to be 32K and 2 years for me, so ...
|
What does it give to change fluids more frequently than the BMW
recommendation?
** Lars |
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bfd
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:29 am Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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1) BMW NAV is sad compared to the Japanese. BMW should have done what
Jaguar did and specified the Nippon Denso unit used by Lexus in its
cars.
2) The "weakness" of the car you're looking at is NOT the engine, but
the Auto transmission. Those things with their *lifetime* fluid are
expected to only last to 100,000 to maybe, and that's maybe 125,000
miles. Period. That is what BMW considers to be *lifetime*. If I had
to getan automatic trans, would try to find a car that has the tranny
fluid changed every 30-40,000 miles. |
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Alistair J Murray
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:40 am Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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Jeremy wrote:
[...]
| Quote: | 2) The 530i engine - any known weaknesses or gotchas?
|
It's much less powerful than the 540i engine...
M62 V8 is fairly bomb proof and the autobox is a good 'un.
A |
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John Carrier
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 12, 2005 6:59 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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"Lars Knudsen" <larsdelete@deletelandligt.dk> wrote in message
news:lpb9n1h9qps7n3j0ebkg5v3248si54olgk@4ax.com...
| Quote: | Hej,
On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 07:45:28 -0600, "John Carrier" <jxc2@comcast.net
wrote:
2) The 530i engine - any known weaknesses or gotchas?
None to speak of. Insure all the fluids are changed. Brakes at least
every
two years, coolant every two (BMW only says 4 now), differential @ 30K
miles
(BMW never), trans @ 30-50K (BMW says 100K, used to be lifetime), PS every
30K (forgot that one, eh?). I synch mine with service intervals, but that
tends to be 32K and 2 years for me, so ...
What does it give to change fluids more frequently than the BMW
recommendation?
|
BMW's recommendations are the "new" intervals that were introduced with
"free" maintenance in the US. As the fluids haven't changed and the needs
to change them haven't changed, the schedule I presented is the "old"
interval that BMW recommended prior to free maintenance. Following the new
vice the old probably doesn't matter if the car is to be turned over in 100K
miles, but if you're in it for the long haul ...
R / John |
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John Carrier
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 12, 2005 7:10 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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"Alistair J Murray" <news@fluffy.f9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:m8jf43-3gv.ln1@florin.fluffy...
| Quote: | Jeremy wrote:
[...]
2) The 530i engine - any known weaknesses or gotchas?
It's much less powerful than the 540i engine...
M62 V8 is fairly bomb proof and the autobox is a good 'un.
|
Except for the oil pump bolts, much higher failure rate of radiator, etc.
Care and feeding of the V8 is more expensive over the long haul. Of course
its extra grunt is addictive, but the 225HP I6 has ample power. If you
REALLY want power in an E39, a tuner M5 is the way to go.
R / John |
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bfd
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 13, 2005 4:29 am Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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Some think the E39 530i with 5 speed manual trans and sport suspension
was "better" than the 540i because BMW used rack and pinion steering
instead of the worm and gear drive found on the 540i. They felt tha
tthe 530i could outcorner the 540. |
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John Carrier
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 13, 2005 6:47 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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"bfd" <bfd853@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1131834567.878377.89030@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Some think the E39 530i with 5 speed manual trans and sport suspension
was "better" than the 540i because BMW used rack and pinion steering
instead of the worm and gear drive found on the 540i. They felt tha
tthe 530i could outcorner the 540.
|
With comparable tires, likely. Not so much the steering, but the simple
matter of weight. The 530 is lighter on its feet. Most of the 540's weight
is on the front tires, which tends to emphasize understeer.
Too bad BMW never gave the 530 a 6sp. With the overdrive 6th, a more
aggressive diff ratio would have been possible without compromising mileage.
R / John |
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Alistair J Murray
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:02 am Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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John Carrier wrote:
| Quote: | "Alistair J Murray" <news@fluffy.f9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:m8jf43-3gv.ln1@florin.fluffy...
|
[...]
| Quote: | M62 V8 is fairly bomb proof and the autobox is a good 'un.
Except for the oil pump bolts, much higher failure rate of radiator,
etc.
|
AFAIK the oil pump bolt issue is M60 only
| Quote: | Care and feeding of the V8 is more expensive over the long haul.
|
Only slightly, unless you use all the power all the time...
| Quote: | Of course its extra grunt is addictive, but the 225HP I6 has ample
power. If you REALLY want power in an E39, a tuner M5 is the way to
go.
|
I'm quite happy with my ALPINA B10 V8's 340bhp coupled to a 5-speed
auto. :)
You also get the 280bhp I6 B10 3.3, with optional 6-speed manual...
A |
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John Carrier
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:12 am Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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"Alistair J Murray" <news@fluffy.f9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:gp0l43-0pg.ln1@florin.fluffy...
| Quote: | John Carrier wrote:
"Alistair J Murray" <news@fluffy.f9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:m8jf43-3gv.ln1@florin.fluffy...
[...]
M62 V8 is fairly bomb proof and the autobox is a good 'un.
Except for the oil pump bolts, much higher failure rate of radiator,
etc.
AFAIK the oil pump bolt issue is M60 only
Care and feeding of the V8 is more expensive over the long haul.
Only slightly, unless you use all the power all the time...
Of course its extra grunt is addictive, but the 225HP I6 has ample
power. If you REALLY want power in an E39, a tuner M5 is the way to
go.
I'm quite happy with my ALPINA B10 V8's 340bhp coupled to a 5-speed
auto. :)
You also get the 280bhp I6 B10 3.3, with optional 6-speed manual...
|
My ideal would be the M3 engine, slightly detuned, 6sp and about a 3.46
diff. It could be done, but not inexpensively. Then again, Alpina does not
offer their mods inexpensively. Wonderful cars, improving upon "very good"
to near perfection ... but not cheap.
R / John |
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Malt_Hound
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:52 pm Post subject:
Re: E39 530i - issues/weaknesses? |
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John Carrier wrote:
| Quote: | "bfd" <bfd853@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1131834567.878377.89030@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Some think the E39 530i with 5 speed manual trans and sport suspension
was "better" than the 540i because BMW used rack and pinion steering
instead of the worm and gear drive found on the 540i. They felt tha
tthe 530i could outcorner the 540.
With comparable tires, likely. Not so much the steering, but the simple
matter of weight. The 530 is lighter on its feet. Most of the 540's weight
is on the front tires, which tends to emphasize understeer.
|
I have often heard repeated this statement (about the eights being front
heavy) but cannot find any supporting evidence that it is true.
Certainly the added weight of the larger engine is a handicap in
handling. About 250 lbs of difference in curb weight between the E39 3
liter six and 4.4 liter eight. But the engineers moved things around in
their designs to try to retain the 50/50 weight bias that BMWs are famed
for regardless of the total.
I can't find and weight distribution specs on the E39, but from the BMW
NA site info is available for the "current-day" 5 series. A 530i weighs
3,472 lbs with a 50.8% / 49.2% (F/R) weight distribution. A 550i that
weighs 3803 lbs total (331 lbs heavier) has a 51.3% / 48.7% F/R weight.
So while the modern 530i is 55 lbs heavier on the rear axle than the
front, the 550i is 91 lbs heavier on the rear than the front. The total
difference between the two of 36 lbs is hardly significant. Throw a
small gym bag in the trunk and you are all square.
--
-Fred W |
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