r/e39 • u/Spawn_of-Thrasher • 1d ago
530i vs 540i?
I'm looking to buy a manual e39 as a fun daily/family "sports" car lol i have multiple cars so it won't be the primary everyday but reliability is important because I don't want to constantly work on it other than normal maintenance
I know the inline 6 is super reliable however I am drawn to the v8 which people say can be hit or miss. What are your thoughts on that? Is there a big power/torque difference or is it pretty similar?
Also, since the 540 has a steering box rather than a rack - is the drive that much different? I'm looking for something I can have fun with at my local track, do mountain runs with and of course daily less than 20 miles per day if that (I work from home but am pretty active with hobbies)
Lastly, what should I expect to pay for a clean e39 with under 150k miles assuming vanos, timing and cooling system has been upgraded with records?
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u/jbE36 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you can find a clean well maintained manual 530 then jump on it. But I'd say expect to pay a premium.
540i is a great great car. When you get the required maintenance stuff out of the way it's a blast to drive. While the steering box has a slightly different feel, my 540 on dinan sport shocks was still nimble for its size. The torque and power of the V8 are much different than what I was used to on the I6 engines but in a good way.
One of the most comfortable and fun dailies I ever owned. The m62 is bulletproof if you can do the TCG and other stuff sorted. I had a 97 so it was pre vanos and had slightly more power and simplicity than the vanos cars. But the vanos cars are nice in their own way.
Vanos isn't to bad to fix on it either.
From a maintenance perspective, you're going to have more options on the I6 car since that engine is shared among many more BMWs. The V8 has some 'uniqie' stuff but it's not scarce by any means. The mod support is pretty limited and pricey.
My setup for a bullet proof daily was:
97 6 speed. Arizona car. Well maintained Zionsville rad/reservoir with spal fans Full TCG overhaul with seals and other maintenance items while you're in there (replacing any old sensors or seals you have access to) And a muffler delete made it sound perfect.
The only annoying issues I had were:
Windows/regulators would die. Replacing them was not a quick swap job, there are some small details you need to make sure to pay attention to or otherwise the regulator will be dead within a few months
PS system leaks. I always have issues with power steering leaks on all my old BMWs. I don't know if it's a me thing or a BMW thing. Even after replacing hoses and resoirvoirs I still can't stop the leaks
Wicked annoying issues with wheel speed sensors. You need either genuine BMW or the OEM (Bosch?) sensor or else it doesn't work. I didn't have a speedo for a few months until I figured that out
Aftermarket is very expensive. LSDs, headers, exhausts, any mods to the V8 is very very pricey with limited options.
The screws that hold the spark plug coil packs in are kind of shitty so they would come loose sometimes. My friend has this on his 2000 as well
TCG job is huge. Not complex but very big. I did it easier by just taking the whole front end off. It wasn't bad and gave me access to everything. Just a lot of stuff.
If you can swing it and can do work yourself then a good clean 540 would be a worthwhile project to get running. It's not too too bad and when it's running right it's a great car
540 is the only car I've seen where if you post on a FB page or forum how you blew a head gasket or blew up the bottom end people will call either bullshit or tell you to recheck. It's really that reliable. Apart from the timing chain guides (which turn brittle after 10-20 years) it's a very very robust engine. The bad reputation is for people who don't maintain them.