Worst cars, year by year
04-30-2010, 12:09 PM
#1
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 Sapphire Black Metallic 525i. Beige Dakota Leather, Premium package, bluetooth, BMW Assist, Xenon adaptive lights, Sirius radio
I am interested in a 2002 540i. Consumer reports has it listed under worst cars, year by year.
What kind of problems plague the e39 540i?
I tried posting in the e 39 section, but, it is DEAD over there.............
What kind of problems plague the e39 540i?
I tried posting in the e 39 section, but, it is DEAD over there.............
04-30-2010, 01:53 PM
#3
Members
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You could try posting on the roadfly board (http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e39/) -- it's a much more active E39 board. Good luck!
04-30-2010, 01:57 PM
#4
Contributors
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550I LOADED, all options except HUD and NV
I dunno, I think (as with ANY used car) get one with a full service history and you should be fine. If not you will ALWAYS be worried about it breaking. Good luck 
the E39 is a very nice car
the E39 is a very nice car
04-30-2010, 02:26 PM
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
That was getting towards the end of the E39's era, I'd imagine the later E39's were largely the best ones BMW built. As pjinca says, take the time to find a good one and it should serve you well. That said, I do tend to pay attention to Consumer Reports recommendations for the simple reason that they don't take advertising and generally speaking they just tell it like it is. There may be something specific about the 2002 model year that's worth some investigation. Anyway - I suspect the right E39 is a great buy right now.
04-30-2010, 02:29 PM
#6
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Originally from Koeln, Deutschland. Enjoying it in Bonita Springs, Florida Now :)
Posts: 7,421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Those cars are really picky with the cooling system....expect to do a mild overhaul at 60k-80k miles and a complete overhaul at about 100k...maybe earlier.
04-30-2010, 03:02 PM
#7
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 Sapphire Black Metallic 525i. Beige Dakota Leather, Premium package, bluetooth, BMW Assist, Xenon adaptive lights, Sirius radio
Consumer reports says all 540s....2000-2003
04-30-2010, 03:33 PM
#8
Members
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would never trust Consumers Reports on any of its car recommendations. Since Ralph Nader infected it, many many years ago, with his leftwing liberal bias, Consumers Reports has not been balanced IMHO.
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6774...-re/index.html
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6774...-re/index.html
05-02-2010, 09:24 AM
#9
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Boston, US
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The 540i is known for cooling problems, dash pixels and a few other things but nothing a few grand and a good independent garage couldn't fix. I had and E39 525 and if it was a 540 I might still have the car. The E39's are awesome cars.
I think the key is a solid service history, oil changes, trans fluid, coolant, brake fluid and Rear Diff changes. The only way you get really hosed on a 540 is if the motor or trans lets go. That is a painful bill.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
socale39
Complete Car Sales
9
09-05-2023 08:30 AM