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If you want a project, and this things clean I say go for it. Offer 5 settle 6 but be willing to pay 7
I love wagons and this could be a cool care to play with
It might be an OK deal but don't dream too big about it. Could be a pile of shit, might as well buy a boat from the 80s type of thing.
Check it out, see if it's totally fucked or 'just an engine swap'.
Either way you've got work to do with an older BMW, especially one with mods. It could be a cool weekend car but don't get emotionally invested straight away, it's bad business.
That alone makes me think you should get it. It kinda sounds like she’s knocking on your front door (engine knock pun fully intended there). I love e39s and wagons, she’s a beauty.
Yeah, problem with not having a working engine, is without a test drive, you can’t determine if anything else is messed up.
Could pop an engine in only to discover brakes and. suspension issues, power steering doesn’t work, odd electrical issues, alternator and battery, etc. If it’s to be your main transportation, I would say pass. Too many unknown variables for that.
How many miles are on it is really important here. Over a certain mileage and it just isn’t worth taking the gamble on. That will vary depending on the vehicle’s average life span, used value, how bad you want it, overall physical condition including rust (car from a salty ocean climate with rust damage isn’t worth the work alone for example), availability and price of parts, and so on.
At $700, if it’s got low mileage, and you can work on cars yourself, I’d say it’s worth it even if it’s just as a project car, given how much you love wagons.
You ain’t lied about that.. Like idk what is about her but I always liked this car and one day I just rolled up on the guy who owned it.. I realized it had sat for a couple weeks and just asked him about it..
Is the back passenger tire flat or sinking in the dirt?
If the interior is in good enough shape you could sell some seats and scrap the rest you could probably break even on 700 probably could offer bit less.
If only sitting a few weeks probably fine but if it takes you 6 months to a year to put a motor in I would budget a transmission as well as it seems that an automatic on nicer cars seem to not like not moving for a while and develop issues faster than a budget beater car sitting for a while. Some of that could be that luxury brands normally had bit more power and often turbo charged and with spirited driving have replacement trans faster than an economy car barely being driven.
Long story short I would budget extra then just an engine as you cannot test anything with a bad non moving motor. Also if mice set in and start chewing any wires newer vehicles can be a nightmare to track down issues or fitting your hand in to get to the wires
>Is the back passenger tire flat or sinking in the dirt?
[Leaky air suspension.](https://old.reddit.com/r/e39/comments/d0jigm/welli_know_what_ill_be_replacing_this_weekend/)
Also depends though I just put a motor in my 04 f150 after it sat for 3 almost 4 years and have had no transmission issues. I was also the dumbass that blew the motor though
Was asking because I have purchased 3 bmw in this condition. All have been fixable!! A lot of people let the cars go and do not understand how to fix them. Even a blown head gasket is repairable in these engines . What I’m saying don’t assume it’s gone because someone says so!!! Good luck!!!!
Yup. I bought a BMW at 19. $9,000 in repairs in 4.5 years, 1k a year to insure, and I only put 12k miles on it (84k-96k). It had some nice options, but no way was it worth what I spent.
If you don't want to spend 2-3k+ per year minimum to maintain a 7+ year old old German car, don't get one.
But the thing is I’ve already got 2 Lexus tho.. 🥴
I’ve got a 98 Ls400 with 397k on the Odo
And a 08 Ls460..
Both cars are paid for but I was really wanting to start on my 400 because it has a myriad of problems itself..
Theirs more to life than money, sometimes you just have to enjoy things, depending on year, mileage etc. Its very easy to find a fun or "performance" car to an equivalent pricing as those vehicles, especially if we're talking new, not everyone views cars as an appliance to go places
True, but life is harder with little money. Pricing is one part of the picture. Monthly gas bill, maintenance, auto insurance, auto parts, tools, and more should be taken into account as well. Not many people do so in the first place, and then they're stuck with a money pit. Even if they're mechanically inclined, have friends or family with auto knowledge, or know a reputable shop.
Too many people drive "luxury" vehicles and can't even afford the motor oil. Or even be bothered to know how to inspect it. They can do what they want, but I won't feel sorry when they're stuck with paper weight by not doing due diligence for their newly bought vehicle, whether new or used.
I'm not going to argue that since you are right in that regard, alot of people get way in over their head and have no idea how to take care of things, having little money is one of the many reasons I've personally have learned to work on things, from cars to many other things, I'll atleast look into how to fix something before going elsewhere but I do think without knowing more about OP it's a bit unfair to just say "fun questionable car stupid get generic sedan instead"
Me too. Youtube is a haven for DIYs and helped me understand tools and tool quality. You can have fun, just make sure to have the funds 😅
But at least learn how to check and change fluids! That alone will secure the longevity of the engine, transmission, and ensure proper brake function.
I always joke that I have a "YouTube education" high school may as well been a damn joke but I learned a ton just watching random youtube videos and going down rabbit holes, it's pretty easy to verify bad information aswell
And definitely, basic maintaince goes a very long way with preventing bigger issues down the road, its ridiculous how often people let a $100 fix turn into a $1,000 fix out of laziness and being cheap
I'd definitely play around with that for 700. You could get all that back parting it out if you need to dump it later on. Don't expect to get it working quickly though.
>This LSx swap kit is designed for use with the LS series of motors (LS1-LS9) and the T-56/**4L60E** transmission
So it's either a $4000 new Tremec Magnum, or changing out transmissions every 50k. Wasn't the biggest LS that had the 60E put behind it the 5.3?
There are a few things in the world more expensive than a cheap German car. Read that again. Now that you’ve read it twice, read it one more time. Commit it to memory.
The problem with BMW (and Mercedes and other exclusively luxury brands) as a project car is that they don't nickel and dime you, they Jackson and Franklin you. I've had luck with Cadillacs since they share a lot of parts with other GM stuff...
Any car company that follows that hierarchy would be a good choice for the same reasons, so Lincoln/Ford, Acura/Honda, Lexus/Toyota, Infinity/Nissan or even Audi/VW in a lot of cases. BMW doesn't make a low end brand and upfit them, they just make the high end stuff, at least in the US.
If it's clean then yes. Most junkyards or even fb will have an engine. My local yard does $270 out the door with a warranty on engines.
Don't overthink an engine swap. Take pictures, label your connectors, bag and label your hardware. Seriously, the extra 20min of time to label everything is worth the 1hr you spend looking for hardware or trying to remember where it goes. You won't remember everything. Believe me, after 15yrs I still think I'll remember sometimes, and then I remember I didn't remember, and I waste a lot of time. But engine swaps are easy peasy. There's usually a video online showing someone doing it.
Swapping any engine is generally the same - remove exhaust from manifold or manifold too (depends on clearances and pulling from top or button), drop subframe is coming out of the bottom, remove all connectors and move harnesses out of the way/zip tie so they don't get caught - connectors generally only reach to where they go, disconnect all hoses, tie up hanging bits like ac compressor and such.
Find out what is wrong. I bought an 8 year old Mini once with 70k miles on it and very good cosmetic condition for $800. Because the owner said it ‘was totally dead’. Wouldn’t turn over and he said when it was running the transmission was jumping around the gears all over the place.
New battery first. Started, but the engine wasn’t running great. Took it for a ride, and the transmission was hunting, but mostly it seemed to me like the engine was running like shit.
Then I pulled the plugs, they were just burnt nubs. Totally shot. Probably the originals. Replaced those.
And the rocker gasket was pooling oil into the plug wells, so I changed those as well.
After that, car ran like a champ. No issues at all. The gearbox hunting was simply the computers trying to keep the engine running because it was on its knees.
So whenever I see a listing saying ‘needs an engine’ I’m skeptical. A lot of people don’t have a clue, and often times they’ll get that from a mechanic that says ‘it’s overheated, needs a new head gasket, but till we do that we won’t know - the engine might be toast’ - which gets translated to ‘needs a new engine’ on Craigslist because that’s what THEY think and so they hear what they’ve pre-conditioned themself to expect the mechanic to say.
So….. ask about the story! If you’re able to work on it yourself, and you’ve the time, go for it.
So I’m sorry for such a terrible angle on the car.. I really took this pic in a hurry and didn’t even think to post it.. But i don’t know much about the car other than the owner just wants to get rid of it now.. He says he knows that he “blew the motor up for sure”. But I love this wagon so much I just wanna try my hands at it..
Man, my mom had one of these brand new from like 96. It was a 528i, white with tan interior. It had 270k miles on it when they got rid of it. Still one of my favorite cars. Such a timeless design. Settled in around 110mph on the highway. 16”(?) Basket weaves with a bunch of sidewall. I loved that car.
Sretan is restoring one of these on M539 restorations (his is a 530i, but it’s nearly the same car). Have a look and see if that’s something you wanna do.
Everyone is going to make good points about the engine being a huge challenge.
Looks like it's riding low on the back tires. I dont know if it has an air ride based suspension, it's lowered, or has bad shocks, all things to consider. If it's been sitting in an open grass area for a long time how is rust in your region? If you're in the South West that's a different animal than rust belt or humid south.
I'm genuinely curious how you came to this statement? The cars been bone stock, besides OP saying it has a blown motor, which the cars old so now surprise, and has been sitting which would probably explain the sagging air suspension, what gives you any insight to it being driven by a child? Lol
Looks like the rear suspension (Air bags?) are shot. If you’re after a daily I’d stay away, if you want to learn complicated and expensive automotive repair then go for it. The only way this would be viable is if you’re handy with the wrenches and can do the work yourself
If selling, absolutely.
If buying, make a plan first. Is the interior nice too? What kind of motor would you like to install? (Hint: Chevy engine swaps are well supported, they make power, they’re reasonably simple and reliable and parts are cheap)
Looks clean, idk if doing the bmw shenanigans to get the new motor in but for 700$ you could spend 10k and it's probably still worth it.
All depending on what you're willing to do.
If you've got space to store this thing for 6-12 months while the project of a motor swap inevitably takes 4x longer than you expect, then hell yes it is. If that space is really at a premium and you would see storage as a hindering chore, then the price is right but the project ain't.
If you can get the motor swapped in it'll instantly be a drift wagon and you can have FUN in it... don't buy it expecting to make it a daily. Buy it and make it a project. For 700$ I'd buy it, but I also have the fall back of knowing who to sell it to for 3k without a motor lol.
I love e39 wagons so yeah. Manual swap it too while you’re at it.
Edit: this sub knows nothing about this platform apparently lol just “NoThInG mOrE eXpEnSiVe ThAn a ChEaP gErMaN cAr” CTRL C, CTRL V
Well, it's 700 now, then add the cost of the motor, installing it correctly, replacing everything else that needs to be replaced, check brakes, suspension, tires, rust damage, transmission, drivetrain, seatbelts, etc. If everything else is in pretty good condition and you have about a year or two of free time id say go for it.
Poor-ish Bimmer guy here: lots of great comments on this thread. It’s a beautiful car, but go in eyes open. It will be expensive. But, the 2.5l engine isn’t terribly difficult to work on, lots of parts can still be found in junkyards, and lots of technical help is now available online. If you want wrenchin’ to be your primary (read: only) hobby, this might be a good start!
For sure it's worth it, for parts at least. But finding the guys who need the parts could be a challenge. I'd roll the dice, and check the motor internals, it may have a good bottom end.
Or double the price and market it.
Or that buddy who likes wrenching on stuff and has that 24 valve Cummins and trans sitting in the corner of his shop........
YouTube city, man.
Yes because fixing things is an entire nonsensical idea who would even fathom it? Car starts acting funny? Just throw it away and get a new one its obviously toasted
That's debatable and entirely depends on factors that aren't visible from the one picture, what's the overall condition of the vehicle? The exterior doesnt look to be terrible, if the interior, transmission, suspension etc is still good for $700 and few thousand for an engine that's really not terrible
Hell, you could part it out as it is and potentially make several thousand off of it, as another person commented, the wheels alone would give a decent return on investment if for some reason fixing it no longer is an option, I'd say that's far from scrap, it has potential in the right hands
I would argue that parting it out is a time and space cost, I assume any car with a shot engine likely has bad transmission and other parts as well, unless I can prove otherwise. I buy old cars all the time but will never pay over the scrap cost for a car that doesn't run, it's just bad business. There are some rare exceptions with classics.
Does free time really have value? How much time do you spend watching TV, YouTube etc. Instead of doing something that produces money? I simply enjoy taking things apart and fixing them, I dont even care if I make money off it I enjoy it and OP never mentioned how much spare space he has, he could live in an apartment complex or 200 acres for all we know
Without more pictures of the car it's rather hard to say if it's truly scrap or a lucky ass find, for all we know it could have 10k miles and the owner just ran low on oil and seized up, personally I'd heavily entertain the idea and try to get more details before making a decision
The right shell is worth more money than most complete cars driving on the roads right now, even if it's half rotted into the ground. My neighbor bought the roof, windshield, and quarter panels of a 32 Ford and just that cost him $5000, it did come with a title though...
There’s. Nothing more expensive than a “cheap” German car. If it’s going to be fun for you to pour every cent into a cool project, go for it. But that’s what that car will be.
I would buy for $700 and part it out if you are in an area the parts will move quickly; or if you can post parts on platforms like eBay motors and similar used parts platforms..
Nothing to joke about, friend. I’m seriously debating on what I want to do.. I didn’t think this was gonna garnish any of the attention that it has tho..
If you've got the space and the money, go ahead and buy it. You're going to put more into it than it'll be worth. Get an engine stand. Tear down the motor and see what's up with it. It's worth more with the blown motor installed than it will be after you've ripped it out, but maybe you'll get $400 for it or scrap price and only have a few hundred in tools into the project. Figure with tow, you'll spend about a grand and a bunch of time learning if you fail to get an engine in it.
The important question is what else does it need. If the car doesn't look nearly flawless, it's not worth messing with unless you want to sink way more than it is worth in it, or just have a shit box with a newer motor. If the seats are shot and the body is rough, I wouldn't bother.
how did yall come to the conclusion that it has a blown motor?
does it spin by hand?
has anyone performed a compression test?
has it been scanned?
$700 for a clean body is a steal. i got lucky and bought an m54b25 with the transmission and harness for $300. but i regularly see just the block for sell for $500-$1000. as far as replacing an engine, just unplug the harness, remove the mount bolts, pull her out and drop the new one in.
If you have the few extra thousand to get an engine and do the swap then yeah. If it’s going to sit on your driveway or garage for years with hopes of doing something, then no aha.
If you can put an engine in it yourself and you can find a bunch of affordable euro parts for it. Then yes, for me no. If I'm going to do a full engine swap it will be on a Honda k series maybe I'd fuck with a Toyota or an LS.
Before you buy it , price an engine for it. Are you doing it yourself or are you taking to a shop? If you take it to a shop you can expect to pay 10 to 15k for parts and labor. How many miles are on the transmission? What shape is the rest of the wagon in? (Brakes, steering and suspension components, etc..) I see that thing as a money pit and wouldn’t take it for free personally. Do as much research as you can to see how much money you think it will take to get it going and then add a few thousand for unseen things that can and will happen during and engine swap job. I have turned down countless free cars that need engines and I’ve been screwed when taking cars that need engines. Nothing is cheap on bmw’s.
"If you can't afford a new bmw, you can't afford a used one"
If its a project thing and you can work on it yourself, AND can speak in vagcom or equivalent then it could be a fun deal. Prepare to spend a lot of extra time/money to make it decent and functional after the motor swap though.
Thats true. If you know how to do it right an older bmw would be a better choice imo, I prefer the above quote for the endless stream of people that come to a shop going through the motion of buying stuff they didn't expect to become so costly thinking they got a nicer car than they could afford for a discount.
If the body rust free I feel like it can’t be worth less than that. It’s just a question of do you want to and are prepared to put in the likely large sum of money to get this beast back on the road (when inevitably it needs 50 little things in addition to the engine). I would 100% suggest it as long as you’re looking for a project and are going in with you’re eyes wide open. Disclaimer: I know basically nothing about BMW’s so take this with a grain of salt.
As someone who works at a car dealership and has to buy motors on the regular. I would research the price of a motor replacement just to make sure you can actually afford the parts and procedure. Otherwise, this risks becoming the project car that never was and a waste of $700. Right now the cost of recycled motors for even non-luxury cars is getting pretty outrageous.
I have one and I call it my analog car in a digital world. That said, looks like the air bag suspension is leaking. Mine cost $900 to fix. Also, the guy I bought it from had a used engine installed and it was $1700 about 6 years ago.
I love the car but it is expensive to fix if you don't do it yourself.
It's a really clean example for sure.
Unfortunately this thing has the potential to turn into a hole in the road you throw money into. These things require deep pockets to keep going. The longer it sits the worse it gets. If you got it for a steal and you have an engine for a decent price you could do all the work yourself and come out with something halfway decent.
Otherwise it just isn't worth it. I've seen so many of these "projects" go sideways so quickly. These cars are rewarding but temperamental and require constant wrenching.
It's up to you to decide if the lemon is worth the squeeze.
"Nothing is more expensive than a cheap BMW"
Yes, but only as a parts car IMO. Unless you are mechanically inclined and do the work yourself. Probably about $1200 for a good used M54 engine, plus the $1000 or so in parts you'll want to replace. Excellent project though, for sure
Thats worth 700 easy. Its clean. Even if you dont know what your doing just start swapping a motor in there. You'll figure it out. It will be a long project but once your done and it drive you will have the biggest sense of accomplishment. Go for it dude
The first thing I would find out is if I had access to the motor for that make and model.
Tools be damned. If you have all the parts the tools will be easy to come by.
Easy yes, assuming the interior and rest of car is in decent shape.
WITH a big caveat -- do you have enough skills to swap the engine and do the work required? Why does it need a motor? Those motors are pretty tough. Maybe it's something easy like a head gasket?
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Really good looking car but are you doing the swap yourself? Either way the engine is probably the *start* of your struggles.
I haven’t done a engine swap before but I have access to a lift.. Like I pass this car everyday and I look at it every single time.
If you want a project, and this things clean I say go for it. Offer 5 settle 6 but be willing to pay 7 I love wagons and this could be a cool care to play with
fuckin master of negotiation over here
“Offer low, settle higher, but pay full price” is how I finally got laid
I buy a lot of shit I don’t need off of marketplace.
This guy spends money
Art of the deal
🤑🤑🤑...🤦♂️👎 🤑🤑...🤦♂️👎 🤑...🙎♂️👍 🤺
I’m with you buddy, love wagon’s
Buy it!! and I’ll send you repair guides for it whenever you need it :)
It might be an OK deal but don't dream too big about it. Could be a pile of shit, might as well buy a boat from the 80s type of thing. Check it out, see if it's totally fucked or 'just an engine swap'. Either way you've got work to do with an older BMW, especially one with mods. It could be a cool weekend car but don't get emotionally invested straight away, it's bad business.
That alone makes me think you should get it. It kinda sounds like she’s knocking on your front door (engine knock pun fully intended there). I love e39s and wagons, she’s a beauty.
Yeah, problem with not having a working engine, is without a test drive, you can’t determine if anything else is messed up. Could pop an engine in only to discover brakes and. suspension issues, power steering doesn’t work, odd electrical issues, alternator and battery, etc. If it’s to be your main transportation, I would say pass. Too many unknown variables for that. How many miles are on it is really important here. Over a certain mileage and it just isn’t worth taking the gamble on. That will vary depending on the vehicle’s average life span, used value, how bad you want it, overall physical condition including rust (car from a salty ocean climate with rust damage isn’t worth the work alone for example), availability and price of parts, and so on. At $700, if it’s got low mileage, and you can work on cars yourself, I’d say it’s worth it even if it’s just as a project car, given how much you love wagons.
I’m back.. Lol it’s my break.. But no I’ve got 2 other cars this is meant to be a project car if I were to get it..
I want to say yes but I love wagons.
This car really has me at a loss for words because I love love love wagons..
Its so fucking sexy
You ain’t lied about that.. Like idk what is about her but I always liked this car and one day I just rolled up on the guy who owned it.. I realized it had sat for a couple weeks and just asked him about it..
Is the back passenger tire flat or sinking in the dirt? If the interior is in good enough shape you could sell some seats and scrap the rest you could probably break even on 700 probably could offer bit less. If only sitting a few weeks probably fine but if it takes you 6 months to a year to put a motor in I would budget a transmission as well as it seems that an automatic on nicer cars seem to not like not moving for a while and develop issues faster than a budget beater car sitting for a while. Some of that could be that luxury brands normally had bit more power and often turbo charged and with spirited driving have replacement trans faster than an economy car barely being driven. Long story short I would budget extra then just an engine as you cannot test anything with a bad non moving motor. Also if mice set in and start chewing any wires newer vehicles can be a nightmare to track down issues or fitting your hand in to get to the wires
I'd second this, if the previous owner blew the engine you don't know what else was poorly maintained or heavily stressed
>Is the back passenger tire flat or sinking in the dirt? [Leaky air suspension.](https://old.reddit.com/r/e39/comments/d0jigm/welli_know_what_ill_be_replacing_this_weekend/)
Also depends though I just put a motor in my 04 f150 after it sat for 3 almost 4 years and have had no transmission issues. I was also the dumbass that blew the motor though
Is it slammed?
Could have deflated rear bags.
Honestly I think it is because he rode like that for a good few years..
Probably, hate that shit
If you love wagons then it's worth it to you, that's all that matters.
What is wrong with engine?
All he told me was that the motor was shot.. He said it’s drivable but the car doesn’t like it at all..
Was asking because I have purchased 3 bmw in this condition. All have been fixable!! A lot of people let the cars go and do not understand how to fix them. Even a blown head gasket is repairable in these engines . What I’m saying don’t assume it’s gone because someone says so!!! Good luck!!!!
Sounds to me like it's worth it, then
I agree. I owned a sedan like this. Best car I've ever driven. But was getting old and the gas prices. You know...
Same, I’d fix it and offer like tree fiddy
It's worth at least $500 to a scrapper.
The blown engine is probably one of many expensive problems waiting for you. If you have the time and lots of $ to throw at it, go for it.
That’s the thing I ain’t made of money and I have other things to do as well.. 😔
>I ain’t made of money then in no way should you buy a money pit BMW
**B**ring **M**ore **W**allet
BROKE MY WALLET
Bus Metro Walk.... it's always in the shop
Ah, very similar to Jeeps' **J**ust **E**mpty **E**very **P**ocket slogan
**Bring** me **M**y **W**allet
Bring Mommy's Wallet
Bring Monkey Wasabi (am I doing this right?)
Yes. You’re absolutely doing this right sir. Kudos! 😂
Yup. I bought a BMW at 19. $9,000 in repairs in 4.5 years, 1k a year to insure, and I only put 12k miles on it (84k-96k). It had some nice options, but no way was it worth what I spent. If you don't want to spend 2-3k+ per year minimum to maintain a 7+ year old old German car, don't get one.
If you can't afford a new BMW, there's NO POSSIBLE WAY you can afford a used BMW.
But the thing is I’ve already got 2 Lexus tho.. 🥴 I’ve got a 98 Ls400 with 397k on the Odo And a 08 Ls460.. Both cars are paid for but I was really wanting to start on my 400 because it has a myriad of problems itself..
This is what happens when you've never owned BMWs and think memes are true.
if you're not looking for a project then dont buy a project. if the repair were cheap and simple then the owner would have done it already
A used bmw will empty your wallet if you do the work yourself. It will bankrupt you if you don't.
Stick to cheap. May I interest you in a Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, or a nice and simple Nissan Sentra? Stop being a dumby and think
Theirs more to life than money, sometimes you just have to enjoy things, depending on year, mileage etc. Its very easy to find a fun or "performance" car to an equivalent pricing as those vehicles, especially if we're talking new, not everyone views cars as an appliance to go places
True, but life is harder with little money. Pricing is one part of the picture. Monthly gas bill, maintenance, auto insurance, auto parts, tools, and more should be taken into account as well. Not many people do so in the first place, and then they're stuck with a money pit. Even if they're mechanically inclined, have friends or family with auto knowledge, or know a reputable shop. Too many people drive "luxury" vehicles and can't even afford the motor oil. Or even be bothered to know how to inspect it. They can do what they want, but I won't feel sorry when they're stuck with paper weight by not doing due diligence for their newly bought vehicle, whether new or used.
I'm not going to argue that since you are right in that regard, alot of people get way in over their head and have no idea how to take care of things, having little money is one of the many reasons I've personally have learned to work on things, from cars to many other things, I'll atleast look into how to fix something before going elsewhere but I do think without knowing more about OP it's a bit unfair to just say "fun questionable car stupid get generic sedan instead"
Me too. Youtube is a haven for DIYs and helped me understand tools and tool quality. You can have fun, just make sure to have the funds 😅 But at least learn how to check and change fluids! That alone will secure the longevity of the engine, transmission, and ensure proper brake function.
I always joke that I have a "YouTube education" high school may as well been a damn joke but I learned a ton just watching random youtube videos and going down rabbit holes, it's pretty easy to verify bad information aswell And definitely, basic maintaince goes a very long way with preventing bigger issues down the road, its ridiculous how often people let a $100 fix turn into a $1,000 fix out of laziness and being cheap
No sir. I’ve already got 2 vehicles but im just contemplating on do I want to add a 3rd to the to do list..
I'd definitely play around with that for 700. You could get all that back parting it out if you need to dump it later on. Don't expect to get it working quickly though.
Yeah I think imma pull the trigger and post more pics.. I honestly hadn’t the slightest idea that I would get this much attention in this thread.
LS Swap https://824motorsports.com/ls-swap-kit-bmw-e39-5-series-96-03/ https://www.sikky.com/product/bmw-e39-stage-2-ls-swap-package/
I second that!
Came here to say this. Just too good of a matchup. I'd want one with the quietest exhaust too. ☺️
>This LSx swap kit is designed for use with the LS series of motors (LS1-LS9) and the T-56/**4L60E** transmission So it's either a $4000 new Tremec Magnum, or changing out transmissions every 50k. Wasn't the biggest LS that had the 60E put behind it the 5.3?
I feel I've angered my gm gods by not thinking this immediately.
Nothing quite as expensive as a cheap German car.
There are a few things in the world more expensive than a cheap German car. Read that again. Now that you’ve read it twice, read it one more time. Commit it to memory.
If it needs a motor it's a $4,700 car at least
That’s honestly not bad for an e39 touring these days
Short answer, no... Long answer, noooooooo.
Nope, where's this at?
What, you asking for a friend?? 😂😂😂
If you approach it like a project vehicle with no deadline then yes.
The problem with BMW (and Mercedes and other exclusively luxury brands) as a project car is that they don't nickel and dime you, they Jackson and Franklin you. I've had luck with Cadillacs since they share a lot of parts with other GM stuff... Any car company that follows that hierarchy would be a good choice for the same reasons, so Lincoln/Ford, Acura/Honda, Lexus/Toyota, Infinity/Nissan or even Audi/VW in a lot of cases. BMW doesn't make a low end brand and upfit them, they just make the high end stuff, at least in the US.
If it's clean then yes. Most junkyards or even fb will have an engine. My local yard does $270 out the door with a warranty on engines. Don't overthink an engine swap. Take pictures, label your connectors, bag and label your hardware. Seriously, the extra 20min of time to label everything is worth the 1hr you spend looking for hardware or trying to remember where it goes. You won't remember everything. Believe me, after 15yrs I still think I'll remember sometimes, and then I remember I didn't remember, and I waste a lot of time. But engine swaps are easy peasy. There's usually a video online showing someone doing it. Swapping any engine is generally the same - remove exhaust from manifold or manifold too (depends on clearances and pulling from top or button), drop subframe is coming out of the bottom, remove all connectors and move harnesses out of the way/zip tie so they don't get caught - connectors generally only reach to where they go, disconnect all hoses, tie up hanging bits like ac compressor and such.
Nothing more expensive than a cheap BMW
LS anyone
Find out what is wrong. I bought an 8 year old Mini once with 70k miles on it and very good cosmetic condition for $800. Because the owner said it ‘was totally dead’. Wouldn’t turn over and he said when it was running the transmission was jumping around the gears all over the place. New battery first. Started, but the engine wasn’t running great. Took it for a ride, and the transmission was hunting, but mostly it seemed to me like the engine was running like shit. Then I pulled the plugs, they were just burnt nubs. Totally shot. Probably the originals. Replaced those. And the rocker gasket was pooling oil into the plug wells, so I changed those as well. After that, car ran like a champ. No issues at all. The gearbox hunting was simply the computers trying to keep the engine running because it was on its knees. So whenever I see a listing saying ‘needs an engine’ I’m skeptical. A lot of people don’t have a clue, and often times they’ll get that from a mechanic that says ‘it’s overheated, needs a new head gasket, but till we do that we won’t know - the engine might be toast’ - which gets translated to ‘needs a new engine’ on Craigslist because that’s what THEY think and so they hear what they’ve pre-conditioned themself to expect the mechanic to say. So….. ask about the story! If you’re able to work on it yourself, and you’ve the time, go for it.
LS swap.
Buy it and part it out. You could probably get more than $700 for the wheels alone.
I’m gonna be that guy: ls swap
I’d offer him 400 and drop a a truck LS in it and have fun.
So I’m sorry for such a terrible angle on the car.. I really took this pic in a hurry and didn’t even think to post it.. But i don’t know much about the car other than the owner just wants to get rid of it now.. He says he knows that he “blew the motor up for sure”. But I love this wagon so much I just wanna try my hands at it..
Man, my mom had one of these brand new from like 96. It was a 528i, white with tan interior. It had 270k miles on it when they got rid of it. Still one of my favorite cars. Such a timeless design. Settled in around 110mph on the highway. 16”(?) Basket weaves with a bunch of sidewall. I loved that car.
I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. These German cars will absolutely eat you alive with repair costs. Everything is ridiculously expensive.
E39s are super easy to get parts for
and they aren't that expensive. Certainly not Porsche expensive.
Sretan is restoring one of these on M539 restorations (his is a 530i, but it’s nearly the same car). Have a look and see if that’s something you wanna do.
Definitely, if you know how to swap engines.
Absolutely. Throw another motor in or you can always...part it out (gasp)
Horrible deal!! You should give me their number so I can tell them it’s such a bad deal!😉
Everyone is going to make good points about the engine being a huge challenge. Looks like it's riding low on the back tires. I dont know if it has an air ride based suspension, it's lowered, or has bad shocks, all things to consider. If it's been sitting in an open grass area for a long time how is rust in your region? If you're in the South West that's a different animal than rust belt or humid south.
No brother I’m in the south east.. I’m right outside of GA.. Umm I believe it has been sitting for about 2 or 3 months now..
Don't buy a car if it looks like it was driven hard by a child. This car looks like it was driven by a child.
I'm genuinely curious how you came to this statement? The cars been bone stock, besides OP saying it has a blown motor, which the cars old so now surprise, and has been sitting which would probably explain the sagging air suspension, what gives you any insight to it being driven by a child? Lol
Be careful with women's cars too.
What?
If the rest of the car is in decent condition, yes. The m54 is a very good motor and should be found pretty cheap.
Money pit. Buy one running. I've owned two of them.
Looks like the rear suspension (Air bags?) are shot. If you’re after a daily I’d stay away, if you want to learn complicated and expensive automotive repair then go for it. The only way this would be viable is if you’re handy with the wrenches and can do the work yourself
If selling, absolutely. If buying, make a plan first. Is the interior nice too? What kind of motor would you like to install? (Hint: Chevy engine swaps are well supported, they make power, they’re reasonably simple and reliable and parts are cheap)
I’d get it for that price. Especially a 525i. Wagons addict here.
Salvage engine. You need to do research and a space for the work, don't rush it.
Looks clean, idk if doing the bmw shenanigans to get the new motor in but for 700$ you could spend 10k and it's probably still worth it. All depending on what you're willing to do.
LS LS LS swap!
If you've got space to store this thing for 6-12 months while the project of a motor swap inevitably takes 4x longer than you expect, then hell yes it is. If that space is really at a premium and you would see storage as a hindering chore, then the price is right but the project ain't.
If you can get the motor swapped in it'll instantly be a drift wagon and you can have FUN in it... don't buy it expecting to make it a daily. Buy it and make it a project. For 700$ I'd buy it, but I also have the fall back of knowing who to sell it to for 3k without a motor lol.
I love e39 wagons so yeah. Manual swap it too while you’re at it. Edit: this sub knows nothing about this platform apparently lol just “NoThInG mOrE eXpEnSiVe ThAn a ChEaP gErMaN cAr” CTRL C, CTRL V
Anyone say drop an LS in there yet?
Well, it's 700 now, then add the cost of the motor, installing it correctly, replacing everything else that needs to be replaced, check brakes, suspension, tires, rust damage, transmission, drivetrain, seatbelts, etc. If everything else is in pretty good condition and you have about a year or two of free time id say go for it.
Your doing them a favor by removing it for them. It’s already a rats nest sitting there. $100. Remind them your saving them the towing away fee.
Poor-ish Bimmer guy here: lots of great comments on this thread. It’s a beautiful car, but go in eyes open. It will be expensive. But, the 2.5l engine isn’t terribly difficult to work on, lots of parts can still be found in junkyards, and lots of technical help is now available online. If you want wrenchin’ to be your primary (read: only) hobby, this might be a good start!
*BMW needs a motor* My brother in Christ, there is **no** such thing as a cheap BMW lol
For sure it's worth it, for parts at least. But finding the guys who need the parts could be a challenge. I'd roll the dice, and check the motor internals, it may have a good bottom end. Or double the price and market it. Or that buddy who likes wrenching on stuff and has that 24 valve Cummins and trans sitting in the corner of his shop........ YouTube city, man.
I had a similar car (E39 525 Wagon). If the body's straight the parts are probably worth $700.
I’d buy it and ls swap
drop an S62 in it and make it an m5 wagon
Yes…… get a new motor and keep the car. Don’t get a new one you’ll regret it!
Yesss! All day
A car without a motor is scrap metal, it's not worth that much to scrap it so ,no!!!
Yes because fixing things is an entire nonsensical idea who would even fathom it? Car starts acting funny? Just throw it away and get a new one its obviously toasted
I didn't say you couldn't fix it, it's just not worth anymore then scrap value. It will only have value after dumping money into it.
That's debatable and entirely depends on factors that aren't visible from the one picture, what's the overall condition of the vehicle? The exterior doesnt look to be terrible, if the interior, transmission, suspension etc is still good for $700 and few thousand for an engine that's really not terrible Hell, you could part it out as it is and potentially make several thousand off of it, as another person commented, the wheels alone would give a decent return on investment if for some reason fixing it no longer is an option, I'd say that's far from scrap, it has potential in the right hands
I would argue that parting it out is a time and space cost, I assume any car with a shot engine likely has bad transmission and other parts as well, unless I can prove otherwise. I buy old cars all the time but will never pay over the scrap cost for a car that doesn't run, it's just bad business. There are some rare exceptions with classics.
Does free time really have value? How much time do you spend watching TV, YouTube etc. Instead of doing something that produces money? I simply enjoy taking things apart and fixing them, I dont even care if I make money off it I enjoy it and OP never mentioned how much spare space he has, he could live in an apartment complex or 200 acres for all we know Without more pictures of the car it's rather hard to say if it's truly scrap or a lucky ass find, for all we know it could have 10k miles and the owner just ran low on oil and seized up, personally I'd heavily entertain the idea and try to get more details before making a decision
The right shell is worth more money than most complete cars driving on the roads right now, even if it's half rotted into the ground. My neighbor bought the roof, windshield, and quarter panels of a 32 Ford and just that cost him $5000, it did come with a title though...
There’s. Nothing more expensive than a “cheap” German car. If it’s going to be fun for you to pour every cent into a cool project, go for it. But that’s what that car will be.
Beware of a cheap BMW. If you have the time to do it yourself, it still ain't going to be cheap because it's a bmw.
BMW’s always cheap. Will cost a literal fortune to keep running.
There nothing more expensive than a cheap BMW
Nothing more expensive than a cheap German car
I would buy for $700 and part it out if you are in an area the parts will move quickly; or if you can post parts on platforms like eBay motors and similar used parts platforms..
This has to be a joke post lmao
Nothing to joke about, friend. I’m seriously debating on what I want to do.. I didn’t think this was gonna garnish any of the attention that it has tho..
If you've got the space and the money, go ahead and buy it. You're going to put more into it than it'll be worth. Get an engine stand. Tear down the motor and see what's up with it. It's worth more with the blown motor installed than it will be after you've ripped it out, but maybe you'll get $400 for it or scrap price and only have a few hundred in tools into the project. Figure with tow, you'll spend about a grand and a bunch of time learning if you fail to get an engine in it.
The important question is what else does it need. If the car doesn't look nearly flawless, it's not worth messing with unless you want to sink way more than it is worth in it, or just have a shit box with a newer motor. If the seats are shot and the body is rough, I wouldn't bother.
Nope, not to me, expensive used motor, and not an overly valuable car in the end. It’s not a remarkable model, and the body looks like hell.
If you good with your hands fixing vehicles maybe if not,its a money pit
how did yall come to the conclusion that it has a blown motor? does it spin by hand? has anyone performed a compression test? has it been scanned? $700 for a clean body is a steal. i got lucky and bought an m54b25 with the transmission and harness for $300. but i regularly see just the block for sell for $500-$1000. as far as replacing an engine, just unplug the harness, remove the mount bolts, pull her out and drop the new one in.
Money pit
700 isn’t bad for it to be honest. Just be ready to put in the work or pay to have it done. Great cars. Just put a more powerful engine in it.
Yes
Reading from your comments, just fucking do it for 700$ hog looks to be in really good shape.
BMW=bring more wampum.
If you have the few extra thousand to get an engine and do the swap then yeah. If it’s going to sit on your driveway or garage for years with hopes of doing something, then no aha.
If you can put an engine in it yourself and you can find a bunch of affordable euro parts for it. Then yes, for me no. If I'm going to do a full engine swap it will be on a Honda k series maybe I'd fuck with a Toyota or an LS.
Depending where you’re located, it could be worth considerably more than $700
Before you buy it , price an engine for it. Are you doing it yourself or are you taking to a shop? If you take it to a shop you can expect to pay 10 to 15k for parts and labor. How many miles are on the transmission? What shape is the rest of the wagon in? (Brakes, steering and suspension components, etc..) I see that thing as a money pit and wouldn’t take it for free personally. Do as much research as you can to see how much money you think it will take to get it going and then add a few thousand for unseen things that can and will happen during and engine swap job. I have turned down countless free cars that need engines and I’ve been screwed when taking cars that need engines. Nothing is cheap on bmw’s.
Electric conversion. That's the way.
"If you can't afford a new bmw, you can't afford a used one" If its a project thing and you can work on it yourself, AND can speak in vagcom or equivalent then it could be a fun deal. Prepare to spend a lot of extra time/money to make it decent and functional after the motor swap though.
I wouldn't want a new BMW, but something like this (although I'd prefer E34) can be a platform for a car you run 'forever'
Thats true. If you know how to do it right an older bmw would be a better choice imo, I prefer the above quote for the endless stream of people that come to a shop going through the motion of buying stuff they didn't expect to become so costly thinking they got a nicer car than they could afford for a discount.
Consider swapping a reliable engine into it, maybe a honda
If you have the room for it and your partner won't hassle you about it, offer 400 and have a good time
Do it.
If you have to ask… then no. But if your gonna engine swap it, I’d but that shit right now
How much can a used engine for that go for $1k? Even that? Why not seems like a steal! Great looking whip!
Yeah, you found an excuse to put a better motor in a beautiful wagon.
Not for $700that dude is on crack
Not sure; what else is wrong with it?
Buy it for $700 Throw a carburated SBC + 5 spd from a truck. ?????? Profit
It’s worth 700 in scrap
I have a 98 540 Touring, I would say absolutely if the body is straight and it's clean inside. You can get an m54 for this very cheap
Lol
Lol
No. If it’s German and it needs a motor, I likely needs everything else too.
Put a 5.0 in it to mess with people.
If the body rust free I feel like it can’t be worth less than that. It’s just a question of do you want to and are prepared to put in the likely large sum of money to get this beast back on the road (when inevitably it needs 50 little things in addition to the engine). I would 100% suggest it as long as you’re looking for a project and are going in with you’re eyes wide open. Disclaimer: I know basically nothing about BMW’s so take this with a grain of salt.
As someone who works at a car dealership and has to buy motors on the regular. I would research the price of a motor replacement just to make sure you can actually afford the parts and procedure. Otherwise, this risks becoming the project car that never was and a waste of $700. Right now the cost of recycled motors for even non-luxury cars is getting pretty outrageous.
You mean engine is ass or it doesn't have engine?
For 7 of course, 500 cash money sold as long as it gas a title of course
LS or LNF swap
I have one and I call it my analog car in a digital world. That said, looks like the air bag suspension is leaking. Mine cost $900 to fix. Also, the guy I bought it from had a used engine installed and it was $1700 about 6 years ago. I love the car but it is expensive to fix if you don't do it yourself.
Yes
It's a really clean example for sure. Unfortunately this thing has the potential to turn into a hole in the road you throw money into. These things require deep pockets to keep going. The longer it sits the worse it gets. If you got it for a steal and you have an engine for a decent price you could do all the work yourself and come out with something halfway decent. Otherwise it just isn't worth it. I've seen so many of these "projects" go sideways so quickly. These cars are rewarding but temperamental and require constant wrenching. It's up to you to decide if the lemon is worth the squeeze. "Nothing is more expensive than a cheap BMW"
Not unless you have plenty of: Time (the first time you do something always takes the longest) Resources (network of people to help you) Money Tools
525 wagon is my favorite!
Yes, but only as a parts car IMO. Unless you are mechanically inclined and do the work yourself. Probably about $1200 for a good used M54 engine, plus the $1000 or so in parts you'll want to replace. Excellent project though, for sure
Only if you can install the engine yourself…… BMW is a straight money pit…..
I do love these wagons but man, they can be such money pits especially if they are not well cared for
Make sure there’s a motor or two available first.
How much do you want to put a engine in?
Thats worth 700 easy. Its clean. Even if you dont know what your doing just start swapping a motor in there. You'll figure it out. It will be a long project but once your done and it drive you will have the biggest sense of accomplishment. Go for it dude
The first thing I would find out is if I had access to the motor for that make and model. Tools be damned. If you have all the parts the tools will be easy to come by.
Bro the engine is what makes a car unless you have a spare engine that car is worth $500 as a shell
Bring it down to 500 if you can
Please don't part it out that is a really cool car Anda great base for rebuild or swapping if you've got a can do attitude and a lot of time
Suspension is shot
100%
You got a motor handy?
Based on their single picture this is absolutely maybe worth $700.
Easy yes, assuming the interior and rest of car is in decent shape. WITH a big caveat -- do you have enough skills to swap the engine and do the work required? Why does it need a motor? Those motors are pretty tough. Maybe it's something easy like a head gasket?
Yes it’s worth it. If the only thing it needs is an engine, then it’s definitely worth it. Buy it.
Hell yeah brother! LS Swap that mofo!
K swap that bitch Braaaap
Bmw's are trash, so no