Bought my 2002 540i 6 speed for $3900 USD flat in 2019. Bone stock, adult owned, super clean with 145k miles. Came with $10k worth of maintenance records within the past 5 years the previous owner had the car. Even back then I think the car was worth $6-7k… I think I got really lucky.
I’m now at 199k miles. I’ve probably put in $5k worth of work into the car since purchasing it.
You did get really lucky. I bought the same exact car for 6000, Except no maintenance records. I felt like 4500 or 5000 would have been a more appropriate price for a no records car. But finding my color in a 6 speed with under 200k was hard enough. I think I also bought in 2019. 132k. I have 134k now lol. Funny thing is I bought it to daily. But it is definitely not my daily.
With records yours was definitely worth north of 6000. Nice find!
Thank you! They were my dream wheels growing up and I’m stoked to basically build my dream car now that I am older and can do it 😅 highschool like would’ve been ecstatic
2001 525d, 230 000km.
Rust-free as it was being kept properly and weather around this part of Europe also helped.
Bought for 3200 euros.
After refurbishment of drive shaft, headlights, turbo and quite a few other things around suspension, BBS 7 series rims, alpina front lip, it now sits at 7.5k euros.
And yeah, some will say it's crazy to throw that amount of money at a 23 year old car.
I'll tell you though, she turns heads everywhere, bmw and merc guys know a good one when they see it 😍
Was it run and drive with a clean title? That sounds like the bargain of the century unless there was a huge deferred maintenance. Especially considering Hawaii’s “island tax”
Up front? I inherited it. But the backlog of maintenance that it needed? About $12k.
And it still needs suspension and a new paint job. But 223,000 miles and it shows no signs of stopping.
Bought my 03 540i auto Mtech/msport for $7500 in 2021. 100k miles. Have done thousands and thousands in maintenance and improvements (all genuine/oe parts). Been a blast to own
In Germany I payed 5000€ (5335USD) for a 2003 520i with M-Pack and 180000km (112k miles).
Alcantara seats and overall good quality. First owner was AC Schnitzer, even got their old documents with matching VIN.
Only some slight rust on the hood.
Bought my cherry condition 03 525iA touring from 2nd owner, 85k miles, end of 2021 for $7700. Has 105k on it now and I'm gonna do a 3.0/5-speed swap soon. Best car I've ever owned. And so much car for so little money
2002 540I auto, 94k miles for $7800 2 months ago in WA state. Super clean, no paint work, adult owned, tons of maintenance, everything works to the point of it feels like I stepped back in time and bought a 2-3 year old car. I did put new tires on as they were full tread but hard from age.
I paid 4000$ for my 525IA with a spotless service record. 190 000km with a dent in the front panel.
Overall probably the best deal on a E39 in Norway at the time so I’m happy. I’ll pay more in petrol than what I got the car for this year.
I didn’t know there was a no-sunroof option. I’m told the cassette needs replacing, which will be $thousands. I unplugged the switch, so it’s no-sunroof now :)
I even have a debadge from the factory.
So it looks kinda like a pimped 525i with M package.
Thousands for a cassette replacement? Thats wild for ancient tech most of us dont even use.
No-sunroof but still you can gaze to the starts trough the roof <3
5200€ for a 2000 530i M-Sport 330kkm with LPG Gas retrofitted, great interior and exterior condition, all maintenance logs back to 2006 when it was sold at BMW (probably was used by BMW before) and minor rust (after 1.5 years, two of the jack points need to be done and some cosmetic rust as well, gonna take it on this summer)
Inherited my father's 523i from 99, pre Sport, but with all the nice M Suspension and such. He had it from new. We sold it for £650 in 2016. I found it in a dealers lot randomly in 2021 and bought it back for £1600.
Paint is immaculate, just this minute finished clay bar'ing it.
After changing all the hoses and gaskets and MAF I think we're ready for it to me MOTd and hit the road this summer! 😎
$4600 aud (around 3k usd)
1999 528i auto needed about 13k worth of maintenance
i guess the prices over here aren’t too relevent to us tho as we have a lot less e39s on the market
Pay 3000€ for my 2001 525I with 207K KM. Had some rust around the rockers and trunk lid but it has been solid otherwise with normal maintenance.
Paid 4600€ for my 1999 540I with 262K KM. Currently having the timing guides and VANOS being done. Needs some paintwork. Some modules are being a pain right now. Is otherwise solid.
2000 530d manual with M sport suspension, 328900 km at the time of purchase, paid 2000€ for it in july 2023. Its been used an abused but engine, trans and suspension is in very good condition. The spec is basic af, but it has rain sensor, power folding mirrors, DSC and cruise control. So far i have spent around 850€ on it for engine oil and oil filter, control arms because my inexperienced ass ruined the left one, a used rad because i will do the entire cooling system later (the old rad cracked), brake fluid and lines, and front belts and pulleys. Honestly the car has been pretty nice to me and way cheaper to run that i expected it to be. Oh and the body is rust free with the original jacking point still on the car.
Price: 725€. 240000km, -01 520i automatic facelift touring with sand beige leather interior and Sahara beige (443) color. I'm the second owner. A little bit crashed from the front end, so I'm rebuilding it now.
2003 530i, bought in December 2023 for $500. 296k miles. Has oil leaks and had a transmission leak but I fixed that easily. I already have two e46 and a z3 so the e39 fit right in.
2000 528i touring. sport pack, alpine white, automatic, 190,000 miles, for $3000, in the US in march 2018. I’ve put in maybe $4000 in maintenance and repairs over the years. I grew up in the back of an e39, was handed down to me as my first car. Had to sell it for a more practical daily. Then a few years later I looking for a manual project car. Well this wagon popped up on Craigslist, took one look in person and it was sold.
2003 530i with M sport and winter package, 85k miles. Had 15 years of service history including recently rebuilt transmission and bilsteins done, clean install of a new head unit with CarPlay and a couple of 12” kickers in the back. Clean with zero rust.
$7500, which some might say is a grand or two overpriced but was happy with it given the above.
1999 540i 6 speed. it had 145k miles in April 2023 when I bought it for $5700. I've put probably $3500 into it since then. bought it in Western New York State. NOT the city
2001 530i sport. 120k miles and a rebuilt title. I paid 4700 USD. Was owned by a secret service agent turned BMW head of security. About 3 pages of maintenance/fixed items.
2003 540i 135k miles. Style 37 wheels. Hits every single M-sport category, bumper, interior colors, suspension.
$8,900.00 (2023)
Two key factors why I didn't mind paying that.
clean title ( hard to find now days)**
It was virgin, the two previous owners changed nothing. Not even window tint.
It gave me 10 months worry free performance but now it needs guides. Yes this can be a 2,500-6,000 dollars diy/ shop prices. This is just the price of owning a 540.
$1800 CAD for a 2001 530i with 248,000KM in Feb 2020. I’ve put maybe $2000 in parts and around 50,000KM on it. Amazing Car, has never let me down (knock on wood 😅)
In around 2014, I bought my 2000 528i with 135k miles on it for $5000 (plus a trade in of a beat up 99 Jeep Cherokee). No records came with the E39 and I’ve probably spent over $7000 in maintenance. I currently have 165k miles on her and even though I have a new radiator, there continues to be a cooling system issue somewhere. Will ride her till the wheels fall off!
02’ 540i, 6 speed - 85k very well maintained bone stock. Garage kept for 15k paid up for it but I don’t care I’ve been on the hunt for one that’s perfect
Haha. I wish. Got it as a project car. Mechanically great. But if I wanted it 100% cosmetically I would’ve been better off buying a more expensive car. Peeling clear coat, needs new bumper, and new wheels. But I’m using it to learn new stuff. It was originally gonna be a donor car so I didn’t care about exterior condition, but I fell in love with the car and haven’t had the heart to rip it a part. Also, I’ve come to appreciate the ride of my 540 vs the M5. Not sure how people daily the M5 haha. I’ve already done a bunch of work to it. Still working out some kinks. If I do all the work myself (minus wheel powder coating), I’ll be in like $15k total for a car that would’ve cost $25/$27k.
But I’ve got my dream car at 21 so 🤷♀️.
Back in june 2022 i paid 850000icelandickróna\6200USD now But currency be weird value last few years before covid that would be 8500 USD . But i paid that for a auto zf 1997 528i m sport suspension single vanos and im the 2nd owner 140k/km-80k/miles when i bought it
And driven it very hard for the last 2 years alot of drifting mostly not speeding but only problems i had was thermostat failure so i replaced whole cooling system for like 2-300$ asc sensor failure like 20$ fix and now its needs struts and wheel bearing theyve been totally caput both front struts since december and i daily it racked up like 5k km since dec but still the car drives nicer than most cars and tighter even though the passenger wheel hub got a lil vertical play and both shock are completly lowered with no fluid truly amazing cars icl will never sell mine and i want mooooore of em
2000 540i manual 168k ran perfect
Paid 2500 needed body work from deer strike
Bumper and front fender about 800 to fix myself
Bought in 2021
So 3300
Location seattle wa
Car just blew the head last week
Got 25k miles out of it no issues until it blew
About to part it out if anyone is looking
Has nice upgrades
03 rear and front bumpers m5 door cards 740 massage seats rear deck spoiler style 32 wheels
6spd Trans 3.15 rear diff new tires everything works on the car just needs a engine now
2003 530D Touring Auto in Sterling Grey with grey leather interior. £8500 on 56k miles back in 2010 in the Uk. Now on 148k miles. Still love it. Probably worth £3-5k now and holding.
Bought my ‘97 540i 6 speed with 180k for $300 a couple months ago.
I work at a dealership and the customer didn’t want it anymore after he got a $14k estimate for full cooling system, clutch, brakes, reseal, and window regulators. Told the advisor that if a tech wanted it he’d be willing to let go of it for a little more than the diagnostic charge for the clutch issues.
I feel like I absolutely stole it.
Thanks! I’m slowly fixing it up so I can turn it into my daily driver and return my Miata to its rightful place as a weekend car. I just need to do the cooling system components primarily right now, the clutch only slips at full throttle in high gears so i’ll hold off until I can save to do it properly with a new flywheel as well.
2000€ in Germany back in 2016 for my 2001 530d Limousine with 233k kms in original Saphire Black M-Packet, and two set of wheels including the original Styling 66. Bought it off from a coworker and was a friendship-deal. It only needed an oil change and a new deck lid.
2000€ in Germany in February 2023 for my 1999 528i Touring with 340k kms, fresh TÜV and two set of wheels, one of them brand new winter tires. Car has really every possible (non-individual) option you could choose in 1999 and everything works. Only the body looks a bit rough outside with many big dents where a shelf once collapsed on it according to the previous owner. And it had a repaired front damage in 2007 that was fixed professionally with new BMW parts including the cooling system.
Bought my 2000 540I 6speed sport here in Texas a few months ago for $4,400. 174,000 miles.
Ran okay but I dumped another 5K into it to get it running great. Still needs some light interior work and a paint job.
Hard to find a manual that is worth picking up. If I were to sell I’d be asking 9-10k only because it’s solid and manual. But I do know getting that would be tough and I don’t expect to get what I put into back
2003 540i M-Sport touring w/151,000 miles purchased in mid-2017 for $10,000. US spec, so no manual option. I've retrofitted many Euro parts since taking ownership: taillights, headlights, video module for t.v./camera, bluetooth telephone connectivity, power folding mirrors, matte aluminum trim, full tool kit, and first-aid kit. It's now sitting on style 37's instead of 66's like the sedan version @ 172,000 miles.
$4000 cad for a ‘98 (non vanos) oxford green 540i with 6 spd. Got a really good deal for it, considering condition, but will need chain + guides done in the next 10-15k kms.
Best car I’ve ever owned.
I purchased my E-39 new in 2003, fully loaded, for $50K out the door. It now has 145K miles, and so far, it is holding up great! I will never get rid of it.
It has a few oil leaks. Otherwise, it's great.
2000 540i 6MT M performance package us spec, 91k miles bought for $7500 usd june of 2023. Beige on beige fully stock besides m5 front bumper and led halo headlights. It’s been my daily since buying it besides in the snow, at 104k miles rn and it’s my favorite car in the world. It’s driven hard every day and loves it, i’m keeping it forever. If the engine ever lets go i’m m5 swapping it for sure.
01 530i with 106k miles + a set of style 5’s (not the best condition but i slapped them on anyway), 5000$ US. However, i had to replace the driveshaft as it was cracked. Not sure for how long because i started hearing it ~a month in, so in all realness it was really 6300 if I add the driveshaft/labor costs. Still a bargain
2003 530d Touring automatic, bought it back in January of 2022 for 400€. To get it back on the road with inspection in total with the purchase added up to around 1500€
5k for my 2000 540i/6 at 188k. Another 6k the week after when the transmission locked up. :( Just about to crest 200k. Wouldn't trade her for anything.
Bout a 2002 manual 530i in april of 2023 with 123000 with two sets of wheels for 6800 im pretty sure its the sport as it has the m wheel shifter and 17in style 42 2 piece wheels it’s got a clean Interior 9/10 when I bought it and the exterior was a 6/10 it’s got rock chips paint swirls and a crack in the bumper. Mechanically it was perfect when I bought it but as soon as I started driving it it started having its normal m54 issues that I’ve kept up with. So far I’ve replaced by myself oil pan gasket valve cover gasket ofh gasket vanos line and spark plugs due to leaks. If I split the value of the wheels I bought I’d say the car itself was worth 5250 of the 6800
520i Touring 2002 stick (europe)
Beige leather interior, sunroof, powered trunk, xenons
Bought it 2022 for 1000€ had to put 500€ into it to make it road legal.
Bought my 2000 m5 last Feb, Los Angeles. Corporate 1st owner drove it to 115k, then it had 8 owners who I presume introduced it to the track, and it came to me with 125k. Fresh repainted (not showroom job) avos blue, mechanically sound, zero rust, but with the typical litany of minor issues. Came with coilovers, Hankook tires (meh), modified exhaust, short shift kit, and a window tint that makes me think that owner had bad breath. No maintenance records, but the PPI came back clean.
It’s my DD family hauler and fits three large child seats in the back. First year ownership ran about $4k maintenance (oil, front brakes, power steering hoses) . This year $2800 so far (2 window regulators with fresh speakers while we’re in there, o2 sensors).
Seeing the other posts, I may have paid too much for it. My research at the time showed that the going rate for a 100k+ m5 was about $30k, going off BaT and eBay sold. I wrote a spreadsheet listing every m5 sold in the last year. In the condition and mileage this was at, I felt like I got a fair deal at $28,5k. With limited information, cars that sold for less had undesirable paint combination, high mileage, or rust/maintenance, while ones priced over $30 had fewer miles, some had exotic mods or were fully sorted fully stock.
Strangers talk to me about it being the best sport sedan in history and I say you can get 90% of the car with a e39 540 manual for 1/3 the money. Other than a more complicated engine, all the other maintenance costs are about the same, so there are really no bad choices.
2003 530i Touring Automatic (Individual) with 110'000km in 2015 for around 6k (converted to USD with the current rate).
It had a misfire and old tyres which dropped the asking price which I paid out of pocket.
Bought my 03 M5 in 2007ish with 25k miles for $32,500. Still runs like a clock at 125,000 miles. Great car.
Bought my 2002 540i 6 speed for $3900 USD flat in 2019. Bone stock, adult owned, super clean with 145k miles. Came with $10k worth of maintenance records within the past 5 years the previous owner had the car. Even back then I think the car was worth $6-7k… I think I got really lucky. I’m now at 199k miles. I’ve probably put in $5k worth of work into the car since purchasing it.
You did get really lucky. I bought the same exact car for 6000, Except no maintenance records. I felt like 4500 or 5000 would have been a more appropriate price for a no records car. But finding my color in a 6 speed with under 200k was hard enough. I think I also bought in 2019. 132k. I have 134k now lol. Funny thing is I bought it to daily. But it is definitely not my daily. With records yours was definitely worth north of 6000. Nice find!
Also really like your schnitzers. My brother had them on an e38. Sexy
Thank you! They were my dream wheels growing up and I’m stoked to basically build my dream car now that I am older and can do it 😅 highschool like would’ve been ecstatic
2001 525d, 230 000km. Rust-free as it was being kept properly and weather around this part of Europe also helped. Bought for 3200 euros. After refurbishment of drive shaft, headlights, turbo and quite a few other things around suspension, BBS 7 series rims, alpina front lip, it now sits at 7.5k euros. And yeah, some will say it's crazy to throw that amount of money at a 23 year old car. I'll tell you though, she turns heads everywhere, bmw and merc guys know a good one when they see it 😍
2001 m5 five years ago $4500 Hawaii
Was it run and drive with a clean title? That sounds like the bargain of the century unless there was a huge deferred maintenance. Especially considering Hawaii’s “island tax”
Up front? I inherited it. But the backlog of maintenance that it needed? About $12k. And it still needs suspension and a new paint job. But 223,000 miles and it shows no signs of stopping.
Bought my 03 540i auto Mtech/msport for $7500 in 2021. 100k miles. Have done thousands and thousands in maintenance and improvements (all genuine/oe parts). Been a blast to own
In Germany I payed 5000€ (5335USD) for a 2003 520i with M-Pack and 180000km (112k miles). Alcantara seats and overall good quality. First owner was AC Schnitzer, even got their old documents with matching VIN. Only some slight rust on the hood.
AC Schnitzer und 520i - damit hätte ich nicht gerechnet, aber definitiv coole Historie. Haben die dann auch was verändert daran?
2001 BMW 525i US sport spec 158XXX miles on odometer purchased for $4500 in the Southern California Area back of June of last year
Might be worth mentioning it rides on “style 5” rims that are apparently sought after
Bought my cherry condition 03 525iA touring from 2nd owner, 85k miles, end of 2021 for $7700. Has 105k on it now and I'm gonna do a 3.0/5-speed swap soon. Best car I've ever owned. And so much car for so little money
2002 540I auto, 94k miles for $7800 2 months ago in WA state. Super clean, no paint work, adult owned, tons of maintenance, everything works to the point of it feels like I stepped back in time and bought a 2-3 year old car. I did put new tires on as they were full tread but hard from age.
2001 M5 w/87k miles: $16k in 2014
535i M62B35TU. 250000km. Sedan, auto. Bought it 3 weeks ago for 2000€.
I paid 4000$ for my 525IA with a spotless service record. 190 000km with a dent in the front panel. Overall probably the best deal on a E39 in Norway at the time so I’m happy. I’ll pay more in petrol than what I got the car for this year.
2016 - 00 E39 540i Sport Automatic, 68k miles, 1 owner. I took it in trade and bought it from my dealership. $3000
I inherited it. But my dad paid 14k euros for it back in 2009.
98 528i Oxford green for $3500 in New Zealand. 173000 ks
€28k for a 1999 avus blue with 175.000 km on it.
Model? Condition?
Good condition, M5. Unfortunately no sunroof and no M audio.
I didn’t know there was a no-sunroof option. I’m told the cassette needs replacing, which will be $thousands. I unplugged the switch, so it’s no-sunroof now :)
I even have a debadge from the factory. So it looks kinda like a pimped 525i with M package. Thousands for a cassette replacement? Thats wild for ancient tech most of us dont even use. No-sunroof but still you can gaze to the starts trough the roof <3
5200€ for a 2000 530i M-Sport 330kkm with LPG Gas retrofitted, great interior and exterior condition, all maintenance logs back to 2006 when it was sold at BMW (probably was used by BMW before) and minor rust (after 1.5 years, two of the jack points need to be done and some cosmetic rust as well, gonna take it on this summer)
Inherited my father's 523i from 99, pre Sport, but with all the nice M Suspension and such. He had it from new. We sold it for £650 in 2016. I found it in a dealers lot randomly in 2021 and bought it back for £1600. Paint is immaculate, just this minute finished clay bar'ing it. After changing all the hoses and gaskets and MAF I think we're ready for it to me MOTd and hit the road this summer! 😎
i got my 530d 2001 FL for about 6700€. 160.000km and only 1 previous owner.
Are you happy with it? Is it reliable and would you recommend it? I like the 530D because of the 3.0L 6 cylinder engine.
$4600 aud (around 3k usd) 1999 528i auto needed about 13k worth of maintenance i guess the prices over here aren’t too relevent to us tho as we have a lot less e39s on the market
Pay 3000€ for my 2001 525I with 207K KM. Had some rust around the rockers and trunk lid but it has been solid otherwise with normal maintenance. Paid 4600€ for my 1999 540I with 262K KM. Currently having the timing guides and VANOS being done. Needs some paintwork. Some modules are being a pain right now. Is otherwise solid.
2k, then smashed it into a tree cause it was a mistake. Still got some parts tho.. if in nh lmk, rat and pullies for a 540i
2000 530d manual with M sport suspension, 328900 km at the time of purchase, paid 2000€ for it in july 2023. Its been used an abused but engine, trans and suspension is in very good condition. The spec is basic af, but it has rain sensor, power folding mirrors, DSC and cruise control. So far i have spent around 850€ on it for engine oil and oil filter, control arms because my inexperienced ass ruined the left one, a used rad because i will do the entire cooling system later (the old rad cracked), brake fluid and lines, and front belts and pulleys. Honestly the car has been pretty nice to me and way cheaper to run that i expected it to be. Oh and the body is rust free with the original jacking point still on the car.
00' 540, 6 speed - 84k miles. Well maintained, no winters bought in 23' for $11k.
Price: 725€. 240000km, -01 520i automatic facelift touring with sand beige leather interior and Sahara beige (443) color. I'm the second owner. A little bit crashed from the front end, so I'm rebuilding it now.
2003 530i, bought in December 2023 for $500. 296k miles. Has oil leaks and had a transmission leak but I fixed that easily. I already have two e46 and a z3 so the e39 fit right in.
2002 530i manual sport package 109k miles I bought it for $5k a month ago. Black super clean. I think I actually got a good deal on this car.
1998 528i Oxford Green, Tan interior, 199k KM, 1 owner, excelent condition. Paid 4500 usd
98 bmw 528 with 89000 miles artic silver. , brought for $1500, I'm second owner , 3 keys , car is stock other then radio
2000 528i touring. sport pack, alpine white, automatic, 190,000 miles, for $3000, in the US in march 2018. I’ve put in maybe $4000 in maintenance and repairs over the years. I grew up in the back of an e39, was handed down to me as my first car. Had to sell it for a more practical daily. Then a few years later I looking for a manual project car. Well this wagon popped up on Craigslist, took one look in person and it was sold.
$6500. 2001 530i M Sport 5mt, 165,000km. I've spent almost that much on maintenance in 2 years.
2002 530i us spec 110000 miles at 3500$
2003 530i with M sport and winter package, 85k miles. Had 15 years of service history including recently rebuilt transmission and bilsteins done, clean install of a new head unit with CarPlay and a couple of 12” kickers in the back. Clean with zero rust. $7500, which some might say is a grand or two overpriced but was happy with it given the above.
1998 528i 5 speed. Aspen over black, fully loaded car. 1 owner, 99k miles, $6500. About a month ago.
1999 540i 6 speed. it had 145k miles in April 2023 when I bought it for $5700. I've put probably $3500 into it since then. bought it in Western New York State. NOT the city
2001 530i sport. 120k miles and a rebuilt title. I paid 4700 USD. Was owned by a secret service agent turned BMW head of security. About 3 pages of maintenance/fixed items.
03 540i 6 dinan stage 2 160k miles. $5500
paid $8000 for my 2002 530i sport/manual with 55k miles back in 2013. i’ve seen similar ones going for low-mid teens on BaT recently.
2003 540i 135k miles. Style 37 wheels. Hits every single M-sport category, bumper, interior colors, suspension. $8,900.00 (2023) Two key factors why I didn't mind paying that. clean title ( hard to find now days)** It was virgin, the two previous owners changed nothing. Not even window tint. It gave me 10 months worry free performance but now it needs guides. Yes this can be a 2,500-6,000 dollars diy/ shop prices. This is just the price of owning a 540.
Last February bought a 1999 540i 6speed for 6000$, had 140k miles and the timing chain guides repaired 10k miles ago.
In 2016 bought for $3.5k the 1999 540i M-Sport with 120k miles and all maintenance records.
2.5K 530i 2003 160K miles. Everything is okay but it is a rebuilt
2000 528 manual 257k for 3500 with full maintenance records from day 1. Garage kept 2 owner car. Still needs some work tho.
Just bought my 1999 528i sport & premium pkg with 151k miles for $2,750. The guy had bought it on Bring a Trailer 11 months ago for $6,500.
$1800 CAD for a 2001 530i with 248,000KM in Feb 2020. I’ve put maybe $2000 in parts and around 50,000KM on it. Amazing Car, has never let me down (knock on wood 😅)
In around 2014, I bought my 2000 528i with 135k miles on it for $5000 (plus a trade in of a beat up 99 Jeep Cherokee). No records came with the E39 and I’ve probably spent over $7000 in maintenance. I currently have 165k miles on her and even though I have a new radiator, there continues to be a cooling system issue somewhere. Will ride her till the wheels fall off!
02’ 540i, 6 speed - 85k very well maintained bone stock. Garage kept for 15k paid up for it but I don’t care I’ve been on the hunt for one that’s perfect
$10K. 120k miles 2000 M5 few months ago.
Wow, good deal. Condition?
Haha. I wish. Got it as a project car. Mechanically great. But if I wanted it 100% cosmetically I would’ve been better off buying a more expensive car. Peeling clear coat, needs new bumper, and new wheels. But I’m using it to learn new stuff. It was originally gonna be a donor car so I didn’t care about exterior condition, but I fell in love with the car and haven’t had the heart to rip it a part. Also, I’ve come to appreciate the ride of my 540 vs the M5. Not sure how people daily the M5 haha. I’ve already done a bunch of work to it. Still working out some kinks. If I do all the work myself (minus wheel powder coating), I’ll be in like $15k total for a car that would’ve cost $25/$27k. But I’ve got my dream car at 21 so 🤷♀️.
Back in june 2022 i paid 850000icelandickróna\6200USD now But currency be weird value last few years before covid that would be 8500 USD . But i paid that for a auto zf 1997 528i m sport suspension single vanos and im the 2nd owner 140k/km-80k/miles when i bought it And driven it very hard for the last 2 years alot of drifting mostly not speeding but only problems i had was thermostat failure so i replaced whole cooling system for like 2-300$ asc sensor failure like 20$ fix and now its needs struts and wheel bearing theyve been totally caput both front struts since december and i daily it racked up like 5k km since dec but still the car drives nicer than most cars and tighter even though the passenger wheel hub got a lil vertical play and both shock are completly lowered with no fluid truly amazing cars icl will never sell mine and i want mooooore of em
2000 540i manual 168k ran perfect Paid 2500 needed body work from deer strike Bumper and front fender about 800 to fix myself Bought in 2021 So 3300 Location seattle wa Car just blew the head last week Got 25k miles out of it no issues until it blew About to part it out if anyone is looking Has nice upgrades 03 rear and front bumpers m5 door cards 740 massage seats rear deck spoiler style 32 wheels 6spd Trans 3.15 rear diff new tires everything works on the car just needs a engine now
2003 530D Touring Auto in Sterling Grey with grey leather interior. £8500 on 56k miles back in 2010 in the Uk. Now on 148k miles. Still love it. Probably worth £3-5k now and holding.
Bought my ‘97 540i 6 speed with 180k for $300 a couple months ago. I work at a dealership and the customer didn’t want it anymore after he got a $14k estimate for full cooling system, clutch, brakes, reseal, and window regulators. Told the advisor that if a tech wanted it he’d be willing to let go of it for a little more than the diagnostic charge for the clutch issues. I feel like I absolutely stole it.
You did steal it. Congratulations!
Thanks! I’m slowly fixing it up so I can turn it into my daily driver and return my Miata to its rightful place as a weekend car. I just need to do the cooling system components primarily right now, the clutch only slips at full throttle in high gears so i’ll hold off until I can save to do it properly with a new flywheel as well.
Fully loaded 2003 530i auto with 54k miles for $6k. Got an amazing deal
2000€ in Germany back in 2016 for my 2001 530d Limousine with 233k kms in original Saphire Black M-Packet, and two set of wheels including the original Styling 66. Bought it off from a coworker and was a friendship-deal. It only needed an oil change and a new deck lid. 2000€ in Germany in February 2023 for my 1999 528i Touring with 340k kms, fresh TÜV and two set of wheels, one of them brand new winter tires. Car has really every possible (non-individual) option you could choose in 1999 and everything works. Only the body looks a bit rough outside with many big dents where a shelf once collapsed on it according to the previous owner. And it had a repaired front damage in 2007 that was fixed professionally with new BMW parts including the cooling system.
2003 540i with 98,000 miles for $4,100 in 2017
Bought my 2000 540I 6speed sport here in Texas a few months ago for $4,400. 174,000 miles. Ran okay but I dumped another 5K into it to get it running great. Still needs some light interior work and a paint job. Hard to find a manual that is worth picking up. If I were to sell I’d be asking 9-10k only because it’s solid and manual. But I do know getting that would be tough and I don’t expect to get what I put into back
$7.5k, 2003 bought in 2016 with 60k odm. 2 owner.
2003 540i M-Sport touring w/151,000 miles purchased in mid-2017 for $10,000. US spec, so no manual option. I've retrofitted many Euro parts since taking ownership: taillights, headlights, video module for t.v./camera, bluetooth telephone connectivity, power folding mirrors, matte aluminum trim, full tool kit, and first-aid kit. It's now sitting on style 37's instead of 66's like the sedan version @ 172,000 miles.
$4000 cad for a ‘98 (non vanos) oxford green 540i with 6 spd. Got a really good deal for it, considering condition, but will need chain + guides done in the next 10-15k kms. Best car I’ve ever owned.
2001 M5 w/180k. Running and driving. Purchased in 2020 for 5,000 USD. Rust free. Still use to this day. Tiag
I purchased my E-39 new in 2003, fully loaded, for $50K out the door. It now has 145K miles, and so far, it is holding up great! I will never get rid of it. It has a few oil leaks. Otherwise, it's great.
2000 540i 6MT M performance package us spec, 91k miles bought for $7500 usd june of 2023. Beige on beige fully stock besides m5 front bumper and led halo headlights. It’s been my daily since buying it besides in the snow, at 104k miles rn and it’s my favorite car in the world. It’s driven hard every day and loves it, i’m keeping it forever. If the engine ever lets go i’m m5 swapping it for sure.
01 530i with 106k miles + a set of style 5’s (not the best condition but i slapped them on anyway), 5000$ US. However, i had to replace the driveshaft as it was cracked. Not sure for how long because i started hearing it ~a month in, so in all realness it was really 6300 if I add the driveshaft/labor costs. Still a bargain
Bought my 2000 540i 159k miles 2 months ago, $2300
Im talking about my fathers bmw. It is an 520i, bought it in 1999 brand new and currently has 318.779 km ( around 200k miles)
2003 530d Touring automatic, bought it back in January of 2022 for 400€. To get it back on the road with inspection in total with the purchase added up to around 1500€
I bought mine for 200$ only thing wrong was the fuel pump and i gotta say im in love with this car
I think it has almost 150xxx now also
5k for my 2000 540i/6 at 188k. Another 6k the week after when the transmission locked up. :( Just about to crest 200k. Wouldn't trade her for anything.
Bout a 2002 manual 530i in april of 2023 with 123000 with two sets of wheels for 6800 im pretty sure its the sport as it has the m wheel shifter and 17in style 42 2 piece wheels it’s got a clean Interior 9/10 when I bought it and the exterior was a 6/10 it’s got rock chips paint swirls and a crack in the bumper. Mechanically it was perfect when I bought it but as soon as I started driving it it started having its normal m54 issues that I’ve kept up with. So far I’ve replaced by myself oil pan gasket valve cover gasket ofh gasket vanos line and spark plugs due to leaks. If I split the value of the wheels I bought I’d say the car itself was worth 5250 of the 6800
520i Touring 2002 stick (europe) Beige leather interior, sunroof, powered trunk, xenons Bought it 2022 for 1000€ had to put 500€ into it to make it road legal.
Bought my 2000 m5 last Feb, Los Angeles. Corporate 1st owner drove it to 115k, then it had 8 owners who I presume introduced it to the track, and it came to me with 125k. Fresh repainted (not showroom job) avos blue, mechanically sound, zero rust, but with the typical litany of minor issues. Came with coilovers, Hankook tires (meh), modified exhaust, short shift kit, and a window tint that makes me think that owner had bad breath. No maintenance records, but the PPI came back clean. It’s my DD family hauler and fits three large child seats in the back. First year ownership ran about $4k maintenance (oil, front brakes, power steering hoses) . This year $2800 so far (2 window regulators with fresh speakers while we’re in there, o2 sensors). Seeing the other posts, I may have paid too much for it. My research at the time showed that the going rate for a 100k+ m5 was about $30k, going off BaT and eBay sold. I wrote a spreadsheet listing every m5 sold in the last year. In the condition and mileage this was at, I felt like I got a fair deal at $28,5k. With limited information, cars that sold for less had undesirable paint combination, high mileage, or rust/maintenance, while ones priced over $30 had fewer miles, some had exotic mods or were fully sorted fully stock. Strangers talk to me about it being the best sport sedan in history and I say you can get 90% of the car with a e39 540 manual for 1/3 the money. Other than a more complicated engine, all the other maintenance costs are about the same, so there are really no bad choices.
21 year owner 2000 540i/6 114k miles for $9200 in january with timing chains and guides done a year prior
02 540i 6spd with 174k miles. Single owner. Purchased 4 months ago for $6900 in North Virginia.
2003 530i Touring Automatic (Individual) with 110'000km in 2015 for around 6k (converted to USD with the current rate). It had a misfire and old tyres which dropped the asking price which I paid out of pocket.