by "maximillious" (maximillious)
Published 01/30/2017 at 10:13
by "maximillious" (maximillious)
Published 01/30/2017 at 10:13
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STARS: 1
I was talking to a friend this morning who is considering an older BMW for a project car. He was looking at M3 and M5's. I seem to recall Jalopnik writing an article about a 5 series that was made (Sometime around e39-E46) that was not an M car but boasted alot of the same performance. Maybe I am crazy or just remembering wrong. If anyone knows the name and years this was made can you let me know?
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
01/30/2017 at 10:18, STARS: 3
This one?
http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/four-reasons-why-you-need-to-buy-a-bmw-e39-540i-right-n-1659284463
He followed up with another one though.
http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/bmw-engines-are-gigantic-pieces-of-shit-1784684330
"marshknute" (marshknute)
01/30/2017 at 10:19, STARS: 2
E39 540i with the M Sport package.
Depending on who you ask, it’s either 95% as good as an M5, or that last 5% makes all the difference.
"djmt1" (djmt1)
01/30/2017 at 10:21, STARS: 7
Tavarish bought an E39 540i bragging about how it was basically an M5 despite everyone on Earth telling him that it is nothing like an M5 and will just be an epic disaster of gargantuan proportions.
He them made another post later talking about how terrible the 540i is to work on and then proceeded to regurgitate the same warnings everyone told to him without a hint of self awareness.
"maximillious" (maximillious)
01/30/2017 at 10:33, STARS: 0
Haha great summary. Thanks for letting me know!
"maximillious" (maximillious)
01/30/2017 at 10:33, STARS: 0
Thanks for the links couldnt remember this to save my life
"maximillious" (maximillious)
01/30/2017 at 10:33, STARS: 0
Thanks for the info!
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
01/30/2017 at 10:34, STARS: 0
Yep, it was that E39 540, but the top E39 enthusiast I know hates them. If you want “almost M” performance, I’d look to a slightly newer 335 or 535, personally.
"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
01/30/2017 at 10:42, STARS: 0
I sense a pattern.......
"E92M3" (E46M3)
01/30/2017 at 10:43, STARS: 0
^This. I would NOT get an E39 unless it was the M5. If it’s going to be a pain, it better be a hell of a time when it works. I think the E46 M3 is a better choice. It has it’s own common faults, but at least it’s easy to work on, and there are proactive steps you can take to prevent the subframe, and vanos failures.
"Tripper" (tripe46)
01/30/2017 at 10:55, STARS: 0
Either car is fantastic. The E39 M5 is the complete package, one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. However, as far as “projects” go, the M5 is going to be more of a project than the M3. An E39M5 will likely need service more often and it will be more expensive when it does.
I’ve owned an E46 M3 for 10 years (last week). It has been more or less a gem, but when I drove it daily I averaged 2-2.5k per year wear/maintenance items.
Even with a project car, get a PPI with either one. Good to know what you will be up against.
Can’t go wrong either way though, both are fantastic cars.
"bobbe17" (rob-runte)
01/30/2017 at 11:25, STARS: 0
I know everyone is pointing out the E39 540 and that’s probably what you’re looking for, but there’s also this oppo article about the E60 535 vs M5.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/10-reasons-the-e60-535i-is-better-than-the-m5-1608323644
"Tazio, Count Fouroff" (tazio0625)
01/30/2017 at 11:55, STARS: 0
Maybe piling on here, but put me in the E39 540i/6 column, too. Now — don’t go buy one, so demand stays low till I can afford one also haha
If a little time and patience are at hand, fwiw here’s a recent thread that amomg others things compares the E39 M5 with the 540i (favorably to the 540) and discusses some of the 540i’s pros and cons, which model year, etc.
Happy hunting, and keep us in the loop!
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/2001-bmw-540i-3/
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
01/30/2017 at 13:57, STARS: 0
I think you’re thinking of the E39 540i w/ Sport package. Same handling upgrades as the M5 but a little bit less power.
The 330ci was also pretty fast.
Both will be more reliable and affordable than the equivalent M car.