Why You Tempt Me Like This?

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
07/09/2016 at 11:21 • Filed to: WANTS

Dropped off the wife’s Outback at the dealer for service and this gorgeous E39 wagon was there tempting me to make an irrational decision. Had 130k, but the interior looked like no one had ever sat in it. Also, this HS250h appeared to be missing a number in the price. I hate the car, but if they were really wiling to sell it for $5k instead of $15k...

Forgot to take photos, but the 2017 Foresters are hitting the lot. Small cosmetic changes with blacked out lamp housings and contrasting stitching inside look pretty good. Probably going to do a lamp/bumper swap on my 14 in a few years when I can the parts off of wrecks.

DISCUSSION (25)

E90M3 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 11:37

It really is $6995 http://www.npsubarudominion.com/used/BMW/2001-…

Scott > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 11:37

That seems about the right price range for that age of car, at least most the ones I have seen around here.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > E90M3
07/09/2016 at 11:44

Sorry meant the fancy Prius is prob $14995 not $4995. Edited.

LOREM IPSUM > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 11:44

Add to that the cost of replacing the complete suspension, cooling system, chain guides, cluster ribbon cable repair.....

Plus those depo style headlights make me absolutely question the previous owners judgment.

I still want an e39 wagon though. Guy on bimmerforums has one with an lsx swap and 6mt with stupid wide rear wheels that I really wouldn’t mind owning. Even stock, not bad, but only interested if it’s a v8, preferably with a manual transmission.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Scott
07/09/2016 at 11:45

Yeah this dealers actually puts reasonable prices out there for the most part. But I don’t think the HS is $5k. Sorry if it was confusing. Fixed.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 11:46

When I briefly sold Lexus, the HS was actually my favorite model. Bigger and more spacious than the CT, little but more power, more of a ‘normal’ car. I don't think we ever sold one while I worked there (six months).

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 11:50

That E39 isn’t worth that unless it’s a 540i.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/09/2016 at 11:54

Call North Park Subaru Dominion and see if they’ll really let it go for $5k! But yeah I see where you’re coming from, but personally I get why it didn’t sell. The biggest problem is it was based on a Prius but only got 33 MPG (a consequence of the bigger motor mostly). Hard sell when a bigger and more luxurious ES350 is over there for a similar price. Once the hybrid ES came out the HS truly made no sense in the lineup.

Scott > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 11:54

Ohh... ok... there was a lexus in your post... huh ok interesting.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Scott
07/09/2016 at 11:55

Yeah sorry I goofed up with it buried after the jump.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > LOREM IPSUM
07/09/2016 at 11:56

This one is a 525i so I'm assuming that's an M54 motor... were they really that bad?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/09/2016 at 11:57

525i. But this is a dealer so I'm assuming the price is flexible. It's an auto, though, so that killed a lot of my interest. But E39 wagons are damn near unicorns where I live no matter what drivetrain.

LOREM IPSUM > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 12:04

Not necessarily bad, but too gutless for me to be personally interested in.

The thing about BMW’s though, at least from that era, is that most of the items which are composed of rubber or plastic are only good for 75,000 miles or so before things start wearing out and failing.

So control and thrust arms, guide links, plastic cooling system components all start wearing out and failing one after the other. If you don’t replace everything in one shot you’re likely to have failure after failure. In the case of suspension if you only replace what you think is worn the play from the other worn items can cause your brandy-new parts to eat themselves in short order.

Aside from that, the m54 will probably be less likely to need guides and the decreased engine weight should help the front bushings to last just a bit longer than it’s v8 equipped brother. Everything else still applies though I believe.

I’d give em 3 grand at most unless it comes with service records proving most of the wear items have been recently replaced.

E90M3 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 12:04

Ah I see now

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 12:07

Correct all around. It was a good car, but it didn't need to exist...you could go a tiny bit smaller and get way better mileage or a lot bigger and get almost the same mileage with an ES.

Schaefft > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 12:30

525iA Tourings are just too slow, even the manual sedan isn’t as fast as you’d like a BMW sports sedan to be. Apart from that they are excellent cars though.

Schaefft > LOREM IPSUM
07/09/2016 at 12:31

M54 has no problems with chain guides (or any other timing chain related issues). Cooling system is not as bad as anyone makes it to be. Only issue is the automatic transmission and Vanos.

LOREM IPSUM > Schaefft
07/09/2016 at 12:43

Correct. I neglected to mention the M54 didn’t suffer from guide issues like the 8 cylinders do. Not to say they can’t, but it’s not a guaranteed to fail type of thing like it is on the M62tub44, for example.

Cooling system isnt a huge deal either, but it adds up at give or take 20 bucks per hose (8 of em), rad, and in the case of the 8 cylinder models expansion tank and valley pan which requires pulling the fuel rail and intake manifold to access, which means 4 new intake gaskets at $25 a pop.

Not terrible, especially if you spin your own wrenches, but at a shop that 5k car might hit 15 before you before you know it.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 12:53

Thats worth 4k max

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > LOREM IPSUM
07/09/2016 at 13:12

Thanks. I think I’m gonna pass on this one, but an E39 is still a bucket list car for me to own at some point. I’ve wanted one ever since they came out when I was in high school. So I'm gonna file all this advice away for next time I look.

sellphones2493 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 17:31

That 5-Series next to the HS is the rarest of them all. Looks like a BMW Exclusive Color Combo - Moonstone Metallic!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > sellphones2493
07/09/2016 at 17:46

It didn’t seem that special in person, so I think it was just the camera and angle of the light. Was a 535i - I find it hard to believe someone would have ordered it that way, but who knows. Dealer listing says Glacier Silver... Here’s the link if you want to investigate further:

http://www.npsubarudominion.com/used/BMW/2015-…

sellphones2493 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/09/2016 at 20:28

It’s confirmed - that’s Moonstone Metallic over Platinum Leather...$1,950 for the exterior color, $6,100 for the package. They even opted for the ‘ceramic controls’, which basically makes the iDrive controller grey for $650!

Kinja'd!!!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > sellphones2493
07/09/2016 at 21:25

Wonder what happened to make them give it up so soon after paying out $8k extra for the color/individual. That can't add much to the trade-in value which means they ate that cost in under two years. Wild.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/11/2016 at 08:37

The 530 is the one to have. The 28s and 25s are a bit underpowered, but the V8 at this age can be a nightmare and you don’t get a rack and pinion.