My E39 and I have something special

"RickyD" (RickyD)
12/03/2013 at 22:42 • Filed to: Loves his car way too much.

Just as all the cars I've had before her, I love my car. I tend to keep my cars for six months to a year maximum and don't recall ever having one for more than a year. For my birthday this year in May I decided to purchase a very clean single owner E39 530i, which I absolutely adore.

I met her originally with intent to sell her to someone else, but they couldn't see what I saw. I kept it on my lot for a couple days and drove her for errands here and there. She had 121k miles on her and she was beautiful in and out. I had an e36 and e46 prior and knew what I was getting into, so just a few days after my 25th birthday I pulled the trigger on her and sealed the deal.

My only day off is Wednesday, and we would take that day to travel as far as her tank will allow. She took me to Laguna Seca for a late night bicycle ride, down the 1 and along the coast to Big Sur. We've seen the way to Yosemite and the wildfires of Strawberry, past that all the way to Tahoe. North to Oregon and South to San Diego. She has not fussed when I plow her to top speed and thrown her into bends without relent. I beat her and she still is here for me.

I looked at my cluster tonight and saw this.

She's almost out of gas, and I've been too lazy put gas in her because I am reimbursed if done during business hours. Her fuel pump must be straining to find the quarter gallon left within. Then I notice the mileage. In 6 short months I have put more than 30k very hard miles on her, and I now realize that I don't want to give her up yet. I don't want to lose her to someone else, they might treat her better, but I am selfish and want to keep her to the end. I know she can't keep up with me flogging her this long. I shouldn't be so hard on her, but she won't protest. I'm feeling regret, like I've hurt a friend. Tomorrow we'll take a drive. Like every other wednesday, but tomorrow we will enjoy a cruise instead of beating our way through traffic like a crazed man in a blue BMW. I'll enjoy our time together even if it isn't as wild as before.

DISCUSSION (43)

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > RickyD
12/03/2013 at 22:53

I deliver pizzas on college breaks and I know the feel. It sucks having your baby beat on so hard, especially when there's really nothing you can do about it. People make fun of me because I accelerate slow and shift at >2.5k, but if you want a car you love to survive you have to baby it like your own existence depended on it. At least it sounds like you have love for your car and want to maintain it, there are people out who do the same thing you do but just see their car as a method of transportation, not an object of affection. Treat it right and it'll treat you right.

lonestranger > RickyD
12/03/2013 at 22:55

"I looked at my cluster tonight and saw this."

Saw what? From your story, I grasp that it's almost out of gas, but the fuel gauge isn't in the photo.

RickyD > lonestranger
12/03/2013 at 23:01

Miles to empty shows 4, and the mileage is so high for the time I've had it.

911e46z06 > RickyD
12/03/2013 at 23:02

I dunno man. I beat the hell out of mine for 10 years. Autocross, drag strip, 7 coast to coast trips, I flogged that beautiful piece of machinery thru 44 (yeah, 44) US states. Put 200k on her in the time I had it. Finally sold it just a couple weeks ago, and wept like a girl the rest of the day.

Kinja'd!!!

Bytemite > lonestranger
12/03/2013 at 23:03

He put more than 30k miles in 6 months.

Bytemite > RickyD
12/03/2013 at 23:04

How come you only keep cars for 1 year max?

RickyD > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/03/2013 at 23:04

I do all her maintenance myself. I used to wrench at my friends shop, so there is always a bay open for me there too. Helps me bond

RickyD > Bytemite
12/03/2013 at 23:09

I work in the car business, so I usually let my cars go when I get a good offer. I usually buy high mileage cars with the understanding I would sell them in a relatively short amount of time.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > RickyD
12/03/2013 at 23:10

Gotta admire that. I work on my Focus too and you're right, it just adds a facet to the relationship that most people will never have with their car. Of course, that just makes it harder to get rid of when the time comes...

RickyD > 911e46z06
12/03/2013 at 23:11

My baby is a slushbox due to my damaged acl. Otherwise I would autocross and modify her more heavily.

Satish Kondapavulur > RickyD
12/03/2013 at 23:51

My dad's looks exactly the same! It's a 2002 Steel Blue 530i w/o the Sport Package and Steptronic. I learned to drive on it too.

Are you based out of Northern California?

Dsscats > RickyD
12/03/2013 at 23:56

Where are you located? Are you actually interested in selling it? I don't have a lot of money for a car, but am definitely down for a beater bimmer.

911e46z06 > RickyD
12/03/2013 at 23:58

As was mine. I enjoy a manual as much as anyone, but I prefer a slushbox for my DD. Didn't care. Raced the shit out of it anyway.

RickyD > Satish Kondapavulur
12/04/2013 at 00:06

Yes, I work and reside in Stockton.

RickyD > 911e46z06
12/04/2013 at 00:07

I never thought of doing that, you may have added a dynamic to my relationship with my car.

RickyD > Dsscats
12/04/2013 at 00:09

This one is far from a beater yet, but if you are in nor cal I can find you something.

Dsscats > RickyD
12/04/2013 at 00:17

Sorry, so cal. What is your job? You said it had to do with cars...

Satish Kondapavulur > RickyD
12/04/2013 at 00:19

I was just in Stockton about three weeks ago. I went to RMB Garage looking at a Rolls Royce for sale with an uncle of mine. The garage also had a bunch of other interesting cars as well, and I was surprised to see that many nice cars in Stockton.

Bytemite > RickyD
12/04/2013 at 00:27

But wouldn't you rather build a lasting relationship with your car while you nurse it through its years and miles?

RickyD > Dsscats
12/04/2013 at 00:43

I manage a lot

Manuél Ferrari > RickyD
12/04/2013 at 01:13

I've always been curious how this car drives. Never even been in one.

How do you like the small V8? How does it compare to similar displacement straight sixes that you've driven?

RickyD > Manuél Ferrari
12/04/2013 at 01:59

Mine is the 3.0 straight six. I've driven the v8 also, and the M. This is probably the balance for me in terms of reliable driving and comfort to work on. As far as the drive it grips much more than is expected. There isn't much torque for oversteer, but oppo is possible with sufficient speed. The engine has a great note around 4200rpm that funnels well into the cabin. Even approaching 145 the car is very stable and inspires nothing but confidence. I have nothing more than a new air box and ecu map for governor delete.

RickyD > Bytemite
12/04/2013 at 02:00

Would love to, but I just tend to sell things when profits are involved

Manuél Ferrari > RickyD
12/04/2013 at 02:03

Sorry I forgot the 3.0 V8 was only in the E34.

Your ride looks really nice. The color and wheels are sharp.

RickyD > Manuél Ferrari
12/04/2013 at 02:25

Thank you very much. Depending on how many old pics I can find I might do a piece on all of my cars over the years.

Manuél Ferrari > RickyD
12/04/2013 at 02:43

That would be awesome!

Now I wish I had taken more pics of former cars. I took some and lost them

911e46z06 > RickyD
12/04/2013 at 04:43

It's good times man. I never had the space for a second car in college, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from gettin' my fix. You won't set any track records, but you'll have yourself a good time.

area man > RickyD
12/06/2013 at 14:41

You're very lucky, I've been obsessed with the e39 since the day it debuted. It will be a couple of years more before I have room for one, but I intend to hunt one down as soon as possible and meld with it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > RickyD
12/06/2013 at 18:31

30k miles in 6 months?! Wow.

benchslap > RickyD
12/06/2013 at 20:23

I had a 1998 528i Sport and two 2001 M5s. They are spectacular pieces of engineering. Whenever I have the money, I will add an E39 M5 to my stable again. What a great car. The 528i was also fantastic.

I replaced my second E39 M5 with an E60 M5, which was an absolute riot of a car. But I sold it at 65k miles when I got really chicken about SMG or that V10 going kaboom.

Built BMW Tough > RickyD
12/06/2013 at 20:44

I drive the hell out of my 03 525i, because I love that car. It's about to turn 140k miles, and the only car I will replace it with is an E39 M5.

E39s rule.

BigGatorChris > Manuél Ferrari
12/07/2013 at 04:12

I've got a 98 540.

It's glorious.

Manuél Ferrari > BigGatorChris
12/07/2013 at 16:40

Nice!! What is your real world fuel consumption like? Do you have the MT or the AT?

RickyD > benchslap
12/08/2013 at 00:50

Yeah I have had 550i's on my lot many times and I don't care much for all the weight and iDrive. I could have gone forever without iDrive. I was driving a 745i today and trying to tune it to my slightly static ridden favorite station was a pain in the ass.

RickyD > Built BMW Tough
12/08/2013 at 00:51

I wish I could find an E39 M5, but unmolested examples are unicorns. Coincidentally my check engine light came on today for a torque converter solenoid.

BigGatorChris > Manuél Ferrari
12/08/2013 at 14:14

I've got the auto, which is not the liability you might think. The ratios are good, and it has the most predictive software I've ever used. Put it in "sport", or whatever that notch below regular drive is, and it's always in the right gear.

The city mileage is horrific. I've zeroed it, and gotten under 12mpg driving across town to the gym all week. You could probably get low 20s on the highway with a disciplined foot. But you won't, because passing people on the highway is what this car does best.

The bad? Someone needs to be beaten for the door locking system. The stereo is decent, but the speakers are Nokia. Yea, that Nokia. They sound like they're out of a cell phone. And of course, cup holders.

Parts prices aren't bad. Maybe even below average today. Anyone who tells you they're hard to work on, doesn't work on many cars.

With another hundred hp, it would be perfect, but perfection seems to cost about $20k these days. Yes,I am referring to an M5.

Manuél Ferrari > BigGatorChris
12/08/2013 at 14:22

The autos were still solid in 98. I think the bad years were around 2000 to 2003. My sister had a 2000 or 2001 323i with an AT that prematurely failed. No fun.

Your mileage actually doesn't seem that bad. My E90 M3 gets the same mileage, and it is newer and has a 7 speed transmission. The V8 grunt comes with hits to the wallet. But it's worth it for the N/A sound. I love how BMW's V8s sound.

That is hilarious that the speakers were made by Nokia! Hopefully you can swap them out pretty easily.

Built BMW Tough > RickyD
12/08/2013 at 15:40

I don't know where you're located, but there's quite a few unmolested examples out here in CA. Prices are going up, so act fast or start saving.

BigGatorChris > Manuél Ferrari
12/08/2013 at 15:49

Nope. They are a weird ohmage (6?) which makes them impossible to replace, and the front is a 3 way system which has a 2" mid tweet, which is also virtually unavailable.

Some guys have cut off their exhausts after the resonator. It sounds like God taking a dump. Check them out on youtube.

Manuél Ferrari > BigGatorChris
12/08/2013 at 15:59

Oh wow. What a pain! Freaking Nokia...

I found a YouTube video with the exhaust setup you referenced. Wow. So much awesomeness. You need to make that mod. Your poor speakers won't matter anymore.

RickyD > Built BMW Tough
12/08/2013 at 16:13

I don't feel very comfortable spending 20k on an 01-03 M5 when I could spend 25k-30k on an 07+ XK. Seems like everyone around here is just selling for whatever price they think someone will pay.

Built BMW Tough > RickyD
12/08/2013 at 16:23

Personal preference, I guess. As far as I'm concerned, the E39 M5 is one of the best daily drivers you can buy, cost no object.

RickyD > Built BMW Tough
12/08/2013 at 16:36

I have no weekend car anymore due to the sale of my Camaro, but I intend to replace it with an XK. Had I an M5 it would be a secondary car, identical to my current.