Oppo, Talk Me Out Of A 540i

"wbizarre - OEM fetishist" (wbizarre) 01/24/2015 at 12:53 • Filed to: None

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An '03 540i M-sport popped up near me, with good mileage and within my budget. Bone stock, just like the picture. I've been looking for an e46 for a daily/commuter, but now this thing... Poor(er) gas mileage, premium gas, more expensive maintenance over an equivalent inline-6, the cost of buying a new tailored suit...very tempting though!

BTW, for those harping on BMW for not putting the engine displacement in the model number anymore, the 540i sports a 4.4L V8.

P.S. Anyone owned one? Care to tell a story?

p.p.s. Well, I knew the opposite of what the title said would happen, they don't call it "opposite lock" for nothing! Waiting to hear back from the seller. Still a bit of an impractical choice for a daily, especially since I already have my impractical thing down with the e30... we'll see what happens!

FromCanadaWithLove > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 12:55

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Buy it. Premium gas isn't that much of a premium. Buy it.

(I'm bad at talking people out of classic BMWs.)

Tipo Stradale Fever > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 12:55

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bob and john > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 12:55

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do it.

then, get the M buympers and a dual exhuast system and you have a M on the cheap.;

AM3R shamefully returns > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 12:58

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no, I'll talk you IN to it.

Cosmetically: M5 bumpers. People will say "sweet M5!" To you.

Performance: buttery smooth V8 that screams at redline. 6 speed manuél. RWD.

Just buy it already.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > AM3R shamefully returns 01/24/2015 at 13:01

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Well, I guess I had to expect that...

I contacted the guy, waiting on a response. The price seems a little too good though, I'm thinking it might be a salvage title.

NoCrownKing > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 13:02

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Talk you into it...

AM3R shamefully returns > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 13:03

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it could be, but the E39 is also pretty much at the bottom of its depreciation curve, so it's at least worth checking out.

Tekamul > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 13:04

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Don't do it!

You'll always be kicking yourself for not springing for the M5. Sell some personal belongings and shoot for the stars!

AM3R shamefully returns > bob and john 01/24/2015 at 13:05

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540i M-sport already comes with the bumpers!

Roadster Man > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 13:22

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Buy it!

Coty > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 13:22

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Lolno. No talking out of.

Joel Ness > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 13:26

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For the life of me I can't talk you out of it. I've got a bit of a thing for the e39 540i with a manual. I hope to find a good one this summer.

BeaterGT > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 13:35

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M sport. There talked you out of it. Half kidding, it has a V8 and that's awesome as long as you can row your own.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > BeaterGT 01/24/2015 at 13:45

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Haha, is M-sport supposed to be a bad thing? I actually like the cars just below the full-blown M's. And manual is definitely a must for me on this search.

E92M3 > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 14:21

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I will do no such thing!

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 14:38

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Talk me out of a 540i...

Dude, have you read this site? :-)

Manuél Ferrari > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 14:43

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NO

Do it!!!

Joel Ness > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 14:48

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Oh shit, how did this happen. I'm at a stealership looking at 2000 m5, they even let me drive. Talk me out of it.

Nisman > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 14:51

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You came to the wrong place to be talked out of it! If I was in the place right now I would do it!

Manuél Ferrari > Joel Ness 01/24/2015 at 14:52

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Yesssss

Joel Ness > Manuél Ferrari 01/24/2015 at 14:55

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They are doing a soft pull on my credit right now.

Manuél Ferrari > Joel Ness 01/24/2015 at 15:00

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Hell yeah!!!!

I want one too

But too many auto loans already...

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Joel Ness 01/24/2015 at 15:40

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Dude that's great! Les us know how it goes! The M5 is one beautiful machine, but from what I've read it's a big step up in ownership cost. If you're in that range freakin' go for it, I wish I were!

jmedarts > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 16:37

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Buy it. Budget for a radiator/expansion tank every 75k miles or so. Buy one of the al ones if you are in for the long haul. Maintenance is much cheaper than an M5, the performance differential isn't that much on public roads, and the 540 is just easier to live with. Wonderful car, still miss mine.

SlickMcRick > Joel Ness 01/24/2015 at 17:03

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I would SERIOUSLY recommend doing some research on those first MY E39 M5s. They have a few electrical issues with some sensors amongst other thimgs. In all likelihood it'll be in the shop a few times a year. As long as you have a second car for when it goes down then by all means spring for it.

JasonStern911 > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 17:38

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No personal experience other than test drives and thinking about owning an E39. My advice - get the 2.8L/3.0L version (budget) or get the M5 version (how BMW intended). don't settle for a compromise between both, as you'll end up with the worst of both worlds - paying a premium on part prices due to lower production numbers, as well as never really reaching the performance the chassis was designed to handle.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > JasonStern911 01/24/2015 at 17:48

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I'd be happy with a 3 liter, God knows I love inline sixes, but I don't see the 540 as a compromise. You can look at it either way, glass half full or half empty. It's also the best of both worlds - much faster than the 3 liter, while still much less expensive to own than an M car.

BeaterGT > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 18:57

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Personally, not a fan of Msports,S-line,V-sport,etc. Either go base model and build up or go top of the line but to each their own. I wouldn't complain with that car but like you said, if you have to commute with it you may only love it while gas is cheap.

BeaterGT > jmedarts 01/24/2015 at 18:59

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This guy knows whats up!

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > BeaterGT 01/24/2015 at 19:07

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I can see your point of view. What bothers me about these S-line/VSport, etc. is now they put dozens of badges all over the cars, so it's more about showing off that you spent extra money. At least on the e39 all you get visually is a nice set of wheels, that's it.

Joel Ness > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 22:10

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http://m.mdautosales.net/search/used-bm…

I test drove this one. It was freakin great. Dinan exhaust sounded amazing the acceleration was very intoxicating. It was just too much money. I'm looking at a 02 540i tomorrow morning.

Joel Ness > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/24/2015 at 22:11

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They actually let me take it out by myself for a couple of hours.

BeaterGT > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/25/2015 at 01:30

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Gotta love BMW wheels too!

BLCKSTRM > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/25/2015 at 10:44

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One of my best friends has an E39 540 (and has a full-tilt E36 M3 track car), and I have another friend with an E39 M5.

Hard to talk you out of this. The M5 is obviously MORE (power and money and maintenance), but nothing wrong with a 540, especially an M-Sport.

The biggest thing you need to worry about is replacing the plastic timing chain guides, which will wear out somewhere past 120k miles. It's prohibitively expensive to have it done, but fairly cheap to do it yourself.

If you get serious about it, I can get a run-down from my buddy. He's actually the Dallas BMW club quartermaster, which means he's the keeper of the tools. If he hasn't done it, he's seen it done. He is an incredible resource.

Joel Ness > BLCKSTRM 01/29/2015 at 01:42

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I just got one that shows signs (rattle rattle rattle rattle) of needing that work done. Could you hook me up with info on that?

Joel Ness > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/29/2015 at 01:43

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I just got a 2002 e39 540i msport with 6mt. Your move.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Joel Ness 01/29/2015 at 13:21

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Sweet, congrats! The one I was curious about turned out to be a scammer. A real shame too, the thing was gorgeous. Here are the photos, the bastard recycled them from an expired ebay auction from a year ago...

http://share.pho.to/8gwus

Joel Ness > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/29/2015 at 16:48

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That sucks. Better luck next time I guess. Keep the thread posted.

BLCKSTRM > Joel Ness 01/29/2015 at 20:37

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So, it's prohibitively expensive because it takes like 23 hours to do @ typical BMW shop rates - OUCH!

He said parts were $300-400, plus the specialized tool rental was like $150 for 3 days. he didn't remember the website, but there is a Bimmer or BMW tools rental website.

They also rebuilt the VANOS while it was all taken apart, which was another couple hundred.

It took him and his very capable 17 year old son about 20 hours together. So 40 man hours.

He didn't have the Bentley manual, but used a couple online DIYs. But he's also more than been around the block.

That's about all I know. He loves the car, but it is in need of nearly constant maintenance at this point.