E34 vs E39

[Anton CH.]

Ok I may have lied on the previous poll about how long will you keep a car for. The prices on e39s have really comed down. I just found a beutiful 98 black on back 5speed 528 w/ 102k mi for under 10k. I think some members here own one, how are e39s when it comes to maintance?

[winfred]

imho the e39 aint the car the e34 is by far

[stx133]

in aust, the e39 is still double the price of the e34. $40k+. it is not really an option here to discuss. i like the look of the 34 by far, the 39 is heavier but has more techno gadgets..

[Anton CH.]

Yeah but the e39 just looks so much more modern. It may be the new front grill. Let's face it, the e34 is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when they think of a BMW. Just debating on whether I should make the switch.

[stx133]

a 'Smart' looks 'modern', but it would not interest me for a purchase

[bimmerd00d]

As an E39 owner, ex e34 owner, i think i can answer this.

-E39 lacks the feel of the E34, overall
-E39 is definitely faster
-The comfort level of the e39 is much higher (comfort seats at least)
-E34 is by far the better looking car
-Seems like the E39 has less little quirks than the E34 (subjective)
-Bottom line, I miss my e34 525i 5-spd. I will eventuall sell this and buy another E34 of some sorts.

[Jon K]

As an E39 owner, ex e34 owner, i think i can answer this.

-E39 lacks the feel of the E34, overall
-E39 is definitely faster
-The comfort level of the e39 is much higher (comfort seats at least)
-E34 is by far the better looking car
-Seems like the E39 has less little quirks than the E34 (subjective)
-Bottom line, I miss my e34 525i 5-spd. I will eventuall sell this and buy another E34 of some sorts.


Of course its faster... 4.4L vs 2.5.... i bet mine is just as fast tho ;)

[Anton CH.]

E34 looks better?! I guess its just an opinion but I like the e39 looks much more.

Want to trade cars? My modded 525 5-speed for your 540i6 ;-)

I am probably going end up test driving that 528i and see if I like it.

[Zeuk in Oz]

To my eyes the E34 is much nicer looking than the E39 and having driven both, I feel the E34 has a much more agile, responsive feel.
The dilemma, in my opinion, is that I value such things as airbags (especially side window bags), vehicle stability programmes, traction control and brake assist.
I realise that they are more things to go wrong, but ultimately they are there to help avoid an accident - except the airbags of course. This also means more expense due to fewer repairs that can be done by me.
Therefore I tend to favour the E39 as the next addition to our fleet, as my teenage sons drive them and I remember only too well how much of an idiot I was at that age.
The only thing that saved me was luck ! :D

[digitaldragon03]

If you are going to go E39 go for the 2001 and above models. I believe they have xenons and have extra chrome on the kidney grill; subtle but definatly makes a difference.

[JohnC]

i would go for 01 and up too, or whichever ones came with the facelifted lights, the older ones look a lot less modern. but the e34 on the other hand will always look good, classic bmw.

[8 POTS]

e34 best, but E39 last of real BMW's!
what makes the e34 the best BMW ever.
-beautifull looks from 94 on (540 style)
-525i M (M50), every part feels like designed to work together
-raw power of initial 540's without traction or stability control
-very solid mechanical foundation
-yet very quircky little niggles that beg for your attention.

what makes E39 good
-used E34 as starting point
-still feels like BMW inside looks like one outside
BUT too refined, so no personality.

EVERY BMW AFTER E39 AND E38 LOST THE PLOT, ALL SMALL BMW'S (3 SERIES) OR ANY 4 CYLINDER BMW NEVER COUNTED.

[Interceptor]

imho the e39 aint the car the e34 is by far
What about the mechanical quirks? Durability?

[NickM535]

Of course its faster... 4.4L vs 2.5.... i bet mine is just as fast tho ;)
OT but have you had that thing tuned and on the dyno yet Jon??????

[emw525E34]

what makes E39 good
-used E34 as starting point
-still feels like BMW inside looks like one outside
BUT too refined, so no personality.


Well, I have tested E39 in 525i and 528i form. Both cannot match the E34 in most things I value: Rawness, handling prowess, even speed. It has more comfort and, yes, too MUCH refinement. So its boring!. Might as well go Mecedes E240 which has much more refinement and confort than E39.
Even after driving the new E60, I prefer the E34 still over E39 or E60. This 525 across the board tests. The 530i E60 is great though, but then those awful Bangled looks .... :(

[wingman]

To quote Laurence Meredith, 'BMW 1875 - 2001 Model by Model', "the front of the E39 looks like a disgruntled rat..." Nice car though and Meredith drives an E34 525i/A... as do I so he must be a good man!!!

[wingman]

Sorry! his book is 1975 to 2001 NOT 1875!!!

[DanDombrowski]

I've always liked the look of the e39 better.

[winfred]

more computerized crap that's dieing, horible sound system, front suspension is not much of a improvment over the e34s, rear suspension is a couple steps backward from the e34s, the double vanos motor of 99 and up is a real bitch to work on compared to earlyer cars, same crappy auto tranny but with lifetime fluid, headlights fall apart internally (fixable varly cheep but a pain none the less), contacts suck on tail lights


What about the mechanical quirks? Durability?

[skr]

imho, the e34 is by far a better looking car. I'm not judgeing cars by what people think of them, or by how modern or expensive they look. maybe a e39 is more of a head turner ,but every now and then when i get in my 15 y/o e34 i just drive off with a smile on my face. now i am sure that whould not happen in a 39, as it didn't happen in other cars i've owned.
about 2 months ago i was offered around 7000 $ (6000 euro) for my baby. It's a good price, but i didn't sell it. realy had no ideea what to buy. Of course , i was thinking about BMW's. Around here u can buy a e39 from 98, 99 for around 10.000 euro. Had the money, but just didn't want to do it. The other , more appealing option was a beautifull black e34 535i, but that failed due to over 4$ a galon of gas, and the fact that i don't want a cheap small ,non fuel guzzlin dayly driver, after i've been drivin the 5 anywhere for more than a year.
so i kept the e34 and kept the money to invest in my e30 325 project.
anyway, leaving the financial bulls%(t apart, i ain't going to e39 because i simply LOVE the e34 . I LOVE the classic look, love how the body lines flow, LOVE how it handels, LOVE the amayzing engeneering that went into it, and LOVE how i feel when i get into it. I think you get the point by now. :)

P.S: to all e39 owners: it's a great car, it just doesn't suit my personality.

[8 POTS]

imho, the e34 is by far a better looking car. I'm not judgeing cars by what people think of them, or by how modern or expensive they look. maybe a e39 is more of a head turner ,but every now and then when i get in my 15 y/o e34 i just drive off with a smile on my face. now i am sure that whould not happen in a 39, as it didn't happen in other cars i've owned.
about 2 months ago i was offered around 7000 $ (6000 euro) for my baby. It's a good price, but i didn't sell it. realy had no ideea what to buy. Of course , i was thinking about BMW's. Around here u can buy a e39 from 98, 99 for around 10.000 euro. Had the money, but just didn't want to do it. The other , more appealing option was a beautifull black e34 535i, but that failed due to over 4$ a galon of gas, and the fact that i don't want a cheap small ,non fuel guzzlin dayly driver, after i've been drivin the 5 anywhere for more than a year.
so i kept the e34 and kept the money to invest in my e30 325 project.
anyway, leaving the financial bulls%(t apart, i ain't going to e39 because i simply LOVE the e34 . I LOVE the classic look, love how the body lines flow, LOVE how it handels, LOVE the amayzing engeneering that went into it, and LOVE how i feel when i get into it. I think you get the point by now. :)

P.S: to all e39 owners: it's a great car, it just doesn't suit my personality.


I feel your passion!!! About the e39 not suiting your personality, there are very few cars in the world that suite's anyone's personality. BMW produced very many of them, with the ultimate being the e34 and e38! I think it all lies in the aggresive looks from the front.

[Jason]

how can you say the 3 series doesnt count? its been the company's bread and butter. and 4 cyl models? '91 318is? E30 M3... legendary? you know the 2002 had a 4cyl and it kinda put BMW on the map.


e34 best, but E39 last of real BMW's!
what makes the e34 the best BMW ever.
-beautifull looks from 94 on (540 style)
-525i M (M50), every part feels like designed to work together
-raw power of initial 540's without traction or stability control
-very solid mechanical foundation
-yet very quircky little niggles that beg for your attention.

what makes E39 good
-used E34 as starting point
-still feels like BMW inside looks like one outside
BUT too refined, so no personality.

EVERY BMW AFTER E39 AND E38 LOST THE PLOT, ALL SMALL BMW'S (3 SERIES) OR ANY 4 CYLINDER BMW NEVER COUNTED.

[8 POTS]

how can you say the 3 series doesnt count? its been the company's bread and butter. and 4 cyl models? '91 318is? E30 M3... legendary? you know the 2002 had a 4cyl and it kinda put BMW on the map.

True!! But i think BMW really produce the most amazing 6 cylinders, and my BMW experince started with a six. I will never forget it.

I might be wrong but feel they never produced a 4 that could lead the way like their 6's and rest

[Jason]

They make an excellent 6 cyl. My BMW experience started w/ a 6 as well, the not so great super eta motor in the 1988 325. I love the M30 though, even at 15 yrs old, i think its very impressive in terms of smoothness and its power. As far as the 4s though, the S14 4 cyl in the E30 M3 powered that car to more touring car championships than any other car. The M10 in the the 318is is a great engine in the E30, perhaps weighed down a bit in the E36. They are very different from the Japanese 4cyls.


True!! But i think BMW really produce the most amazing 6 cylinders, and my BMW experince started with a six. I will never forget it.

I might be wrong but feel they never produced a 4 that could lead the way like their 6's and rest

[Robin-535im]

I can't comment on the durability like Winfred can but I've driven a few. At the end of the day, I still prefer the handling, feel and power of the 535im. The 540 6-speed is pretty darn fast, but feels heavier and more "squishy" - the two I've driven had a lot of slack in the drivetrain so if you floored it or let off suddenly, there was a lot of rocking. It's possible they were just thrashed a lot though!

The way I see it, I'll keep the current e34 until it dies for some reason, and see what the world of cars looks like then. E34's are getting pretty cheap too!

[johnnyturbo2002]

As an E39 owner, ex e34 owner, i think i can answer this.

-E39 lacks the feel of the E34, overall
-E39 is definitely faster
-The comfort level of the e39 is much higher (comfort seats at least)
-E34 is by far the better looking car
-Seems like the E39 has less little quirks than the E34 (subjective)
-Bottom line, I miss my e34 525i 5-spd. I will eventuall sell this and buy another E34 of some sorts.


Am I right to understand that you cmpared a E34 525 to an E39 540i/6 and in doing so saying that the E39 is definetly faster? Well If I am right....duh? No disrespect intended. My E34 540i is faster than your 525 also... What gives.

[Robin-535im]

Am I right to understand that you cmpared a E34 525 to an E39 540i/6 and in doing so saying that the E39 is definetly faster? Well If I am right....duh? No disrespect intended. My E34 540i is faster than your 525 also... What gives.
I think even the 525 E39 beats the 525 E34. I know the E39 530 is a bit faster than a 535 (stock-stock comparison of course...)

[SRR2]

Traded my '89 535/5m for an '01 540/6m-Sport. In many ways they're similar, and in some very different.

Things I prefer in the 535:
> simpler, more direct controls.
> easier to work on, which is a good thing when you're talking about a 16 year old car.
> bigger trunk
> slightly better sound system
> weather band in the radio
> big glove box
> high beams like 747 landing lights. best I've ever seen
> no cupholders
> has rear-seat power outlet
> mature (you could also say obsolescent) engine technology
> relatively inexpensive to maintain, good parts availability from BMW and aftermarket
> 15" wheels and high profile tires less prone to road damage

Things I don't like about the E34
> not enough airbags
> not enough power, heavy engine
> non-hydraulic valves
> R-12
> wiper arm hits hood
> battery under seat (PITA)
> primitive fuel injection/ uses power-wasting AFM
> ass-backwards hood
> primitive onboard diagnostics, no OBDII
> no rear headrests
> rear seatbelts often didn't work correctly. holster problems
> there was ALWAYS crap accumulating in the blower/evaporator housing. leaves, critter nests, etc. all kinds of crap. would rot and smell. required yearly (sometimes more often) disassembly and cleaning. A/C would not work right unless it was perfectly clean. crap frequently clogged drains causing water entrance into passenger footwell. was MAJOR PITA. This was one of the main reasons I decided to upgrade to the E39 with its well-designed A/C and cabin filters.
> non-adjustable steering wheel position
> 15" wheels limit brake size and overall performance

Things I prefer in the E39
> power out the wazoo
> 6-speed trans gives mileage as good as E34
> torque out the wazoo, can drive mostly in 6th gear
> world class HVAC. Ice cold R-134a A/C, easy-to change inexpensive pollen filters
> versatile audio system, lots of speakers, speed-sensitive volume, but only average in performance
> sports-car handling with sport suspension, feels much lighter than E34
> sports-car braking
> ASC
> glass sunroof, with side curtains to eliminate air noise and rain
> UGDO
> One-touch windows all around, up/down
> reduction in insurance cost (go figure. I was surprised at that one)
> much quieter in operation: mechanical, wind, etc.
> a bit roomier inside
> better, more useful check/control/obc display
> much better central locking/alarm/user customization
> angel eyes/HID headlights, except high beams
> controls on steering wheel. (took some getting-used-to though)
> much nicer interior, lighting, passenger-friendly
> fold-down rear seat backs, profiding huge cargo capacity
> adjustable, position-memory, steering wheel

I don't like in the E39:
> required to use premium fuel
> unrotateable tires with sport suspension
> touchy jacking -- difficult to lift entire end of car.
> some dubious design decisions: e.g. water-cooled alternator
> very complex electricals. may be maintenance issue as car ages.
> large wheels, low profile tires not best thing for PA roads in winter

Overall, I prefer driving the E39. The power, coupled with the nimble handling put it in a class above the E34. It's better on every type of road surface, and most notably on poor road surfaces around corners with the lower sprung mass at every wheel. And it delivers all this with less noise and chassis shake and twist. The E39 is simply more solid. I find myself driving it more like I'd drive my Porsche, than like I'd drive the E34, which isn't necessarily a good thing if you're carrying passengers!

[rockyfeller]

Driven various E39s and I'm sold. As soon as I get the money I want a 01+ (hopefully an M5 or 540i/6). I love the classic lines of my E34 540i but seriously it is getting dated. It took me awhile to like the looks of the E39. The E39 may look Jap to some but I love the look now. The newest Bimmers all drive better than anything previous. I just cannot see myself in a Bangled car, sorry. (I'd rather drive a beautiful new MB like my E350 even though they're boring to drive) My car is giving more problems than I bargained for even though I baby it all day.

[Interceptor]

I think even the 525 E39 beats the 525 E34. I know the E39 530 is a bit faster than a 535 (stock-stock comparison of course...)
Hm, I think you got something wrong here - there never was a 525i E39. If you want to compare, then it would be 525i M50 E34 vs. 528i M52/M54 E39. 523i E39 had an underpowered 2.5l engine with only 170 HP, like the old M20B25, and I'm positive that the M50 E34 would smoke it easily, due to 22 HP more and a few kg's less.

[joe maniqz]

since i bought my e34, i have learned to love everything about it...i can't get over looking at the rear, now that i've added an m5 plate surround, it made it look more agressive, bec. the black shade added depth...the angle of the front windshield looks dated though, new cars have a slight windshield angle compared to the e34's steep one...e39's i can take for it's safety issue, but on the outside it looks too jellybean for me...e60's are more wider and less jellybean, i am learning to appreciate it if i try to keep an open bangleless mind.

[Zeuk in Oz]

there never was a 525i E39
In Oz at least, the 525i replaced the 523i in 2001 (I think) and at the same time the 530i replaced the 528i. There was also a very mild facelift.

[JAlfredPrufrock]

Hm, I think you got something wrong here - there never was a 525i E39.

Yeah there was, MY 2001+.

[Cambridge]

Ok I may have lied on the previous poll about how long will you keep a car for. The prices on e39s have really comed down. I just found a beutiful 98 black on back 5speed 528 w/ 102k mi for under 10k. I think some members here own one, how are e39s when it comes to maintance? And they're fun to drive!

[emw525E34]

It's a good price, but i didn't sell it. realy had no ideea what to buy.
P.S: to all e39 owners: it's a great car, it just doesn't suit my personality.

Thats the same dilemna I have. What to replace it with ?. Then along comes a E34 Touring and I snapped it up. 5-speed Euro at a nice price. Now I have two E34s. Sedan and Touring, M20 6-cyl and M50TU 6cyl, very nice.

[Interceptor]

Yeah there was, MY 2001+.
Are there any specs of it? List of all E39 models manufactured? I've never seen a 525i E39 around here.

[BobHarris]

True!! But i think BMW really produce the most amazing 6 cylinders, and my BMW experince started with a six. I will never forget it.

I might be wrong but feel they never produced a 4 that could lead the way like their 6's and rest

My old 518 had a 4 cylinder M40 engine, which had 200000 miles on it, and I never had a single problem with the engine.

HTH

All the best

Bob

[mzarifkar]

There is just something incredibly sexy about the E34, You can see the BMW heritage along with some new touches (the rear). It is BMW the way i remember it before all the style changes (which are not necesarily bad changes) I think one of the better looking cars older generation BMW's besides the E34 is the 7 (Bond, The Transporter). Not sure what the body is called, E32?

[Robin-535im]

Are there any specs of it? List of all E39 models manufactured? I've never seen a 525i E39 around here.

They started out from 1997 through 2000-ish? with 540 and 528. Then they introduced a 525 and a 530, both inline 6's, and the 540 and M5. Crossover year was 2000 I think, may be off bya year or so.

[eggdog23]

As an E34 touring owner, I would say the availability of 5sp weighs heavily in favor of the E39 touring. The E34 does have the double sunroof and the stupid power headrests that don't seem to work. The E39 has rear headrests and six or eight airbags (did anyone ever get the rear side airbag option?). As far as driving impressions, I defer to those that have driven both.

[Interceptor]

As an E34 touring owner, I would say the availability of 5sp weighs heavily in favor of the E39 touring.
Only in the US. In Europe you have loads of manual tourings with more engine choices (including the M5 Touring).

[eggdog23]

Only in the US. In Europe you have loads of manual tourings with more engine choices (including the M5 Touring).


I know...don't rub it in!