Replacing the E34 go E39 or???

[93 525 Paul]

At 178k miles the wife wants to move on. The E34 was tremendous for us but we are looking at newer options. I've looked a 114k mi 970 540 and a 70k mi 2005 530. Both are below low blue and seem fine, but the newer ones just don't look great to me. A bit bloated methinks.
Either series preferable???
The 97 - 03 5 series cars I've driven have badly cracked windshield rubber. Is that a big expense? The ws trim on the E34 was $120 a side x 2 so...
Thanks in advance for your input.

[bmwrp8]

At 178k miles the wife wants to move on. The E34 was tremendous for us but we are looking at newer options. I've looked a 114k mi 970 540 and a 70k mi 2005 530. Both are below low blue and seem fine, but the newer ones just don't look great to me. A bit bloated methinks.
Either series preferable???
The 97 - 03 5 series cars I've driven have badly cracked windshield rubber. Is that a big expense? The ws trim on the E34 was $120 a side x 2 so...
Thanks in advance for your input.

e38:)

[eaglecomm]

hahaha.. yeah, I would go e38 as well.. but its because I have one. :) If you are a DIY, there is more knowledge out there in the forums for repair work on the E39 than on the newer 5s. Plus there are more electronics (both good and bad) on the newer 5s. Do you like the body styles equally? Both E39s and E38s are very well priced at the moment..

[bmwrp8]

hahaha.. yeah, I would go e38 as well.. but its because I have one. :) If you are a DIY, there is more knowledge out there in the forums for repair work on the E39 than on the newer 5s. Plus there are more electronics (both good and bad) on the newer 5s. Do you like the body styles equally? Both E39s and E38s are very well priced at the moment..

I love the body style of the e39. I love big cars too thats why i also love the e38 and w140 benz. i had a 2002 525i e39 i love to death but all its given me is electrical problems so i sold it.I love DIY but when it comes to electrical gremlins I HATE EM!:p

[bubba966]

I'd go E38 as well. A nice 99-01 740i Sport would be what I'd go for.

[DaveVoorhis]

I went from E34 to E39 and have no regrets whatsoever. E39 rocks.

[Jehu]

e38

[Ferret]

If you go E39, get the rear suspension inspected before you buy - they're notorious for the rear balljoints starting to wear as you approach the 100k mark...

The rear suspension on the E39 is almost as complicated as the front on the E34... dont know about the E38 though.

[eaglecomm]

If you get an E38 740iL (non-sport) in the 99-01 year range, you can swap out the regular shifter for a steptronic shifter and have the shifting capability. :) Then you get the long wheelbase AND the +/- shifter. It's fun! :)

[Ross]

My wife drives our E39 528ia and loves it. I've always felt she has dreadful taste in cars.
When she recently drove my E34 she commented on how good the visibilty is and how heavy the car felt.
You will find the E39 to have miserable visibilty and feel soft by comparison to your E34.
A bit more and less reliable electronics on the next gen as well.

[Interceptor]

e38:)

+1 :)

But, be sure to go for the FL version, pre-FL had more electrical problems and M62TU is more torquey and less of a gas guzzler than the non-VANOS M62.

[bubba966]

But, be sure to go for the FL version, pre-FL had more electrical problems and M62TU is more torquey and less of a gas guzzler than the non-VANOS M62.

FL version?

[Interceptor]

FL version?

Facelift. ;)

[Qube]

The only problem with E39s now are they're getting old and they don't age as well as E34s. I've had nearly every wearing part replaced under warranty. Now she's out of warranty :) The total parts and labor covered was just over $6000. The warranty cost $2500. I can only imagine what a used 2002 540 would look like now...

[93 525 Paul]

E38 is out, they are just too big for our garage. Well, I guess we could move!
E39 - electrical gremlins, complex rear susp, don't age well.
Damn, I want a worthy successor to the rock solid and reliable E34 and the E39 is sounding a bit squishy...too much like my POS Lincoln LS V8.
Thanks for the input fellas.

[BMW4LIFE]

E38 is out, they are just too big for our garage. Well, I guess we could move!
E39 - electrical gremlins, complex rear susp, don't age well.
Damn, I want a worthy successor to the rock solid and reliable E34 and the E39 is sounding a bit squishy...too much like my POS Lincoln LS V8.
Thanks for the input fellas.

hmmm im in the same boat you are...

i want the 540i sport (2003) but after reading this thread i dont know any more... do dare say that i might transition to an Acura TL type S but then again my name would no longer be BMW4Life :(

[93 525 Paul]

+1 :)

But, be sure to go for the FL version, pre-FL had more electrical problems and M62TU is more torquey and less of a gas guzzler than the non-VANOS M62.

So is this one pre or post FL and what think?
http://fresno.craigslist.org/cto/1474041919.html

[Interceptor]

So is this one pre or post FL and what think?
http://fresno.craigslist.org/cto/1474041919.html

This is the last production year for model E38. It looks great, 110k is nothing for a car like that, but be sure to take it for a check up at a shop you trust ;)

[genphreak]

Perhaps consider going the other way... e32. They handle very well indeed and are totally the business. The e38 is heavier and does not drive as well by a fairly long way. Find a nice one and you have budget left over for all those goodies you already know heaps about needing...

[Interceptor]

Perhaps consider going the other way... e32. They handle very well indeed and are totally the business. The e38 is heavier and does not drive as well by a fairly long way. Find a nice one and you have budget left over for all those goodies you already know heaps about needing...

Hmmm... Handle very well compared to what? A ferry? :D

I don't know about you, but E34 handles MUCH better than E32... Also, consider this - performance parts are virtually non-existent for the E32, while, for E34 you can still find quite a bit of stuff out there...

[philbyil]

Is the car still running well?
Is it in decent cosmetic shape?

If so, why spend unnecessary dosh and "move on" as it's prolly not worth much as a sale or a trade but, with regular care, will drive on for a few more years. The E34 is one heck of a safe car.....and, generally, easy to work on. Parts are now cheaper...soooooo.. IMHO, I would hang on to it.
Change for change's sake is not necessarily a smart thing to do....









At 178k miles the wife wants to move on. The E34 was tremendous for us but we are looking at newer options. I've looked a 114k mi 970 540 and a 70k mi 2005 530. Both are below low blue and seem fine, but the newer ones just don't look great to me. A bit bloated methinks.
Either series preferable???
The 97 - 03 5 series cars I've driven have badly cracked windshield rubber. Is that a big expense? The ws trim on the E34 was $120 a side x 2 so...
Thanks in advance for your input.

[Mordan]

Is the car still running well?
Is it in decent cosmetic shape?

If so, why spend unnecessary dosh and "move on" as it's prolly not worth much as a sale or a trade but, with regular care, will drive on for a few more years. The E34 is one heck of a safe car.....and, generally, easy to work on. Parts are now cheaper...soooooo.. IMHO, I would hang on to it.
Change for change's sake is not necessarily a smart thing to do....

+1

the E34 is the best DIY compromise for confort, reliability, performance and budget.

[BennyM]

I agree with going the other way, but I was thinking more along the lines of an E46. They're about the same size as an E34 and aren't quite as complicated as their bigger brothers.




Perhaps consider going the other way... e32. They handle very well indeed and are totally the business. The e38 is heavier and does not drive as well by a fairly long way. Find a nice one and you have budget left over for all those goodies you already know heaps about needing...