Tell me about...six cylinder BMWs c.93-03

[r.welfare]

My brother is looking to acquire a vehicle after eight years without owning one (city living), and has indicated a preference for a six cylinder BMW with manual transmission. Something about being a driver's car, apparently.

 

He has up to £2000 to spend but I think would prefer to spend less; the car will not be used for commuting but for pleasure mainly. I foresee an annual mileage of less than 5,000. Before you all rush to recommend an older model, the car will be parked in a multi-storey so something with pristine bodywork is sadly unlikely to stay that way for long; also, my brother is not hugely mechanically minded.

 

Therefore I think we are looking at 3 series of the late E36 or early E46 variety, or an E39 flavour 5 series, running the range of 2, 2.2, 2.5, 2.8 or 3 litres. I think his ideal would be an early E46 coupe. Saloons are also fine but he does not need the practicality of a Touring. The Z3 and the 3 series convertibles are non starters.

 

I know very little about BMWs of this period, as I owned an E28 528i about 12 years ago. However, I read a lot and wonder what is true and what isn't.

 

Is the E39 the best 5 series ever made? Are early ones better built and more rust resistant than later ones (and does the same hold true for the late E36 vs. the early E46)? Are the 323/523 and 328/528 all alloy in engine construction, and prone to OMGHGF and worse when the plastic-impellered water pump goes for a Burton? Is the 2.2 litre in the later 320/520 a shite design that eats oil?

 

Be very interested to hear your collective thoughts.

[JohnK]

Looking at three engine options mainly here.

 

M50, M52, M54

 

M50 will be found in early E36 (320/325) and late E34 5 series (520/525).

 

M52 is in later E36 3, early E46 3 and the early E39 5's. Looking at 323/328 or 523/528

 

M54 is later E46 3 and E39 5, so 320/325/330 or 520/525/530.

 

Looking at criteria I'm guessing more than likely looking at M52/M54 engines. I much prefer the latter engine to be quite honest. I've had two E39 528i's and although not bad at all, I was left disappointed. The later E46 325i I had was a much nicer engine, in my opinion.

 

Don't worry about nikasil problems if he goes for an M52 engine, if it's still on the road now it will be fine. I ran one of my 528's upto 220k on original engine with no work other than routine servicing and it's still going now with nearly 250k in my mates hands.

 

I've known E39 and E46 both to rust, although the later ones do seem to be a lot better. The interior quality of the E39 wasn't great though if I'm truthful (although both mine were pre facelift, R reg and a V reg, so later ones may be better). I do prefer the 5 series to the 3 too.

 

In saying that I would have another one. Nice 530i Sport would do just fine.

[r.welfare]

M50 is the iron block motor, is that correct? I have heard (VANOS aside) they are fairly bulletproof; finding a well looked after 320 or 325 early E36 coupe would probably be the ultimate but they are 20 years old now.

[JohnK]

That's right.

 

If you are wanting to bide your time a decent E36 will come up.

 

I bought an E36 320i Coupe on a K plate for £500 last year, 113k with full history and virtually immaculate.

[HMC]

Evidence of cooling system maintenence is more and more important as e39s get older, and previous keepers attempts at fixing problems.... I got my old e39 528i cheap as the PO suspected HGF, he had decided to remove the thermostat to 'help' it.

 

I wasnt so sure of his diagnosis- replaced the waterpump and a few dodgy hoses, and put a stat back in and all was well. As with johnk if I was dipping my toe back in with an E39 I'd go for a looked after 530I sport- a great all round package IMO

[Cavcraft]

Two grand would buy you a very nice E46. The six pot ones are ace fun, I had a 2.5 that was brilliant.

 

Pretty sure anything above that (2.8 and 3.0) needed a subframe mount modification as they couldn't cope with the extra poke of the engines, Tayne is your man here, he will tell you everything you need to know.

[EssDeeWon]

I had an E39 523i - Solid car, reliable, everything worked, buy one with service history, you can probably buy a very nice one for under £2k now. Ok yes they suffered some waterpump issues in the early E39 days but this would have been rectified many years ago on any remaining E39. Funnily enough I saw my old 523 last week just round the corner, still sounded lovely and seemed to be running fine.

 

I also had an E46 330ci, I have to say these are great driving machines, much fun as Billy says but some minor things let it down like window switches snapping off in your hand, or door locks falling apart! I felt the E39 was a better built car. Also the E46 is now Barry territory so good luck finding a nice genuine example with all the paperwork.

 

Had two E36's, one 318is and one 323i, both solid, never went wrong. All the above cars had done over 100k.

 

As for rust, well almost any car can rust, as long as you view the thing without a blindfold on you can see for yourself if there is rust, have to say none of mine had any rust.

 

I would recommend any of the above, just find a nice genuine example with service history. Like any car, a neglected example is not going to be much fun to own.

[r.welfare]

Thank you, gentlemen. I will keep my eyes open; I want to focus on something that is low owners, well looked after and not Barried.

[EssDeeWon]

Thank you, gentlemen. I will keep my eyes open; I want to focus on something that is low owners, well looked after and not Barried.

 

You wont go far wrong doing all the above 

 

Good Luck.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I can't add anything useful re engines as my e39 was a525d , but it was probably the best car I've ever owned. I've had supposedly better,posher,faster cars since , but that basic SE with cloth seats and 16" wheels was the most comfortable,relaxing car I've ever owned. It was a 2003 and had a rust spot on the screen pillar and boot lid when I bought it at 5 years old and 85,000 miles . I ran it to 340,000 miles over 3 years and neither scab got worse and the body and interior didn't age or wear at all, very little went wrong and anything that did was pennies to repair- eBay is full of cheap e39 bits ,mostly from Eastern Europe.

[spike60]

No1 son has just sold his very smart 2002 520i 2.2 with 120k because it went from 1L of oil per 1000 miles to 3L per 1000 and dropping onto 4 cylinders with a fault the expensive scanner couldn't pin point. The forums seemed to point at the breather system as a likely culprit but with a overhaul kit at about £100 and with the car needing 2 18" tyres and with a short MOT it was Ebayed as S or R, making £670.

A 530D with 233k and a broken gearbox was gotten to replace it and while it has many a fault, it ain't an oil drinker.

I own a 2000 Z3 with a late 2.8 which uses and loses no fluids, in 3 years it's had 2 cam sensors and the intake trunking replaced.

Something to watch on old E39's is the floor/sill/jacking points under the plastic covers are weak point for rotting, they seem worse if the covers are still on.

E39's do love a warning light, our records are 6 on one car or none on both for about 3 days.....

[Mike D]

I've had my 330ci for 3 years now and it has been fantastic, only things it has needed are a spring and thermostat, if he's going 6 cylinder he may as well go for the biggest one as they all use about the same amount of fuel in my experience *edit* it had an alternator too, I'd blanked that from my memory!

[colino]

My choice would be a 523iSE, auto (you can steptronic the ZF gearbox if you think you must, as its adaptable, after the first fortnight, you wont) in black with leather.  A 15 year old well looked after one will have its waterworks properly maintained, the gearbox fluid will have been changed, good oil and filters will have been used so the M52TU vanos will be fine, and it will have matching, decent low profiles.

The headlights will have been refurbished or changed and the annoying rust on the bonnet, sill ends and panel below the boot will still be fixable.

No idea what you are going to spend the leftover £1000 on though.

[RichardK]

When the electrics go, they are an absolute bastard to diagnose.

 

E39 528 is lovely otherwise. Trim falls off buttons and they rust. £2K should be enough for a really lovely one.

[cort16]

The m54 is more prone to oil leaks. Oil filter housing especially . They can also leak out the crank seal which is bad news (ask me how I know) so check the tray for oil.

 

For me an e39 530i sport pretty much does it all. Nice ones still make strong money though .

[EssDeeWon]

The m54 is more prone to oil leaks. Oil filter housing especially . They can also leak out the crank seal which is bad news (ask me how I know) so check the tray for oil.

 

For me an e39 530i sport pretty much does it all. Nice ones still make strong money though .

 

Ah yes, isn't it the Aegean models that still fetch good money? They are very nice.

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

Watch out for dodgy door seals on e46 coupes, they are almost all worn out by now. Around £300 each last time I checked if you could find any, BMW were out of stock and had no plans to make any more. Wind noise on the motorway can be unbearable once they go.

 

Window regulators are also almost all getting dodgy now which means the glass flaps about at higher speeds which makes the wind noise even worse.

 

Rusty brake pipes will need the tank dropping so up to around £300 to replace at a decent specialist.

 

Later ones do get through oil, at least 1 litre per 1000 miles. Can be helped by cleaning the pcv but not stopped so keep a bottle in the boot.

 

Coolant system a major weakness, watch for signs of overheating religiously.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I hate E46's with a venom, an E36 redesigned by a team of university educated halfwits to make everything that little bit less robust and 90 times harder to work on.

 

IF you can find one, an E36 328i Coupe is a far better bet. Sift through the rubbish and you will find a good one. E36's are getting a bit too old now but a good, properly maintained example is a lovely thing to be preserved. The E46 is just an expensive Sierra and not in a good way. E39's are bangers now and they feel like a tank to drive, especially a manual. Rust is an issue even on 2003 cars - boot lid, sills, rear arches and then you have the various ABS control units on ASC and DSC cars, flaky autos, cooling system......................it would need to be very cheap to tempt me. A late W210 bug eyed E Class is a better idea.

[gallondrunk]

Some E39s leak between the foam behind the door card and the door skin, especially on the rear doors. It's quite a simple job to repair with aftermarket rolls of putty, but worth checking for wet floors.

[EssDeeWon]

I think everyone has missed the elephant in the room....

 

What Welfare's brother really wants is an early Rover 75 V6 Connoisseur, low mileage 1 giffer owner with FSH for little more than what it costs for those new door sills on a BMW.

 

Just saying....