My dad had a e39 540i back in 2002 and it was an amazing car he drove it until 2010. I remember hearing the v8 sound what a beauty on wheels. E39 definitely the most beautiful car from bmw
Daniël almost exactly like my dad he bought a 540i e39 M-Package fully loaded with extras in Cosmoblack also in 2002 and drove it until 2013! 😱 I miss this car so much that I sometimes dream about it🤧
Great review, I have a 2001 530is with the black trim and a M logo on the steering wheel, seventeen inch wheels ans it sits lower then my other 2001 530i with chrome trim and a standard steering wheel and sixteen inch wheels. Make sure you change your timing chain guides, that is a failure point if you have more then 100,000 miles on the v8 540's.
@@KonWaiLuen Hai I need some info from u . Can u tell me different between e39 and m5 . For m5 between 1998 and 2002 are there only one varian only ? Are the m5 are the expensive version ? How can i get to know the m5 version ? By engine , or other else
I recommend that leather seats are regularly conditioned to keep supple . Exterior paint is waxed before winter or three times a year and service intervals and errors which will occur taken care of as soon as they occur to keep this superb car in check .
I’ve rented e39 m5 years ago when i was in Europe. One of the best M5 in my opinion. The shifting was very good. Never in my life I’ve remembered something so well, but this experience was. If i have a chance, would definitely wanna own e39 m5.
3:00 now those who wanna convert to M sport will change that to black and at 5:05, correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's the water hole to drain water from the inside of the doors, usually after rain, and when you wind down the windows. Most cars have this.
As an e39 owner, the fun feature that gets people excited is when I hold the open-door button on the fob and all the windows go down and the sunroof opens to cool the car. My AC after 24 years still runs cold, but I admit… I've never used the cooling timer but once.
The updated steptronic shifting direction also comes form input from manual drivers. The natural motion from 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 4th is down. When downshifting the motion reverses and going between those gears in a downshift is pushing up. With those being the most common directions for upshits and downshifts on a 5 speed manual it was decided it should be flipped from the original steptronic layout.
And he (the product leader for the E39) made the number one BMW 5 series, ever built. Classic in its restraint, which is a trait that the Japanese respect, and most often possess. These days, BMW fans reminisce about the long past years of "Restrained" design, both inside, and out. Also, the water leaking into your interior is due to the seals behind the door card needing a new bead of adhesive, unless they've been ruptured somewhere that's not the seal between the gasket, and the metal of the door. Nice E39 btw, and I enjoyed this video.
Thank for the review. Mine is a 2003 530 manual transmission. I am 70 years old and this car is my favorite of all time. I only drive it in the summer (Minnesota) and average 27mpg. Handling is better than my sons new Audi.
i got an e36 and cant believe a car which is 20 years old have plenty of smart features such as use the key to close and open all the windows simultaneously and so on. amazing over engineered car! love 90's bmw
Mercedes had the upper hand mainly with this feature, where they did it remotely in the same period...but as I have learned, most other things are better executed in the E39
The rear door leak you mentioned is usually due to the horizontal rubber strip sealing the window and the door panel (under the chrome strip). Happened to my Renault Scenic 2 before. Preventative measure would be to lubricate it with silicone lube meant for car window seals. You can get it at shops like Brothers or sometimes at Ace Hardware And by the way, if you prefer to have Bluetooth connectivity and don't mind giving up the CD changer, you can always plug in a Bluetooth module which uses the CD changer's connector interface. Lazada has a few options which you can explore
Another very common reason for leaking is a bad seal between the insulation material and the door itself. You can check for that by removing the door trim panel. Underneath you find the insulation material (thin foam covering the whole door). If this comes loose easily - especially at the lower end of the door, you have found your problem. When it rains, water leaks through the gaps between the windows and the window seals, runs down in the door and then leaks between that thin foam and the door itself. You will also find that the black seal around the thin foam is aged and hard. The fix is to remove the old seals, clean everything with break cleaner and install a new seal (butyl cord sealing).
these old contis still drive really well. i regularly drive my old man's w210, and although its the base engine, it drives so solidly with really good stability and just has that hefty feel. i would imagine your e39 would drive even better and sound better with that straight 6
Imagine the V8! Amazing sound, excessive power when you want it, intelligent technology that is smart enough to help owners keep their cars in good condition by alerting them to any problems the car may be having, or repairs that must be made soon, classy design, easy repairs, cheap and plentiful supply of parts, smooth as glass before M62tu, as well as more features than most people actually use. This car is beautiful.
Especially back then, when the lineup was just the 3/5/7 and Z - today there are about 100 product lines lol - to let a non-German design the E39 is even more amazing.
Im a Beamer fanatic and l always follow your videos.l own a E39 2002 and l love it.the rear window seals are the reason for water getting in through the door.
Love this video, learned so much new stuff even though I daily an e39! I hate that I have an aftermarket radio cause I can't reset the trip computers, or use those functions but I still see them on the dash
Parking sensors will definitely break very suddenly and you will know by uncontrollable beeping when reverse gear is selected. The sensors just plug out but engineer will be required as bumpers will have to be removed for diagnosis and fitting of new units.
love this! BMW bros across the java sea (from Sydney). I'm now up to my 7th e39 - they just are magnificent machones and i feel a responsibility to keep as many in tip top shape (not to mention they are a great investment)
There is even a third type of Instrument cluster in the E39, it was fitted in the first model years for E39s without onboard computer and it just displayed the outside temperature in the middle and didn't show open doors etc.
So kon, after owning and driving e39 for a while, how do you compare it to your waja and persona? I know its not a fair comparison, but I just want to know 😁
Stability control failure will show with a yellow triangle with a circle around it . In the UK this is an MOT failure and controller found in the engine will need replacement by mechanic.
Water barrier loosening in the rear doors is a very common problem on a e39. If the footwell for the rear passengers is wet after some rain, then replace the barrier soon.
In my E39 the little face on the steering wheel button is actually for for voice commands, it has a separate steering wheel button for calls. I don't know what the I/O button does, I heard it means input/output, but Idk what for.
The reason for the rear door leaking is inside the door the plastic liner is leaking and needs to be glued back in place or replaced. This is 100 percent reason and will stop the problem.
Nice video. Although personally i prefer the dash display that indicates with the diagram if doors are open and whatnot. It is interesting to me that the lower models: 528 ext.. Retain more features that the higher models do away with in the name of luxury. My e61 is a 530 and you can only check the oil via computer whereas lower models can check via dipstick. I would rather have a dipstick. On the e39, mine has the diagram display and it is a 528, whereas yours is probably a 530 or higher and i would say that having a diagram display is more luxurious than the other
The lower button on the left hand side of the steering wheel is voice command,hold the button,wait for the beep and if you have the commands you can speak them and the command will be carried out.
Hello! Did enjoy your video and I have got two E39 one same loaded as yours another 2 liter basic model. Can you help me with a bit of information in which side is LCM (Light Control Module) of right hand steering wheel? I know that it is a legroom of front seats and in you have came across to it can you tell me that or even make a video showing how to do the best way. Thank you! Raivis
How is it possible that your display on radio or gauges was soo perfect Mine look like chinese tea or alphabet :D Many people i know they own E39 have this same bug. ...My bmw loves water holding on back doors also as yours
Depends on your way of driving. My 530i (Manual) is able to do 850Km with a full tank (70L) only highway driving. But the good average is 10-11L on 100Km.
How did you figure out the recirculation button in the center did not work? I always use it but it's difficult to say if it is working or not. LOL I have the 528i.
03:15 about the chrome line ... in germany it's wrong all car's was avalible with chrome lines .... shadow line was an extra charge feature ... my dad had an e39 m5 and it was with chrome line
@@KonWaiLuen wow thats alot of money at that time, with interest rate included, this car cost a whopping of at least 300k. the depreciation of this car is just out of the world, its a steal already at RM24k. How see? haha
Hold down unlock button = all windows roll down Hold key in door anti-clockwise = all windows roll up. Flick hi beams after parking at night and lights will come on for 30 seconds.
Strange. Maybe you lock needs lube. Use graphite powder if you do, not an oil. I changed my engine mounts yesterday. OMG what difference in reduction in engine vibration into the cabin. Have you considered OEM clear tail lights and an M5 boot lid spoiler? You can buy them already painted Titanium silver.
My dad had a e39 540i back in 2002 and it was an amazing car he drove it until 2010. I remember hearing the v8 sound what a beauty on wheels. E39 definitely the most beautiful car from bmw
v8 is really out of this world .. currently undecided between 328i(e46) 528i(e39) & 728i(the Transporter) .. 🤔
@@arhalimi5883 all 3 are awesome to drive! I'm 21 and I have a e36 323ti compact also very nice car! Big fan of the 6 cylinders of bmw
Daniël almost exactly like my dad he bought a 540i e39 M-Package fully loaded with extras in Cosmoblack also in 2002 and drove it until 2013! 😱 I miss this car so much that I sometimes dream about it🤧
@@arhalimi5883 If considerimg having an oldtimer which price is going to go up, than 728i with manual transmission.
very limited 540i👍🏻
These functions came as standard on my F20 now. Let’s appreciate BMW tech which are always ahead of its time back in the days.
Great review, I have a 2001 530is with the black trim and a M logo on the steering wheel, seventeen inch wheels ans it sits lower then my other 2001 530i with chrome trim and a standard steering wheel and sixteen inch wheels. Make sure you change your timing chain guides, that is a failure point if you have more then 100,000 miles on the v8 540's.
Out of all the videos on RUclips your video was the most informative. Great review !
Glad it was helpful!
@@KonWaiLuen
Hai
I need some info from u . Can u tell me different between e39 and m5 .
For m5 between 1998 and 2002 are there only one varian only ?
Are the m5 are the expensive version ?
How can i get to know the m5 version ? By engine , or other else
I recommend that leather seats are regularly conditioned to keep supple . Exterior paint is waxed before winter or three times a year and service intervals and errors which will occur taken care of as soon as they occur to keep this superb car in check .
I’ve rented e39 m5 years ago when i was in Europe. One of the best M5 in my opinion. The shifting was very good. Never in my life I’ve remembered something so well, but this experience was.
If i have a chance, would definitely wanna own e39 m5.
They're like $15k or so
Indeed! The best looking 5 series of all time!
3:00 now those who wanna convert to M sport will change that to black
and at 5:05, correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's the water hole to drain water from the inside of the doors, usually after rain, and when you wind down the windows. Most cars have this.
As an e39 owner, the fun feature that gets people excited is when I hold the open-door button on the fob and all the windows go down and the sunroof opens to cool the car. My AC after 24 years still runs cold, but I admit… I've never used the cooling timer but once.
Excellent video, Just bought a 2003 530I M Sport with 141,000 mi. Loving it so far, look forward to more of your video's, Thanks
Well you got lied to. Only 2003 540i's were available in the m-sport package. Sorry bud.
You have 530i with M trim package. Just a quick Google search.
The updated steptronic shifting direction also comes form input from manual drivers. The natural motion from 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 4th is down. When downshifting the motion reverses and going between those gears in a downshift is pushing up. With those being the most common directions for upshits and downshifts on a 5 speed manual it was decided it should be flipped from the original steptronic layout.
And he (the product leader for the E39) made the number one BMW 5 series, ever built. Classic in its restraint, which is a trait that the Japanese respect, and most often possess. These days, BMW fans reminisce about the long past years of "Restrained" design, both inside, and out. Also, the water leaking into your interior is due to the seals behind the door card needing a new bead of adhesive, unless they've been ruptured somewhere that's not the seal between the gasket, and the metal of the door. Nice E39 btw, and I enjoyed this video.
Thanks for the tip! The water has not does not leak into the cabin, fortunately...
Its all about the little details in a BMW. Just love it!!!
Thank for the review. Mine is a 2003 530 manual transmission. I am 70 years old and this car is my favorite of all time.
I only drive it in the summer (Minnesota) and average 27mpg. Handling is better than my sons new Audi.
That is reputed to be the most optimum variant of the E39, being the most powerful 6-cylinder variant on offee
i got an e36 and cant believe a car which is 20 years old have plenty of smart features such as use the key to close and open all the windows simultaneously and so on. amazing over engineered car! love 90's bmw
Mercedes had the upper hand mainly with this feature, where they did it remotely in the same period...but as I have learned, most other things are better executed in the E39
The rear door leak you mentioned is usually due to the horizontal rubber strip sealing the window and the door panel (under the chrome strip). Happened to my Renault Scenic 2 before. Preventative measure would be to lubricate it with silicone lube meant for car window seals. You can get it at shops like Brothers or sometimes at Ace Hardware
And by the way, if you prefer to have Bluetooth connectivity and don't mind giving up the CD changer, you can always plug in a Bluetooth module which uses the CD changer's connector interface. Lazada has a few options which you can explore
Another very common reason for leaking is a bad seal between the insulation material and the door itself. You can check for that by removing the door trim panel. Underneath you find the insulation material (thin foam covering the whole door). If this comes loose easily - especially at the lower end of the door, you have found your problem. When it rains, water leaks through the gaps between the windows and the window seals, runs down in the door and then leaks between that thin foam and the door itself. You will also find that the black seal around the thin foam is aged and hard. The fix is to remove the old seals, clean everything with break cleaner and install a new seal (butyl cord sealing).
these old contis still drive really well. i regularly drive my old man's w210, and although its the base engine, it drives so solidly with really good stability and just has that hefty feel.
i would imagine your e39 would drive even better and sound better with that straight 6
Just curious, what is contis?
Imagine the V8! Amazing sound, excessive power when you want it, intelligent technology that is smart enough to help owners keep their cars in good condition by alerting them to any problems the car may be having, or repairs that must be made soon, classy design, easy repairs, cheap and plentiful supply of parts, smooth as glass before M62tu, as well as more features than most people actually use. This car is beautiful.
Kon’s video, like first before watching 🙏🏻
Spending just RM25k for all this. #Bargain
U are extremly correct
Especially back then, when the lineup was just the 3/5/7 and Z - today there are about 100 product lines lol - to let a non-German design the E39 is even more amazing.
Then they screwed up and let an American Chris Bangle be the chief designer
@@dariog36th and overtook Mercedes sales for the first time. A great decision.
@@oumaniac overtook them in sales at the cost of building crappy cars. Their reliability went way down after that.
@@dariog36th nothing to do with the exterior design
I think you can just wrap the chrome surrounds with gloss black. Love your car man. Share more of the inline 6 sounds.
Im a Beamer fanatic and l always follow your videos.l own a E39 2002 and l love it.the rear window seals are the reason for water getting in through the door.
Wow! Absolutely amazing video! ❤️ I love the E39 and it makes sense that it was designed by a Japanese national- the classic style is unprecedented!
Love this video, learned so much new stuff even though I daily an e39! I hate that I have an aftermarket radio cause I can't reset the trip computers, or use those functions but I still see them on the dash
I've always loved these older bmw's my uncle used to have an e46. It was a wonderful car.
Loving it … the only things that let me down is the cars headlight. The don’t really bright.
Parking sensors will definitely break very suddenly and you will know by uncontrollable beeping when reverse gear is selected.
The sensors just plug out but engineer will be required as bumpers will have to be removed for diagnosis and fitting of new units.
love this! BMW bros across the java sea (from Sydney). I'm now up to my 7th e39 - they just are magnificent machones and i feel a responsibility to keep as many in tip top shape (not to mention they are a great investment)
Most amazing car. Better than any new current BMW by guarantee! I own a E39 530d Touring of 2000 in almost new conditions!
very much appreciate the little things I as well did not know about my 99 E39. cheers.
Love the part where you silently enjoying the engine roar.
There is even a third type of Instrument cluster in the E39, it was fitted in the first model years for E39s without onboard computer and it just displayed the outside temperature in the middle and didn't show open doors etc.
Wow... super basic. Never seen those before.
@@KonWaiLuen yeah it is super basic, had it back then in my 1997😄
So kon, after owning and driving e39 for a while, how do you compare it to your waja and persona? I know its not a fair comparison, but I just want to know 😁
Reverse sensor block. : )
Stability control failure will show with a yellow triangle with a circle around it .
In the UK this is an MOT failure and controller found in the engine will need replacement by mechanic.
Water barrier loosening in the rear doors is a very common problem on a e39.
If the footwell for the rear passengers is wet after some rain, then replace the barrier soon.
Yea, i've read up on that. Not on my car yet, touchwood.
In my E39 the little face on the steering wheel button is actually for for voice commands, it has a separate steering wheel button for calls. I don't know what the I/O button does, I heard it means input/output, but Idk what for.
I had an e53 x5 and pushing the accelerator to the floor past the click resets the transmission adaptations. Good to do once a year.
The first time that Germans and Japanese collaborating doesnt end in disaster
My battery in the fob has completely died :( even after driving for ages it doesn’t lock / unlock on the fob. Have to put key in door
The reason for the rear door leaking is inside the door the plastic liner is leaking and needs to be glued back in place or replaced.
This is 100 percent reason and will stop the problem.
Nice video. Although personally i prefer the dash display that indicates with the diagram if doors are open and whatnot. It is interesting to me that the lower models: 528 ext.. Retain more features that the higher models do away with in the name of luxury. My e61 is a 530 and you can only check the oil via computer whereas lower models can check via dipstick. I would rather have a dipstick. On the e39, mine has the diagram display and it is a 528, whereas yours is probably a 530 or higher and i would say that having a diagram display is more luxurious than the other
Mine is a 520i actually, but it was the run out batch before the E60 launch, hence why it is pretty well specced
@@KonWaiLuen oh interesting! Well, it's a very nice car! I just got my first e39 this month! How long have you had yours?
can't wait for you to do a drive video with this car at ulu yam or genting.
Great video man, thanks for sharing
You finally have some nice creative cut of ur video,nice one!
IMO the best looking 5 series is a E34.
I own a E39 530i m sport.
The leaking is the vapour lock inside the door most of the time
The lower button on the left hand side of the steering wheel is voice command,hold the button,wait for the beep and if you have the commands you can speak them and the command will be carried out.
Tried before. Doesnt seem to work on this car. Could have been disabled
@@KonWaiLuen this funktion is not working because phone is not working.
Probably your car is not original complete.
Legend has it he still never blew his nose lol. Appreciate the info tho.
Hahahahaha... damn you 😅
I have an E 39 530i 2001 that I absolutely love. Did you mention the year of your car ?
Mine is a 2003 520i
The leaking water on the floor in the car comes from the drains being plugged.
Kon mind sharing what are the things that you have changed mechanically with this car? I am keen to know and your plans for future changes?
Cool video, beautiful car!! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thanks for watching!
I love your car.Amazing!!!
You have to spray some silicon spray on the rubber strip, it’s squeaking. My e46 has this sound too but it’s good after spraying
Oh I was wondering how to fix that, thanks!
Can be bought from Mr DIY. Spray around the metal and the silicon and also and the silicon and you can drive in peace! You’re welcome.
I drive a E46 but I have always think that E39 looks beautiful
Agreed. The shape has aged so well!
E39 was a car way ahead on it’s time
Agreed. Still good to drive!
Sir please do use car review of f10 m5
Thank sir
And cover the wear and tear items to look out for 2012
Hello! Did enjoy your video and I have got two E39 one same loaded as yours another 2 liter basic model. Can you help me with a bit of information in which side is LCM (Light Control Module) of right hand steering wheel? I know that it is a legroom of front seats and in you have came across to it can you tell me that or even make a video showing how to do the best way. Thank you! Raivis
good looking out there pimp suit great info..
Hai
What engin use by bmw m5 (1998-2002) ?
Kon, have you sold your Waja? If yes, will you be missing driving stick?
Waja's still there, but now undergoing a bit of mending at Wearnes. Stay tuned, got video coming up for that.
Keep up the good work! Nice review
Thanks for watching!
Hi Kon have you taken the e39 on long distance? How is the fuel consumption compared to say a toyota 2.0 camry?
Quality engineering 👌
Aww yeahhhh
Excellent video. Just excellent.
Thanks for watching!
How is it possible that your display on radio or gauges was soo perfect
Mine look like chinese tea or alphabet :D
Many people i know they own E39 have this same bug.
...My bmw loves water holding on back doors also as yours
I suspect previous owner must have fixed it
excellent video thanks mate!
dude, I got 14.2L/100km in my 528i and I thought it was terrible :))
the accordana in front of u, top govt car! hows the tyres?
1 full tank can survive how much KM Kon?
Depends on your way of driving.
My 530i (Manual) is able to do 850Km with a full tank (70L) only highway driving. But the good average is 10-11L on 100Km.
Same. 523i
I drive my 530d about 1350km with one tank
Kon, I like your "reverse parking sensor". Ingenious solution lol
Hi Kon,
Need Yr advise on E39 520i EGR maintain or delete.
Everytime I watch Aurizn RUclips gang. Bobby, Kon and Fadhil. It reminds me TGT gang. Bobby is Jeremy, Kon is James May and Fadhil is Richard. Hahaha
How did you figure out the recirculation button in the center did not work? I always use it but it's difficult to say if it is working or not. LOL
I have the 528i.
It worked, but was broken. Haha
How to turn on angel eyes stock
Mahjong table as a guide for spoiled reverse sensor haha
It is worth getting as a second car? Currently have a 1st gen myvi and wanted to get another bigger family car. Need advise, Thanks ~!
Absolutely. Hunt for a well cared example, standby abt 5-10k for restoration costs and you'll have a reliable daily ride.
This is the best car you can have
Im very lucky to have e39 as my first car!
Good video
Water leaking is quite common, even a 2 years old Proton Persona SV also facing same issue🤣
ZiXun Tan change your weather stripping inner and door lining. Solved the problem for me. Nb not persona. But ss model
The pdc and the circulating button is an easy fix... Search ebay
Yeah, I learned how to diagnose the PDC issue already. Gonna be in an upcoming video.
That’s good.. I owned 2 versions of 2003 e39 520i and 525i... Great car and timeless.. now I owned e53 2005 X5 3.0
in my opinion, the e39 and the f10 are tied for the best looking 5 series cars
Gorgeous car and your cheap fuel go well together. Londons mayor has extended ulez so mine will have to go in a year
03:15 about the chrome line ... in germany it's wrong all car's was avalible with chrome lines .... shadow line was an extra charge feature ... my dad had an e39 m5 and it was with chrome line
Had. You guys sold the car? E39 M5s are super expensive where we are now. Very rare numbers in our market.
@@KonWaiLuen yes its sold ... :( many years ago ... it was in imola red
How much does this car cost when brand new?
According to this article... RM285k autoworld.com.my/news/2002/06/25/0-financing-for-BMW-520i-now-available/
@@KonWaiLuen wow thats alot of money at that time, with interest rate included, this car cost a whopping of at least 300k. the depreciation of this car is just out of the world, its a steal already at RM24k. How see? haha
How to play a CD 520i Bmw? tnx
Is the e39 528i 2000 has the same steering wheel as a standard?
This particular steering wheel I have seem to be only found in final batch E39s from 2002/3.
you are driving with the lights off mate
Thank you very much
Nice vid!
Thanks!
The E39 did come with keyless entry
I didnt know keyless entry even existed during the E39's time!
My 97 540i sport does
Kon can u give me a ride?
I have E39 and my dashboard speaks German. How do I change it to English
You probably need OBD access to re-code the cluster language.
Kon i saw your car at cheras traders square yst
Can't be me. Wasn't there yesterday.
Hmm same rim same colour same num plate that was what i saw la maybe i saw wrong num plate
Hold down unlock button = all windows roll down
Hold key in door anti-clockwise = all windows roll up.
Flick hi beams after parking at night and lights will come on for 30 seconds.
The window roll feature was stated in the user's handbook but I couldnt get it to work.
Strange. Maybe you lock needs lube. Use graphite powder if you do, not an oil.
I changed my engine mounts yesterday. OMG what difference in reduction in engine vibration into the cabin.
Have you considered OEM clear tail lights and an M5 boot lid spoiler? You can buy them already painted Titanium silver.
Next time, make sure you carry and USE a handkerchief, your noisy sniffing is very offputting.
Which E39 is this? Year and model?
2003 520i M54 2.2
@@KonWaiLuen i just purchased the e39, 525d, 2002 here in London for £1600. Very pleased with the car so far....
Kon can review bmw e38 the 7series???
Been through 5 remotes.....not a one recharged
greetz from germany