@@jxntxn1462 kinda 540i e39s have premature timing guid failures thats like the most expensive thing other than that if your handy kinda guy its not to bad just hope you dont have gf because youll spend alot of timr with your e39 in the garadge
@@ericu1196 i would not recommend buying one. They are endless money pits especially the 540i's, and if you are getting the v8 version thats the worst engine ever made, plus all the other stuff that might be wrong with the car, like all the plastics cracking inside and in the engine bay. But of you are rich and you really want one, go ahead
Eric u if you can diy you cars then I would say go for it. They are definitely a constant maintenance vehicle, but he'll your not driving a chevy. They are awesome cars just find one with decent maintenance history.
Can't complain! It's in good shape given it's age, mileage, and use. This is a daily driver for the owner and living in Canada doesn't help when it comes to exterior condition. Our E38 740iL really shows it's age.
The 540iA sport has a 3.15 rear end that helps it off the line. It's really an underrated car. People dismiss it because it's an auto but that rear end makes up for any possible discriminations...
Very good point, I hate the discrimination a lot of people express towards automatics, considering both a manual and auto were available giving people choice.
Perpetual Radio Networks I had a 01 528i Msport with the 5speed manual, buttery smooth and the inline6 seems underated felt like it had plenty more power than advertised
these cars are not for the Faint at Heart with no Balls!, .or People worried about Gas Mileage or Up-keep. Buy one and Drive the Hell out of it every day but keep it up and Take CARE of It,Before you "DIE" or you won't go to Heaven !
Javani S Everything aside from the cheap plastic timing guides and coolant issues the motor seems pretty solid as long as proper maintenance is taken into account.
Love my e39 540i M Tech. Had it 6 years for now, garaged it for two and bringing it back out now and it puts the same look on my face every time I take it out.
You are my brother! 99 Sport 6 speed. I smile every time I drive it! Even if it is just the 1.2 miles to work. It is an exciting 1.2 miles. Have a couple of other cars for daily drivers but the bimmer day is special. Hey man. Did we meet in an Atlanta airport? Dude knew when the county sheriff department had their shift change and would go road racing every Sunday morning.
Although I didn't get lucky enough to get an M sport, I have been daily driving a 540i automatic for a while now and you CAN NOT beat the price to performance on these cars. I flog my 540i daily and maintain it every weekend. Near perfect relationship.
I used to daily drive a 2000 540i 6-speed manual. The M-Sport and regular genuine Sport Package cars have the same suspension. The only functional difference, at least with US versions, is the 17 inch versus 18 inch wheels. The rest is cosmetic. The 540i 6-speed was almost an M5 with 30% of the maintenance costs. It was a brilliant machine, fantastic steering, one of the best manual transmissions to daily drive. I drove a few automatics, and they are a tad slower, but it's not really noticeable from the butt dyno. You need to be counting tenths of a second to really see a difference. So, as far as I'm concerned, the 540i sport pack and M-sport cars are fantastic daily drivers. Decent fuel economy, and also a good deal faster than the 740i Sport Pack cars...
@@frederiquekruger4818 convert it man. Where I'm from they never made the manual either. I got the gearbox from germany, the driveshaft from brazil and i had the pedal box and coding stuff myself. It's not that hard to be fair. Just difficult finding the parts. Took me a year to find everything. But it's SO worth it
Recently bought a 01 740i m sport from the original owner, test drove a 03 540i 6spd m sport during my search, they do run well. Sadly it was in too poor of condition to purchase. Watching your videos intrigued me enough to look into the e38's, glad I did, at least at this early point.
Glad to hear it! We started filming these videos to help people who are interested in picking up these types of cars. Also because we want to buy these types of cars and can't find any videos about them!
I had a 2002 6speed manual 3years ago..I give my car to my friend to make a spin and he crashed it...I miss that car..But i have e38 740i 6speed manual so this is even better than e39..sry for my english...Btw Great rewiew as always 💪
That sucks about your E39, I'm sure they felt awful about crashing it. I know we're always very careful when taking out these cars, even more so when the owners give them to us for an extended period of time!
The E39 5 series was designed under the direction of Wolfgang Reitzle, but the actual design of the 5 series was penned by one Chris Bangle of E65 66 (7) series and E60 (5) series fame. Bangle didn't actually pen the E65/66 and E60, this was done by one Adrian Van Hooydonk, who was Bangles underling at that particular time. The E38 & E39 are the pinnacle of BMW design language, they are still very good looking cars even now 20 yrs on. Your comments about the steering is interesting, as the V8's were all recirculating ball and nut, which went through a specially designed channel through the sump. All other E39's had rack and pinion steering, which one would think would be the best in the road feel department. Anyway I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I purchased a black E39 540i executive trim model, it was a fantastic car. I changed the suspension over to the M Sport spec.....A truly magnificent car.
So, this is a great video! Reactions are fantastic. I just bought 2 weeks ago a 1999 540i Steptronic. 196,000 K on it. Needs some care, but will be ready for the spring. Wasn't able to floor it as the car had been sitting a long time and front calipers almost seized. Motor sound great. M62TUB44. Paid $2250 as is, so little chance of buyers remorse. Looking forward to it. Driving a 1998 318i as my winter car. Fun to drive.
Very nice! The E36 is still one of the cars we haven't been able to feature yet but want to. Sounds like you got a pretty good deal on the E39, can't argue with that price!
Hope you've got deep pockets man... My '00 540i 6spd cost me $10k over 5 years of ownership! And most of that money was in parts, as I'm a mechanic and I did most of the work myself. If you're on a tight budget, or can't do your own repairs, run away from that car as fast as you can!
Just bought a 03 540i msport automatic. I purchased it from the auction, it said it was running and when I won the bid I realized that it needed the timing chain repair. Over all the car cosmetically it's in decent shape. I ha e it at my buddy's garage and were in the process of doing the work. I'm planning on keeping it for a long time so I'm willing to put the work in. Alpine white grey interior
Hopefully you can get the chain job done easily enough and get it on the road to enjoy it! Sounds like a good deal on it, especially if you’re able to do as much of the work yourself as possible.
Just finished the chain guides and waterpump and other random things. Only thing is its idle isn't smooth I think the timing is off, I may have to take it to an indy shop since I dont have the bmw specific timing tools. V ed ry excited though, shes getting close hopefully I will be enjoying this car very soon.
The tight steering is a common thing, I have a 2000 528i M Sport and the steering has a heavy tight feel to it when driving and is nice and light when parking, just another reason why E39 is the best 5 series ever.
I have a topaz blue with black interior 540i ///M package 6 speed manual bone stock with 87k on it love this car lots of power I wonder how rare are they now and what’s the going price is ???
Very nice! Prices are going up for cars like that, especially a manual, and especially with low mileage like that. BringATrailer.net is where most of these classics get sold now, they usually keep the historical sales data, and I know a number of these have passed through there.
What are the pros and cons vs E39 M5 on reliability, performance and consumption? Is the M5 really worth it or is the 540i a good balance of these 3 items?
I think from an appearance perspective the 2003s were basically the same. They added the DVD navigation system in 2002 and tiny appearance changes in 2003.
540i M sport is different than a regular 540i or 740i: it has a lower axle ratio, high stall torque converter and transmission is programmed to shift late, among other things.
I have a 1999 540i w/ 106k has a automatic and am getting upgrades threw my local Dinan shop here in the bay area CA . was not familiar with the lower axle ratio or the converter . would you recomend I get those for my car ? Next week im getting the dinan cai and stage 2 software then the automatic trans software. Any recommendations would be helpful. Thank you
Typical for other BMWs we've driven. I believe we spoke to the handling but might have missed on the suspension. It's firm overall, you definitely feel the road.
It was a true 'M Sport' package, yes. Different than the regular Sport packages offered on most of the other cars. 2003 was also the first year it was marketed in the US, but most markets ended up getting it in 2001.
Are there different "m-sport levels"? I looked up the vin and it showed my options and showed the m-sport package, but my car doesn't have some things like the m trim under the doors. Got my 2001 540i 6 speed msport for $5,300 and did $600 in maintenance (on the engine, car was in great shape otherwise). Man do I love it
From the research we did a true M Sport should have all the options we listed off, as BMW also offered a regular Sport model for the E39 which might have technically added the 'M Sport' package. We didn't get a definitive answer though during our research, lots of conflicting data out there since these cars really came out before the internet was a big deal.
PRN ok. Yeah I kinda came across the same thing. Just was wondering if some day I ever had to sell it (really hope I never have to) if I should list it as a m-sport. I guess I will because as you said it is in sorts a m-sport. Thanks!
if you live in states, all 2001 model calls sport only, if you want true M sport you will need to get the 2003 model instead, hope that answer your question
Chris Fortney You can clearly tell it’s a bigger car. It just feels more solid, and you really feel it pull. I’ve never driven the wagon, so can’t really account for it exactly.
We still haven't had the pleasure of driving the E36 in any format, but like JT King mentioned it'll feel bigger, and likely a little more modern since the E36 was replaced halfway through the E39's life.
I just picked up my first BMW for 2000 its a 1999 540i e39 automatic w/106k on it only 1 owner. It's stock but I am going to up grade it any recommendations besides a Dinan CAI & stage 2 tuning. I am eventually going to get the hi flow throtle body and try to find the intake manifold upgrade for good price. Any help with this id trully thankful for! Thanks for your time
What's the highest mileage you'd consider acceptable to purchase this as a daily, looking at a 2003 540i M sport with 170k miles but dont want a reliability nightmare
High mileage isn't always a bad thing, but it's the service history that's the most important. A 20+ year old car with low mileage might not have had regular service, especially time-based critical maintenance done to it so you might end up spending more. 170k seems like an average amount of mileage, I'd strongly suggest having it looked at by a trusted mechanic no matter what.
I have a 2002 540ia M sport but she needs a lot of TLC,...by which I mean money lol. I have already put in so much money but I can't get myself to sell it, it is such a beautiful car. When I finish school I'm thinking of restoring it. Thanks for the awesome video!
Glad to hear it! These cars are pretty great, and finding them is becoming difficult too. Hopefully you'll be able to put some time into yours the same way we hope for ours too.
got a 99 540i 6 speed for 2k and a parts car for dirt cheap, the valve covers were off and the cams looked mint so i pulled the motor and am doing a full build. soon to go in my orient blau 540i
Absolutely! I'm a big fan of automatics, I don't subscribe to the whole Manual Transmission or Nothing crowd who like to shame others. Get it, enjoy it!
The E55 is definitely faster, the ride is better, and I feel like the seats were better also. The 540i surprised me more though, I wasn't expecting it to be as fast as it was. I think if we had the opportunity to put both on the track it would be a close race.
If you can get your mits on one of these then snag it! These cars are a real drivers machine and are a joy to drive even when driven to the edge. Get one asap!
When I look at European cars from this era I always search the price of the car at the time it was new. And with this motorcar the price is telling you that you are getting into one hell of motorcar. This is a true sports sedan and believe me when I say that they will never build such a motorcar again. Even the standard 540i is amazing. In Australia we supercharge them. I'm serious! These V8s are tough as and supercharged?! Forget about it!
If you're selling the E38, then I'd say no. If you have the opportunity to have both then it might be worth picking up. From a reliability perspective it's not going to be any better than the E38, but the true 540i M Sport models keep going up in price so getting one now might be the only way, a few years from now they'll be more expensive.
@@PRNTestDrive I appreciate you alot. I already own 14 cars I'm just adding to a collection. But I'm using my 740il as my daily driver right now and I want something manual
The V8 is good but if it isn't m5 manual, I prefer the larger straight sixes (528 and 530) as they offer performance in an affordable package. They still have around 200hp and lots of torque from the factory and are easy to get running with more power than that
As a daily, maybe a 5. They aren’t the worst cars imaginable but small things can make a big difference especially if you’re relying on it every day. We usually don’t recommend these older BMWs as a daily driver unless you’re able to stay ahead of the maintenance and can work on it yourself.
Great review, E39 is the best looking 5 series made! Such a timeless design. Sidenote: it is only refered to "M Sport" within the car community for the '03 facelift. BMW never officially called it as that.
We're not 100% sure, but we're extremely disappointed. The entire 20 minutes were narrated however our little Samsung didn't connect properly to our microphone. We had to delete the video as an audio-less tour was pretty useless. Hoping to run some tests and make the next one perfect!
Its wonderful here in Michigan and we can speed wherever we want. Going 80 mph on I-696 will get you run over, its more like a NASCAR track than a highway system ever since our governor defunded the state police. At night its like Forza, everyone is doing 100-150, on surface streets. As a kid I had my 5.0 notch with the needle buried as a sport bike and a 959 blew by me like I was standing still. Red Wings, Pistons, Lions and Tigers players are notorious driving from the West side to Grosse Pointe and back for mansion parties. Its only in winter do the speeds drop to 70-80.
About to pick up an 03 540i Msport this weekend. Its an automatic but looking to daily it seeing how i already own a 1992 Miata 5speed. Definitely excited to feel the difference in ride quality and hopefully some really good sound cancelation 🤙🔥
It's hard to fully compare the two since they're different segments, the 540i being a larger car but both with similar engines. The C43 was a bigger surprise since it's size made the car feel faster. I'd probably take the Mercedes if both were available at the same price/condition.
I believe the 535i with the M62TUB35 motor was a Euro-exclusive model, if we end up coming across one that's been imported then we'll see what we can do!
thanks guys! I'm considering to buy some "family car", sounds like 540i would be the good choice then :) Is the automatic gearbox ok? I only drove manual all my life, so I'm a little skeptical about it. It's hard to find a nice manual 540
Reviewer says "the gas gauge isn't divided equally at the halfway mark". The fuel tanks capacity is 70 litres, half of which is 35... so the 30 litre mark is correctly just to the left of centre (like a lot of BMW owners....)
I personally like the transmission used in the 97 model better that what I have but I had a 2000 and I just didn’t like how it wouldn’t stay in the gear
That's too bad! We haven't started our research yet on the C32 so we're going to have to look into the reliability issues when we get the video on it ready.
PRN to save you some time, the major issues are: supercharger bearing. Also there is the notorious intercooler leak that plagues the m112k and m113k and is a pita to fix, the intercooler is inside the V between the cylinders, and has the supercharger on top, so the component most responsible for keeping your engine cool is surrounded by heat, bad idea. The cats often fail. Window regulators. I remember when I sold it back in 09 after owning it for about 3 years the repairs totaled slightly north of $20k, and I did some of the maintenance myself.
hi, I'm the owner of this 540i M sport, car has over 250,000 km at the moment, car is relatively reliable, maintenance up to date, so far I just got the secondary air pump replaced, valve cover gasket and most importantly the timing chain rail guide replaced. Owning many BMWs from the past I would say this one is pretty reliable compare to a lot of newer models, especially to our E65 745li, that thing is a pain in the ass....
I used to have a 750il and left a bad taste in my mouth due to the maintenance costs. Beautiful car and great when it worked but was a money pit. I've been looking for another BMW and heard the e39 is alot more reliable and more practical and maintenance costs is lower. Any truth to that?
The engine maintenance/issues between the E39 540i and E38 740i/L are the same, and can get costly. With he 5 Series you don't have to worry about all the other tech like a self-levelling rear suspension, or sport shocks that can also add up in cost. The E39 is likely going to be easier to service/maintain, but it's still about the same level of practicality and reliability as the 7 Series.
@@PRNTestDrive ok, mine was the V12 so that's a one thing I dont have to worry about. Just bought a 2003 540i m sport today. Hopefully it's a good one.
You got a new Watcher and Im gonna ask myself:where you've been til today?I enjoy your style of moderating and in this case of the M5 here you were totaly right with: if you got a chance to buy one,buy one!!great Drivers Car!but unfortunately some of them are in real bad conditions - take a good look and better do it twice... Of course the biggest question is the Price,but better pay a few dollars more for shot one with good Substance!
That's definitely true, a lot of these older BMWs and Mercedes models are in very rough shape, we've spotted a few W210 E 55 AMGs on the road with significant rust issues, and this 540i also has some exterior troubles. We see a few E39s on the road from time to time, we'd love to buy one still despite it being a very similar experience to our E38.
Unfortunately that's how a lot of them get sold off now. If you're able to do the work yourself you can score a fantastic price for a car like this, or even try to flip them.
Man, I am undecided... since you drove both, I would like your opinion, I want another fast sedan and its either the GS400 or the 540i. I used to have an Alpina B10 4.6 and had to sell it due to finantial problems, and now its impossible to buy it back because of the market value on those. I like the looks of the e39 better, but then lexus reliability, they seem to be pretty even performance wise.
Performance would probably be pretty even, whether you're looking at two completely stock cars or what's available by boosting things in the aftermarket for either. It's true that the looks of the E39 are incredible, but the GS 400 is harder to find, I spot them maybe once or twice a year, I can count how many I've seen since I filmed the 98 a few years ago on one hand, whereas the E39 is a little more common. Personally if it were my money and both were available configured the way I'd want them and pricing was about the same, I'd take the Lexus.
Hey Nile! Good to see you have more new material. Obviously they are very different cars, but would you say that the difference in speed/acceleration is great or very little compared to your 7 series? Also, I have to know how that L7 is going to turn out!
I'd say the acceleration feels a lot faster than the 7 Series, helps having a bit of extra power and less weight. The 540i lost traction on our launches, whereas the 7 only spins the wheels on wet road or with DSC disabled.
Not to mention the views too! People are seriously interested still in these older German cars, we're happy that it remains one of the most popular episodes for us in 2018.
My First car was a 528i from 1999 it was so Hot with his 255/40r17 in the back and 235/45r17 in Front I Really Love car that have bigger backwhweels than Front Wheels!
![KSI - Dirty [Official Visualiser]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VoDh1h1dPUE/mqdefault.jpg)
Respect for not putting M5 badge
It would be against this show's ethics to film an episode with fake badges on it.
PRN_TestDrive My man!! 👊👊👊👊 Absolutely Respect that!!
Still has an m badge on the back. I call those “Mposters” 😅
@@NickHazletonMusic true that
@@NickHazletonMusic Yup, that's gotta go too.
Every time I see positive reviews on the E39 540i, makes me just want to get in mine and drive it (':
Do it!
Do you spend a lot on repairs?
@@jxntxn1462 kinda 540i e39s have premature timing guid failures thats like the most expensive thing other than that if your handy kinda guy its not to bad just hope you dont have gf because youll spend alot of timr with your e39 in the garadge
@@maumuse2211 thanks
Love my 03 540i M Sport 6spd. 77k miles. Smells like new.
Very nice, hold onto it if you can!
I have a 03 540i m sport thats been garage kept for years, it only has 7k miles on it, my brother also has the wagon version in the same color
Has it been a reliable car? Looking at one soon.
@@ericu1196 i would not recommend buying one. They are endless money pits especially the 540i's, and if you are getting the v8 version thats the worst engine ever made, plus all the other stuff that might be wrong with the car, like all the plastics cracking inside and in the engine bay. But of you are rich and you really want one, go ahead
Eric u if you can diy you cars then I would say go for it. They are definitely a constant maintenance vehicle, but he'll your not driving a chevy. They are awesome cars just find one with decent maintenance history.
Not bad for a 16 years old car
Can't complain! It's in good shape given it's age, mileage, and use. This is a daily driver for the owner and living in Canada doesn't help when it comes to exterior condition. Our E38 740iL really shows it's age.
The 540iA sport has a 3.15 rear end that helps it off the line. It's really an underrated car. People dismiss it because it's an auto but that rear end makes up for any possible discriminations...
Very good point, I hate the discrimination a lot of people express towards automatics, considering both a manual and auto were available giving people choice.
i have a 2000 540i sport man i was waiting for that reaction when you floored it.
We really liked it, it was a surprise for sure! We drove a couple more AMGs this week and this 540i still gave us a bigger surprise than those.
Naren Sookraj i have one too :o
I miss my 540i/6 it was the most fun I've ever had, it has inspired me to want an M5 of a similar year
Try a 98 gs400, it’ll surprise you as well
Perpetual Radio Networks I had a 01 528i Msport with the 5speed manual, buttery smooth and the inline6 seems underated felt like it had plenty more power than advertised
these cars are not for the Faint at Heart with no Balls!, .or People worried about Gas Mileage or Up-keep. Buy one and Drive the Hell out of it every day but keep it up and Take CARE of It,Before you "DIE" or you won't go to Heaven !
Well said!
these are just wonderful cars, but people must keep them up, thank you !..
just gotta love the E39!!!!!!!!!
Can't go wrong with a good looking E39!
@@PRNTestDrive Mine just hit 300K and going strong
Javani S Everything aside from the cheap plastic timing guides and coolant issues the motor seems pretty solid as long as proper maintenance is taken into account.
Love my e39 540i M Tech. Had it 6 years for now, garaged it for two and bringing it back out now and it puts the same look on my face every time I take it out.
Hold onto it if you can! These are some special cars and they're only going to continue to grow in demand & value.
You are my brother! 99 Sport 6 speed. I smile every time I drive it! Even if it is just the 1.2 miles to work. It is an exciting 1.2 miles. Have a couple of other cars for daily drivers but the bimmer day is special. Hey man. Did we meet in an Atlanta airport? Dude knew when the county sheriff department had their shift change and would go road racing every Sunday morning.
Although I didn't get lucky enough to get an M sport, I have been daily driving a 540i automatic for a while now and you CAN NOT beat the price to performance on these cars. I flog my 540i daily and maintain it every weekend. Near perfect relationship.
That's great to hear! They're fantastic cars, don't let anyone tell you otherwise just because it's an automatic!
2:48 In 2001 (not early 2001) the gear switch direction was changed to backwards for upshifts and forwards for downshifts.
Fair enough
I used to daily drive a 2000 540i 6-speed manual. The M-Sport and regular genuine Sport Package cars have the same suspension. The only functional difference, at least with US versions, is the 17 inch versus 18 inch wheels. The rest is cosmetic. The 540i 6-speed was almost an M5 with 30% of the maintenance costs. It was a brilliant machine, fantastic steering, one of the best manual transmissions to daily drive. I drove a few automatics, and they are a tad slower, but it's not really noticeable from the butt dyno. You need to be counting tenths of a second to really see a difference. So, as far as I'm concerned, the 540i sport pack and M-sport cars are fantastic daily drivers. Decent fuel economy, and also a good deal faster than the 740i Sport Pack cars...
I really wish I can find a 540i with the 6 speed manual. Where I am from, finding a 540i sport is rare and expensive enough.
I really miss mine and with upgrades the pill was unreal. If it wasn’t for a crack in the block I would have kept the car.
@@frederiquekruger4818 convert it man. Where I'm from they never made the manual either. I got the gearbox from germany, the driveshaft from brazil and i had the pedal box and coding stuff myself. It's not that hard to be fair. Just difficult finding the parts. Took me a year to find everything. But it's SO worth it
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
My dream car, I have a 2010 E90 330i but I always wanted a E39 540i, but I’m scared of the M52 chain guide woes
The job seems hard but apparently if you know what you're doing it's not that bad overall.
@@PRNTestDrive sadly i dont know how ot replace them and its an expensive job to have it done
I had this exact car . Great drive . Can't go wrong but beware of the timing chain and coolant problems . Excellent review man
Glad you liked it, thanks! Coolant issues and timing chain guides are definitely things to look at fully when buying one.
Recently bought a 01 740i m sport from the original owner, test drove a 03 540i 6spd m sport during my search, they do run well. Sadly it was in too poor of condition to purchase. Watching your videos intrigued me enough to look into the e38's, glad I did, at least at this early point.
Glad to hear it! We started filming these videos to help people who are interested in picking up these types of cars. Also because we want to buy these types of cars and can't find any videos about them!
Have bought a Bmw 540i touring 1998, what a beast, you are right about that Beast With Wheels and it Goes.
Nice! Hold onto it if you can.
@@PRNTestDrive i will hold it till the end, best engineering of BMW e39
I own a 2001 540i with 270000 miles, drives amazing tough engine and still does 140+
Very nice! Glad to hear it's still performing great for you with 270k on the odometer, goes to show that these cars can last if you make them!
I have a 99 540 M Sport 6 speed. Got it to 130 then lost my will :) 125,000 miles
I've got an 03 540 msport 6-SPEED! Just did a muffler delete, and the steering is tight. It's just like that.
Good to know!
Derrick G muffler delete is so amazing
Derrick G post an exhaust video
Dominic rached, good idea
How did you get the steering to be tight?
Best sedan in the world, awesome machine
We agree, these are definitely great cars to own. We saw quite a few E39s this past weekend.
I had a 2002 6speed manual 3years ago..I give my car to my friend to make a spin and he crashed it...I miss that car..But i have e38 740i 6speed manual so this is even better than e39..sry for my english...Btw Great rewiew as always 💪
That sucks about your E39, I'm sure they felt awful about crashing it. I know we're always very careful when taking out these cars, even more so when the owners give them to us for an extended period of time!
BMWE38 and he crashed it* 😂😘
He’s not your friend.
Never
Man you crazy!! I wouldn't let drive my BMW cars to no body except my mechanic!!
The owner could have cleaned the interior, I would have done bearing in mind my car is being featured on a RUclips channel....
I mean I don’t disagree, however we’re stuck with what we get.
The E39 5 series was designed under the direction of Wolfgang Reitzle, but the actual design of the 5 series was penned by one Chris Bangle of E65 66 (7) series and E60 (5) series fame.
Bangle didn't actually pen the E65/66 and E60, this was done by one Adrian Van Hooydonk, who was Bangles underling at that particular time.
The E38 & E39 are the pinnacle of BMW design language, they are still very good looking cars even now 20 yrs on. Your comments about the steering is interesting, as the V8's were all recirculating ball and nut, which went through a specially designed channel through the sump. All other E39's had rack and pinion steering, which one would think would be the best in the road feel department.
Anyway I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I purchased a black E39 540i executive trim model, it was a fantastic car. I changed the suspension over to the M Sport spec.....A truly magnificent car.
They really are! One of the best looking cars from the 90s. We still see lots of them on the road.
So, this is a great video! Reactions are fantastic. I just bought 2 weeks ago a 1999 540i Steptronic. 196,000 K on it. Needs some care, but will be ready for the spring. Wasn't able to floor it as the car had been sitting a long time and front calipers almost seized. Motor sound great. M62TUB44. Paid $2250 as is, so little chance of buyers remorse. Looking forward to it. Driving a 1998 318i as my winter car. Fun to drive.
Very nice! The E36 is still one of the cars we haven't been able to feature yet but want to. Sounds like you got a pretty good deal on the E39, can't argue with that price!
Hope you've got deep pockets man... My '00 540i 6spd cost me $10k over 5 years of ownership! And most of that money was in parts, as I'm a mechanic and I did most of the work myself.
If you're on a tight budget, or can't do your own repairs, run away from that car as fast as you can!
I owned a 540 M, aside from the few issues in the engine cooling system the car is a thrill to drive.
Glad to hear it! Engine cooling is certainly something that could have been improved on this era of BMW.
Just bought a 03 540i msport automatic. I purchased it from the auction, it said it was running and when I won the bid I realized that it needed the timing chain repair. Over all the car cosmetically it's in decent shape. I ha e it at my buddy's garage and were in the process of doing the work. I'm planning on keeping it for a long time so I'm willing to put the work in. Alpine white grey interior
Hopefully you can get the chain job done easily enough and get it on the road to enjoy it! Sounds like a good deal on it, especially if you’re able to do as much of the work yourself as possible.
@@PRNTestDrive Thanks just ordered the parts, I will keep you posted
Just finished the chain guides and waterpump and other random things. Only thing is its idle isn't smooth I think the timing is off, I may have to take it to an indy shop since I dont have the bmw specific timing tools. V ed ry excited though, shes getting close hopefully I will be enjoying this car very soon.
Car is running great. Super excited
@@troylogan3653 glad to hear it!
I had one for years from nearly new. Biggest problem is the alternator reliability and the radiators don't last. Still a superb car.
There's certainly a lot that can go wrong, if the only major problem you had was the alternator than it's not bad at all!
I just bought one of these 540i sport high tech(australia) absolutely inlove with it
Enjoy it!
Hey man I'm my area there is a 540i for sale 1500 only problems are pcv valve and knock sensor is that worth the buy
The tight steering is a common thing, I have a 2000 528i M Sport and the steering has a heavy tight feel to it when driving and is nice and light when parking, just another reason why E39 is the best 5 series ever.
No doubt! We've got Servotronic steering on our E38 7 Series also.
I daily an 02 540i m sport and I love it so much!! Keeping it as long as I can!!
Glad to hear it! We agree, if you own one of these hold onto it.
Nice. I got a 98 528i with 175,000 miles 😎
absolutely best reviewer on youtube, at this point..... great vid
Thank you, we really appreciate that!
I have a topaz blue with black interior 540i ///M package 6 speed manual bone stock with 87k on it love this car lots of power I wonder how rare are they now and what’s the going price is ???
Very nice! Prices are going up for cars like that, especially a manual, and especially with low mileage like that. BringATrailer.net is where most of these classics get sold now, they usually keep the historical sales data, and I know a number of these have passed through there.
Perpetual Radio Networks thank you for the info
Nice to see a great Ontario review!
Glad you enjoyed it! I was lucky to get a number of great cars to film when I was living there.
What are the pros and cons vs E39 M5 on reliability, performance and consumption? Is the M5 really worth it or is the 540i a good balance of these 3 items?
This one would likely be better for reliability, as the M5s or any older M Car is going to get pushed hard by previous owners.
E38&E39 - best cars! I just bought my third E39
Yes they are!
Please do a review on the w211 e55 amg or w211 e63 amg.
We've got them on our list! The W211 is an interesting car, we don't see many E55s of those on the road.
What year did these start sucking? is a 2003 same as a 2001?
I think from an appearance perspective the 2003s were basically the same. They added the DVD navigation system in 2002 and tiny appearance changes in 2003.
You just convinced me. I've been eyeing one up and I'm going to put a deposit on it this week.
Congrats! We love hearing about new purchases for cars like this, more of them need to be saved.
Cash out pimp. Repairs are gonna be needed, well restoration.
Best looking bmw
Can't go wrong with BMW's design from the mid 90s, that's for sure.
Are those stock headlights? I didn't know halo lights went on the 2001 e39s
Might be, but at the very least they're off a 2003 and just retrofitted.
540i M sport is different than a regular 540i or 740i: it has a lower axle ratio, high stall torque converter and transmission is programmed to shift late, among other things.
Some of the reasons why the M Sport is such a popular car for enthusiasts to find!
I have a 1999 540i w/ 106k has a automatic and am getting upgrades threw my local Dinan shop here in the bay area CA . was not familiar with the lower axle ratio or the converter . would you recomend I get those for my car ? Next week im getting the dinan cai and stage 2 software then the automatic trans software. Any recommendations would be helpful. Thank you
Great review, but how is the ride comfort ? Is it bumpy or rough , given the car's sport suspension & low profile tires?
Typical for other BMWs we've driven. I believe we spoke to the handling but might have missed on the suspension. It's firm overall, you definitely feel the road.
Did BMW call it an M sport that early? In Europe the 'M sport' trim began late 2003 with the introduction of the E60, and was never used on the E39.
It was a true 'M Sport' package, yes. Different than the regular Sport packages offered on most of the other cars. 2003 was also the first year it was marketed in the US, but most markets ended up getting it in 2001.
Msport was used for the E39 for sure. I'm not sure about earlier though.
BMW made it for UK in 1998 year 540I e39 M Sport, i own this machine but torque 325 lb-ft at 3600 rpm ?. Not 440 Nm of torque U.S version ?
Could you do a buyers guide on the e39 5 series v8 models?
If we can find another E39 to feature we'll try to make it happen!
does it rev match when you downshift in manual mode?
Considering Nissan created rev matching in the late 2000s, no.
whats the type of black used in your car? i love it and am planning to change mines color.
I believe both were Cosmos Black.
@@PRNTestDrive thanks alot bro.
Are there different "m-sport levels"? I looked up the vin and it showed my options and showed the m-sport package, but my car doesn't have some things like the m trim under the doors. Got my 2001 540i 6 speed msport for $5,300 and did $600 in maintenance (on the engine, car was in great shape otherwise). Man do I love it
From the research we did a true M Sport should have all the options we listed off, as BMW also offered a regular Sport model for the E39 which might have technically added the 'M Sport' package. We didn't get a definitive answer though during our research, lots of conflicting data out there since these cars really came out before the internet was a big deal.
PRN ok. Yeah I kinda came across the same thing. Just was wondering if some day I ever had to sell it (really hope I never have to) if I should list it as a m-sport. I guess I will because as you said it is in sorts a m-sport. Thanks!
if you live in states, all 2001 model calls sport only, if you want true M sport you will need to get the 2003 model instead, hope that answer your question
I just bought an E36 M3, how does the 540 compare as far as power and feel? Thinking about picking up a 540i wagon to daily
Chris Fortney You can clearly tell it’s a bigger car. It just feels more solid, and you really feel it pull. I’ve never driven the wagon, so can’t really account for it exactly.
We still haven't had the pleasure of driving the E36 in any format, but like JT King mentioned it'll feel bigger, and likely a little more modern since the E36 was replaced halfway through the E39's life.
Had an e39 530d m sport imola red how I miss that car so much :( Great review man the e39s are fantastic.
A diesel would be pretty great! It's too bad they never offered them over here. We're hoping to review some newer diesel offerings.
I just picked up my first BMW for 2000 its a 1999 540i e39 automatic w/106k on it only 1 owner. It's stock but I am going to up grade it any recommendations besides a Dinan CAI & stage 2 tuning. I am eventually going to get the hi flow throtle body and try to find the intake manifold upgrade for good price. Any help with this id trully thankful for! Thanks for your time
Very nice! Can't go wrong with that price or mileage, congrats!
What's the highest mileage you'd consider acceptable to purchase this as a daily, looking at a 2003 540i M sport with 170k miles but dont want a reliability nightmare
High mileage isn't always a bad thing, but it's the service history that's the most important. A 20+ year old car with low mileage might not have had regular service, especially time-based critical maintenance done to it so you might end up spending more. 170k seems like an average amount of mileage, I'd strongly suggest having it looked at by a trusted mechanic no matter what.
Is there any manual in Canada ?
Absolutely!
I have a 2002 540ia M sport but she needs a lot of TLC,...by which I mean money lol. I have already put in so much money but I can't get myself to sell it, it is such a beautiful car. When I finish school I'm thinking of restoring it. Thanks for the awesome video!
Glad to hear it! These cars are pretty great, and finding them is becoming difficult too. Hopefully you'll be able to put some time into yours the same way we hope for ours too.
What year is this model? The steering wheel is wrong.
It is a 2001. Not sure if anything has been swapped out on the inside.
LemonOne same steering wheel as mine. Mine is also a 2001 540i msport
got a 99 540i 6 speed for 2k and a parts car for dirt cheap, the valve covers were off and the cams looked mint so i pulled the motor and am doing a full build. soon to go in my orient blau 540i
looking at m60b40 heads for boost!
Nice! Can’t beat that price, hopefully the body is in decent shape. Good luck with the build!
Me and my dad are gunna buy one. Is the car worth it if its automatic?
Absolutely! I'm a big fan of automatics, I don't subscribe to the whole Manual Transmission or Nothing crowd who like to shame others. Get it, enjoy it!
i have a black 525 wagon, best car ever. Simply not selling it for any reason
Glad to hear that! Keep it as long as you can.
I had a 1999 540i M Sport I loved this car
It really was a treat being able to drive this one and feature it!
I smile every time I drive my 99 540i M Sport 6 speed. Did I say every time? Yes!
Love your vids.
Thanks! We're hoping to do more classics like this!
How does this compare to the W210 E55 you drove earlier?
The E55 is definitely faster, the ride is better, and I feel like the seats were better also. The 540i surprised me more though, I wasn't expecting it to be as fast as it was. I think if we had the opportunity to put both on the track it would be a close race.
If you can get your mits on one of these then snag it! These cars are a real drivers machine and are a joy to drive even when driven to the edge. Get one asap!
Can't agree more!
When I look at European cars from this era I always search the price of the car at the time it was new. And with this motorcar the price is telling you that you are getting into one hell of motorcar. This is a true sports sedan and believe me when I say that they will never build such a motorcar again. Even the standard 540i is amazing. In Australia we supercharge them. I'm serious! These V8s are tough as and supercharged?! Forget about it!
I'm looking at buying one of these 03 540i m sport. I have an 01 740il is it worth it for me to buy as a daily driver
If you're selling the E38, then I'd say no. If you have the opportunity to have both then it might be worth picking up. From a reliability perspective it's not going to be any better than the E38, but the true 540i M Sport models keep going up in price so getting one now might be the only way, a few years from now they'll be more expensive.
@@PRNTestDrive I appreciate you alot. I already own 14 cars I'm just adding to a collection. But I'm using my 740il as my daily driver right now and I want something manual
If that's the case then definitely jump on it!
The V8 is good but if it isn't m5 manual, I prefer the larger straight sixes (528 and 530) as they offer performance in an affordable package. They still have around 200hp and lots of torque from the factory and are easy to get running with more power than that
I think most E39s will continue to go up in value as long as they're well maintained.
@@PRNTestDrive Probably yes. The e39 is considered somewhat a classic car even now, even more so in the near future I'd imagine
I’m thinking Of buying one of these beauties, from a scale of 1-10 how reliable would this car be for a daily?
As a daily, maybe a 5. They aren’t the worst cars imaginable but small things can make a big difference especially if you’re relying on it every day. We usually don’t recommend these older BMWs as a daily driver unless you’re able to stay ahead of the maintenance and can work on it yourself.
PRN_TestDrive okay thanks man appreciate it I’m considering many cars possibly leaning more towards a Mustang GT since they’re cheaper to maintain
Great review, E39 is the best looking 5 series made! Such a timeless design.
Sidenote: it is only refered to "M Sport" within the car community for the '03 facelift. BMW never officially called it as that.
Glad you liked it, thanks.
How enjoyable is it to drive an automatic 540i?
Comes down to personal preference ultimately. In stop & go traffic it's a much better experience.
what happened to the cruise stream yesterday?
We're not 100% sure, but we're extremely disappointed. The entire 20 minutes were narrated however our little Samsung didn't connect properly to our microphone. We had to delete the video as an audio-less tour was pretty useless. Hoping to run some tests and make the next one perfect!
PRN ah was looking forward to watching that no worries.
Its So Beautiful
We love the look of it!
A friend of mine has a manual 535i e39. its my dream car but a petrol V8 in Germany is just a shitty idea :D
I hear fuel prices over there are awful! It's not a lot better here, but we manage.
Günter Lauch there's no such thing as a 535i e39
Turbanswag what ? xD yes there is, its the small v8 xD
Turbanswag There was, from 1996 on. The 335i also was Sedan-only.
Its wonderful here in Michigan and we can speed wherever we want. Going 80 mph on I-696 will get you run over, its more like a NASCAR track than a highway system ever since our governor defunded the state police. At night its like Forza, everyone is doing 100-150, on surface streets. As a kid I had my 5.0 notch with the needle buried as a sport bike and a 959 blew by me like I was standing still. Red Wings, Pistons, Lions and Tigers players are notorious driving from the West side to Grosse Pointe and back for mansion parties. Its only in winter do the speeds drop to 70-80.
All aluminum CSF radiator was a God send
True!
About to pick up an 03 540i Msport this weekend. Its an automatic but looking to daily it seeing how i already own a 1992 Miata 5speed. Definitely excited to feel the difference in ride quality and hopefully some really good sound cancelation 🤙🔥
Very nice choice! Don't let the automatic get you down either, it's the one I'd go for too. Hopefully it works out for you!
@@PRNTestDrive Picked it up about 4 hours ago and it was in better condition than i thought 8/10. So far in love
@@jeredhelmbrecht6237 Now how is it 9 months later? Have you loved those chain guides yet - and those Vanos seals are loveable as well?
What's your thoughts on 540i vs w202 c43 amg?
It's hard to fully compare the two since they're different segments, the 540i being a larger car but both with similar engines. The C43 was a bigger surprise since it's size made the car feel faster. I'd probably take the Mercedes if both were available at the same price/condition.
I own the same vehicle in white and clean. Under 90K miles
2001 BMW 540i E39 M Sport
Very nice! We don't often see the E39s in white, at least not around here. Usually black, sometimes blue, and mostly greys/silvers.
You ever thought of selling it?
do a segment for the e46 330i zhp
It's on our list!
PRN I can't wait to see it I own a alpine white one
Very nice!
Just gotta 01 540i/a m sport out here in sac for $2000 just needed a new expansion tank i got the m style 37s on mine though
Not bad at all!
Can you do a (E39) 540i vs 535i? According to the datas, there is not much difference 6.2 sec vs 6.9 sec, is that right?
I believe the 535i with the M62TUB35 motor was a Euro-exclusive model, if we end up coming across one that's been imported then we'll see what we can do!
Have had both and trust me, the 540 is another world, even comparing an auto 540 with a manual 535
thanks guys! I'm considering to buy some "family car", sounds like 540i would be the good choice then :) Is the automatic gearbox ok? I only drove manual all my life, so I'm a little skeptical about it. It's hard to find a nice manual 540
535i is a bag of shite, it's gotta be the 530i or the 540i.
Reviewer says "the gas gauge isn't divided equally at the halfway mark".
The fuel tanks capacity is 70 litres, half of which is 35... so the 30 litre mark is correctly just to the left of centre (like a lot of BMW owners....)
Fair enough
I personally like the transmission used in the 97 model better that what I have but I had a 2000 and I just didn’t like how it wouldn’t stay in the gear
Fair enough!
Nice videos man! I am really enjoying your channel!
Thanks! We just filmed a C32 AMG yesterday by the way, looking to publish it mid-August.
PRN I no longer have mine, but it was a fun yet very unreliable car.
That's too bad! We haven't started our research yet on the C32 so we're going to have to look into the reliability issues when we get the video on it ready.
PRN to save you some time, the major issues are: supercharger bearing. Also there is the notorious intercooler leak that plagues the m112k and m113k and is a pita to fix, the intercooler is inside the V between the cylinders, and has the supercharger on top, so the component most responsible for keeping your engine cool is surrounded by heat, bad idea. The cats often fail. Window regulators. I remember when I sold it back in 09 after owning it for about 3 years the repairs totaled slightly north of $20k, and I did some of the maintenance myself.
what PERCENT tints are on ? please and thanks
Let me check for sure, but I'm going to go ahead and assume it's something like 20%.
20% tint all around
how many miles does it have and do you know if it was reliable to the owner
hi, I'm the owner of this 540i M sport, car has over 250,000 km at the moment, car is relatively reliable, maintenance up to date, so far I just got the secondary air pump replaced, valve cover gasket and most importantly the timing chain rail guide replaced. Owning many BMWs from the past I would say this one is pretty reliable compare to a lot of newer models, especially to our E65 745li, that thing is a pain in the ass....
Hope that helped! I believe this ended up getting sold, if I recall. It's been quite a while.
I have a 540i with the sport package it's a touring that take off strong it's the 3:15 diff
Very nice! The diff certainly helps.
I used to have a 750il and left a bad taste in my mouth due to the maintenance costs. Beautiful car and great when it worked but was a money pit. I've been looking for another BMW and heard the e39 is alot more reliable and more practical and maintenance costs is lower. Any truth to that?
The engine maintenance/issues between the E39 540i and E38 740i/L are the same, and can get costly. With he 5 Series you don't have to worry about all the other tech like a self-levelling rear suspension, or sport shocks that can also add up in cost. The E39 is likely going to be easier to service/maintain, but it's still about the same level of practicality and reliability as the 7 Series.
@@PRNTestDrive ok, mine was the V12 so that's a one thing I dont have to worry about. Just bought a 2003 540i m sport today. Hopefully it's a good one.
I am in the Tampa area looking for someone to restore my 2001 540i.
Hopefully you can find someone!
The e39 is such a clean car😍😍
We always get excited when we see one on the road.
Perpetual Radio Networks unmistakable looks and brilliant value for money would love a 540i 😍
You got a new Watcher and Im gonna ask myself:where you've been til today?I enjoy your style of moderating and in this case of the M5 here you were totaly right with: if you got a chance to buy one,buy one!!great Drivers Car!but unfortunately some of them are in real bad conditions - take a good look and better do it twice... Of course the biggest question is the Price,but better pay a few dollars more for shot one with good Substance!
That's definitely true, a lot of these older BMWs and Mercedes models are in very rough shape, we've spotted a few W210 E 55 AMGs on the road with significant rust issues, and this 540i also has some exterior troubles. We see a few E39s on the road from time to time, we'd love to buy one still despite it being a very similar experience to our E38.
I went to see a 540 other day, had timing guides problems
Unfortunately that's how a lot of them get sold off now. If you're able to do the work yourself you can score a fantastic price for a car like this, or even try to flip them.
Great video, appreciate the attention to the details in the interior
Thanks! We started off filming full tours of these older cars and wanted to continue to provide the same level of detail throughout.
Man, I am undecided... since you drove both, I would like your opinion, I want another fast sedan and its either the GS400 or the 540i. I used to have an Alpina B10 4.6 and had to sell it due to finantial problems, and now its impossible to buy it back because of the market value on those. I like the looks of the e39 better, but then lexus reliability, they seem to be pretty even performance wise.
Performance would probably be pretty even, whether you're looking at two completely stock cars or what's available by boosting things in the aftermarket for either. It's true that the looks of the E39 are incredible, but the GS 400 is harder to find, I spot them maybe once or twice a year, I can count how many I've seen since I filmed the 98 a few years ago on one hand, whereas the E39 is a little more common. Personally if it were my money and both were available configured the way I'd want them and pricing was about the same, I'd take the Lexus.
I just bought one of these and the thing that ages this most is the 5speed auto. Imo it would be a much better car if it were a 6speed.
I hear that, I feel the same with my 7 Series.
check out my 6 speed 540i on my channel!
@@startingtech3900 did it come factory 6 speed manual in that year?
@@Vikturus22 there was a 1300$ “gas tax” to get it in manual in 1998 and yes if you opted to pay that “gas tax” you could order a 6 speed manual!
@@startingtech3900 oh wow Ill check it out when I get home
The 6sp manual really brings these cars to life
If you can find one that is. They're pretty hard to come by on the market.
Great video, love to hear about the little details. Subscribed
Thanks! We try to be as thorough as possible, we can't think of anyone else who goes over everything.
Where’s your facelift steering wheel ?
As far as I know this is the correct steering wheel for a 2001 BMW 540i with the M Sport package.
Hey Nile! Good to see you have more new material.
Obviously they are very different cars, but would you say that the difference in speed/acceleration is great or very little compared to your 7 series?
Also, I have to know how that L7 is going to turn out!
I'd say the acceleration feels a lot faster than the 7 Series, helps having a bit of extra power and less weight. The 540i lost traction on our launches, whereas the 7 only spins the wheels on wet road or with DSC disabled.
Wow~~it’s amazing that people still making comments on this review after a year and half later
Not to mention the views too! People are seriously interested still in these older German cars, we're happy that it remains one of the most popular episodes for us in 2018.
Let me know when you are planning to come back to Toronto bro, got some cars here waiting for you~, and by the way happy new year and all the best
Kevin Chiu the intrest will only increase as good one get rare and more expensive
i have a 1999 e39 540i with the m sport package
Very nice! Hold onto it if you can.
I wouldnt touch and M62 engine due to timing chain issues. M60 E34s dont seem to have that problem
Lots of folks complain about the M62, one of the reasons the 40is end up selling cheap!
Had my rails etc replaced I believe at 260k
I didn’t know the 540 was available with an automatic transmission.
It was! The M5 was the only one where the 6 speed manual was the only option.
How many have bought a 540i inspired by this video? I’m buying mine in March!
We'd love to know how many people have! We hope our classic videos help inform people of what to look for, and what to avoid!
I had one in 2013. If i get another e39 it has to be a manual this time.
i really hope you get the opportunity to take an e39 m5 for a drive!
It's on our list to feature!
My First car was a 528i from 1999 it was so Hot with his 255/40r17 in the back and 235/45r17 in Front
I Really Love car that have bigger backwhweels than Front Wheels!
So do we! Staggered setups are still a relatively uncommon thing to find these days.