Any Opinions on 1999 BMW 520i

gazfocus

whitecloud663 wrote: »

Condensation in headlamps have plagued BMW since since as far back as I remember. All models are affected by it an I don't know why but BMW just haven't addressed this problem

Think I've found the culprit of the condensation inside the car...the inside of the sunroof is damp so might be a seal problem.

colino

Check all your door seals too, they go after a few years and you'll be in a permanent fug until you fix them. Keep the a/c on all year round too. keeps the atmosphere much more balanced.
At that age of 5, the headlights can be split for proper drying out and replacement of the headlight adjusters (about a fiver a side) then seal it all up again with decent, semi-setting sealant.

gazfocus

colino wrote: »

Check all your door seals too, they go after a few years and you'll be in a permanent fug until you fix them. Keep the a/c on all year round too. keeps the atmosphere much more balanced.
At that age of 5, the headlights can be split for proper drying out and replacement of the headlight adjusters (about a fiver a side) then seal it all up again with decent, semi-setting sealant.

What do you mean by 'the headlights can be split'? Thanks

whitecloud663

OP how do you find the power of your new car? What car were you driving before?

andygb

I am glad the OP has bought the car, and I hope that it works out well for him.
I had the earlier E34 520i (same engine probably - got the car up to an indicated 140mph on the motorway between Verona and Modena), but I always fancied an E39, because they look better.
I would go with the advice of other posters on here - keep everything standard, particularly wheels and tyres.
With the camchain engines, generally speaking if they sound OK then they are OK.
I sold my E34 at 150K miles to a mate, and he still has it at over 200K miles now.
Keep the oil changes regular (10K would be good) and use the best oil. On our roads I reckon the suspension might take a hammering - lots of bushes and linkages to wear.
Enjoy - they are great cars.

whitecloud663

andygb wrote: »

I am glad the OP has bought the car, and I hope that it works out well for him.
I had the earlier E34 520i (same engine probably - got the car up to an indicated 140mph on the motorway between Verona and Modena), but I always fancied an E39, because they look better.
I would go with the advice of other posters on here - keep everything standard, particularly wheels and tyres.
With the camchain engines, generally speaking if they sound OK then they are OK.
I sold my E39 at 150K miles to a mate, and he still has it at over 200K miles now.
Keep the oil changes regular (10K would be good) and use the best oil. On our roads I reckon the suspension might take a hammering - lots of bushes and linkages to wear.
Enjoy - they are great cars.

Have you seen my thread on the Fuchs Titan GT1 oil review? I too advocate using the best oils. However I change my oil every 6k instead of 10k

colino

Hi OP, some e39s can be dismantled for repair, either they fall apart with a judicious plain screwdriver in the gaps, or they need a little assistance with a hairdryer at high heat, to melt the bond.
OP if you find the attached useful, can you contribute to the fund to have darkmatter and all his various, disgusting progeny obliterated?

DaveTheMus

I've got an BMW E39 525i 2003 and the engines are great but he cabins are so poorly made...

the buttons are terrible they just fall off...it's good and realiable for a runaround though...bit thirsty.

colino

BMWs poorly made? In literally hundreds of the things I've seen two with buttons from the heater that have fallen off. Both cars were megamilers and previous owners into double figures and the rest of the cars seriously neglected. BMWs might have had a reputation for making poor (cloth) seats, but the rest of them are well designed, well made and well put together.

Marktheshark

Lovely cars but very greedy in traffic.