[Desert_Fox]

I've always wanted a manual BMW, and I think the E38 and E39 are timeless designs. I think everyone watched the BMW Hire film with Clive Owen thrashing Madonna around in that M5 with some kind of smile. I read the Jalopnik article on the 540i earlier this week, and began my journey down the rabbit hole. A local enthusiast run dealer had a babied 2003 540i M-Sport for sale, 165k miles but a stack of receipts paid for by a 75 year old man who owned the car from 30k to 165k miles. I visited the place 3 times, and finally pulled the trigger this morning. Im one happy new owner! Def feels different from my 335is, but she is a keeper and I plan to take care of her!

[E90Fleet]

Congratulations.
I have looked after one in the family for over 15 years and its great, very reliable and fun to drive.
Only the regular E39 old age problems on it but all except a new radiator were easy DIY.

[Dackelone]

I also own a e39 535iA. It has the 3.5l V8 in it. I consider it a baby 540i.

The 5er is really such a grownup's car. When I drive on the Autobahn people more out of your way as you come up on them. And the car's lines are classic. Mine has almost 400K kms on it now. Its been a great car for me.

[IEDEI]

love the E39! congrats.

the only thing i hate about the looks are all the 90s-ish rubber/plastic moldings all over the bumpers and side panels.....a feature seen on most euro cars of that era.

[EZ3Putt]

You just brought back lust memories! I wanted one of those SO bad back then, didn't have the $$. Got a 330 instead. Timeless beauty! Congrats

[Desert_Fox]

Thanks guys! She's been such a treat so far, im in love with the lines on this car.

[Mark]

Congrats! One of the best styled BMWs of all time (top 2 in my book

[bvanlieu]

Originally Posted by Desert_Fox

I've always wanted a manual BMW, and I think the E38 and E39 are timeless designs. I don't think anyone watched the BMW Hire film with Clive Owen thrashing Madonna around in that M5 without some kind of smile.

You don't think anyone saw 'Star'?

Only 100 times or so with full surround sound back in the day when there was no real youtube, we grabbed the DVD and using a great system (amp, preamp, solid speakers) you rattle the house.

Probably Madonna's best work.

My favorite moment is the lock steer snap. Go check it out. Time to watch it again

- b

[Desert_Fox]

Originally Posted by bvanlieu

You don't think anyone saw 'Star'?

Only 100 times or so with full surround sound back in the day when there was no real youtube, we grabbed the DVD and using a great system (amp, preamp, solid speakers) you rattle the house.

Probably Madonna's best work.

My favorite moment is the lock steer snap. Go check it out. Time to watch it again

- b

Sorry, english fail on my part- I meant to say "I don't think anyone hasn't seen". The hire films are classics, I wish they would do something like that again. I also really like Ambush, Hostage, and Beat The Devil. The rest were sort of negligible to me.

[TheBingoBalls]

That is one CLEAN E39! Congrats!

[davis449]

I LOVE the e39, congratulations on picking up such a wonderful, well-maintained example of one.

[W///]

Great car, congrats. I was reading same article and started looking at them too.

One day, I'll replace my 4Runner with an E39 Touring most likely. But that Toyota just keeps trucking along.

They definitely don't make them like they used to

[markus037]

nice car man. i was thinking about my old M5 the other day and would love to have another E39 some day. you have a very rare car. i think only 200 or so M-sport 540is had 6-speed manuals. great color too. enjoy!

[bvanlieu]

Originally Posted by Desert_Fox

Sorry, english fail on my part- I meant to say "I don't think anyone hasn't seen". The hire films are classics, I wish they would do something like that again. I also really like Ambush, Hostage, and Beat The Devil. The rest were sort of negligible to me.

I figured as much: was just playing a bit and honestly I bet there are quite a few people on this forum who have no idea those films exist: it was a few years ago.

E39 is one of my favorites and a timeless design IMHO: great find on the car.

- b

[termigni]

beautiful car. i believe this LCI was the first BMW to offer halo rings too.

[StealYourFace]

Stunning! Last year too...

That car definitely looks to have been owned/loved by a cca member. I love the commonality between the e46/e38/e39. Same sausage different length right?

Love the car. Ideal color combo as well. I hope you get it on a lift, give it a check and take it to at least one hpde to get a taste of what bmw buyers were after back in the day wit that great all around "M5 lite."

Jealous. I would keep it as oem as possible, other than that horribly restrictive looking exhaust. How do 8cyl breath throughout that tiny pipe?! FFFFTTTTTTTTT! I imagine Supersptint headers, high flow cats and cat back would give a nice quiet euro rumble, or maybe an oem m5 take off exhaust...

Check that stack of work orders for oil pumps, although by 2003 that issue may have been resolved.

Great car, cars like that get me really pumped, as you can tell.

[Desert_Fox]

Originally Posted by StealYourFace

Stunning! Last year too...

That car definitely looks to have been owned/loved by a cca member. I love the commonality between the e46/e38/e39. Same sausage different length right?

Love the car. Ideal color combo as well. I hope you get it on a lift, give it a check and take it to at least one hpde to get a taste of what bmw buyers were after back in the day wit that great all around "M5 lite."

Jealous. I would keep it as oem as possible, other than that horribly restrictive looking exhaust. How do 8cyl breath throughout that tiny pipe?! FFFFTTTTTTTTT! I imagine Supersptint headers, high flow cats and cat back would give a nice quiet euro rumble, or maybe an oem m5 take off exhaust...

Check that stack of work orders for oil pumps, although by 2003 that issue may have been resolved.

Great car, cars like that get me really pumped, as you can tell.

Thank you for the kind words. I just had the steering components, oil pan gasket, and drive belts replaced. I will likely be having the power steering pump replaced soon as well, it is in working hard but has a terribly annoying screech at idle. The car is a blast to drive, i've just had to hone my manual driving skills. No one in my family owns a stick shift, so I only had small chances here and there to learn on my buddy's Golf.

My first car was an E46 325i, and it had the same interior as this E39, the grey leather with black dash. It is a very classy look, and it has aged substantially better than the black leather interiors i've seen on these with similar mileage.

Im looking into some kind of new exhaust, the current one is pathetically quiet. I was thinking about Remus, sounds like a good mix between cruising noise and goofing around romps.