How many miles on your E39?
 

Just curious what I can expect. My 97 Blackie has 180k on her (80k of them are mine) and while I have not done much other than the cooling system, new wheel bearings and I need to fix a oil filter housing gasket leak.... and while she does seam to get much more poor gas economy especially cold.... even with 0-40 oil ... ( run about 19mpg in city traffic and 24 with city and highway combined)... I'm wondering:

What is your odometer at?

What year?

Any major drive train repairs?

Any guesses on what will go next on mine?

Yup!
- Odometer = 85K miles
- Year = 2002 525i
- Major drive-train repairs = none
- What will go next on yours?

This will go bad on ya!
- Brakes will wear
- Shocks will cause ABS-related shudder on low-speed bumps
- Roundel on hood will lose paint
- Rubber molding on windshield will flake off
- Seat cover panels at the base will scratch (unless they're also black)
- Headlights will get hard and hard to adjust
- Trunk loom will fray
- FSU will go bad
- You'll lose a few jack pads
- Ambient temperature sensor will get scraped off
- Vanos will go bad
- MID pixels will go out
- Cracks will form in your wood panels

For all but the VANOS, ask me how I know ... :)

97 130k

145k

108k and still hummin'

141k, going strong. 525i, 2002

Unlike Bluebee, you and I live where the sun is less of a factor. Therefore, I have the following:

- Major drive-train repairs = none

This will go bad on ya!
- Brakes will wear
- Potholes will destroy your control ams, tie rods and shocks
- You will need alignments
- You will need the CCV cold temp upgrade
- Your headlight washer motor will fail
- Seat cover panels at the base will scratch (unless they're also black)
- You'll lose a few jack pads
- Vanos will go bad (and you will not know it)
- MID pixels will go out
- Cracks will form in your wood panels

miles
 

2000 528i, 107K

01 540 M
172k runs brand new

2001 530i
46000
no repairs yet

those m5 rims looks sick on your whip. i just stepped up to the 540 monster from a 330 service history is good and got it from a respected indy dealer who stands by the car and offered me a 1 year warranty..it does have 170 on the clock but thats nothing for these machines when well mantained..any suggestions from a more seasoned owner?

170k

Suspension overhaul in spring.

03 71k
repairs: valve cover gasket, Tconverter, cooling system(missing some parts),driver seat motor,
plans: vanos, ccv, windshield seal, trans fluid, leather restoration(front seats), cabin filters......holly mole i have a list.

Right before I sold it

2000 528i with 140k

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...e/528front.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ke/528rear.jpg

03 530 42500....

No repairs yet...but I feel a Vanos coming soon. Poor mileage and hesitation.

02 530

~77000

1998 523i se 140k

158-159k

Few problems need to be sorted out, but the most important on right now is the fan clutch.

2002 530i sport premium
59,800

major:
none

minor: some of mine are heat as a FL car (has benefits of no dings on hood or rust as in NE cars)
engine belts
power steering hoses
alternator
oil housing gasket
intensive washer hose(s)
intensive washer pump
front thrust arms
sand/polish headlight covers
re-dye top of steering wheel (FL car)
rear deck fabric unglued near one opening (FL car)
A pillar fabric ungluing at bottom (FL car)
AC/heater blower noise (FL car)

Just rolled over 50,000 this week. 2003 540i . Everything is less than 2,000 miles old but , my check brakes light comes on , a minor power drain somewhere , MAF is maxed out , air filter is 3" off of the ground ,going to have a new ECU provide a MAP tune to solve the last two problems.Other than that the car starts and runs.

03 530i - 65K

Only owned for a month - rear door vapor barriers need repair and oil level sensor might be on the fritz

Front end feels a little loose - might need shocks/thrust arms/etc.

1997 540iA with 53000 original miles
 

Runs like new. Bought her last year with 42K...:)

97 210!

02 540i 43K

Nothing major...little stuff...

mine is a 02 with 103K... now my brothers is a 02 but with 247K... Yeap

137k and counting. I expect her to give me at least 100k more, considering she's lightened up my pockets since I bought her. I'll tell you what though, she's been worth every penny.

2001 540iA Sport!

None. I also have a beater who never gets any lovin from me other than oil changes.

Anything goes at this point. Best thing you can do is begin preventive maintenance if you want to keep her for a while. Change the thrust arms and shocks and you'll feel like you have a new car ride in your midst. You'll fall even deeper for her, guaranteed!