There's plenty of people here with well over 300k. There's also a lot of people who passed that several years ago. I'll be hitting 261k soon and still runs amazing. I wish my suspension was in the same shape.

 

My e39 523i is on 317k miles. I bought it with 195k miles on the clock 7.5 years ago.

 

Lol...
You guys are making me feel lame.

 

I have 410k miles on my '03 530i with original engine.

I bought it as a non-runner 2+ years ago with auto trans problems and an advertised mileage of 150k miles or so.
I manual swapped it, and during the coding process, I discovered it had 396k miles...Its been my daily driver ever since.

 

I have 410k miles on my '03 530i with original engine.

I bought it as a non-runner 2+ years ago with auto trans problems and an advertised mileage of 150k miles or so.
I manual swapped it, and during the coding process, I discovered it had 396k miles...Its been my daily driver ever since.

Were the pixels bad and you couldn't tell the milage or did the seller install a cluster with 150K miles? What milage does the LCM report?

 

Mine is low miles. Only 284,191 miles.

 

I bought it from a friend. I never started it or checked the odometer before I did the manual swap.
I think a previous owner had swapped the cluster and it showed 150k miles with a tamper dot, although I never noticed it.

The correct mileage of 396k was stored in LCM or EWS and when I coded all modules using NCS, 396k then appeared on the cluster without a tamper dot. I thought it was a mistake. I then got a carfax and sure enough a road warrior owned it and put 30k miles per year on on it for 10 years. The carfax showed the mileage accumulate every year.

My friend refunded me $500 off the purchase price, which is what I asked for, so he's still my friend..

Had I known it had approx 400k miles, I never would have bought it and never would have manual swapped it. But I am now glad I did. It looks and drives great, and feels like a real badge of honor for the 39 enthusiast.

 

I bought it from a friend. I never started it or checked the odometer before I did the manual swap.
I think a previous owner had swapped the cluster and it showed 150k miles with a tamper dot, although I never noticed it.

The correct mileage of 396k was stored in LCM or EWS and when I coded all modules using NCS, 396k then appeared on the cluster without a tamper dot. I thought it was a mistake. I then got a carfax and sure enough a road warrior owned it and put 30k miles per year on on it for 10 years. The carfax showed the mileage accumulate every year.

My friend refunded me $500 off the purchase price.

Had I known it had approx 400k miles, I never would have bought it and never would have manual swapped it. But I am now glad I did. It looks and drives great, and feels like a real badge of honor for the 39 enthusiast.

410, 000 mile daily driver.... awesome.
I have no problem believing this with an m54. My m52tu loses exactly 0.0 quarts of oil in it's 5,000 mile change interval.

 

227,000 miles 540i, 6 speed daily driver. runs better than my 08 Mustang Gt convert w/ 70k.

 

2001 540 M-Sport with 319,400 miles and counting. Daily driven...though not as many miles accumulated in 2020, what with Covid and all. Timing chain guides, chains and tensioners all replaced at 263,600 miles. Engine and trans are otherwise original, no rebuild yet.

 

I'm on the other end of this spectrum - 1999 540i 6-speed w/ 107,318. It has always been a daily driver... just always lived close to work!

 

I'm at a bit over 100k miles as well on 97 535 with the m62. I just dragged it out of 3 year storage to start using again and it's happily putting away the miles. Fuel gauge stuck and washer jets clogged but everything else perfect. I'll probably start putting 6-7k miles per year on it. I've bought and sold several other bmws - love this non-vanos, non-idrive coil sprung old champ. Owned 16 years and counting, 1 radiator replacement, couple of gaskets and an immobiliser, new AC compressor and front suspension refresh. Still drives great and hums down the road. I have resisted modifications at all costs so it will be a true survivor classic down the road.

 

Own 2 years 140k. Only right buckle seat problem - airbag light

 

2003 540it M-Sport/M-Tech with 162,XXX miles and counting. Not exactly daily driven since I also drive a Toyota for most of the punishing stop n' go traffic here in L.A. during the pre-COVID years. Timing chain guides not done yet to my knowledge, chains and tensioners last replaced at 80,XXX miles. Engine and trans are both original.


Same here! I pulled out the seats earlier this year to do the seat twist repair and then the airbag light has been on ever since(yes, I did disconnect the battery first ). Scan tool shows front right buckle as the problem. What does one do in this situation, replace the buckle???

 

Sold my 2000 BMW 540i six speed in 2013 with 324k miles. It was my company car that I used to compute between NC and Wisconsin. It was a wonderful car and still running strong when it went to new ownership.

 

I'm on my 3rd E39 ! I had a 98 528i Sport that went for 482k miles then a 2000 528i that went 300k. Both at the end had a catastrophic coolant failure that blew the head gaskets but almost 800k miles from 2 cars is outstanding! I now have a V8 2003 540i M and expect to get the same life out of it. I Just love the e39 body lines and ride.

 

MY 1997 540i Sport with 6 speed MT has 221,000. It's my daily driver. The cooling system has been reliable but replaced twice due to small leaks. The engine has been reliable but I'm now doing the timing chain and guides on its' M62 (i.e. non-Vanos) engine. Just did the catalytic converters and down pipes for the 2nd time. The body is good, only 1 rust spot at the jack point. I like it better than the E60 and F10 535s I also have.

 

Wow - I didn't know I was is such good company!!! Nice to see the above posts match my experiences.

I have had 3 e39 BMWs that went over 300,000, and an X5 over 200K.

My first e39 was a 1997 540i 6 speed manual. I bought it at 160K and sold it at 317K to a coworker because my kids were coming up on driving. I didn't think it was a good idea to give the 540i to a 16 year old driver. When my coworker retired the 540 had 340K.

The second e39 was a 2002 525i purchased for my son's first car. Bought at 150K and sold at 324k.

The third e39 was a 2002 530i purchased for my daughter's first car. Bought it at 158K and still have it with 327K on it.

My forth(!) e39 I just picked up in Feb 2020 - a 2002 540i 6 speed manual - for ME!. It's just a baby with only 98K on it now.

Along the way I also bought the wife a new e53 X5 in 2002 and it now has 213K,

All of them had the original motor and transmission. None of them required major engine work, the heads were never removed, no valve train or carnk/rod bearings, etc.

I only use Mobil 1 motor oil, and perform almost all work on the cars. Tires and alignments are a couple things I have not invested in tool to do.

 

Wow - I didn't know I was is such good company!!! Nice to see the above posts match my experiences.

I have had 3 e39 BMWs that went over 300,000, and an X5 over 200K.

My first e39 was a 1997 540i 6 speed manual. I bought it at 160K and sold it at 317K to a coworker because my kids were coming up on driving. I didn't think it was a good idea to give the 540i to a 16 year old driver. When my coworker retired the 540 had 340K.

The second e39 was a 2002 525i purchased for my son's first car. Bought at 150K and sold at 324k.

The third e39 was a 2002 530i purchased for my daughter's first car. Bought it at 158K and still have it with 327K on it.

My forth(!) e39 I just picked up in Feb 2020 - a 2002 540i 6 speed manual - for ME!. It's just a baby with only 98K on it now.

Along the way I also bought the wife a new e53 X5 in 2002 and it now has 213K,

All of them had the original motor and transmission. None of them required major engine work, the heads were never removed, no valve train or carnk/rod bearings, etc.

I only use Mobil 1 motor oil, and perform almost all work on the cars. Tires and alignments are a couple things I have not invested in tool to do.

Isn't it great to know a model well so that you don't have to learn new stuff ever time it needs work?

 

Yeah I’m real happy with my 3rd e39 that I bought this March (2003 540i M Dinan 4). It had 83k on in it - now 115k daily & nightly driver.. Can’t get enough seat time !

 

If Anybody in the Annapolis, MD area wants an e39, 540i, auto, as donor vehicle, find me, TJ, at TriTec Automotive, Annapolis. It has 212000 and in need of chain guides. I have no time these days to properly care for it, but it was great to me... My wife wants it out of the driveway saying I'll never fix it. Comes with complete suspension in a box and various other parts.Also has very nice Beyern RAPP silver wheels. I'm a tech and it was my second car/ongoing project. Just want it to go to a good home instead of a junkyard for $350 and a "free" tow.

 

The original engine died like 3 months ago at 320k miles...probably the bottom end is gone. I took the opportunity to fit the larger 2.8litre engine out of a 528i that had 155k miles. It was also a good opportunity to learn all things about replacing an engine which I haven't done prior.

 

An I though I was doing something with 208k on my 540. Impressive to see these numbers. Almost Volvo territory.

 

For all you high-mileage club folks, I have a 2002 530i with more than 200K miles and it won't start below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. No one can figure it out. I have replaced lots of parts per the mechanic. It still fails to start in the cold but starts instantly, without hesitation, above 55 degrees and runs perfectly. Any takers on this mystery?

 

Are you and the car really in Southern California ? If so, then find another non-dealer BMW specialist...and no one else. Look at reviews...

55 degrees is not that cold and should not trigger a non-start .

 

Look into ECT sensor, located either between cyl #1&#2 or #5-#6, can't remember which year is which
If you ever replace the ECT, use only BMW Genuine part...

 

98 E39 M62 high mileage
I have the trifecta and I have not been able to get to it on my 98 but I estimate the miles to be at least 350 K

I am in between deciding to keep her, or or just give her to someone else, as she needs some TLC on account of having too many vehicles. The only reason I’ve held onto her this long is because she’s the green and sand combo. I absolutely love that color combination. Plus she’s pre-Vanos.


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(2001) 525I, Mileage pic taken today, May 4. 2024. Purchased in the first halve of 2008 & I believe I am the 3rd owner. She was a beaut at one time. Today, she's petty much my beater now. I had to loan it to the wife (her vehicle is at the dealership, DTC issue). Yesterday, she snapped half the front spoiler via a dip from a parking lot onto the street. SMH
Now its my snaggle-toothe beater.

beater.

 

I always wondered about attaching side skirts like that. It would cover up some rusty spots.

(2001) 525I, Mileage pic taken today, May 4. 2024. Purchased in the first halve of 2008 & I believe I am the 3rd owner. She was a beaut at one time. Today, she's petty much my beater now. I had to loan it to the wife (her vehicle is at the dealership, DTC issue). Yesterday, she snapped half the front spoiler via a dip from a parking lot onto the street. SMH
Now its my snaggle-toothe beater.

beater. View attachment 1118356

 

500000km on my old 525TDS, 387000km on my 520iA

 

DAmn....I thought my 245K miles was impressive, some of you folks have some amazing numbers.

 

2001 540 M-Sport. 363,000 miles. Canadian market car I imported back in 2003. Continues to be daily driven...even though I bought its replacement a M550iX...but ended up preferring the 540. M550iX sits a lot on a battery tender.

 

This was from yesterday, turned over 194,000. I have driven it maybe a bit over 5,000 miles in the last 6 years.