I'm looking at 1997 528i in Indiana. One owner car with.....40k miles and all highway. I know the owner, car maintained at the dealer. I already checked NADA and KBB. Not sure what the owner will ask for it. Car is pristine. Any comments concerning known or hidden issues? I am unfamiliar with BMW's of this era. Thanks.
1997 528i Possible Purchase: Comments Welcome
- Thread starter bavbob
- Start date
Mileage is not everything.
Cooling systems are notorious on those cars
Inexpensive to replace before they break
Cooling systems are notorious on those cars
Inexpensive to replace before they break
X2 on the cooling system. Also, the early ones had a light weight GM auto with the OD section added. Not a great trans. They are beautiful cars, however.
My 97 E39
My 97 E39
X3 on cooling system. Water pumps had plastic impellers, plastic thermostat housing, plastic expansion tank, plastic radiators etc. all items should be replaced as regular maintenance. Disa valve and the PVC breather are also items to consider replacing if they haven’t been. Also check the the blower fan is operation. Blower motor resistors are known to fail causing blower to be non op.
Still, E39s are great cars.
Still, E39s are great cars.
Last edited:
Nice photo Dick! I think many on here, have owned an E39. I certainly enjoyed my Touring! Agreed on cooling system. Must be vigilant with that. That mileage sounds good, perhaps the car still has that magic. Once the miles pile up however, it is not unlike other 30 years old or so cars, dashboard lights, suspension alignment, other stuff. But they are old enough now that they can have some terminal rocker panel rust deep inside. Sound familiar?
Thanks all. The owner just had tons of stuff done, sending me the invoices. I do know he had the cooling system redone recently.
Clubsport_CSi
Active Member
Agree on the cooling system. Valve cover gasket, oil filter house gasket are other items that need to be renewed regularly. Pay special attention to air leaks; the M52Tu is not as demanding as the M54, but check all vacuum lines if not renewed during the last couple of years. And get INPA along with appropriate cable for diagnosis - you can't seriously work on such cars without.
Good luck with your purchase!
Ah yeah - do not forget that the VANOS rings should be renewed unless there are already Beisan rings in the unit.
Good luck with your purchase!
Ah yeah - do not forget that the VANOS rings should be renewed unless there are already Beisan rings in the unit.
I've owned my e39 sedan for 23 years, and had an e39 touring for a while as well. Some comments:
As to the cooling systems, I strongly recommend a Zionsville radiator upgrade. I was involved with a group who petitioned Zionsville to make these twenty years ago, and they are far more reliable than stock. The plastic in the stock radiator connections and in the expansion tank cannot be trusted, and will randomly fail. With a broken connection on the radiator, you need to shut down fast to avoid head damage, and there is no way home other than a tow truck.
The suspensions were not really designed for US roads. Thus, you need to consider lower control arms as maintenance items. Upgrade to the X-5 version, which fits on all the e39s.
Yes, blower motor "final stage" resisters are a recurring problem.
Then there are the parts of the car that are recycling themselves while I'm still using the car. Some examples include the foam underneath the felt on the parcel shelf disintegrating allowing the felt to flap in the wind (and a similar problem with the A pillar), the plastic connectors that hold the grill to the hood snapping off allowing the grills to rattle in the wind, failure of the plastic headlight adjusters inside the light assemblies taking the headlights out of adjustment (there are guys selling aluminum upgrades).
Failure of the rear window seals, which allows water into the rear footwells is also a common problem with age. If not caught this leads to mold underneath the carpets.
Still, I remain a huge fan of the e39 platform and plan to keep my car.
As to the cooling systems, I strongly recommend a Zionsville radiator upgrade. I was involved with a group who petitioned Zionsville to make these twenty years ago, and they are far more reliable than stock. The plastic in the stock radiator connections and in the expansion tank cannot be trusted, and will randomly fail. With a broken connection on the radiator, you need to shut down fast to avoid head damage, and there is no way home other than a tow truck.
The suspensions were not really designed for US roads. Thus, you need to consider lower control arms as maintenance items. Upgrade to the X-5 version, which fits on all the e39s.
Yes, blower motor "final stage" resisters are a recurring problem.
Then there are the parts of the car that are recycling themselves while I'm still using the car. Some examples include the foam underneath the felt on the parcel shelf disintegrating allowing the felt to flap in the wind (and a similar problem with the A pillar), the plastic connectors that hold the grill to the hood snapping off allowing the grills to rattle in the wind, failure of the plastic headlight adjusters inside the light assemblies taking the headlights out of adjustment (there are guys selling aluminum upgrades).
Failure of the rear window seals, which allows water into the rear footwells is also a common problem with age. If not caught this leads to mold underneath the carpets.
Still, I remain a huge fan of the e39 platform and plan to keep my car.
The rear seals is actually the plastic barrier under the door card coming unglued and allowing water into the footwells. Final stage resistor when it fails will randomly turn on interior fan after you have left the car! Not hard to replace though if you like kneeling on the passenger side of the console to get to it. Don’t forget crappy radio antenna with a signal amplifier in the driver C pillar. PS hose that weeps and leaks at the reservoir. Overall I really liked my 2002 525.
My wife bought a brand new 1997 E39 528i in Aspen Silber/Black Montanna leather. She battled the streets of Chicago from 1997-2002. Many "better" and more "expensive" cars came after that, but by far that is the best and most reliable car she owned. Her car was one of the first in the country with metal sunroof.
The only issues: flimsy design cup holders, two times plastic water pump propeller gave out, the cooling system has multiple purge plugs that no one seemed to know about!! I think that there are 3 and this has been a root cause of cooling system issues, cavitation, etc. And I cannot recall, but there were some GM automatics and some other brand automatics used.
I "traded" her car so that she could get an AWD SUV and I bought a new 2002 M5. The last good BMW and the last I have ever looked at buying a new BMW car.
The only issues: flimsy design cup holders, two times plastic water pump propeller gave out, the cooling system has multiple purge plugs that no one seemed to know about!! I think that there are 3 and this has been a root cause of cooling system issues, cavitation, etc. And I cannot recall, but there were some GM automatics and some other brand automatics used.
I "traded" her car so that she could get an AWD SUV and I bought a new 2002 M5. The last good BMW and the last I have ever looked at buying a new BMW car.
Oh, I need those aluminum upgrades. My adjusters are gone. Who sells them? Easy to install?
Yeah, I forgot about the cup holders. Buy an ultimate cup holder and replace the stock cup holders with an e38 blanking plate.
And Macha reminded me I still haven't resolved the power steering pump hose leak...
Arde - I can't remember where I got mine, but I see them available here: https://bimmerzone.com/collections/bmw-e39-headlight-adjuster
You need to open up the headlight assemblies to install these, and that requires heating the assembly to soften the glue and separate the two halves. I did mine in the oven, which had engendered a complete ban on car work in the kitchen. This is why I always kid @Stevehose when he does car work on the kitchen table.
And Macha reminded me I still haven't resolved the power steering pump hose leak...
Arde - I can't remember where I got mine, but I see them available here: https://bimmerzone.com/collections/bmw-e39-headlight-adjuster
You need to open up the headlight assemblies to install these, and that requires heating the assembly to soften the glue and separate the two halves. I did mine in the oven, which had engendered a complete ban on car work in the kitchen. This is why I always kid @Stevehose when he does car work on the kitchen table.
I read pre face lift are easy to replace… I am counting on that
Wait till you see the 431 Lincoln marine engine that will be rebuilt in the guest room!