What's my E39 worth?

[outofbandii]

I'm trying to figure out whether to keep or change for a diesel, so want to see if this is scrap due to engine size & configuration, or if has some value on the market.




It's an '02 525i auto with factory Msport suspension. Reg is 02G8085. NCT until August. 3 owners from new, Eamo on the forum here before me, before that it was owned by a tech company CEO in Galway from new.

It currently has 165k miles on the clock, the last 35k of that has been mostly motorway or long distance (verifable with toll account printout if that makes a difference - no short commute trips as I work from home). I have a thread on the car here with plenty of pictures.

All work carried out/parts replaced since purchase in Oct 2014:

• Rear brake lines replaced
• New battery
• Alternator reconditioned
• Fan belt replaced
• Firmware update
• Oil & filter service (135k miles)
• Fuel pump replacement (OE)
• Tyres -Goodyear x2, 4 wheel tracking
• Expansion bottle replacement & pressure test
• Front fog light replacement
• Front lower arms
• Bosch spark plugs x 6
• Oil & filter service (150k miles)
• Catalytic converter replacement x2 (front and rear banks, OE)
• Siemens-VDO Mass Air Flow sensor
• Misc bulbs
• Seat Occupancy Mat Emulator Airbag Sensor
• Rear Lower Ball Joint Lemforder x2
• Water Pump replacement & Coolant fill

I've always tried to use best available parts (e.g. Siemens-VDO MAF, Lemforder ball joints, Bosch spark plugs). I have paperwork for about 50% of that work as a friend of mine did the rest. The documented work was done by Valdas in Motor Confidence or by local independents Walsh Diagnostics and Peter Ryder Cars. As I said I've got a thread with a fair amount of photos which shows some of this work or parts. I've been told that the radiator was replaced before I got it.

Vehicle information
========================================
VIN: WBADT42090GX97687
Type code: DT42
Model: 525I (EUR)
E-F-R series: E39
Series: 5
Type: LIM
Steering: RL
Doors: 4
Engine: M54
Displacement: 2.50
Power: 141 (192 hp)
Drive: HECK
Transmission: AUT
Paint code: 894 - CHIARETTOROT METALLIC
Upholstery code: N6SN - STANDARDLEDER/BE
Prod.date: 2002-06-24
S202	Steptronic
S255	Sports leather steering wheel
S302	Alarm system
S339	Shadow-Line
S428	Warning triangle and first aid kit
S441	Smoker package
S520	Fog lights
S534	Automatic air conditioning
S661	Radio BMW Business (C43)
S694	Provisions for BMW 6 CD changer
S704	M Sports suspension
S773	Fine wood trim
S785	White direction indicator lights
S818	Battery master switch
S853	Language version, English
S863	Dealer List Europe
S880	Operating instructions, English
S915	Omission of outer-skin preservation
S925	Dispatch protection pack

Needs soon:

• front brake pads
• rear tyres

Problems:

• Radio volume spiking occasionally on Newstalk 106 only, worse in wet weather (not joking - thread on this here).
• boot handle not opening (works with internal button and key fob - probably worn wire feeding into the boot - hasn't been a big enough problem for me to fix yet).
• "floaty" speedometer (with no traction or ABS lights showing). From online research I think this is the rear ABS sensor on the left. Update: happened once only, has been fine for the last week.

There's some other minor issues like missing undertray (damaged and removed during the bad floods last year), etc but nothing that has an effect on drivability.

What's it worth?

[Mivecrx]

With high tax and insurance prices been so high I think these cars are overlooked by any normal folk( not car enthusiasts). Then you have the problem where a car enthusiast will overlook this model for an Msport.
It sort of renders the car unsellable to some extent. As in they have to be very cheap to make sense.






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[crosswired]

Sadly, that's true... if are you looking to sell it, try UK.

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[Curran]

Its a shame, because it looks like a clean one - as said, the UK, or, and though I hate to see it maybe parts!

[Valdelisbmw]

dont mind the video ,just was first thing i saw after i read this thread . worth nothing these days ,compare to prices just one year ago .non sport model,higher range mileage . not worth even for parts, as lot of them went for parts but no need for them anymore as not much left on the roads and they need new parts not old ones to keep these cars on the road

[Valdelisbmw]

https://www.facebook.com/autofanailt...1891067415961/

[JohnH]

Just keep it. It's worth way more to you than you'd get for it.

[Valdelisbmw]

Just keep it. It's worth way more to you than you'd get for it.

very true JohnH ,

its question lot people ask me ,is it worth spending money,is it worth to keep it . the first question i ask them , how big step they are ready to make once they get rid of what they have at the minute and what gonna be next .
so there is no yes or no, its up to each indivudualy

[outofbandii]

Thanks, Curran - it is a very clean one by DoneDeal standards, but I'd say it's rough by forum standards when I see what you guys do with your cars.

Valdas, is that an accident or an insurance job?!

I'm doing about twice the mileage I thought I would when I got it. If I switch to a diesel I'll get massive savings in running costs. Not just the lower fuel cost, but I can claim diesel VAT back, and maybe commercial tax if I went that route.

I'm really in two minds about this. Every time I need to spend on it - e.g. will need at least €300 for new brake pads and a pair of rear tyres soon - I wonder if I'm wasting money I should be putting into a new one. But, damn it's a nice drive.

[318is-joe]

T But, damn it's a nice drive.

LOL - that's exactly it. I have an E39 530D M Sport - perfect mechanically but paint needs a bit of TLC or replacement lol

I'm in the same boat, but it always comes back to "what are you going to replace it with"

Gonna paint it and drive it a few more years - it's actually nice to have something that now is different, and to be honest I still love how it wrap's around you and make you feel connected to whats happening - very few cars left like that coming out now. It's at the bottom of it's depreciation also.