E39 540i Manual

[kdevitt]

Have you any more experience buying through that site?

Looks to be some good value in the older stuff.

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Was looking to buy something listed there a while back - didn’t go for it in the end. If you spot a car there you like, it’s likely to be listed as a one-price sale with any of the agents such as jdmauctionwatch. You can then get them to do the inspection / report and sort out the purchase and shipping.

[dergside]

..... VRT is about €3k......

VRT on an auto e39 540i in either std or Sport spec is €720.

[Dave]

VRT on an auto e39 540i in either std or Sport spec is €720.

I know of two cars that were stung for €3k bills recently.

They're not bound by the VRT calculator, I certainly wouldn't trust it nowadays.


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[ginoc]

Was looking to buy something listed there a while back - didn’t go for it in the end. If you spot a car there you like, it’s likely to be listed as a one-price sale with any of the agents such as jdmauctionwatch. You can then get them to do the inspection / report and sort out the purchase and shipping.

Great thanks I'll look into it and Peter just be done with it and buy an M5!
You're welcome to take mine for a spin if you like.

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[RossYB]

I know it's a BMW site, But if it were my money id be buying a W220 S Class Merc. S500 with all the toys are cheap for what they are.

[dergside]

I know of two cars that were stung for €3k bills recently.

They're not bound by the VRT calculator, I certainly wouldn't trust it nowadays.


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I'd love to know more about the circumstances of this, if possible. If the cars don't match the specific info on the Calculator for the relevant Statistical Code then its possible, but if the car is previously EU registered, with matching description, CO2, etc. then there should be no deviation. If there is, then I'd argue that a print of the VRT figure on the day of purchase and another on the day of presentation for VRT would be strong grounds for a successful appeal.

Most people don't pay attention to the multiple options there can be for ostensibly the same model - for example there are 3 different Statistical Codes for an F10 530d MSport auto saloon and the difference in VRT between the highest and the lowest is approx. €1700 for a 2016 example of the same age and mileage - with the most obvious difference between them being the CO2 figure.

[Curran]

Given current condition (needing paint and 160k miles) of my E39 525i, Ive been considering another E39 from Japan; thanks to JohnH for putting the idea in my head!! And Ive spent endless hours of browsing since!

Are there any downsides of a Japan version - thinking of things like insurance; when they ask if a car is a Jap import or not.

[JohnH]

Given current condition (needing paint and 160k miles) of my E39 525i, Ive been considering another E39 from Japan; thanks to JohnH for putting the idea in my head!! And Ive spent endless hours of browsing since!

Are there any downsides of a Japan version - thinking of things like insurance; when they ask if a car is a Jap import or not.

Sorry about that! 🤣 if it makes you feel any better I want one too now!

The only downsides I’m aware of is that the sat nav is the Japanese version but can be changed over easily enough, and the square reg plate on the rear.

[dergside]

There were some suggestions that Japan market cars weren’t as well protected from rust as euro spec. Climate should mean that’s not an issue with the condition of cars, by and large, but it would be worth considering some under sealing when it gets here.

Also some small spec differences, depending on model, e.g. not all have MFSW and cruise control, but on the other hand many have ESR, leccy seats, xenons, etc that we’re options on this side.

[dergside]

The only downsides I’m aware of is that the sat nav is the Japanese version but can be changed over easily enough, and the square reg plate on the rear.

Many have the double din sat nav unit replaced with aftermarket units, not sure why, but it does mean it’s worth checking that the ICE is actually in a given car.

They also often have a diffferent interior mirror with some kind of a card slot, possibly something to do with tolling, and it’s possible that there is a difference in other function usually in the mirror, such as the alarm beacon and maybe dimming function.