Buy a BMW 525i E39

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The E39 series from BMW is the name given to the BMW 5 series, which was built from 1995 to 2004. The car was available as a notchback sedan, a station wagon, known as BMW Touring, and a sports sedan, the M5. From 2000 the 525i was added.

A used BMW should also be checked out before buying it.
A used BMW should also be checked out before buying it.

Not all BMW E39s are created equal

  • Be sure to pay attention to the year of construction. Since the E39 series was built and facelifted from the mid-1990s to 2004, the year of construction is decisive. The quality of a 5 Series BMW from 2004 is significantly better than that of a 5 Series from 1995. However, the 525i was only built from 2000 on anyway, i.e. after the facelift.
  • The advantage of a 525i is the almost indestructible six-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 2.5 liters and an output of 192 hp. But don't be tempted to buy a V8. This starts in the 535i and produces just 235 hp (until 1998, then 245 hp), but consumes about a third more than the six-cylinder. With a fuel price of 1.50 DM (almost 80 cents) in 1998, consumption did not play such a major role.

Examine a 525i for errors

  • The E39 series from BMW was solid and exemplary in the upper middle class, but in retrospect there are still one or two shortcomings that have come to light over the years. The front door panels, for example, can creak and water ingress can occur on the rear doors in the area of ​​the door sill trims.
  • Also the engine has a few weak points. A water hammer can occur in the engine, caused by a chamber filled with rainwater in which the brake booster is located. If the outlet of the chamber is clogged and full of water, the brake booster draws water instead of air, which can get into the engine.

Buy the successor model

  • The successor model, the 5. E60 series is also worth considering. Since the 6th Series (F10) is on the market, these models are also quite affordable and offer significantly more technology and equipment than the previous model.
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  • The E60 series has the advantage that there are 4-cylinder engines for this 5-series BMW, which saves a lot of money in terms of vehicle tax and fuel consumption. Inquire about the 520i with 170 hp.

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