Help with making a decision on buying an e39

RIDERDIE · 06-17-2013, 10:28 PM

Yes I know...e90post not e39post. However I'm hoping like me, my e92 is not the first BMW I've owned.

I am looking at picking up an 02 e39 that has a non functioning instrument panel. Owner says its non operational and also the battery constantly drains so he installed a cut off switch.

My question is how serious is this? I know it's obd2 which is more difficult. Not really worried about replacing and having the incorrect mileage. Also not worried about the swap itself.

While there is some info on the web about pixels dieng and people swapping clusters there isn't really anything on this particular problem that I have found yet.

Can anyone offer any info as to what the hidden problems may be? I'm hopping I can just swap out the panel and am good to go, however, nothing's ever that easy.

What all am I looking at having to do?

Frankless24 · 06-17-2013, 10:33 PM

I used to have an e39 and there great cars, but the electrical systems past a certain point can be very troublesome. I would stay away from this one unless its a great great price and its only going to be a project car. What model is it? 540?

RIDERDIE · 06-17-2013, 10:48 PM

Yea it's a project to me. Stuck btwn another e36 m for track purposes or the e39 to drive then sell. Obviously the track car would cost a lot more and I'm not sure i have the time yet.

The car is an 02 530 with 163k on it and the owner is asking $3,500. It will serve as a mileage car for me so while the bigger engine would be great this will be good. We have a 94 525i e34 in the family with 216k which has served it's purpose we'll.

I'm thinking (after having a ppi, the forums opinion, and my own research) of offering $2,500 and paying no more than $2,800 maybe $3k

Surly73 · 06-18-2013, 07:06 AM

I had an E39 for 11 years, all DIY. I'd still be driving it if someone hadn't ran a red....

Personally, I'd walk. Who knows what's really going on, and you're buying from someone who installed a cut off switch and drove around with no instrument cluster? I'd run, not walk.

If you've got time to look around you can do better than this.

06-17-2013, 10:28 PM	#1
RIDERDIE First Lieutenant 17 Rep 329 Posts Drives: 12 f30 n20 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: VIRGINIA BEACH iTrader: (1)	Help with making a decision on buying an e39 Yes I know...e90post not e39post. However I'm hoping like me, my e92 is not the first BMW I've owned. I am looking at picking up an 02 e39 that has a non functioning instrument panel. Owner says its non operational and also the battery constantly drains so he installed a cut off switch. My question is how serious is this? I know it's obd2 which is more difficult. Not really worried about replacing and having the incorrect mileage. Also not worried about the swap itself. While there is some info on the web about pixels dieng and people swapping clusters there isn't really anything on this particular problem that I have found yet. Can anyone offer any info as to what the hidden problems may be? I'm hopping I can just swap out the panel and am good to go, however, nothing's ever that easy. What all am I looking at having to do?
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06-17-2013, 10:33 PM	#2
Frankless24 Enlisted Member 2 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 335i 6MT Join Date: May 2011 Location: East Bay, CA iTrader: (0)	I used to have an e39 and there great cars, but the electrical systems past a certain point can be very troublesome. I would stay away from this one unless its a great great price and its only going to be a project car. What model is it? 540?
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06-17-2013, 10:48 PM	#3
RIDERDIE First Lieutenant 17 Rep 329 Posts Drives: 12 f30 n20 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: VIRGINIA BEACH iTrader: (1)	Yea it's a project to me. Stuck btwn another e36 m for track purposes or the e39 to drive then sell. Obviously the track car would cost a lot more and I'm not sure i have the time yet. The car is an 02 530 with 163k on it and the owner is asking $3,500. It will serve as a mileage car for me so while the bigger engine would be great this will be good. We have a 94 525i e34 in the family with 216k which has served it's purpose we'll. I'm thinking (after having a ppi, the forums opinion, and my own research) of offering $2,500 and paying no more than $2,800 maybe $3k
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06-18-2013, 07:06 AM	#4
Surly73 Lieutenant Colonel 535 Rep 1,873 Posts Drives: '11 535xi 8AT KWv3 MPE MHD xHP Join Date: May 2012 Location: Oakville, Ontario iTrader: (1)	I had an E39 for 11 years, all DIY. I'd still be driving it if someone hadn't ran a red.... Personally, I'd walk. Who knows what's really going on, and you're buying from someone who installed a cut off switch and drove around with no instrument cluster? I'd run, not walk. If you've got time to look around you can do better than this.
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