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BMW 5-series E39 (1996 – 2003) Review

BMW 5-series E39 (1996 – 2003) At A Glance

5/5

+Some great engines. Good ride and handling. Classy looks. Performed well in JD Power Customer Satisfaction surveys.

-Electrical niggles. Some complaints over paint quality and assembly standards.

It was, so many people said, 'the best car in the world.' And who are we to argue? At the time, this German saloon was king of the road - a status that's reflected in its rising values today. BMW built on the reputation of the E39's predecessor to carve out a car that was fast, reliable and good looking (sort of).

The looks were a key part of its charm. Designed before Chris Bangle's flame surface styling set the tone for the premium saloons of the 2000s, the 3- 5- and 7-series were basically the same shape... just in different sizes.

It wasn't just the outside that looked great - the inside was incredibly comfortable. All instruments were clear and easy to read, while controls fell easily to hand. Even today, the inside of an E39 is a great place to be.

And then there was the handling. With BMW's near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the car was an absolute joy from start to finish. It didn't matter if you wanted to drop the kids of at school, notch up the miles on the motorway, or attack the apex on-track - the E39 could do it all.

Ask Honest John

Is a Japanese imported BMW 5 Series worth considering?

"I'm looking at buying an E39 BMW 5 Series. Several I've seen online from dealers are low mileage Japanese imports. Should I avoid these or are they okay to give serious consideration to? I guess I'm concerned about issues like dodgy mileage recordings, lack of MoTs, road legality in UK, no HPI record etc. "
Worth considering, yes. They are often like a 'nearly new' car - if that's what you want. These generally have little quirks like a speedo that reads in km/h and there could be an issue with the radio - although both can be sorted. Remember to check you're insurance premium as it could be higher. Potential buyers might be put off if you decide to sell the car on.
Answered by Keith Moody

I can't locate the oil filling plug on the automatic gearbox of my classic BMW 523i?

"I can't locate the oil filling plug on the automatic gearbox of my BMW 523i E39. It looks different to that shown in the Haynes Manual and Youtube videos. The only plugs on the back of the gearbox and the other on the right hand side next to the exhaust pipe, seem to be blanking blind holes and won't accept a small filling tube. Can you help?"
There should be a Torx head bolt on the sump pan under the autobox to drain the fluid. And then another Torx (or sometimes an Allen) head on the side of the box. Different types of automatic transmissions were fitted so the filling point can be on the left or the front- or rear-right of the box. It's worth measuring how much fluid you get out. Put the drain plug bolt back in and fill with automatic transmission fluid to the top. Start the engine and, with your foot on the brake, move through all the gears before putting it in 'park' again. As the gearbox oil heats up, you should get a small amount of fluid leaking - if that's the case, the fluid is at the right level - if not, top it up. There's a huge debate about which kind of fluid you should use in these units - the best advice we can give is make sure it meets the spec of your vehicle and buy the best you can afford. If in doubt, contact your local BMW dealer to check fluid requirements. It's probably worth changing the filter while you're doing this, and you may need a replacement washer for the drainplug. For this job, the car ideally needs to be on a ramp or axle stands - so please make sure this is done correctly and the vehicle is secure before going underneath it. If the light isn't very good, a head torch will improve things and leave you with both your hands free to work on the car.
Answered by Keith Moody

I want a prestige classic that's also economical - is a BMW the way to go?

"Just a university student here. I wish to have prestige car. The dream can be lived on a budget, I am looking at a BMW E39 and I am intending on modifying it elegantly. I'm looking for the most economical model, it did say in your review older diesels are terrible. That they offer the same mileage, as a petrol. hence best they are avoided. Does that mean pre face lift E39 is juicy? Would a facelift E39 2003 525d be economical? Alternatively, is it the case that the entire E39 range of diesels are low on mpg. "
While the question you've asked is quite simple, I'm afraid the answer is quite complicated. Fuel economy should not be your only concern here. For a start you need to be cautious of tax. The E39 5-series was in production from 1996 to 2003 - which means it crosses two tax bands. Cars registered between 1 March, 2001, and 31 March, 2017, pay a rate of tax based on fuel type and carbon dioxide emissions. Cars registered before 1 March, 2001, pay a rate of tax based on engine size (under 1549cc and over 1549cc). So what you may gain in mpg by buying a late diesel, you could lose in tax. You also need to consider reliability issues - BMW's six-cylinder petrols are often described as bulletproof, while this era of diesel engines can suffer from reliability issues. There's also another issue to be aware of - BMW's aluminium M52 six-cylinder petrol used nikasil cylinder liners - this was an issue because in the 1990s, petrol contained a high sulphur content - and sulphur caused premature bore liner wear. Once the issue was spotted, the cars were recalled and replaced with steel cylinder liners - but you'll need to check the work was done. So the takeaway here is to decide what car you want and do your homework. Yes, the E39 is a great car and we prefer it over the Mercedes E-class - but if you want something German, prestige, and rear-wheel drive, you need to drive both and see which is right for you.
Answered by Keith Moody
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