E39 Touring, the perfect car?

In reply to dannyzabolotny :

Thanks, I've been trying to pick a BMW-centric forum to join, and that one was at the top so far.  I'll see you there!

PS, I wanted the 540iT so badly, but since I drive sometimes 300 miles a day for work, I'd have to have 3 4 wheeled vehicles for myself. The 528 allows me to sell my Toyota Matrix XRS and have a BMW wagon, my lifted Bronco and a decent motorcycle, a dream combo come true!

Update:

The rear O2 sensors got snagged by a stick or tire tread when the PO had it and pulled just enough to cause a dead short, blowing the 30a fuse for that circuit.  Also on that fuse?  The Trans Control Unit.....limp mode is gone!  Can't wait to put some miles on it, clean it up (last owner was a slob) and find the perfect manual swap donor

1000 miles or so and I believe this car is a keeper 

Nice find on the O2 sensor short and trans bonus!

Also, congrats on the car in general. So cool.

I too have an E39 waggy (used to have the blue 528i but don't anymore), though it's a 540i in sport trim. Enjoy it! keep an eye on the bags in the rear though, they will split and you will be lowriding until you replace them.

In reply to formyhealth :

Those are sweet!  How does fuel economy compare between the 528 and 540?  

In reply to Justjim75 :

The fuel economy in the 528 was about 6 MPG better, I average about 17 MPG combined in the 540i over the course of the last 2 years.

Thanks for the info.  Everyone gets better mileage than me, apparently if you want worst case scenario MPG, let me drive it for a week.   Numbers for both cars from the same driver are very helpful. I'm still considering selling this car and getting a 540, If im doing a manual swap anyway...... 

Justjim75 said:

Thanks for the info....

I'm still considering selling this car..... 

If you decide to let this one go, I'd be happy to give it a good home 

In reply to Justjim75 :

The 540i is a much more enjoyable drive, quite a bit faster as well. Daily driving it sucks for the MPGs but it's worth it to me, my girlfriend drives it now since her E90 transmission took a large dumpski.

Agreed on 540i ownership. I daily drove mine for almost 4 years. With the M5 rear end, 6 spd and bouncing off the rev limiter on most days, I averaged 17.8 mpg over my entire ownership. 

In reply to Indy-Barely Functional-Guy :

After talking to formyhealth, and VWguyBruce, its officially for sale!  Not sure on price but its being detailed over the next few days so ill post pics as soon as i pick it up

There are two BMW wagons sitting in Pembina, North Dakota beside an abandoned house. Somebody should go rescue them