The M3 continues its march toward being a track-only car, or at least a fairly uncomfortable DD. The suspension is great, and the next upgrade will be a seat, which means harness which means rollbar of some sort. And so it goes...
So, for $7,500 (plenty in that range), would this be a good daily driver? My daily commute consists of a walk to my office with the occasional drive to the airport, but occasionally I drive between 2 and 7 hours for work-related stuff. This thing looks like fun.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1807550
If I were to go e39, it would be a 530i. The 8 cyl requires just that much more maintenace and the 3.0 6 cyl doesn't seem to have a weakness in the power department. I think we can all agree that BMW knows how to build an inline 6.
Why would that guy run 0w-40 when BMW is very specific on it's requirement of a 5w-30 European spec synthetic oil? I've seen Vanos systems completely grenade when improper oil is used.
+1 for a 6 cyl version. I've heard the timing chain/guides/tensioner job is very labior intensive or upward of $1.5k on the 8's.
540it with LS1/4l60e. Like you need a project.
I can tell you the M5 feels totally different from a 540i. One feels special, one is an old man's car (my wife's words). But I've never driven the 6 so I can't comment on that.
While a good running 540i - 6 speed does indeed rule, the V8s in those have been known to be problematic. A good friend owns a BMW shop and he LOVES them. He doesn't own one, he just loves them because they continually put food on the table.
just my .02
For a DD . . .530i
Yes the V8 does rule, but for DD and lower maintenance cost 530i.
Joe Gearin wrote:
While a good running 540i - 6 speed does indeed rule, the V8s in those have been known to be problematic. A good friend owns a BMW shop and he LOVES them. He doesn't own one, he just loves them because they continually put food on the table.
just my .02
QFT. I love working on BMW, Audi, and VW because there is always work for me to upsell.
Yeah, I6 is the way to go if reliability is even remotely on your list. I'd go post-facelift (2001+) if it were me. FWIW, MY2000 528is are known to have ABS issues on top of all the usual E39 stuff. I find the 525i perfectly adequate for DD use, but the 530i does offer a nice boost in power.
On the subject of oils, the M1 0w40 is LL-01 approved. Having had the VANOS apart, I'm not sure how it could possibly grenade with improper oil. Function improperly, sure, maybe wear excessively (aside from the factory seals, which wear and harden excessively no matter what you do), but grenade?
I thought the 530 was also a V8... I would think the 535 is the way to go
You're thinking of the E34 530i, which was a V8; the only V8 model in the E39 range was 540i. I6 models were 525i, 528i, and 530i.
In reply to DILYSI Dave:
Hey I own a 740i and E34 530i . . . I would say "words of wisdom" 
Admittedly I didn't own the car for all that long, but I absolutely loved my 540i6, and the minimal maintenance it required wasn't burdensome.
The maintenance on the V8s isn't bad; it's the repairs. When the timing chain guide rails disintegrate, or the valley pan gasket leaks, or you finally address the multiple oil and vacuum leaks that are present, or you price a water-cooled alternator, you'll be wishing you'd opted for the I6.
I can't believe it, but we've owned our E39 530i for seven years now. Best sedan we've ever had and is still a damn handsome automobile.
