Looking At 540is tomorrow

[Paul in NZ]

Yes its a 6 spd with the sports seats mtech suspension and such basically the 540 6 spd version of my car
apart from the obvious (nikasil wasnt a problem) what should i look out for.I will make sure everything works and it runs smooth.If i have the opportunity i will look under the cover(how does the engine cover come off?
Only done 128 000 km(about 80,000 miles)and seems to be in very good condition and cheap too...only downside is the 535 will have to go....and i wont get much for her

540is (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/BMW/auction-61248938.htm)

[Toomas]

128k km sounds fishy for 12 year old car, but then again maybe you dont have to cover much distance in NZ?

[Paul in NZ]

NZ small country.It is low mileage,but many of our cars have relatively low mileage.When i bought my 1990 535 in 2002 it had only 147000 k

[mattyb]

wow. thats great. master cylinder on the left hand side at rear of engine bay. 2 cylinders join. allum head bolts(3) bottom one feel for fluid and asses location beneath for fluid. but looks brilliant and good price. envy!!!!!! nice one mate.

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

Yes its a 6 spd with the sports seats mtech suspension and such basically the 540 6 spd version of my car
apart from the obvious (nikasil wasnt a problem) what should i look out for.I will make sure everything works and it runs smooth.If i have the opportunity i will look under the cover(how does the engine cover come off?
Only done 128 000 km(about 80,000 miles)and seems to be in very good condition and cheap too...only downside is the 535 will have to go....and i wont get much for her

540is (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/BMW/auction-61248938.htm)

What's up with the badges on the rear? Should be:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/interalian/M540i/109-0945_IMG.jpg

[632 Regal]

whats up woth the holes in the rear bumper strip?

looks good otherwise!

[BMW 5 SERIES]

whats up woth the holes in the rear bumper strip?

looks good otherwise!


Perhaps pdc

[Toomas]

whats up woth the holes in the rear bumper strip?

looks good otherwise!


Gee, dont you know these are speed holes, +100km/h to top speed guaranteed.

[fkong777]

What's up with the badges on the rear? Should be:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/interalian/M540i/109-0945_IMG.jpg

That is a Canadian version of a 540i M-sport they are badge as M540i. only about 65 of them.. They come with EDCIII suspension.

The one in the Ad is not a M edition of a 540. It is a 540i 6-spd. which usually come w sport seats and sport suspension..

[VentoGT]

Yeah--either the car has been repainted or hit or both--those badges look awful on the rear...

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

That is a Canadian version of a 540i M-sport they are badge as M540i. only about 65 of them.. They come with EDCIII suspension.

The one in the Ad is not a M edition of a 540. It is a 540i 6-spd. which usually come w sport seats and sport suspension..


32 actually.

I know it isn't an M-Sport, but if you're going to put an M badge on a 540-6, you may as well put it in the right place. More pictures of #4/32 from when I was inspecting on behalf of willz:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v11/interalian/M540i/



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/interalian/M540i/109-0952_IMG.jpg

[Paul in NZ]

i think they were debadged from the factory and the dealer put the //M badge on.The car has pdc.Both may come off if i get it

[fkong777]

32 actually.

I know it isn't an M-Sport, but if you're going to put an M badge on a 540-6, you may as well put it in the right place. More pictures of #4/32 from when I was inspecting on behalf of willz:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v11/interalian/M540i/



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/interalian/M540i/109-0952_IMG.jpg


Wow 32 only. nice. I wonder why such an odd number. why not 40 or 50 cars..

[632 Regal]

i give...whats pdc?

[Zeuk in Oz]

Very nice !

Good luck !

[mattyb]

pre delivery certificate?

[joshua43214]

pdc=park distance control

its a bunch of sensors ranged arround the bumber to detect objects, you hear a beeping as you aproach things that gets faster the closer you get, gets a bit fanatic when you pull into a small parking space.

e39's had it, I don't think any of the e34's ever did.

[Paul in NZ]

Well I went for a drive,and the difference between the 540 and 535 is night and day.....the engine is absolutely fantastic,smooth quiet and is always there.... even 1750 rpm in sixth just give a squeeze,and a few seconds later youre doing 160 km/hr,god knows what would happen if you flicked it into third(which it is set up to do its a spring which if you change down from sixth it flicks across to the 3rd 4th gate)Its got the electric sunshade(broken),sports seats etc.Its all there but there are downsides..brakes and steering feel wooden,feels nose heavy,no documents,body and paint(Petrol Mica) and interior aint as good as mine.All of which you may become familiar with,and may be just because it is different than mine.
Thinks hmmmmm

[joshua43214]

Well I went for a drive,and the difference between the 540 and 535 is night and day.....the engine is absolutely fantastic,smooth quiet and is always there.... even 1750 rpm in sixth just give a squeeze,and a few seconds later youre doing 160 km/hr,god knows what would happen if you flicked it into third(which it is set up to do its a spring which if you change down from sixth it flicks across to the 3rd 4th gate)Its got the electric sunshade(broken),sports seats etc.Its all there but there are downsides..brakes and steering feel wooden,feels nose heavy,no documents,body and paint(Petrol Mica) and interior aint as good as mine.All of which you may become familiar with,and may be just because it is different than mine.
Thinks hmmmmm

ya, the 540i's generate alot of lust when you drive them, its why I always say not to even drive one if you are not prepared to buy one, very hard car to say no to. You will not notice the extra weight in the nose once you re-adjust to the different balance.

[mattyb]

would you say that the condition of the vehicle is consistant with the ks?

[Paul in NZ]

No....at least not the sort of condition I epected from such a "special car"Its not the sort of condition that indicates that it done many more Ks its just the sort of condition that a 12 year old car would be in if it wasnt owned by most of us..paintwork swirly from too many car washes a few dings and a dint in one of the rear doors...needs some TLC is all.The guy that showed it to me isnt the actual owner he was in fact a BMW service manager i think for many years,he remembers seeing the car new.I think i was expecting a minter.

[mattyb]

so how much did he want for it and are u going to buy it?

[fkong777]

whats up woth the holes in the rear bumper strip?

looks good otherwise!

are you refering to the tow hook cover panel? Yeah.. it isnt fitting perfect but it can snap in a little better than that.

[Paul in NZ]

its an Auction.It has reached its reserve of 10 k which is pretty cheap for such a rare car.Only 250 or so 540/6 were made in rhd.I have to investigate its history a bit more before I make up my mind

[mattyb]

good idea. over in oz they are still going for 25-30k for a pristine example. the badges are a bit freaky arent they.

[wingman]

Which market was it built for? I know you get a lot of what we'd call 'grey' import cars in NZ. I'm just thinking in terms of the price. In OZ the OZ delivered vehicles command higher prices. Oh and from what I've seen on real oem the rear blinds aren't available anymore so be aware of that.

[Paul in NZ]

Its a NZ new car.The rear (electric) blind is "broken"The market here is dominated by imports to the extent that my $16000 535is 4 years ago is worth $6000 ..maybe.It affects the whole market