When I wrote that Facebook Marketplace was taking my sanity I did not expect someone to, you know, sell me their car. If anything, I was looking forward to not thinking about buying cars for at least a day. Nope! One of our excellent readers reached out to me and asked if I wanted to buy his 230k-mile E39 BMW 530i 5-speed (with the sport package). I mean, what was I supposed to do? Lest I jinx it, the wonderful guy is going to drive the car up to me here in the next couple of weeks and, assuming it isn’t a Ford Festiva with a roundel on it, I will buy the car and it’ll be official. Though, to be honest, I’d be interested in the Festiva, too.
It’s a big secret for now and after what happened last weekend I don’t want to tempt fate, but here we go:
To be very clear here: I don’t know that “winter beater” is quite right. It’s a car I will feel comfortable driving in winter, sure, but the current owner/seller/reader has done a lovely job keeping it in good shape and I’m going to honor that. Also, it has 234k miles on it!
Also, I need to find some cheap 16″ wheels (Thomas, who was my midwife through this journey says Style 29s) that’ll fit so please lemme know if you’re parting out an E39.
Congrats on the E39! I had one that was a wagon with about the same miles. Just make sure the suspension bushings, cooling system, various vaccum/emission lines and VANOS are taken care of and you should be golden.
These cars handle so well, and the linear power delivery of the inline 6 makes them a joy to drive.
Nice almost purchase Matt! This is why I don’t spend much time on Facebook Marketplace. My wife would like me to, expecting I would be looking for baby clothes and toys or stuff for our various home improvement projects. In reality I would likely bring home another four or two wheeled project before long, then have to explain how it really benefits all of us. I can already imagine how well that conversation would go….
Beautiful rig, congrats Matt!
Loved my E39 wagon. Sold it to a friends son @200K – He proceeded to drive it for another 5 years and 100K miles. After the cooling system is addressed it’s bulletproof.
Aside from worrying about rust at this point, my daily is 25m each way. This would be awesome. My current is at 220k, and loves the long commute. Keep it running.
Glorious!
I can’t believe the seller drove it 19,000 miles to deliver it to you!
Sooooooooooo…ice racing? Ice racing, ice racing, ice racing.
(Look, I’m just suggesting things I would do if I lived near actual winter and had a winterable vehicle.)
I’ve been trying to get David to come up ice racing for a few years now. There are a few XJs, including a flat bed Comanche, that are always there, and I’ve even seen a mid 60s mustang out on the ice too! With the relatively warm winter this far, I’m not sure conditions will be right before he’s fully out in LA.
Very nice, Matt! Why do you need 16” wheels? For winter tires?
Winter tires!
Well, okay, as long as this doesn’t mean I’m now required to buy that Peugeot 406 for sale approximately 10.9 miles from my house. Um, I mean, at some distance from my house which I have not determined, because why would I?
https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/d/woodinville-1997-peugeot-406/7574871911.html
OMG, you need to go buy that. Don’t come back here until you do.
Yeah, those are the rules.
I knew I should have read the fine print before accepting the bumper sticker and t-shirt.
If you’re looking for an out, you can always use the lack of a manual as an excuse. But damn…
Too bad it’s not the coupe, but nice Color though.
Some ask why. The more important question is, why not?
Right on! I’ve been trying to impress that upon the nephews, with some moderate success*.
If something sounds interesting, give it a shot! What’s the worst that could happen? I mean, genuinely, what’s the worst that could happen? If [whatever it is] is likely to burn to the ground as a result of the try, think twice, but if the worst case scenario is needing to replace [some random small part] then just f*cking send it.
* On my birthday I received a t-shirt that says “Uncle: the man, the myth, the bad influence”. 🙂
You should, everyone here KNOWS it would be a perfect fit you! We’ll support your habit!
Nice. Would drive.