Hi everyone! I'm new to BMW. For years I've been a diehard Volvo guy but I'm thinking about getting into a 540i. I'm really partial to the '97 through 2003 body style (from a little reading here that's an E39 right?). What things should I be looking out for in a 540 of this vintage (typical problems, cost of maintenance, etc.)? I read a review on the 98 model on Edmunds.com about the 6-speed tranny being quirky but that may just have been a problem test car. Looking forward to your feedback!

The 6 speed tranny being quirky is just a CDV valve. (if you ran a quick search, you could find that term). Others major items include the entire radiator system, suspension bushings, and engien gaskets. Other than that though... most things should be ok. Do a quick search and youll find what you're looking for.