I'm ready to move from my 1993 325i (currently for sale). I've had my eye on E39's for a while now. I'd enjoy either of a 525i, 528i, 530i, or 540i. While searching on autotrader I ran into this:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=232462335&dealer_id=1381118&car_year=1998&model=530I&num_records=25&systime=1195059582016&make3=BMW&make2=BMW&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&model3=540I&model2=528I&search_lang=en&make=BMW&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=28214&advanced=y&end_year=2002&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=&cardist=24&superSpotlight=

Thoughts? Any comments about mileage?

I have a 98 540i as well with 151k on the clock. I do autoX, track days and so on. So, i push it. Very happy with it. maintnance can be a bit pricy, however as long as you can DIY, it saves you tons of $$ from labor..

155k on the clock today actually, any car with any mileage can be a good buy as long as you KNOW the maintanence history. I bought my car with 136k on it from the original owner with every receipt from day one and i have done a dimes work on the car minus gas/oil/cup holders.

the point of the story is dont be scared by high mileage as long as your getting receipts or known work thats been done to the car.

PS i bought mine for 7500 :)

looks good - I went from an E36 325is to an E39 540i and LOVED it. Good thing about the higher mileage is that most things that could have gone wrong most likely already has like the cooling system and clutch so if it's been well maintained a higher mileage car can actually be a good buy - I'd definitely check it out.

It is at a dealership so you might be able to talk them down even further. I will say for 10K you might be able to get a lower mileage one if you wait and are patient. It probably won't have the dinan package though. That is if you want the exhaust that sticks out 5 feet ;)

It is at a dealership so you might be able to talk them down even further. I will say for 10K you might be able to get a lower mileage one if you wait and are patient. It probably won't have the dinan package though. That is if you want the exhaust that sticks out 5 feet ;)

I have a woman planning to come look at my 325i this weekend. She said she'll have the money if she likes my car. So I can't go too long without a car...campus is 3 miles away :\

What if dealership can't present records? Should I pursue to haggle down or stay away?

I recently went from an e36 ('96 328i) to an e39 (01 530i Sport) and the difference is pretty huge. I'm extremely happy with the 530.

Like the other guys have already said - just pay close attention to what the maintenance records tell you.

-K

damn rebel thats alot of miles for $9900, if they would drop it down to $8000 it would be a decent deal IMO. especially after taking a quick look at whats for sale around here (nothing lol) btw the person who owned my car before I did bought it from auto world of lake norman, and they did have all the service records for it, so its possible that they may have them for the silver 540 youre looking at as well. I say that b/c some dealers dont care enough to hold on to them, even if the person trading in the car hands them the reciepts :(

good luck man

EDIT: btw...after you get your e39, come out to an nceuro car club meet and hang out with some other local 5ers :thumbup: (and other awesome euros of course) its the 1st tuesday of each month www.nceuro.org (http://www.nceuro.org)

Made a switch early this year from '98 328 coupe (e36) to '98 540i6. 50% of the time I miss agility an sportiness of coupe, and 50% of the time I enjoy in comfortable, smooth and highway fast 540i. Guess that getting another 3er for fun & trackday events would fix the score.

OK here goes -- do you really want a potentially high maintenance car as a student?

Sorry, don't mean to splash cold water on you, but if you buy a car w/o any idea of the work done at those miles you're asking for hurt. Unless you're a skilled mechanic in your spare time.