BMW cars are loved in Russia. Even more. A couple of years ago, a film was made about one of the models of the Bavarian concern, and now Serega boasts in a popular song that he has a black BMW and all the local girls love to ride it. Still, after all, not everyone can afford even a used BMW. Especially when it comes to the "five" in the back of the E39, produced from 1995 to 2003.

As a rule, the BMW 5 Series sold in our aftermarket are sedan. Station wagons, which appeared only in 1997, are extremely rare. It's a pity, because the station wagon based on the "five" looks very harmonious and even stylish. True, it costs, as a rule, more expensive than a sedan similar in configuration and technical condition. Moreover, this difference can be several thousand dollars. And it's not just that the production of station wagons takes more material. Many "touring" are equipped with pneumatic rear suspension, automatically leveling the body depending on the load.

And it should also be mentioned that the BMW 5-series in the back of the E39 was assembled not only in Europe, but also in Russia - since 1999, the "five" began to be made in Kaliningrad. Sometimes you can hear that these machines can not be compared in quality with products made in Germany. But it's not. In terms of reliability, the “Russian” BMWs are not inferior to their German counterparts. Kaliningrad "boomers" have two "packages" - "for bad roads" and "for cold countries" (since September 1998), which is expressed in the presence of reinforced shock absorbers, other springs and stabilizers, engine protection, etc. All this can be supplied and for cars from Europe, but this additional equipment will cost more than $1200. Therefore, many buyers of European "fives" prefer at first to confine themselves to strong metal crankcase protection for about $ 160 - without it, on our roads, the "engine" pan can be damaged in no time. And when preparing the car for Russian conditions, German engineers decided to change the location of the air intake, which on Kaliningrad cars is located not in the front bumper, but a little higher. This significantly reduced the risk of water hammer.

No "black sheep"

A total of 14 different modifications of power units were installed on the "five" E39, in which even a specialist can get confused. Let's start with 6-cylinder petrol engines. Until 2000, the “fives” were equipped with 2.0-liter engines with a capacity of 150 hp. (BMW 520i), 2.3 L 170 hp (BMW 523i) and 2.8 liters with 193 hp. (BMW 528i). You can often hear that the 2-liter power unit is not too suitable for the 5 Series, but this statement is debatable, because such cars easily accelerate to 220 km / h. Agree, not so little. But the versions 523i and 528i are unlikely to be called "dead". These are almost perfect “fives”, because 2.3- and 2.8-liter engines have power, reliability, and besides, their price is more affordable compared to the more “cool” V8s. Well, after the modernization, even among 6-cylinder engines, there was not a single “black sheep” left, which, albeit with a stretch, could be classified as insufficiently powerful. So, the 520i version received a 2.2-liter engine (170 hp). In addition, the BMW 525i and 530i appeared with 6-cylinder units of 2.5 and 3.0 liters with a capacity of 192 hp. and 231 hp respectively.

Well, those who need not just a car, but a real “rocket” should look for “fives” with 8-cylinder engines. There were two of them, with a volume of 3.5 and 4.4 liters, with a capacity of 245 hp. and 286 hp respectively. A unique 4.9-liter unit could also be added here, which developed a mind-blowing 400 hp, but it was put on the BMW M5 version, which is seriously different from the usual "five" and worthy of a separate article.

You can't go wrong with diesels. There are few of them in our secondary market, but these motors are worthy of respect. On the "fives" you can find diesel engines with a volume of 2.0 liters (136 hp), 2.5 liters (143 hp or 163 hp) and 2.9 liters (184 hp or 193 hp). Diesel BMWs, especially those with more powerful engines, are good for everyone, however, with one big exception - in 90%, if not 100% of cases, they have very high mileage. After all, in Europe these cars were purchased only by those drivers who travel a lot - believe me, such cars annually roll about 50 thousand km or more. And as a result, after 5-7 years of operation behind "their shoulders" 250-400 thousand km. No matter how good the German motors are, by this point they are usually seriously worn out. And repairing diesel engines costs a lot of money (finding a used one in good condition is unrealistic). Yes, and diesel fuel in Russia is also not great. In general, it is still better not to buy old diesel BMWs.

Dangerous Options

There are dangerous “fives” with gasoline engines. And here we are not talking about volume. Sometimes on sale there are cars (made before September 1998) with engines that have a nickel-silicon (nikosil) coating of cylinders. This very nikosil collapses over time, and the cylinder block must be changed. I must say that BMW quickly realized that it had made a big mistake by deciding to use this "nasty" drug. And in many cases, nicosil engines were replaced under warranty with new ones, already coated with reliable alusil. But nikosil units are still found, and in this case, if the motor breaks down, you must either pay about $ 3,000 for a new unit, or use cast iron inserts, which is also not cheap. Moreover, many masters doubt the effectiveness of the last operation. Therefore, when buying a car, you must definitely go to a service specializing in BMW, and use an endoscope to check the cylinder block (nicosil coating is different in color from alusil coating).

Also, when buying, you need to find out if the engine has been overheated, which can lead to very expensive repairs. To prevent overheating, it is necessary to clean the radiator once a year, for which you have to remove the bumper, as well as monitor the condition of the thermal coupling for turning on the fan (its replacement will cost about $ 120-200) and the pump (the plastic impeller sometimes turns in the latter, which leads to costs in the amount of about $60-100). Another relatively weak point in the cooling system is the thermostat (its replacement costs $50-100 with spare parts). And it happens that the engine starts to warm up due to a broken air conditioner radiator fan (located in front of the main one). It must be said that the above breakdowns are quite rare, but these places deserve close attention so as not to become a victim of deadly overheating.

When operating the BMW 5 Series, it is recommended to call in for an oil change service not when the computer says so (the “five” is equipped with such a system), but a little earlier - better every 12-15 thousand km. Of course, the oil should only be of the best quality, and only the one recommended by the manufacturer should be used (by the way, the masters strongly advise against pouring “flushing” into the motor). But remembering the delicate timing belt in the case of the BMW 5 Series is not necessary - all “five” motors have a chain that is enough for 250 thousand km or more. And the money saved is better spent on cleaning the nozzles (every 50-80 thousand km) with special preparations at the BMW service. Most likely, at the same time you will have to change the candles (they cost $15-20 apiece).

According to the masters, BMW E39 engines have proven to be very reliable. And in those cases when one or another minor repair needs to be done, it is often possible to avoid too high costs thanks to the use of good non-original parts. But what you should really be afraid of is the "capital" - it is very expensive. So before purchasing the "five" it is necessary to carry out the most thorough engine diagnostics. The $50-100 spent on this cannot be compared with the costs that a serious engine breakdown will bring. For example, the repair of a proprietary VANOS variable valve timing system, which is required after 200-300 thousand kilometers, will cost $ 300-600 (when the “cooler” DOUBLE VANOS wears out, the costs will be much higher).

To the envy of competitors

All versions of the BMW 5 Series E39 could have both manual and automatic transmissions. Moreover, starting from the end of the 90s, the “automatic” had the opportunity to manually switch, which made it possible to combine the advantages of both types of transmission. Boxes on the "five" are very reliable and able to work no less than the engine itself. You just need to make sure that oil does not leave them (at high mileage, it can begin to seep through the seals, but replacing them usually costs $ 50-100). The clutch on cars with "mechanics" has a good resource and works for 150-200 thousand km (fans of fast starts, of course, "kill" it faster). A clutch kit costs about $350-400, and for its replacement at a regular service station they will charge about $70-120.

When creating the BMW 5 Series, engineers decided to actively use aluminum, which helped to reduce the overall weight of the car, as well as reduce unsprung masses. On the "five" E39, the front axle beam, wishbones and suspension strut guides are made entirely of aluminum. The rear suspension is taken from the big "seven" and has its own brand name - Integral IVa. And the rear suspension, thanks to its design, can “steer” a little on bends, helping the driver to get more pleasure from the ride.

Despite all the talk about the unsuitability of fast BMWs for Russian roads, one thing can be said - the suspension of the "five" is reliable. As experience shows, most often replacements require stabilizer struts (both front and rear), but they are inexpensive - from $15 to $30, depending on the place of purchase and manufacturer. It is worth noting here that most of the parts of the chassis of the BMW 5 Series do not have to be purchased in the original version. You can almost always find exactly the same elements, but in a Lemferder box or some other company (specialists in spare parts stores know this very well).

Drivers of the BMW 5 Series should remember that at each maintenance it is necessary not only to change the oil, but also to carefully inspect the suspension, blow out the drainage holes under the hood, etc. And if there is the slightest doubt about the correct operation of a particular part, it is better to do it right away change. Otherwise, one worn-out element will quickly drag others “to the grave” with it. As a result, the cost of repairs will be not $100, but $500. As is often the case, the front suspension requires more attention, where there are two levers per wheel ($130 Lemferder and $170 original). If you drive without noticing holes and potholes, they are "killed" for 15-30 thousand km. But it’s worth being a little more careful, as levers with ball bearings and silent blocks work without problems for 70-80 thousand km. Although in many cases the upper control arm bushes wear out much earlier, fortunately they are replaced individually (part price $12-20).

The rear suspension is reliable, but on cars older than 5 years, it may require replacement of the silent block in the hub, which is sometimes called "thruster" or "floating" ($40-70), as well as the so-called integral arm ($26). A little less often, you have to change two more simple levers ($ 120 apiece). But the most unpleasant thing is when the silent block in the large H-shaped lever wears out. In this case, you have to buy a lever assembly. It happens only original ($340).

The car's brakes work as they should. It happens, however, that the ABS sensors or the system control unit fail. And if a new sensor costs about $120, then you will have to pay $950-1000 for the electronic unit! But here it should be noted that on the "fives" made after 1999, there are no more problems with the ABS control unit. By the way, after 1999, the steering racks on cars with in-line engines also became more reliable (the BMW 5 Series with V8 engines has a different steering wheel). Buying a car with a faulty rack could bankrupt the owner by $1200 in the future! So be careful.

In this article, you will find out whether it is worth getting involved with buying a BMW E39. We will learn about what points you should pay attention to and how to buy the right car.

The new generation of the fifth series in the back of the E39 appeared in the spring in Geneva in 1995. In 1995, only a sedan was available to customers, and only two years later the Touring wagon came up to release.

Body

The BMW E39 has a reliable body and simple body repair, it is assembled and disassembled several times, the interior is also easily disassembled. The joints between the gaps are minimal; the body has anti-corrosion treatment and high quality paintwork. The body of the BMW E39 has become more modern and attractive.

Rust can appear due to chips, or if the car has been in a serious accident. Chips can be used as a reason for bargaining. Due to the reagents, the sills, bottom and bottom of the trunk can rot, so you should take a closer look at these places before buying in order to avoid further surprises.

You should visually inspect the gaps at the body, they should not be as wide as a finger. It will not be superfluous to take a closer look at the glass numbers, the numbers of the front left and front right should match, similarly with the rear ones.

Manufacturer BMW has provided a huge range of paintwork diversity. Below you can see some of them. This is only a small number of them in fact hundreds.

Salon

The salon of the five has always had rich equipment and the BMW E39 is no exception. It has: climate control, cruise control, course stabilization system (DSC) and of course an on-board computer. Later versions, from 2000 onwards, boast a memory device for the driver's seat, with three positions and, in some versions, even breaking backs.

And of course, one cannot remain silent about the high quality of interior trim materials: soft plastic, wood or aluminum inserts, leather or fabric seats. It all depends on the configuration of the car. The only thing the salon is not famous for E39, and all fives, with large sizes it does not have a very large capacity - this applies to rear passengers. In a tall person, sitting in the back, his legs will rest on the front seat.

BMW E39 engines

A wide range of engines was installed on it, ranging from a 136-horsepower diesel engine with a volume of 2.0 liters, and ending with a 400-horsepower 4.9-liter powerful naturally aspirated engine, which was put on its production began in 1998. Installed on this model straight sixes, which were the most common on this model, eight-cylinder engines were also installed on this model.

E39 motors were equipped with a system Vanos and double Vanos. This is a valve control system that allows you to change the valve timing depending on the nature of the ride.

Engines up to 1998 had Nikasil coating instead of cast-iron liners. Thanks to the nikasil coating, the engine became lighter, but in our conditions with our gasoline it collapses, and the compression in the cylinders begins to fall, and due to low-quality gasoline, the cylinder heads are destroyed. Later, the Germans began to use an aluminum coating, which increased the reliability of engines so that it is better to choose cars from 1999 so it will be more reliable.

BMW E39 engines reliable enough, but prone to overheating, this hereditary trait passes from generation to generation. Often the culprit of overheating is the electronic thermostat, it is short-lived and quickly fails. To prevent overheating, it is necessary to clean the radiator every year. Before buying, if you are not sure about the health of the viscous coupling, it is better to replace it; it can cause overheating.

All motors are equipped with a timing chain, which increases reliability, but do not forget that it stretches over time so that if necessary it is better to replace it, after replacement you will forget about it for a long time, its resource is about 300 thousand km.

Eight-cylinder engines are more prone to overheating, more often fans fail. The radiator is clogged with dirt and dust. It must be cleaned regularly so that it does not clog and does not overheat. It is recommended to do this once every six months.

The best option is to choose a BMW E39 after 1999 to avoid problems with an engine overhaul. A good option in terms of power and economy is 2.5 liters
192 HP

Weak engines up to 170 hp s, it makes no sense to take, the expense and tax are almost the same.

From diesel engines, it makes sense to take a closer look at the M57 530d 193 hp. A big plus is its consumption, the power does not exceed 200 hp, which also favorably affects the tax. It can be noted that this motor is not prone to oil consumption and has a decent resource. In addition, you can resort to to increase power.

Transmission

E39 transmissions are reliable, care should be taken to ensure that they do not ooze oil, otherwise the oil seals must be urgently replaced. Everything bmw This model is rear wheel drive. Three types of boxes were installed on this car: 5-6 speed mechanics and TipTronic automatic with manual shifting. All boxes are highly reliable. The machine fails only with a sharp and aggressive ride. On a mechanical box, over time, the gearshift bushing and the box stem seal fail. The automatic transmission before the intermediate repair serves 250-300 thousand km.

electrical equipment

This thing is pretty tricky. This model is not very reliable electrical equipment. Everything because of its abundance, and not because of the quality, there is too much of it. Often, the contact between the cables of information displays and the board disappears. The result is a fuzzy image on the display. Interestingly, the malfunction can be affected by air humidity.

There is also a problem with climate control. From time to time, he begins to make independent decisions: to distribute air flows, refusing to regulate air flows. The way out is to replace the electronic control unit. This also applies to the power window mechanism. There are plastic parts, they are flimsy and often break.

On the previous model, this mechanism proved to be more reliable.

Suspension

Compared to it, there is an abundance of aluminum parts in the suspension, which has improved handling and comfort. On our roads, the suspension goes no more than 40,000 km. In eight-cylinder engines, the front suspension is more reliable, it is made of cast iron. Another problem was the steering rack, which was installed on this model. On our roads, it is short-lived, goes where 40000-60000 km and then regularly empties the owner's wallet. And here the eight-cylinder engines turned out to be more reliable; they still have the good old worm gear.

Pros and cons , according to owners:

	pros	Minuses

Someone once said: "Experience is the son of difficult mistakes." But experience makes us smarter. After a positive three-year experience of owning a BMW E39 produced from 1995 to 2004, the test editor of a German magazine decided to repeat it. He was a real fan of this car. In 2010, he turned up a BMW 523i in very good condition with only 118,000 km on it.

In 1997, such a car cost 75,000 marks. At the end of 2010 - only 4400 Euros. In the three years that they were together, the BMW E39 covered 50,000 km. Serious problems? None. Only the wishbone, brake pads, dampers and springs (one broke in the winter of 2012). In addition, I changed the oil, and made it a rule to conduct a technical inspection in the service once a year. However, there are elements that are currently suffering from wear and tear and require replacement.

Last summer, the BMW 5 Series had to pass the TUV periodic inspection test. The specialist said that this instance will go another 100,000 km without any problems. But at some point, the editor caught the eye of an almost identical BMW e39, only three years younger and priced at 4,990 euros. Out of curiosity, he went to the dealer.

First impressions? Very positive. The Bavarian sedan had an impeccable condition of the paintwork. Only on the front there were small chips from stones. How is this vehicle equipped? Very good. Automatic transmission, climate control, electric sunroof. But the facelifted BMW e39 had much more to offer. A model with an updated "face" appeared on the market at the end of 2000. Among other things, the design also received changes. The taillights and headlights were redesigned, which gained xenon light with an automatic washer. But this sample was even better equipped: alarm, front and rear parking sensors, dimming rear-view mirrors, rain sensors. There was even an integrated Siemens phone, but it didn't work. If you want to restore it, you can find a repair kit on Ebay for 50 euros.

In addition, the BMW e39 had a multifunctional steering wheel with control buttons for most functions: cruise control, air conditioning and other systems. What is missing? Heated seats are possible, but they can be installed for as little as 200 Euros.

Over time, the symbol buttons on the steering wheel wear out.

What else is missing? Speakers. The first BMW 5 Series had a 2.5-liter engine with 170 hp. The inspected car with the same power has a 2.2-liter engine. Dynamic characteristics are comparable, but the level of consumption is better in a new car. On average, it is 8.5 l / 100 km, which is very good for a 1.6-ton sedan with a gasoline engine.

In rare cases, the brake booster fails. The pedal becomes more and more difficult to press. Sometimes leaves and dirt clog the drain of the water drain, which is sucked into the amplifier. This immediately kills the motor.

So, is everything all right?

No, not all: the phone does not work, there is noise from the front axle, and the electric mirror refuses to move. Can you still bargain?

Of course, the same, but the car will not receive a guarantee.

For a good price, you can pick it up right now. 4050 Euro, - the editor shook hands and went on a journey for a new experience with the BMW e39.

Specific example

The vehicle purchased was originally purchased and used by the Tax Authorities in Hamburg. By the way, this is a very comfortable car for trips from behind. The dark blue color is quite serious, and inside there is a dark fabric interior. This BMW 520iA was first registered in February 2001 and was a restyled version. A year later, it passed into private hands. It looks like the former owner took good care of his BMW e39. It's already 13 years old, but the sedan looks good and only has 116,500 km on the odometer.

What is the chassis rattling about?

This aspect must always be paid attention to, because this is a problem typical of the BMW 5 Series. When the car was raised on a lift, everything became clear. The wishbone on the right side had significant play and required urgent replacement.

We continue to check

Diagnostics revealed a slight reduction in power flow at 1500 rpm. An error is displayed on the display of the tester. Presumably one of the sensors is either the crankshaft or the camshaft. The good news is that troubleshooting is inexpensive.

But other? Everything works without problems. The automatic transmission is surprisingly fast and appears to be in very good condition.

Automatic transmission oil, contrary to the manufacturer's assurances, does not last forever. It is recommended to change it at least every 120,000 km.

Opinion

We must take it now. The problems identified are minor and repairs are simple. For such a sedan with a six-cylinder engine, 4050 euros is even too little.

Typical malfunctions

On the body of the BMW 5 e39, rust is not found at all (except for the station wagon tailgate). Corrosion can only appear if you delay for a long time with the repair of chips resulting from stone ingress. Exterior mirrors are often stolen. The original kit with dimming is very expensive.

One of the disadvantages is the suspension model, which has many components, and over time they will all need to be replaced. The need for repair will be prompted by the noise and knocks that have appeared. The new parts are much more durable than the original ones. Quality parts include parts offered by Lemforder and Mayle.

Headlight lenses become cloudy over time. A new headlight costs about 350 Euros.

Over time, the hydraulic booster hoses wear out and crack (less often the tank itself), which leads to loss of fluid by the hydraulic booster.

Dead pixels are a common problem with older BMWs. Exit: repair or replacement of the display. From 90 Euro.

Often the air conditioning control buttons fail. The keypad needs to be replaced. From 80 euros.

- a true legend of the Bavarian company. Charisma, comfort and power - these are the qualities that make the "five" so attractive. Even today.

Body and interior

At the time of her debut, the E39 was a painted beauty with those very "angelic" eyes. In princepe, well-groomed "five" and today will not cause any special problems to the owners.

The model received a rigid, durable body with a high degree of passive safety and a fairly pronounced resistance to corrosion. Variants with serious foci of rust are found only after poorly eliminated consequences of an accident. Also, the model has a weak point - the edge of the doors.

Particular attention when choosing a five in the back of the e39 should be paid to the fact that the car has a native body geometry. This is fraught with more problems than corrosion.

The model received rich equipment. Already in the database - climate control, full power accessories and an on-board computer on a specially slightly deployed front console to the driver. Noise insulation of the cabin is a reference in its class. Finishing materials are at the premium level, even after so many years.

Comfortable chairs with many adjustments, a spacious interior even in a common sedan, not to mention the touring. Model E39 is a role model for many modern cars.

Engines and transmission

First of all, fives in the e39 body owe their popularity to the legendary M series engines. These powerful and reliable units, with good maintenance, nurse 300, 400, and some up to half a million kilometers without any problems.

BMW E39 received a wide range of gasoline 6-cylinder engines: 520i M52 150 hp, 520i M54 170 HP 523i M52 170 HP 525i M54 192 hp, 528i M52 193 hp, 530i M54 231 HP

The complaints of the owners of gasoline fives come down to overheating. It is caused by leaks in the cooling system or the failure of the thermostat. Until 1998, gasoline engines were covered with nikosil from the inside. Over time, it collapsed, which led to the need to replace the cylinder block. And although dealers willingly changed such ICEs under warranty, there is a chance to find just such an engine on sale. Therefore, it is better to check the cylinder block from the inside with an endoscope when buying, and not take risks in vain.

As for diesel engines, the 4-cylinder 520d was offered for the E39 M47 136 HP and more powerful "sixes" for versions 525tds M51 143 hp, and the same legendary M57 for 525d (163 hp) and 530d (184 and 193 hp options). The most popular was the 525d version.

Nevertheless, experts recommend purchasing petrol versions of the BMW e39. The reason is simple - other things being equal, diesel engines will have much more mileage, and repairing them is expensive (in every sense). Plus the quality of domestic fuel. Plus, possible problems with the turbine on diesel versions of 1999-2000.

The five in the back of the e39 have no questions about the operation of the timing chain drive: it takes care of 250 thousand km.

Regular high-quality engine maintenance and thorough diagnostics of the e39 engine before buying will save you from a very expensive overhaul.

For transmissions. The automatic transmission in the e39, subject to an oil change every 60 thousand km, has served the owner faithfully for decades. The only thing to keep an eye on is whether the oil is leaving through the seals.

To the manual transmission, the owners of claims usually do not arise in principle. But the transmission resource, of course, directly depends on the driving style. On average, the “mechanics” on the e39 serve 150-200 thousand kilometers without repair.

Chassis

The owners note as a feature of the model the low ground clearance and the feature of the rear suspension “steering” on bends, which gives pleasure to the owner.

As for the design of the suspension, in E39 many solutions can be considered reference ones, in particular, the execution of some parts from light metal alloys. But the sporty character of the car is reflected directly in the resource of parts. And often it is the problems with the suspension and its upcoming costly repairs that cause the sale of this BMW.

The front suspension requires increased attention from the owner. With careless driving, aluminum levers (and there are 2 of them per wheel) live only 15-30 thousand km. But with careful respect for the car, the service life increases many times and reaches 70-80 thousand km. Silent blocks wear out earlier, but also change on their own.

The rear suspension in the E39 is complex, its problem is wishbones and breakup rods. A typical story with stabilizer struts and bushings - they are used as consumables. The trouble comes when the silent block in the large H-shaped lever is worn out.

The brakes of the model are not satisfactory. Sometimes the electronics are weird on the part of the ABS sensor or the control unit, but this mainly applies to models before 1999 onwards. When choosing a used five, you need to pay attention to the condition of the steering rack. The presence of backlash and leakage can have an unpleasant effect on the budget, because the whole part will have to be changed or sorted out.

Experts note that the feature of the BMW e39 has always been not the most durable steering rack. Therefore, when choosing a used five - close attention to the presence of backlash and leakage. The average life of a part is 80 thousand kilometers, then repair or expensive replacement.

It is noteworthy that for BMW the difference between here

With which engine to choose a BMW E39, what to look for and how much its maintenance costs. Is it worth it to buy such a car at all, because about 85-90% of 39-ok in the CIS countries are in a “shabby” state ?! If you have made up your mind and are firmly convinced that you want to buy a BMW E39, then from this article you will learn what you need to pay attention to so as not to buy complete rubbish and how to choose a 39-ku in good condition and with the best engine.

Briefly about the BMW E39 - the fourth generation of the premium sedan / touring of the 5 Series range. The car replaced the body of the BMW E34 and was put into mass production at the end of 1995. The first versions were 520i, 523i, 528i, 540i, diesel versions 525td and 525tds were offered only a year later.

The E39 was produced until 2003 in the body - a sedan and a touring (station wagon), after which it was replaced by the BMW E60. At the end of 2000, the BMW E39 5 series lineup was updated (restyling - minor changes in the exterior and interior, refinement / improvement of engines and correction of errors / problems that arose during the operation of the first models of this generation).

Dorestyling or restyling

How to distinguish pre-styling and restyled BMW E39 ?!

In the front of the updated version, a new bumper was installed with body-color moldings, round fog lights to match the bumper design, and optics were changed - for the first time, "angel eyes" were installed on a BMW. At the rear, the headlight design has been redesigned.

And these are the external signs of differences between the BMW E39 with the M Sport Package and the top version of the M5

After restyling, most of the design flaws were eliminated, and the BMW E39 became one of the leaders in reliability in its class. However, the Bavarian sedan remains a rather complex car that requires qualified service, quality spare parts and consumables. When buying a pre-styling version, special attention should be paid to the condition of the car, since the first production cars had more weaknesses.

The lineup

BMW 520i E39 - gasoline version of the BMW E39 produced from 1995 to 2003 in two body types - sedan and touring. Over the entire production period, three engines were installed on the 520 - from 1996 to September 1998, a 2-liter BMW M52, from 1998 to January 2000 - its updated M52 engine with the TU index and from 2000 to 2003 a 2.2-liter and one of the most popular, reliable BMW M54.

BMW 523i E39 - produced from 1995 to 2000 in a sedan body, and since 1997 the model has been available in a touring body. Initially, the car was equipped with the M52B25. Since September 1998, the company has replaced this unit with an updated M52TUB25 engine with a dual VANOS system.

BMW 525i E39 - this modification is available only in a restyled body and was equipped with a 2.5-liter BMW M54. The car was produced from 2000 to 2003 in the body of a sedan and station wagon (Touring).

BMW 528i E39 - this modification was produced from 1995 to 2001 and was available with the BMW M52. Since September 1998, the 39th has an updated engine designated by the TU index, and the Single VANOS system has been replaced by Double VANOS.

BMW 530i E39 - as well as the 2.5-liter modification, the 530 version with the 3-liter BMW M54 was offered in 2000. Production ended in 2003.

BMW 535i E39 - E39 equipped with a 3.5-liter V8. The 535th, produced from 1996 to 1998, is equipped with a 245 hp M62B35 engine. Since September 1998, the Bavarians have installed a modernized BMW M62 engine with the TU index under the hood.

BMW 540i E39 - if you do not take into account the BMW M5 E39, then this is the top version in the 39th body. The car was produced since 1995 and was equipped with a 4.4-liter M62B44 engine, and since September '98, a modified version of it M62TU developing 286 hp. The armored version was designated - 540iP (Protection).

BMW 520d E39 is the most economical version. The diesel modification was produced from 2000 to 2004 and was equipped only with a 4-cylinder BMW M47 engine.

BMW 525td E39 - the first version with a diesel engine was offered only in a sedan body and was equipped with a BMW M51 engine (M51D25 UL). Production period 1996 - 2000.

BMW 525tds E39 - more powerful diesel model produced with the same M51 (M51D25TU OL) and in the same period.

BMW 525d E39 - restyled diesel modification with a 2.5-liter BMW M57. The car was produced in sedan and station wagon from 2000 to 2003.

BMW 530d E39 - the top diesel version under the hood of which was installed the same reliable BMW M57 engine, only with a volume of 3 liters. Since 1998, the 530th diesel engine has been equipped with a 184-horsepower version of the engine. From August 2000 to 2003, the same engine was installed on this model, only modified and improved, the power of which increased to 193 hp.

How to choose a BMW E39

As for the choice of modification, it is worth noting that even the 520th version with a two-liter engine will give you driving pleasure, and at the same time moderate maintenance costs. The choice of modification is directly related to your financial capabilities.

What to look for when choosing, inspecting and buying the "five" of the fourth generation?

Body

Searching for a used BMW E39, as well as, in principle, searching for another used car leads to one obligatory moment - checking the body, since you can even buy a BMW E39 in a “killed” state, then sort out the engine, repair the gearbox and sort out the chassis part, but if you bought a car with badly beaten bodies, then it will stay with you forever, or until you sell the car.

When examining the body condition, you should understand that time takes its toll and it is almost impossible to find an unbeaten and unpainted BMW E39. As practice shows, the search for the “five” in the native paint can take a long time, and you will be very lucky if at least the hundredth viewed car becomes it.

100% - not broken or painted BMW 528i in the back of E39. At the moment it is on the podium of the BMW Museum, and if you still manage to buy it, then for VERY expensive

Below are the places you need to pay attention to visually see the overall picture of the condition of the machine. What to look for when inspecting the body? The main task is to choose a body that has not been in a severe accident, that is, let it be re-painted, repaired somewhere, but most importantly, the supporting structure should not be damaged.

Determine where the car was beaten, possibly with a device for measuring the paintwork. With it, it is possible at the initial stage to find out whether you should continue to inspect the car or not. If you do not have such a device, you will have to examine more closely.

the front of

The repainted place gives itself out mainly as a matte shade and swelling of the paint, which indicates poor-quality repair work.

In the engine compartment, the fender liner may indicate its replacement, and torn bolts on the hood and fenders will let you know that the fender was removed or even changed. It is possible to determine whether the headlight has been changed by checking the date of manufacture of the car and the date of manufacture of the headlight indicated on the body of the headlight itself. It is worth noting that the headlight can be changed not only after an accident, but also when updating the appearance.

a problematic place in the front of the E39 body is the sealant in the front of the hood (front corners) - if the corrosion is severe, then the hood will have to be changed in the future.

Side part

It is possible to identify a repainted part of the body by the presence of poor-quality painting by a painter, which may well leave traces, such as subsidence of soil or paint smudges. When inspecting a dirty car, such moments, even for a disassembled person, will be difficult to determine.

Inspect the fit of the doors to the side wings and the openings for cracks and blistering of the paint, which would indicate a replacement or repair operation on the doorway.

It is easy to determine from the bolts that the door was dismantled;

Rear part

The presence of "beaten-colored" can be determined by examining the luggage compartment, namely the rear wing attachment site. After installing the "new" rear wing, characteristic traces remain. The surface of the mounting pad can be glossy, although it should be more matte. There are no traces of spot welding. If the car was hit on one side, you can easily tell by comparing it to the opposite side. It is also possible to determine the bitness by the presence of "artisanal" welding under the platform itself from the inside.

The next item to look out for is the spare wheel well, and the presence/absence of welds, putty or other nasty repairs.

Pay attention to the trunk lid itself, the stripped paint near the trunk mounting bolt will let you know about its removal or replacement.

Engine

You are unlikely to see a new engine in the engine compartment on a used BMW E39, but upon inspection, pay attention to the external condition of the attachments and everything around it - including the power unit itself.

Visually, the poor condition of the engine will tell you the valve cover gasket, which needs to be replaced, the sweating of the power steering, the leakage of high pressure hoses and other oily components of the engine compartment, indicating unreliable operation of the engine.

But, only by starting the engine, a knowledgeable person will understand how good or bad everything is with the engine.

The best BMW E39 engine

The BMW E39 was equipped with 6- and 8-cylinder gasoline engines, and 4- and 6-cylinder diesel power units.

Petrol - M52, M52TU, M54 and M62. Unlike its predecessor BMW M20, the BMW M5x series of engines is less prone to overheating, which cannot be said about the V-shaped eight M62 with a volume of 3.5 and 4.4 liters. The word "overheating" does not mean short-term high speeds.

Which engine is better to choose BMW E39? Deviate from the budget for buying a car!

Try to weed out the E39s with the M52 engine. Why?! Because the blocks of this motor are made of aluminum, and in the manufacture of the cylinder walls, such surface treatment / spraying technology as Nikasil was used. This coating is "afraid" of very low-quality gasoline, which contains a lot of sulfur.

If the budget is limited, look towards the BMW E39 with the M52TU engine from 09.1998 or from 1999. This engine is much more reliable than the M52 installed on the first models. It is also worth noting that a double VANOS is installed on the TU version, which makes the car more economical, and at the same time has higher dynamic characteristics.

With a larger budget, buy with a BMW M54 gasoline engine. This is a great motor with which there will be no problems. The motor has proven its reliability over time. But this does not mean that you can buy a BMW E39 with an M54 engine and not service it at all.

Visual difference between BMW M52 and M52TU engines: 1 - one or two VANOS; 2 - cover; 3 - intake manifold; 4 - the location of the oil dipstick;

The M54 engine was equipped only with restyled BMW E39

As for 8-cylinder engines - the same situation with blocks. Motors with nikasil blocks were installed until September 1997, so models up to 97 ′ will be cheaper to bypass.

It is also worth noting that the VANOS system has been installed on the BMW E39 V8 since September 1998. When choosing such a “device”, you need to pay special attention to the sound of the system itself (VANOS) - the absence of crackles and knocks. When buying a BMW E39 with a V-shaped engine, pay attention to the 4.4-liter version with a TU engine, that is, M62TUB44 installed on the 540th modification after 1998.

Left BMW M62 without VANOS - right M62TU VANOS

Most of the E39 was also equipped with diesel engines. From the beginning of production until 2000, modifications with the prefix "td" and "tds" were equipped with a 2.5-liter M51 engine, and in 1999, as a more modern replacement, a two-liter four-cylinder M47 and six-cylinder M57 with a volume of 2.5 and 3.0 liters. They differ from the M51 in the presence of an exhaust gas recirculation system and more powerful power characteristics.

From diesel engines, pay attention to the reliable and powerful BMW M57 with a volume of 3 liters. As for the 4-cylinder BMW M47, for a car of this class and with such a mass, it is a bit weak, and does not quite reveal the capabilities of the BMW 5 series.

The reliability of the BMW M57 engine has been proven by time and the duration of the production of a diesel power unit

A characteristic feature of these engines is the presence of an air sensor on one of the nozzles, which after 80-120,000 km of run may well cause air leakage that enters the fuel system, which leads to difficult starting of the engine. The solution to the problem is to replace the nozzle.

• The distribution mechanism in all power units is driven by a chain that will last about 250,000 km;
• Motors are sensitive to oil quality, and require the use of lubricants recommended by BMW;
• Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the radiator, which should be cleaned at least once a year (depending on the conditions and area of ​​operation of the car);
• Failure of the cooling fan can cause overheating;
• Check connections for leakage from mechanical bushings;

In any case, the condition of the above and other components must be monitored and properly serviced when necessary, or when maintenance is due.

Gearboxes

The reliability of the gearbox in the E39 body is extremely high.

According to the manual, automatic transmissions are not serviced, but nevertheless, “in practice”, automatic transmission oil is recommended to be changed every 60,000 km as reinsurance.

Before buying, it would be nice to evaluate the condition of the clutch. This car encourages a more aggressive driving style, and the clutch replacement procedure is not cheap.

Suspension

On the BMW E39, a multi-link suspension is installed (for the first time for the “five”), most of which is made of aluminum. The manufacturer made this “move” to optimize the weight, which he did well, but some owners, or former owners of the 39th body, criticized the suspension. There is one moment, or rather advice, install original and high-quality parts - and you will be happy.

Front suspension

"Fives" - MacPherson (McPherson) on two wishbones. This suspension option provides excellent handling and reasonable maintenance costs. Depending on the driving style, the front axle will last from 40,000 to 80,000 km.

The consumables of the front suspension include the silent blocks of the upper arms and the rods of the anti-roll bars, they are able to go 15 - 25,000 km, the front shock absorbers will "live" a little longer (or further) (40 - 80,000 kilometers). The ball joint can travel up to 100,000 km, or even more, but it changes along with the lever, since the ball joints on the wishbones are not repressed.

Rear suspension

Multi-link with lower H-arm. In terms of handling, durability and comfort, the rear suspension will last longer due to the resource.

The weak point of the four-link rear suspension of the BMW E39 is the articulated silent block (ball joint) in the wheel bearing support, the boomerang arm (wishbone), and sometimes torn silent blocks in the lower H-shaped arms (swing arm) can disturb.

It is worth noting that most of the suspension of the BMW E39 with a V8 engine consists of metal arms, and it is of course cheaper in terms of maintenance costs.

Before selling, it is practiced to replace worn parts with new ones of very low quality, for example, instead of LEMFÖRDER levers (the price tag on which, after installation, could be included in the price of the BMW E39 being sold) - some Chinese levers with an unknown warranty period were installed, which will be enough for you for two weeks of a moderate trip, or even less.

Mileage

For starters, it's worth noting the fact that most E39 BMWs on the market will be mileage-adjusted. So at this stage, when choosing, pay attention to the technical condition of the car as a whole, the operation of its engine and gearbox, since twisted mileage cannot be checked without special tools.

In case it is important for you to know the real mileage of the BMW E39, you need to:

• contact the BMW dealership together with the owner of the car, and then if the car was serviced by the dealer;
• visually inspect the interior, the technical condition of the car and compare them with the indicated mileage on the odometer;
• in a technical way, by connecting a computer with special software to the car;

Diagnostics

This stage is mandatory if you have decided on a car, and you are not indifferent to the state of your future "five".

BMW E39 diagnostics will show the dates of the occurrence of errors, what errors are and in which control unit, that is, you will learn about those problems that you cannot visually determine, for example: errors in the operation of any cylinder, parking sensors, automatic headlight range control, incorrect operation gearboxes, ignition errors and other unpleasant moments.

You should not stop only at computer diagnostics, just inspect the car on a lift and check the geometry of the body.

It is possible to find a vehicle with a dark past on the market, so checking the origin is desirable if you do not need further unpleasant moments associated with your car.

Good choice 🙂

www.bimmerfest.ru

Comparative analysis of e34 and e39 ownership - logbook BMW 5 series Touring Individual ///M-package 2001 on DRIVE2

I think it’s already possible to write a comparative analysis of e34 and e39, since I have had e39 for half a year already, I won’t write many letters, I’ll try to express everything concisely, and so let’s start:

Exterior: Here, of course, for an amateur, who likes the e34, who likes the e39, of course the e34 is the last BMW in the classic four-eyed design, it catches with its old schoolness, the design of the e39 is certainly not so remarkable, at one time angel eyes were the highlight, but now they are on every second the only e39 in the M-package is still eye-catching, while the e34 in any body kit now looks old-school aggressive.

Interior: In terms of interior, I would still give the e39 championship, the interior is larger than in the e34, more ergonomic design, the panel is also turned towards the driver, the landing is lower than in the e34, the only build quality and materials used in my opinion are a little better in the e34 . Maybe the age of the e39 is a little younger and there are no problems like in the e34 in the form of a sagging ceiling, peeling door trims, but worn seats have long been a reality in the e39.

The cost of spare parts and maintenance: A well-known factor plays here, the simpler the cheaper and of course the e34 wins to keep it much cheaper than the e39 restyling, the e39 dorestyle is about the same as the e34, since there are no special differences. For example, the restyling already has marketing replacement by nodes, for example, change the fuel filter with a pressure regulator, the thermostat changes along with the housing, this increases the cost of the part, why change the pressure regulator every time you replace the gas filter.

The E34 will cost you an order of magnitude cheaper in maintenance, besides, when using the e34, you don’t need a scanner, or rather, you need one, you can do without it, especially in restyling, in the e39, given that the cars are already aged, the electrics and electronics are constantly drizzling, here you cannot do without a scanner otherwise you will enrich the diagnosticians.

Purchase cost: Here, live e34, both restyling and dorestyle, have already caught up in price with live e39 dorestyles, and fluctuate within 250-350tr, e39 live restyle fluctuate depending on the configuration from 350-500tr., so here already there are almost no differences. I certainly don't count low mileage museum pieces that easily sell for a few million.

So subspecies result e39 is more comfortable, more modern, perhaps everything, e34 is more maintainable, cheaper to maintain and more charismatic.

www.drive2.ru

BMW E39 - specifications, before and after restyling (photo and video)

≡ 7 June 2015 Category: E39 (1996-2003)

The car from the BMW concern in the back of the E39 began to be developed back in 1989. Only 6 years later, the new generation of the 5 series was presented to the general public. This happened in autumn 1995 at an exhibition in Frankfurt.

"Entwicklung 39" is the code name for the fourth generation of BMW's fifth series.

E39 - the fourth generation of the fifth BMW series. According to the technical documentation at the factory, the car was called Entwicklung 39. Translated from German, this word means: “expansion”, “evolution”, “development”, “process”. Such words are the best suited for this car model from Bavarian design engineers. When developing it, reviews of BMW in the previous body with the E34 index were taken into account. The main claims then were to the suspension, so in the fourth generation it was she who was given a lot of attention.

Indicator/modification	520i	520i Touring	525i	530i	520d	525tds	M5
Before 2000	Since 2001	Before 2000	Since 2001
Engine volume, cu. cm	1991	2171	191	2171	2494	2979	1951	2498	4398
Power, hp	150	170	150	170	192	231	136	143	286
Maximum speed, km/h	220	226	212	223	238	250	206	211	250
Fuel consumption (urban cycle), l per 100 km	12,6	12,2	13,7	12,8	13,1	13,7	7,8	11,5	17,7
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, sec.	10,0	9,0	11,0	10	8,0	7,0	11,0	10,0	6,0
Length, mm	4775	4808	4805	4775
Height, mm	1800	1800	1800	1800
Width, mm	1435	1440	1445	1435

What was new in the fourth generation?

"Five" of the fourth generation was the first BMW car with a lightweight suspension. German engineers managed to reduce the overall weight of the car by 38%. This result was achieved through the use of components and parts made of aluminum. The light suspension made it possible to create a car with increased ride comfort and significantly added ride comfort.

Aluminum was also used to make some body panels. This innovation helped protect it from corrosion. Body E39 perfectly resists rust.

The fourth generation of the BMW 5 Series Touring

The E39 was the first BMW to feature a stainless steel exhaust system. This greatly increased the life of the muffler.

The fourth generation of the BMW car was characterized by increased sound insulation. Double glass was used for the side windows. This significantly reduced the penetration of noise into the cabin.

Base model BMW E39. Salon equipment

The 520i is considered the backbone of BMW's 5 Series sedan lineup. It was equipped with a 2-liter power unit with a capacity of 148 horses. The average fuel consumption is 9 liters per 100 kilometers. Two years later, in 1997, the concern launched a station wagon into a series. The word Touring was added to the index of the universal model. This car consumes up to 13 liters in the "city" mode, 6.9 liters per hundred in the "highway" mode.

Fuel consumption in mixed mode is 9 liters per 100 kilometers

In the basic configuration, there are options that were previously available only for extra money. Here is their list:

• climate control;
• multifunction steering wheel;
• Cruise control;
• bluetooth;
• automatic heated mirrors.

On request, the car can be equipped with a heated steering wheel. The activation control is located on the steering wheel itself, which is very convenient. The steering column can be adjusted in two directions. Three steering positions can be memorized.

Comfortable front seats are adjustable. Not only the backrest tilt and seat height are adjustable, but also the length of the lower part. Now you can adjust the slope of the upper backrest separately from the bottom. This design was called "BMW breaking back". The front seats are equipped with three-position memory.

During the crash test, the E39 received four stars

A signature feature of this sedan is the floor-mounted accelerator pedal. Some BMW owners have pointed out that it is a bit stiff. But everyone unanimously stated that the gas pedal is very sensitive.

During the crash test, the E39 received four stars from the international organization EuroNCAP. In addition to AirBag pillows, the business sedan has a system for tightening seat belts in an accident.

EuroNCAP is a European international organization founded in 1997. Its main activity is the conduct of independent crash tests. Based on the test results, the committee issues passive and active safety ratings.

The wide rear sofa can accommodate three people. True, the average passenger will feel uncomfortable with the placement of the legs, he will be hindered by a rather wide transmission tunnel in the middle.

Remarkable is the fact that the luggage compartment of the sedan has a volume of 460 liters, which is 50 liters more than that of the station wagon. But in the station wagon, it is possible to open the glass of the fifth door without opening the trunk itself.

Power units E39

Under the hood of the E39, engines with an aluminum block were installed. It was in the 90s that German car manufacturers began to use all-aluminum cylinder blocks. The Bavarians did not even think that someone would bore and repair their engines. To increase the life of the motor, the cylinders inside were coated with a special substance called nikasil. It is an alloy of nickel and silicon. But as practice has shown, the nikasilon coating is quickly destroyed by low-quality fuel. Therefore, since 1998, they began to install cast-iron sleeves in blocks.

At the start of serial production, the business sedan was equipped with a line of three gasoline engines and one diesel engine. The engine of the previous "five" was taken as a basis. Below is a list of modifications with the corresponding power units:

• petrol models 520i - M52TU B20, 523i - M52TU B25, 528i - M52TU B28;
• diesel 525tds - M5

The M52 powertrain series is a six-cylinder block. The weakest develops power up to 150 horses. An engine with a volume of 2.3 liters produces 170 horsepower. On city roads, this car consumes a little more than 13 liters. The most powerful gasoline engine is capable of developing 193 hp. The diesel engine has a capacity of 143 horses. In urban mode, diesel fuel consumption is 11.5 liters, on the highway - 6.2 liters.

Double-VANOS system - camshaft control

Since 1998, the BMW concern has launched the production of the top model M5. The main difference of this model was in the engine. A V-shaped "eight" was installed under the hood. It was the first car with a power unit that developed 400 horsepower! Its volume was 5 liters. In addition, the M5 model used the new Double-VANOS system - control of two camshafts. The fuel supply system was also changed: eight throttle valves supply the air-fuel mixture to eight cylinders. The average fuel consumption is up to 14 liters per hundred kilometers.

Structural changes and restyling

In 1999, Bavarian designers carried out several upgrades of the BMW E39. The exterior has not been changed. The main design changes affected the engines. Two camshafts were installed on six-cylinder engines. In the same year, a new M57D30 engine was added to the line of diesel power units - a 6-cylinder engine with a new Common Rail injection system. The injection for this car was developed by Bosch.

In 2000, German engineers carried out a large-scale restyling of the fourth generation. This time, they made adjustments to the appearance and added three new power units. The exterior of the car received new marker lights, a modified grille and a new front bumper. For the first time, BMW used the new Celis-Technik technology, later it was called "angel eyes".

6-cylinder engine with new common rail injection system

Since 2000, they began to install new engines with the M54 index. These in-line engines had six cylinders and a Double-VANOS control system. Modernization made it possible to obtain more powerful engines. Model 520i has become more powerful by 20 horses. Now under its hood fits 170 horses. 525i with M54B25 engine develops 192 hp. with a torque of 245 Nm. The top model with the 530i index received the M54B30 with an impressive herd of 231 horses under the hood. The maximum speed of this “five” is 250 km / h, gas consumption in urban mode is 13.7 liters per hundred.

At the beginning of 2000, a new model with a diesel engine also appeared. This "five" wore the index 520d. Having a 2-liter diesel engine with a power of 136 hp, it accelerated to hundreds in just under 11 seconds.

The fourth generation was produced until 2003, the BMW M5 until 2004. The E39 body was replaced by the fifth generation E60. According to the editors of the authoritative publication AutoBild, the BMW E39 is the most successful business class sedan in terms of driving performance and with an excellent line of powertrains.

Vide review

bmw5.su

The history of the BMW 5 series model in the back of the E39 - DRIVE2

The model was presented to the public in September 1995 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The design changes from the previous generation (BMW E34) were more significant than previous generation changes. In general, the body became less angular, branded double headlights were closed by a common ceiling, the edging of the radiator grill (“nostrils”) acquired a more rounded shape. The center console of the car, as in previous generations, is slightly turned towards the driver. Due to the increase in the wheelbase, the space for rear passengers has also increased.

The suspension of the car is almost entirely made of aluminum (with the exception of models with V8 engines, where cast iron is used), which has a good effect on the car's handling, reducing its weight. As a result, the unsprung mass of the suspension has decreased by 36% and, as a result, the suspension has become more comfortable. The design of the rear suspension with the "steering" action of the rear wheels, improves the handling of the car on the road. For a better distribution of the weight of the car along the axes, the battery was placed in the underground of the luggage compartment.

In the spring of 1997, the Touring wagon saw the light, which is 90 mm longer than the sedan and 100 kg heavier, while retaining the sedan's best driving qualities. The range of engines is completely identical to the sedan, and the list of standard equipment has been supplemented by two side airbags. The BMW 540i touring is considered one of the fastest station wagons on the planet (6.2 s for manual transmission, 6.5 s for automatic transmission) was produced from 1997 to 2004, second only to the BMW M5 touring E61 5.0 is available since 2007 (4.8 s), as well as : Audi A6 Avant quattro 4.2 FSI (6.1 s for automatic transmission); Audi S6 Avant from 1994 to 1997 (6.0 s); Audi S6 Avant from 2006 to 2010 (5.3 s); Audi RS6 Avant 4.2bT from 2002 to 2006 (4.7 s for automatic transmission); Audi RS6 Avant 5.0 from 2007 to 2010 (4.6 s for automatic transmission); besides: Mercedes-Benz E55T from 1997 to 2000 (5.9 s); Mercedes-Benz E500 from 2003 to 2006 (6.5 s); Mercedes-Benz E500 from 2006 to 2009 (5.4 s); Mercedes-Benz E550 from 2006 to 2009 (5.4 s); Mercedes-Benz E55 from 2003 to 2006 (4.8 s); Mercedes-Benz E63 from 2006 to 2009 (4.6 s); (what kind of nonsense? VAZ is also fast, not counting the list of 9999 million cars in front of it) data on the latest Mercedes-Benz E-class W212 model is not known at the moment. Thus, since the beginning of its release, the BMW 540i Touring e39 286 hp was inferior only to the Audi S6 4.2 290 hp of the 1994 model and the Mercedes-Benz E55T 354 hp of the 1997 model, being in fact the third station wagon in its class in terms of acceleration dynamics among the leading automakers in the world !

In 1998, production of the BMW M5 began. This car was equipped with a forced 5-liter V8 S62 engine, structurally similar to the serial 4.4-liter M62B44 unit, equipped with a Double-VANOS system and eight individual throttle valves. For the first time in a BMW production model, engine power has reached 400 hp. But unlike the BMW E34, there was no M-wagon based on the E39. The only official BMW M5 E39 touring in the world was ordered by the head of BMW M GmbH.

In 1999, the model received part of the design changes that affected the engines, and did not affect the design of the car. The main changes were that the 6-cylinder engines received control of both camshafts of the Double-VANOS system, the 8-cylinder engines - the VANOS system for intake valves and two-stage catalytic converters for exhaust gases, which made it possible to meet the requirements of Euro 4 2005.

In the same 1999, a 184-horsepower diesel engine with an undivided combustion chamber, Common Rail injection system, turbocharging and intercooling appeared on the BMW 530d model. The car is capable of developing 225 km / h and spending less than 6 l / 100 km in a standard extra-urban cycle.

At the end of 1999, the first BMW E39 cars appeared on Russian roads, assembled at the Avtotor JSC plant in the Kaliningrad region. The price of the "Russian" BMW E39 was about 10 thousand dollars lower than the "German".

In early 2000, a low-cost BMW 520d appeared with a 2-liter 4-cylinder direct injection diesel engine. Its power (136 hp) was enough to accelerate even a 1.6-ton 5-ku Touring from standstill to 100 km / h in 10.9 s.

The more powerful BMW 525d replaced the predecessor 525tds with a swirl chamber 143 hp diesel. The new 2.5-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged direct injection diesel engine is equipped with a common rail fuel supply system and develops 163 hp.

In 2001, the BMW E39 underwent a re-staling. Externally, the updated five can be easily recognized by the original lighting technology made using CELIS technology, bumpers and more rounded mirrors. However, the main changes are hidden inside - there are three new M54 engines for the BMW 520i, 525i and 530i models. All of them are in-line, 6-cylinder, with the Double-VANOS system. The first engine for the BMW 520i, based on the old 2-litre unit. An increase in the piston stroke from 66 to 72 mm made it possible to increase the working volume from 1991 to 2171 cm³ and the maximum power from 151 to 170 hp. at 6250 rpm. The second engine is the former 2.5-liter unit of the BMW 523i, but in an upgraded version it develops not 170, but 192 hp. (index 523i has been changed to the correct 525i). The third engine for the BMW 530i, first introduced in mid-2000 on the 3 Series, is a 3-litre engine with an impressive 231 hp.

The model was produced until 2003, when it was replaced by the BMW E60. The BMW M5 E39 was produced until 2004, when it was replaced by the BMW M5 E60. Station wagons were also produced until 2004.