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[JamesV6CDX]

The old man in law has a 5 series, it's a 2000 X plate which he's owned from new. It's a nice car. In honesty, it feels like a cut above the Omega, and I'm thinking of getting one. It's really good on fuel too - and the S6 idles much nicer than the 3.2

Italso has a 5 speed Auto!

Any recommendations or opinions on here? I have actually thought about getting the 4.4 V8 - what are these engines like?    Ripe for LPG I would imagine 

[henryd]

E39 beemers are cracking cars,I prefer them to the later E60

[mantahatch]

I would rather drive a totally chavved out saxo than anything made by bmw, better to have people think I am an idiot than to drive/ride a bmw and be confirmed an idiot 

Sorry but way to many horror stories about bmw. Some quite close to home. I will give up driving before I have to buy one of them.

[tunnie]

I was very tempted by 5 series too, that age there is a lot to like about them. I drove a V8 one too, very smooth consider its interstellar miles it had.

I too am quite disappointed in 3.2 smoothness at idle, some of it is down to a goosed lamba, but my 2.2 idles a lot smoother!

Trouble is I knew sod all about them and no similar trade club I decided not too.

[SMD]

I don't understand the hate towards BMWs. Surely some of it is down to jealousy.

I like them if if I could afford them, I would have one. In your position James I wouldn't hesisate to buy one as you're handy with spanners.

Mantahatch, I bet you really wouldn't 

[JamesV6CDX]

In your position James I wouldn't hesisate to buy one as you're handy with spanners.

Problem is mate, I am only really experienced with VX. I wouldn't know where to start with the quirks on one of these!

Anyone know if the 4.4 V8 is reliable? Autoboxes good?

[tigers_gonads]

The old man in law has a 5 series, it's a 2000 X plate which he's owned from new. It's a nice car. In honesty, it feels like a cut above the Omega, and I'm thinking of getting one. It's really good on fuel too - and the S6 idles much nicer than the 3.2

Italso has a 5 speed Auto!

Any recommendations or opinions on here? I have actually thought about getting the 4.4 V8 - what are these engines like?    Ripe for LPG I would imagine 

The 2.8 is very rapid for the size of motor and not bad on fuel.
140+ mph / 60 in about 7 seconds 

Watch out for dodgy cylinder liners.
Iirc, they had some issues with the sulpher in petrol eating them 
I believe some of the cars where recalled to fix the problem

[tunnie]

USS Enterprise mileage, but got to be worth a go at the price & engine!

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/bmw/5_series/postcode/tw89de/radius/1501/sort/default/engine-size-cars/4l_to_4-9l/price-to/1000

[JamesV6CDX]

Saw that one Tunnie

[omegod]

Had a lovely 728i individual a few months ago, bloody gorgeous motor and not too bad on fuel. Prices of good ones are climbing lately though, this was mine

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1314902885/0

[Kevin Wood]

Yes, the V8 engine is nicasil treated aluminium bores, so possibility it will have suffered on ULSP, although most of the ones that did so are probably dead and buried now. Not sure how that would affect an LPG conversion, nor how they wear with very high mileages.

[Del Boy]

The 4.4 V8 is a good engine, to be honest though the 530i, is nearly every bit as good. The E39, drives absolutely fantastically, they just feel right in about every way. The V8 does shift, don't get the 535i though because it's no quicker than a 530i . 540i has 286 BHP, and the 530i has 231 BHP, so there isn't loads in it, but the V8 sounds much better  . 200,000 is nothing for them really, listen for VANOS rattles which can occur, earlier V8's had a nikasil issue although I don't believe the E39 was affected. Suspension knocks are pretty common, so listen carefully for that too .

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

E39 530d has to be the perfect everyday car on a fairly limited budget. Cracking cars, always been a fan.

[smithpa7]

I currently run an E39 525i Touring.

Good Points:
Very smooth ride.
Excellent handling.
Very quiet and refined.
25-30mpg around the doors.
40+ mpg on a run.
Excellent build quality.

Bad Points:
Parts are expensive.
I believe the injectors can fail, luckily I haven't experienced this (where is that piece of wood....)
I would have preferred the automatic, as I am a lazy devil.
People seem to dislike us, even VX owners

I had to have the ABS ECU refurbished at the cost of £150.

I would highly recommend any 5 series (E39). If you are going for the later model I would recommend a 530 or 535D. I had the 530D saloon auto and it was a brilliant car.

Good luck with your hunt.

[Lazydocker]

Be warned James, the 4.4 V8 is tricky to convert to LPG properly It is, of course, possible but they are tricky AFAIK

TBH, it looks more and more likely that I will head towards BMW when the Omega turns it's last wheel for me, but it will be an oil burner if I do That said, I'm seriously considering going down the 4WD route again when the time comes