Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 520i, 150 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research | €528 | €3,499 | 99 | Petrol | M52B20 | Manual (5) | 1996–2000 |
| 523i, 170 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research | €542 | €3,232 | 78 | Petrol | M52B25 | Manual (5) | 1995–2000 |
| 523i, 170 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €567 | €3,750 | 64 | Petrol | M52B25 | Automatic (5) | 1995–2000 |
| 528i, 193 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €582 | €5,500 | 53 | Petrol | M52B28 | Automatic (5) | 1995–2000 |
At a glance
- Years: 1995 to 2004, saloon and Touring. The facelift came in autumn 2000 with new six-cylinder engines.
- Reliability: 2/5. ADAC rates breakdowns as poor, though well-serviced cars last. Cooling, oil use and the V8 timing chain pull the score down.
- DIY: 3/5. Hoses and the thermostat are common swaps. Gearbox and timing-chain work needs a workshop.
- Prefer: a 525d or 530d diesel (AMS: 500,000 trouble-free km is not rare), or a six-cylinder with proof of cooling and oil work.
- Avoid: a V8 with no proof of timing-chain work, and a diesel with the GM automatic and no fluid records.
Engines and gearboxes
- M52 six-cylinder petrol (520i, 523i, 525i, 528i; 1995-2000): acceptable with checks. Check the DISA intake flap, the VANOS and the oil use. See Known issues.
- M54 six-cylinder petrol (520i, 525i, 530i; 2000-2004): acceptable with checks on the crankcase valve and oil use. Crank and cam sensor faults make the engine stall.
- M62 V8 petrol (535i, 540i): avoid unless the timing chain guide has been checked or replaced.
- S62 V8 petrol (M5): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M51 diesel (525tds): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M47 diesel (520d, 2000-2004): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M57 diesel (525d, 530d): prefer. AMS says 500,000 trouble-free km is not rare on these.
- 5-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 6-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 5-speed automatic (ZF 5HP and GM 5L40-E): avoid the GM box in diesels without fluid records. The petrol ZF box has no typical problems, according to CarWiki.
- 4-speed automatic: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| V8 timing chain guide wears | M62B35, M62B35TU, M62B44TU (535i, 540i) | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Cooling system parts fail | All engines | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Oil use and oil leaks on six-cylinder petrol engines | M52 and M54 six-cylinders (520i to 530i) | Rings: up to about 200,000 km (M54, Kolesa.ru) | No confirmed price |
| Automatic gearbox fluid and torque converter | 5-speed automatic (GM 5L40-E) in diesels | Often before 200,000 km (Gebrauchtwagenberater) | No confirmed price |
| Rust at sills, jacking points and the Touring tailgate | All cars; Touring tailgate is a named weak point | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Brittle wiring and ignition switch | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| DISA intake flap failure | M52TÜ (1998-2000), M54 (2000-2004) | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Front suspension joints and tie rods wear | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- V8 timing chain (535i, 540i): listen for a rattle or chain noise from the front of the engine. Ask for proof of timing-chain work. Bad result: a rattle, or no proof of work. Needs no tools.
- Oil use and leaks (six-cylinder petrol): ask how often the oil is topped up. Look for oil at the oil filter housing, the valve cover and the oil pan, and for heavy smoke under the bonnet. Bad result: oil at the filter housing, or use above the normal 1 litre per 3,000-5,000 km.
- Cooling: with the engine cold, check the expansion tank cap, the hoses and the bottom corners of the radiator for wet spots. Bad result: wet joints, a weeping radiator, or a temperature gauge that climbs.
- Automatic gearbox (diesel GM box): ask for fluid-change records. A change every 100,000-125,000 km is the norm. Drive in D and check the shifts. Bad result: no records, or late and harsh shifts.
- VANOS (M52): read the fault memory with a scanner and look for solenoid codes. Bad result: codes for the VANOS solenoids. A scanner is needed.
- DISA intake flap (M52TÜ, M54): after switching off, listen for a hiss. On the road, check for jerky acceleration and lost power. Bad result: a hiss after shutdown, or a jerky, weak car.
- Touring rear air suspension: check that the car sits level at the back. Ask for records of the air bellows and compressor. Bad result: a low rear end, or no records on a high-mileage car. Touring only.
- Rust: check the sills, jacking points, spare-wheel well, Touring tailgate and bonnet edge. Use a thickness gauge if you can. Lift the carpet under the driver. Bad result: rot in the sills or floor, or damp under the carpet.
- Front end and steering: lift the car and check the control arms, tie rods and bushes for play. Check the power steering pump and hoses for wet fluid. Bad result: play, knocks, or wet hoses.
- Electrics and display: test every switch, lever, light and the rear wiper. Check the instrument display for dead pixels. Bad result: a dead light or wiper, an ignition that glitches or stops the car starting, or dead pixels.
Running costs
| Operational | €290 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €138 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €141 |
| Total per month | €569 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €37 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 464
- 25th percentile
- €2,890
- Median price
- €4,000
- 75th percentile
- €6,400
- Median mileage
- 239,060 km
- Median first registration
- 1998
- Dealer share
- 15.5%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €6,688
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
V8 timing chain guide wears
Symptoms: the timing chain stretches and can skip. Kolesa.ru names chain noise as a buying check.
Cause: the Teflon coating on the guide rail comes loose, and the upper tensioner damper wears early.
Which cars: the V8 M62 (535i, 540i).
Fix: the sources give no fix or price. Ask for proof of timing-chain work. CarWiki says a skipping chain can cause engine damage.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er E39 problems, CarWiki: BMW 5er problems, Kolesa.ru: E39 rear arm and oil use
Cooling system parts fail
Symptoms: overheating, steam from the bonnet, and coolant leaks.
Cause: rubber and plastic parts age. Water pumps and thermostats fail, radiators clog or leak, and the viscous coupling wears. Kolesa.ru calls cooling the weak point of all petrol engines.
Which cars: all engines. AMS says water pumps and thermostats fail on all engines.
Fix: replace the failed part. Kolesa.ru advises cleaning the radiator once a season and changing hoses, the viscous coupling and the cap. Overheating can mean a major repair.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Auto Motor und Sport: E39 weak points, Kolesa.ru: 5 reasons to buy and not to buy, ADAC: 5er petrol used car report
Oil use and oil leaks on six-cylinder petrol engines
Symptoms: more oil use than normal, blue smoke, and oil under the engine. CarWiki calls up to one litre per 3,000-5,000 km normal.
Cause: the crankcase ventilation valve can clog or freeze, which raises oil use. Heavy smoke under the bonnet is a sign. The oil filter housing seal stops sealing. Leaks also come from the valve cover and the oil pan seals. Kolesa.ru says M54 rings often wear out by about 200,000 km.
Which cars: six-cylinder petrol engines, M52 and M54.
Fix: replacing the ventilation valve can reduce oil use. The oil filter housing seal can only be replaced, not repaired.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er E39 problems, CarWiki: BMW 5er problems, Auto Motor und Sport: E39 weak points, Kolesa.ru: how to buy an E39 with mileage
Automatic gearbox fluid and torque converter
Symptoms: late and harsh shifts. The gearbox often fails before 200,000 km.
Cause: the torque converter lock-up closes late. Oil pressure drops and the fluid is damaged. CarWiki names the diesel GM 5L40-E and GM 5L50-E boxes. The petrol ZF box has no typical problems, according to CarWiki.
Which cars: diesels with the GM box.
Fix: change the fluid often. AMS says every 100,000 km; Auto Bild says after 125,000 km. Keep the records.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er E39 problems, CarWiki: BMW 5er problems, Auto Motor und Sport: E39 weak points, Auto Bild: E39 used test 2014
Rust at sills, jacking points and the Touring tailgate
Symptoms: rust at the sills, the jacking points, the spare-wheel well, the bonnet edge and the Touring tailgate. The Touring rear window frame also rusts.
Cause: not given in the sources. Kolesa.ru says many cars were badly repaired during their life.
Which cars: all cars. The Touring tailgate is a named weak point.
Fix: a body repair. Kolesa.ru says sill and outer panel repairs are a question of money. Rear arches and the tail panel are often not worth repairing.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Auto Motor und Sport: E39 weak points, Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er E39 problems, Kolesa.ru: E39 body and sills
Brittle wiring and ignition switch
Symptoms: the rear lights, the plate light or the rear wiper fail. A worn ignition switch can stop the car starting.
Cause: the wire insulation becomes brittle. The plastic cable cup in the footwell crumbles, and the cable ends come loose. The ignition starter switch wears.
Which cars: all cars.
Fix: the sources give no fix. Repair the broken cables and replace a worn ignition switch.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er E39 problems, CarWiki: BMW 5er problems, Kolesa.ru: E39 body and sills
DISA intake flap failure
Symptoms: jerky acceleration, power loss, rough running and a hiss after shutdown.
Cause: the DiSa valve in the intake is made of plastic. The flaps break off or jam. Kolesa.ru says the problem is most common on the M52TÜ.
Which cars: M52TÜ (1998-2000) and M54 (2000-2004).
Fix: replace the valve. CarWiki says replacement is unavoidable once it fails.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er E39 problems, CarWiki: BMW 5er problems, Kolesa.ru: 5 reasons to buy and not to buy
Front suspension joints and tie rods wear
Symptoms: play, knocks over bumps, and steering wheel flutter under braking.
Cause: wear in the control arms, strut mounts, coupling rods and tie rods. Sport suspension wears faster, according to Gebrauchtwagenberater.
Which cars: all cars.
Fix: replace the worn parts. Kolesa.ru says the lower control arm is usually replaced whole when its bush wears. Wear of these parts has caused TÜV rejections, according to CarWiki.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er E39 problems, CarWiki: BMW 5er problems, Kolesa.ru: how to buy an E39 with mileage
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | not given | Campaign 11/2016, build years not stated | Driver airbag defect. Airbag replaced free, about 30 minutes, on cars with a sport steering wheel (ADAC, CarWiki). |
| Germany | not given | Campaign 3/2017, build years not stated | Driver airbag defect, extended to sport and M sport steering wheels. Replacement airbags checked (ADAC, CarWiki). |
Recall codes are not given in the sources read. Check all open campaigns by VIN with a BMW dealer.
Maintenance
- Automatic gearbox: change the fluid every 100,000-125,000 km and keep the records.
- Cooling: change the hoses, thermostat, expansion tank cap and viscous coupling as they age. Clean the radiator once a season (Kolesa.ru).
- Oil: check the level often. Up to one litre per 3,000-5,000 km is called normal (CarWiki).
- Drains: keep the cowl drains clear of leaves. Blocked drains let water into the cabin (Auto Bild).
Sources
English
No English source is used on this page.
German
- Auto Motor und Sport: E39 weak points
- Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er E39 problems
- Auto Bild: E39 used test 2014
- CarWiki: BMW 5er problems
- ADAC: 5er petrol used car report