FOR SALE: '99 DINAN 540i 6-Speed Sport Package - Immacculate! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Panos · 4th August 2008, 20:02

After upgrading to an M5, I have decided to sell my beloved 540i. She has treated me quite well over the years, but its time for her to go. She is a '99 model year 540i with the sought after sport package and 6-speed manual transmission. I bought this car in May of 2004 from a guy in Santa Cruz, California. He had always serviced the car at the local dealer and washed and waxed it regularly. I have also serviced the car meticulously as well as brought it to the local dealer and an independent BMW specialist on many occasions (I have a 3" stack of receipts to show this), since I acquired it. Every known weak point of the 540i has been addressed on this car (listed below) always with OEM parts. I washed it weekly, waxed 2-3 times a year, shampooed the carpets once a year and cleaned and conditioned the leather every 2 months. The car was always garaged and now has 133k miles on it, from the 60k miles it had when I acquired it. I drove the car over 50 highway miles per day, since then so she's had an easy life. I have had a one stop-light, otherwise all highway (low traffic) commute for the last 4 years. As many enthusiast would tell you, this car including the engine and drive-train have not even reached their half-life yet. I serviced this car with the intention of driving her until past 200k miles, but I got bit by the "M5" bug and upgraded. When properly serviced these cars will drive to 300k+ miles.

Options:
-6 Speed Manual Transmission
-Sport Package (sport seats, sport steering wheel, sport staggered Alpina-style wheels, black sport exterior window trim and bumper mouldings
-Front and Rear Side Airbags
-DSP Premium Sound
-6 Disc CD Changer
-Walnut Interior trim
-Sand-Beige Leather
-Biarritz Blue exterior (rare color, I've received numerous compliments. You must see it in person!)

Service:
-Motor oil and filter changed with dealer provided BMW synthetic oil every 6-7k miles (twice as often as recommended by BMW).
-Transmission and Differential fluids replaced with Royal Purple every 30-35k miles.
-Coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid replaced at least every 2 years.
-Front brake recently replaced.
-Original clutch, pressure plate, pilot and throwout bearings replaced.
-All shocks and struts replaced. Front lower control arms and bushings, rear ball joints, rear swing arm, center tie rod (drag link) and tie rod ends replaced.
-Front wheel bearings replaced.
-Transmission and motor mounts replaced.
-Valve cover gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, valley pan gasket replaced.
-Spark plugs and fuel filter have been replaced twice since I've owned the car.
-Belts recently replaced.
-Lubro Moly Fuel Injector and Valve cleaner used annually.
-Radiator, expansion tank, thermostat, water pump, fan clutch, radiator hoses, heater hoses, and heater valves replaced.
-Power steering hoses have replaced.
-Lower oil pan gasket replaced.
-Battery was replaced 2 years ago.
-New Instrument Cluster (All PIXELS work!)
-Drivers door seal, windshield gasket and the sunroof seal have been replaced.
-Blower resistor has been replaced.
-Driver's seat cushion replaced.
-Shift linkage bushings have been replaced.
-Fog light and headlight lens replaced.
-Rear window regulator replaced.
-Driver's door handle replaced.

I may have forgotten to mention something that has also been serviced, but I think you get the idea. All the potential issues have been addressed so the next owner will have many worry-free miles ahead of them.

The body is in nearly-excellent condition aside form one minor door ding (hard to see unless very close) and some very slight stone chips on the front bumper and hood (very normal for a car with many highway miles). There is ZERO rust. The car has NEVER been smoked it and NEVER tracked or abused. Clean title and carfax, no accidents. The interior is nearly perfect! The carpets have no stains and the leather is in remarkable condition especially when considering its age. The driver's seat has very little wear showing compared to the other seats for obvious reasons, but again, remarkable when comparing to other cars of similar years. 2 wheels have some slight scratches on them otherwise are in good shape. I think for the asking price you will be challenged to find a car in better condition with a documented history. The rear "540i" badge was removed by a BMW Dealer body shop to give the rear end a cleaner look, but if the next owner wants it, the badge is in the glove box. I can have it reinstalled by them. The engine still pulls like a train. The torque is hardly surpassed by the M5 even. Despite the V8 power she still averages 21-23 mpg depending on driving conditions. IF you stick the cruise at 75mph she gets up around 27-29 mpg. Not bad for a luxury sedan with a potent V8.

I have a few modifications on the car, which is otherwise completely OEM BMW parts:
-Rogue Engineering Short Shift Kit with Weighted Selector Rod (retails for $300)
-M5 Rear Sway Bar and bushings (retail: $150)
-Rogue Engineering Transmission Mounts (retail: $50)
-Dinan Engine Software (retail: $500)
-Stop Tech Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines (retail: $120)
-M5 Grills
-CDV Delete, for smoother shifts and longer clutch life

Please excuse the excess wax on the rear bumper trim. I waxed the car a few days before taking these photos:

Please note the oil analysis performed at 107,000 miles by an independent oil analysis laboratory which shows there is no abnormal engine wear or head gasket leaks.

Since you have read this far, I do not have to tell you that the E39 body style is a classic. Most will agree that its prettier than the newer 5-series. When coupled with this potent V8, its driving pleasure. She's listed for $12.5k or best offer, waiting for someone who can use her. Until then I drive her 1-2 times a week on the highway to work and she spends the rest of the week garaged and under a car cover. Please feel free to email me with any questions: prezpan@iit.edu. Thanks for looking!