need help to check out a 540iT in Sun Valley CA

c4racer · #1 09-16-2010, 01:55 AM

I have owned a ton of neat BMW's, including 2 E39s and am now looking to add a new garage mate to my 03 4.6is. One option I am strongly considering is a E39 Touring. If I could find the right car. Well, there is a very clean looking 2001 sport package in dark red / maroon at a dealer in Sun Valley CA which is North of the LA area and East of Thousand Oaks.

If by chance anybody is near there and could go put a set of eyes on the car so I know if a plane trip for a potential purchase is warranted, I would greatly appreciate it. One thing I am especially interested in knowing if the tailgate rattles and does it close properly - it is supposed to be an electronic motor soft close.

I owned a 99 540 touring and did not have very good luck with that tailgate, so I know it is a problem area.

Anyway - send an email to me at [email protected] if you might be able to go see the car. I will send you the dealer contact info.

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dragoncoach · #2 09-16-2010, 10:55 AM

DUDE! ROAD TRIP! It's only a 4 hour trip in the Vette (maybe less at night).

Good Luck with your search. I know you have been lamenting over this for awhile. btw, I was driving on 280 last night and saw an alternative. It was an E63 wagon...pretty awesome car...and very fast as well. $$$$$

c4racer · #3 09-16-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragoncoach

DUDE! ROAD TRIP! It's only a 4 hour trip in the Vette (maybe less at night).

Good Luck with your search. I know you have been lamenting over this for awhile. btw, I was driving on 280 last night and saw an alternative. It was an E63 wagon...pretty awesome car...and very fast as well. $$$$$

Ya - road trip in the vette wouldn't be a bad idea actually. I thought about it.

I keep going back and forth between sedan and wagon. If I could find the right wagon, I'd probably jump on it tho. E63 is way out of my price range!! I am targeting to get something for ~$15K. The other one I am considering is a 2002 S6 with 90K miles up in Portland. I had a B6 S4 Avant manual, so the the S6 is just a bigger version with an AT, same basic 4.2L V8. That was an excellent car - I'm sure I would love an S6 too. I think Audi has a better interior than BMW too, and they have a better hatchback design - not an electric latch, all mechanical, and always works perfectly. Well built cars. It is a lot of car for $14K and super rare.

dragoncoach · #4 09-16-2010, 01:56 PM

I love the Audi coachwork, interior, and styling but the reliability scares me. I'm not convinced that it they are more reliable than BMW's. But it kills me that I love the A5/S5. It's a beautiful vehicle. My indy showed me an Audi that was in his shop for a timing belt. The entire front end, including the bumper, was removed and they dropped the motor because the belt is located in the back of the engine! I can only imagine the labor charges. You focus on the tailgate latch and it can be irratating but if that's the one of the few gripes, it's not too bad.

c4racer · #5 09-17-2010, 02:35 AM

Or maybe I'll just get a 7 series.....

Ya that's the ticket.

Never mind on checking out that touring, not that anybody was jumping at the opportunity....

Luckily I was able to call off my Dad from checking out the S6 in Portland too.

BTW - the early 4.2L V8's had a timing belt, which I believe is in the front of the engine. Not sure about that. Needs to be changed at 90K which basically means once in the lifetime of the car for most people. But the 04+ 4.2L V8 uses a timing chain. In some very small % of motors the plastic guides can wear out or crack, and since the chain is in the back it pretty much means pulling the motor to get to it. But the S6 has a timing belt and it had already been changed. So no issue there. Although, I have done a fair amount of work on the S4 and thanks to the quattro system the motor packaging is pretty tight which makes almost everything a serious PITA working on it. But the motors are quite bulletproof and don't require much work. Typical stuff like valve cover gaskets, and they do need plugs every 50K miles, but nothing too crazy. And the cooling system isn't designed to explode at 80K miles like a BMW. Ha Ha...

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