BMW 5 Series E39

In the early fall of 1995, guests of the Frankfurt Motor Show saw the 4th generation 5-series sedan of the BMW concern. It would be a car in the E39 body. It replaced the E34 model on the assembly line. In the spring of 1997, it was joined by BMW 5 Touring E39. In the following year, 1998, a “charged” version, the M5, appeared. All three-car models of the 4th generation were produced in two bodies. The only exception was the M5 and 535 models, produced in sedan body.

E39 cars are considered to be one of the best business class models in the history of BMW. Both specialists and former owners speak about it. They note powerful engines, excellent controllability, original design, good equipment even in the “base”. The quality of the car can be judged by the fact that it was produced almost a quarter of a century ago, and the model is still popular and in demand today. Therefore, let’s understand.

Since 1999, the car started to be assembled in Kaliningrad, at the plants of Avtotor JSC.

Appearanc

The mid-size premium car has undergone major changes. The angularity of the exterior of the sedan has been reduced. Nostril trim has acquired a rounded shape. Double headlights of the car were closed by one plafond. Having increased wheelbase, German engineers have made more spacious interior.

The maximum length of the sedan is 4.805 meters. The maximum height of the car is 1.44 meters. But the width of E39 is standard, 1.8 meters. If the differences are in the ground clearance. For cars intended for Europe, ground clearance is 120 mm. Some parts and assemblies of the car are made of aluminum, which reduced the weight of the car by 38%. Universal, which appeared a little later, is 100 kg/90 mm heavier/longer than the sedan.

This increased the car’s ride comfort. Aluminum also made it possible to protect the car body from corrosion. Therefore, the body of the BMW E39, according to the owners’ feedback, perfectly resists its influence. Beautiful aesthetic appearance gives BMW E39 compliance with the parameters of disks. The factory specifications for them are specified by the manufacturer.

Interior

Inside BMW, traditionally, the driver’s seat is given maximum attention. However, leather interior of BMW E39 does not infringe on comfort of passengers. Dimensions of the sedan are serious, that is why everyone, whose height does not exceed 190 cm, inside will be comfortable both on seats of passengers and behind a driver’s seat. Perhaps, only the middle passenger of the rear row will feel a little inconvenience because of the transmission tunnel.

The front seats are comfortable and adjustable. You can tilt the backrest, change the height of the seat and change the length of the lower part of the seat. It was after this model that the term “breaking backrest” came into use. The tilt of the upper part of the first-row seats could now be adjusted, independent of the lower part. “Memory” of the front seats was also improved. Now they could memorize 3 positions.

Finishing materials are of high quality, as is the interior assembly. Perhaps, only the door cards are most susceptible to damage. The noise insulation of the car is almost optimal. However, it is recommended to install additional “noise insulation” on the doors. This is when the cabin will be perfectly quiet.

Surprisingly, but contrary to logic, the luggage compartment of the sedan is larger than that of the touring, 460 vs. 410 liters. However, the station wagon can open the glass of the fifth door, leaving it closed. The sedan does not have this option.

The instrument panel of BMW E39 deserves special words. What only it does not show. All bulb designations can be viewed online.

The driver can find out the speed, read the tachometer and get information about the fuel reserve. There are many sensors that signal the driver about unfastened belt, brake system, tempostat, parking brake. They give information about the state of the engine oil, fog lights, battery discharge and much more.

How the car looks like inside, you can judge from the photo of the interior of the 2001 BMW E39.

Equipment and safety

In the base configuration, the vehicle is equipped with:

• Six airbags;
• Climate/cruise control;
• Power mirror/door package;
• Air conditioning;
• Bluetooth;
• Power steering;
• Anti-lock braking (ABS sensor BMW E39), anti-skid (ACC+T), stabilization (DSC III) systems.

Options are MP3s with BMW E39 climate control for two zones. Not everyone was satisfied with the standard cassette recorders and standard climate control. And almost all buyers retrofitted the car with these two options. To “teach” the car to read MP3, you can buy a wire for AUX BMW E39 and put it in the glove compartment.

For cold regions of the country a good option will be heated steering wheel. The button is located on the steering wheel itself, which is very comfortable. The steering wheel, adjustable in 2 directions, “can remember” 3 positions. Avirf sedan – accelerator pedal. It in BMW E39 floor, and according to reviews, a little stiff, but extremely sensitive.

According to the results of the crash test conducted by EuroNCAP organization, the E39 sedan received 4 stars out of 5 possible. In addition to airbags, the car has a system that tightens the seat belts in case of an accident.

Model range and technical specifications

Between 1997 and 2004, many modifications of the model were produced. Here we will understand the model range, engines, how many horsepower they had and other technical characteristics of the BNW E39. The car was equipped with two types of motors. Power units are the heart of the machine, so the review of the characteristics of the BMW 5 E39 we will start with them.  The base model of the concern is the modification 520i. It was produced in the period 1995-2003 and was equipped with three motors. At first, the car was equipped with a two-liter M52 with an output of 150 hp. Many people ask how many valves are required for 2.0 liter? We answer, 4 for each cylinder.

Since 1998, the car was equipped with M52TU, and since 2000 – with M54 BMW E39 engine with a volume of 2.2. The car accelerated to 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds and developed a top speed of 220 km/h.

Until 2000, the 523i version was produced. Initially, the BMW E39 was equipped with M52B25 engine with a volume of 2.5 and 170 hp, and since 1998 – M52TUB25, which has a Double Vanos system. Acceleration of the model to “hundred” takes 8.6 seconds, the maximum speed – 228 km/h. On the 525i put the installation M54. This is the engine BMW E39 2.5. The model was produced for 3 years (2000-2003). For 6 years (1995-2001), the concern produced a modification of 528i with the M52 engine. Since 1998, it was replaced by the M52TU engine with Double VANOS. BMW E39 2.8 on gasoline and with a power of 193 “horses”, the car accelerated to “hundred” in 7.5 sec. and reached the speed limit of 240 km/h.

The same unit was originally fitted to the 530i. Since 2000, it was replaced by a three-liter M54. For 2 years, 1996-1998, the 535i model was equipped with a 3.5-liter M62B35 with an output of 245 “horses”. Then there was a modernized unit M62 TU. The car accelerated to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and developed a top speed of 250 km/h.

The most powerful gasoline engine was equipped with the black 540i model, if we do not take into account the “charged” M5. Until 1998, the car was equipped with M62B44 engine with a volume of 4.4, and then there was a modified 286-horsepower M62TU unit. The model accelerated to “one hundred” in 6.2 seconds and developed a top speed of 250 km/h. The 540iP was also offered to customers. This is an armored version, Protection.

Now let’s break down the BMW 5 E39 diesel engines.

The 525td was the first model with a diesel. It was also produced for 4 years, 1996-2000. It was equipped with M51D25 UL engine. At the same time, BMW E39 2.5 5 525 tds model was produced. It had the same, but more powerful (143 hp) unit, which received the prefix TU OL instead of UL. The car accelerated to 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds and developed a maximum speed of 211 km/h. They were replaced by a modification 520d. The economical version was produced in the period 2000-2004, equipped with a four-cylinder installation M47. 136 “horses” and two-liter volume allowed the unit to accelerate the car to a “hundred” in 10.6 sec. and reach a speed limit of 206 km/h.

After restyling 525d began to be equipped with a 2.5-liter M57. The model was produced in the period of 2000-2002.  This motor was also on the top version of BMW E39 530d 3.0. Until 1998, its power was 184 “horses”. Then the unit was finalized and its power increased by 9 units. The model accelerated to a hundred in 7.8 seconds and reached a speed of 230 km/h.

It is difficult to say unequivocally which engine is better for BMW E39. Everything depends on the owner’s preferences. If he needs adrenaline, he will consider the best powerful gasoline units. If the motorist needs economical motors, he will choose diesel units. Fuel consumption per 100 km in such BMW E39 will be low.

Power units were combined with gearboxes: 5-speed “automatic” or “mechanics” with five/six gears. The front suspension of the car is double wishbone, aft suspension is four-lever. They are almost completely aluminum. German engineers decided to reduce the weight of the car to improve its handling. In addition, the rear suspension has a function of “thrusting” the rear wheels, which also improves the handling of the BMW. And the car’s battery is located in the trunk. This allows for a more optimal distribution of the vehicle’s weight on the axles.

The rear wheels have disk devices, and the front wheels are also ventilated. Together with electronic assistants, they are responsible for braking.

Difference between restyling and prerestyling

5 years after the release of the 1st car, the concern has updated its model. Let’s see what are the differences between restyled and prerestyled BMW E39 models.

The exterior of the car has not undergone any special changes. Front parking lights became rounded (the technology was called Celis-Technik, but later renamed into “angel eyes”), aft ones – LED. The radiator grille has acquired a voluminous look. Germans have changed the design of front fog lights and bumper. Moldings took the color of the body.

In the cabin, you can notice the BMW E39’s M steering wheel design and the new driver’s NPB.

However, the main changes are imperceptible, and they are hidden under the hood of the sedan. After restyling, three new gasoline power units were installed on the BMW 5 E39. They are in-line six-cylinder M54 with Double VANOS system, designed for 520/525/530 models. The first car has a 170-horsepower engine with a displacement of 2.2 liters M54B22. On the second car – a motor with a volume of 2.5 and power from 192 hp M54B25, which has good reviews. On 530i there is a 231-horsepower three-liter unit M54B30, accelerating the car to 250 km/h and consuming 13.7 liters /100 km in the city.

A little later there was a new diesel engine, which was installed on the 520d model. The two-liter 136-horsepower unit accelerated the car to a hundred in less than 11 seconds.

The restyling of the BMW 5 Series IV E39 has eliminated many of the car’s shortcomings, and the car has become a reliability leader in its class.  But the sedan requires qualified service and quality parts/consumables.

In 2003, the E39 rolled off the assembly line and was replaced by the E60.

Faults

Now about the problems of the car. Let’s say right away that BMW E39 error codes can be downloaded from the Internet. But the car has its own self-diagnostic system. By SRS it is possible to detect the presence of a malfunction. If after switching on the ignition the SRS lamp does not turn off, it means that the system has detected a fault and has recorded its code in the processor memory.

There are several problems in engines. The first is the cooling system. It is weak, and if under-attended, the motor will fail. The main culprits:

• Electric motor of the auxiliary fan;
• Thermostat;
• Radiators clogged with dirt;
• Irregular coolant changes.

It is recommended that once a year or 2 years for serious/low mileage, the radiators should be disassembled and cleaned.

Another sore spot is the ignition coils. They do not like non-original plugs. The original ones can withstand up to 40 thousand kilometers, as our fuel is of poor quality. The price of one coil is $60, and one cylinder requires one coil.

When you turn on the headlights, the engine speed starts to float at idle. The problem here is in the voltage regulator or in the alternator. It is necessary to measure it and see how much it gives out. It is recommended to look at the brushes on the regulator. Transmissions are reliable, but they do not last forever. In automatic transmission after 150,000 kilometers the glands may leak and the shift lever bushing may wear out. The gearbox oil should be changed after 60 000 km. What oil to pour in E39, it is necessary to look at the stickers of the gearbox. The required type is indicated here.

You will have to change silent blocks, ball bearings (after 100 thousand and only with the lever), shock absorbers and stabilizer bars (up to 30 thousand). The situation is similar with the rear suspension. You can not “forget” about it either. Steering control with R6 engines, unlike V8, is less reliable. Steering racks, in comparison with worm gearboxes, are not characterized by reliability.  The appeared knocking can be adjusted only for a short time, then replacement is required. There are 2 types of fluid in the steering system. Mixing them will lead to the death of the steering system.

Of the electronics, the weak points of the car are the oxygen sensors and the air flow meter. The BMW can run without climate. This means that the small fan inside it has failed. It needs to be replaced. There is another problem – violation of the dimensions of the body geometry of the BMW E39. This happens after an accident, even after a minor one. For example, you hit a curb or bumped the bumper somewhere.

In the end, note that chip tuning can solve most of the problems that arise.

Generations and configurations

Station wagon 4th generation – restyled

09.2000 – 03.2004

Fourth generation sedan – restyled

09.2000 – 08.2003

Station wagon 4th generation

03.1997 – 08.2000

Sedan 4th generation

09.1995 – 08.2000

Station wagon 4th generation – restyled

09.2000 – 04.2004

Fourth generation sedan – restyled

09.2000 – 06.2003

Station wagon 4th generation

03.1997 – 08.2000

Sedan 4th generation

12.1995 – 08.2000