Well after over 3 years of owning an E39 523i, I decided it was time for a bit of a change. 

So I bought myself a nice little run around instead.

Some pictures taken quickly yesterday by my wife.

Nice side shot.

Inside, before removing horrible 'Mini' tax disc holder and replacing it with my Lighting McQueen tax disc holder.

Nice smooth V8.

Nice and subtle but with plenty of poke!

It looks like a 520d from side on and the alloys aren't exclusive to the big machines so it is only when you get round the back and see the slightly bigger twin chrome tails and of course the badge you realise what this thing is.

I can't believe how quick this thing is.  With 333 bhp it has nearly twice what my 523i had.

It is some machine that is for sure.

Andrew

PS lots of E60 questions to follow.

Hmmm...

Andrew...I hate you!!!

...Just kidding! I am very jealous...

AWESOME CAR!!! Maybe in 20 years when I can afford one, the 545I is the one I would have also...

I wish you many hours of happy motoring...

Cheers

BB

Nice car Andrew.

I'd love a big V8.

I hope it gives you many years of trouble free service.

Ahhh so you went for it!

Fabulous engine.  I still smile when I hear mine, everytime without fail. 

Very smooth, very subtle and understated..........lose the rear badging.

( just being childish) 

dryle wrote: The first pic is ruined by the car in the background. Looks lovely.

My wife will not be impressed when I tell her that one.

I couldn't persuade her into an E46 so she went for the wee Merc instead.

Thanks

Andrew

Peter Fenwick wrote: I hope it gives you many years of trouble free service.

It should do as the previous owner (a computer company in Birmingham) paid up for a 5 year maintenance pack, so I have essentially free servicing for 1 year.

It was that that swung the deal for me.  It was already way below the price in the Parkers guide (if that is to be believed) and to get a further years free servicing was a huge bonus.  I also got a new Goodyear runflat out of the deal too, and a new rear seat.

The trade price on my E39 was only a few £££'s less than the price in the Parkers guide (if that is to be believed) so I don't think I did too badly out of it.

Only bummer is that is has an Englafied registration number coming from Birmingham.

Thank you all for your kind comments guys.

Andrew

kbannon wrote: A few questions: what is the black container on hte left side of the engine bay - coolant? what are the two raised parts on the engine cover for - throttle bodies?

On the left hand side as you look at the photo you have the ABS unit, then the coolant tank and then the power steering reservoir.

As to the two raised parts K, I haven't a chuffin' clue.

I'll take a socket set to the engine at the weekend and remove the grey cover.  I don't know/can't even see where the oil filter is.

I'm off to write an e-mail to Haynes to ask them when they are going to publish the "Haynes book of E60 parodies", although, if they ever do an E60 manual, you could bet any money they won't do one for the V8.

Andrew

M3Nally wrote: Nice one Andrew, Just be sure to tell the passengers when you are engaging warp drive! In normal driving you hardly touch the throttle at all. Great motors. Only criticism I have of my 540 is that the engine is too quiet, maybe some carbon boxes would be good! Enjoy.

You are spot on there Sir.  I was a bit disappointed at how quiet the engine is.  You really cannot hear it until about 4000 rpm, I wanted to hear a V8 burble but what you get is very difficult to describe, just a smooth sound.

As for the throttle anything more than a gentle pressure gets you going at a rapid rate of knots.  You just waft along with your foot resting on the throttle.

I bought her in Edinburgh and was driving back along the bypass, over the roundabout with the A7, the traffic disappeared and there was no more roadworks so I planted the right foot coming out of the roundabout (I waited till I had got used to it first) and the thing took off like a jet plane, you got a kick in the base of your back, more than I have experienced in an E39 530d.

Frighteningly quick, as it is so quiet, you don't know that you had actually hit a speed ahem, slightly higher than the legal limit.

Andrew

Great looking car and V8... you lucky git...

Well ware fella. Im Green with envy...

Mick

Andrew Rolland wrote: dryle wrote: The first pic is ruined by the car in the background. Looks lovely. My wife will not be impressed when I tell her that one.

She wasn't!

Exactly K! I'm not holding my breath for a Haynes Manual, but if you don't ask you won't get.

There is no Bentley Manual for an E60 either.

I'm off to see what is out there on t'interweb.

Andrew

Lucky B'stard Andrew, to say I'm a little green is an understatement!

There is only one thing I'd change though and that's to get some sportier alloys on it as they do look a little too understated for any car but hey, just my opinion chum!

I'm trying to be a good boy so santa will bring me an e60 M5 touring for crimbo, but if I'm a little naughty, he may bring me a 545, what do you reckon?

Hope you have many miles of trouble free motoring ahead though I doubt you'll find a manual for a little while as most people will still be going to main dealer with them.

Mike

540 V8 wrote: Lucky B'stard Andrew, to say I'm a little green is an understatement! There is only one thing I'd change though and that's to get some sportier alloys on it as they do look a little too understated for any car but hey, just my opinion chum!

I dunno I quite like the alloys.  They are 17", there was an E60 parked outside my office yesterday that had BMW rims that I had never seen before that looked very square and boxy with the cut outs in them, they were 16" rims.

The 17" give quite a harsh ride, 16" might have been better.  I'm more of a cruiser than into pure performance so would prefer an ever so softer ride (like my E39) but I like to hear the engine growl every so often though.

Fingers and toes crossed for the M5 touring.

Andrew

Andrew Rolland wrote: I dunno I quite like the alloys.  They are 17", there was an E60 parked outside my office yesterday that had BMW rims that I had never seen before that looked very square and boxy with the cut outs in them, they were 16" rims. The 17" give quite a harsh ride, 16" might have been better.  I'm more of a cruiser than into pure performance so would prefer an ever so softer ride (like my E39) but I like to hear the engine growl every so often though. Fingers and toes crossed for the M5 touring. Andrew

I must admit, I did see a 5 same colour and same alloys as you and I'm not as put off in the flesh as I was with the pics so I guess being understated is half the fun and hearing the engine as you whip the saxo driver is the other half!

As for the M5 touring, anyone know next Saturdays lotto numbers?    go on, there's a 10% cut in it for you

Mike