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This is timely because there is a 540i M-Sport on BaT right now. I know about the plastic timing chain guides, and probably all of the bushings and water pumps, and etc. from owning an E88 135i and E70 X5. Then again, I'm on CL because I love reliability. I think I need to drive a GS again. It really is a forever car, isn't it.
This describes me. I had a 1999 E39 540i Sport for 11 years, then switched to the GS 350 (luxury package) and have had that car for 5 years and counting. The 540i was a better driving car, but the Lexus gets close with the S+ drive mode. The luxury package has the nice wood trim similar to the E39. The V8 and transmission in the 540i were smoother, including the shifting, and it had more torque. That car made me feel like everyone else was going in slow motion because it drove so well. However, the Lexus is much more reliable and has newer features. I bought the Lexus once I had children and could no longer coordinate the logistics with work, dropping off the kids at daycare, and taking the car in for repairs.
I can totally relate. I had a 2001 740i Sport package that was fabulous to drive but became a money pit after I hit 70K miles. At 185K miles I was looking at > $5000 in pending maintenance costs so I sold it cheap. After my BMW experience I wanted a dealer convenient to my new location so unfortunately another BMW was out. I frankly went with the Lexus because the GS350 F Sport was the best car I could find between the premium car dealers here (Lexus and Acura, no Germans). I tried the regular GS350 and the ride was too boaty for me. While the F Sport's ride and handling at 30K miles are not as sweet as the E38's even at 185K miles, it is firm and comfortable enough. And the reliability is a revelation.
Yup, I had mine until it had 169k. Neighbor down the street bought it. I still have the lengthy repair lists too.
ahhh. Titanium silver with the shadow line sports package!
I still remember that these were one of the first, if not the first sedans capable of doing 0-60 in the mid 5-seconds when they came out in 1997!!!
Structurally, these were very solid cars. The doors closed with a solid vault like thump. It’s still not something we can get from the Japanese, not even today.
As a current owner of a 2015 GS F-Sport and former 2003 BMW E39 (see photo here) and even a 550i GT (white) I can tell you the BMW E39 was and still is my favorite all around handling and best pure driver sports sedan car I've owned period till date. The 2013-2015 GS come very close to the way the e39 handled and ate corners but not as driver centric nor as agile and doesn't have the overall driving dynamics as my former BMW but in Sport+ mode the GS come close to the E39 and in fact reminds me allot of that car and I have even stated that on record in the "welcome section" of this forum. I miss that BMW and unfortunate a loss in a car accident hence why I know own this GS as the 550i I purchased afterwards was a disaster and money pit and despite the Twin Turbo V8 monster engine in it was a major BMW failure and mistake...long story.
As a current owner of a 2015 GS F-Sport and former 2003 BMW E39 (see photo here) and even a 550i GT (white) I can tell you the BMW E39 was and still is my favorite all around handling and best pure driver sports sedan car I've owned period till date. The 2013-2015 GS come very close to the way the e39 handled and ate corners but not as driver centric nor as agile and doesn't have the overall driving dynamics as my former BMW but in Sport+ mode the GS come close to the E39 and in fact reminds me allot of that car and I have even stated that on record in the "welcome section" of this forum. I miss that BMW and unfortunate a loss in a car accident hence why I know own this GS as the 550i I purchased afterwards was a disaster and money pit and despite the Twin Turbo V8 monster engine in it was a major BMW failure and mistake...long story.
LMAO I also had a BMW money pit.
My friend had an E61 which was (and still is) dead reliable. Currently at like 250k miles.
So I thought that if his is so good, I couldn't go wrong.
Bought an E60 530i.
Wow... what a mistake.
I do everything myself, only stuff I ever let anyone else do is wheel alignment and mounting tires on the rims because I don't have tools for that.
I can tell you that I did everything on it, even took apart the trans and fixed that. It's a damn wonder I didn't throw a piston out side of the block because every single thing that could and couldn't go wrong, went wrong.
Last thing I did was change the thermostat (that always breaks) and changed every single O-ring in the cooling system and refurbished the entire cooling system on the car. 7 days later completely blew apart the whole upper radiator hose and had to get a tow truck home.
I had it for 49 months, and I **** you not during those 49 months there was never ever a 30 day period between the times I had it on jackstands either in my garage or on a public road.
Atleast 50 times on jackstands, in 2 years ownership.
Sold it for cheap to some poor dude who lives way too close to me (like 10 miles away).
I get anxiety issues and stressed out everytime I see a Mysticblau E60....
So glad this thread exist, I loved reading the discussion between the two.
Really feel like the 4GS is the closest modern version to the E39, that chassis was so ahead of its time and is exactly what I’m chasing in terms of driving dynamics with suspension upgrades.
The 540i and 350 make similar power, with the 540i being better in the low end and the 350 being better in the high. I’d take the 2GR with its high end power. What this really has emphasized to me though is that ~300 hp in a 3600-3800 lb chassis really is the perfect daily.
But damn, that chassis was so ahead of it’s time in the fact that we can even compare to the two. E39 was the benchmark. Credit to BMW, they made the peak sport sedan.
Does the 540i run out of breath in the top end? Like after 80-90 MPH. I feel like the GS just woke up at 80 and start running at 90, except in hotter weather where it gets a bit tired quicker, like the driver.
Does the 540i run out of breath in the top end? Like after 80-90 MPH. I feel like the GS just woke up at 80 and start running at 90, except in hotter weather where it gets a bit tired quicker, like the driver.
Similar quarter mile times but they have different power bands.
The M62 in the 540i makes peak HP at 5400rpm and redline is like 5700 if I'm correct. 2GR FSE makes peak HP at 6200 and FKS makes it at 6600. Low end power is nice on the street, but high end revving is intoxicating.
Last edited by greys0uled; Sep 30, 2022 at 12:58 PM.
I just took the car out for a drive and this time temp is around 80F so no heat soaking and I let it rip to redline a few times, it does feel intoxicating.
