I Bought An Ultra Rare V8 Manual E39 BMW For $900 & Got It Running & Driving Perfectly For $50!
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I bought an E39 BMW with a clean title, low miles, and most importantly, a manual transmission and V8 engine! This was one of the best deals I've gotten in a while but of course, the car was broken. I fix 2 big issues for $50 and get the car back on the road and driving perfectly! Enjoy!
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none, I own a Lexus because I prefer to drive my cars instead of repairing them.
Had a 1999 E39 540i manual just like this one. Still miss that car. Money pit but super fun!
320 and 430, both good cars and no issues with 250,000 mile between them.
Better hide this car from Hoovie !
Had an e30 I loved, bought and flipped a couple totals, one doubled my money when I had planned on keeping it
Winner, winner, manual V8 E39 dinner! Yes, Alex!
Thanks brother! Can't wait to see your collection in 2022!
Bro we’re waiting for your new upload
@legitstreetcars Literally my two favorite channels. I hope this means you're going to visit Sreten in Germany and do some top speed runs on the Autobahn.
Two of my favorite channels!
@@ozzypawsborneprinceofbarkn3249 yes that would be sweet !
The best thing to do when you first get a manual e39 that has been sitting for a while is to dump the clutch as hard as you can a few times in a row to just clean the corrosion off the flywheel and pressure plate.
🤣🤣
😂😂😂😂😂😅😅🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
This one could definitely take it
@Mark Morrissey savage 😂😂😂
Perhaps he wants Alex to feel as bad as he does when first gets a car?
With the lack of dealer inventory and crazy car prices, just about anything that runs and drives under a grand is a steal, I think you did pretty well on this one, Alex!
Most definitely. I’d be happy with this for 900. A steal if you ask me.
This kind of dirt cheap project is my fave kind of vid to watch. Tons of value, not a million miles, and work that most guys can do. Sweat equity and a few bucks equals a potential $5K car and could also be a fun driver.
As a e46 M3 owner… I must say, this is just the best generation of BMW’s! As stated by your colleague Tyler Hoover. Can’t wait to see more video’s about it. Nice!
What a deal! The wheels alone are virtually worth the $900 you spent. Can’t wait to see this project in the future!
Are they Alpina rims..??
@@johnchurch4705 nope
@@johnchurch4705 No, they are style 32 wheels.
Thank you 😊
Oh wow.. I had the same car ..21 years ago.. awesome car. It cost me about 85 thousand bucks.. UNBELIEVABLE. !
Dude these videos make me feel like I’m going on the ride with you, inspecting them and all, from one car guy to another your Chanel is my favorite and it literally is as Legit as it gets!!! Next time your in Naperville I’ll buy you a beer! 🍻
These e39s were built to cruise at 150 mph on the autobahn and feel like you are sitting still. I love the way they drive. I had an 03 530i for a few years and it was the best car I've ever owned.
M62B44TU motor....drop the oil pan and make sure no plastic bits. timing guides on those motors like to break when its sitting for a while, and as the vanos ages. replace the chain tensioner as PM. replace the fan cliutch and fan blade asap as PM. cooling system expansion tank as well.
Yeah I've seen clutch fans explode because the bearing would start seizing up. It would literally dent the hood from the inside out when the blade explodes.
While that's excellent info, based on what this one sounded like in the video, his chain guides are fine still. Definitely something to be aware of though - knowing that it's basically a maintenance item at this mileage/age is important when looking at picking up one of these cars. Also good to know that the vanos adjusters have weak seals that need replacing by this point - thankfully this engine only has single vanos on the intake cams instead of the dual setup on both - being that this has 4 cams it would get pricey quickly. And like every BMW ever, the cooling system is a maintenance item at this mileage/age unless you have documentation that it was done recently - just save the headaches and replace everything with plastic or rubber if you're planning to keep it for a few years. But they're definitely fun cars when they're well sorted - the best example of how BMW earned that title of "Ultimate Driving Machine". When the cars are right, they are impressive. ;)
I had an E38 with same engine. i hated that clutch fan i used a 2nd gen 3.8L ford taurus E fan in mine. mounted flush to the stock shorud. it was killer of a fan and worked great.
Did you have to install a thermoswitch? Or was there one on the engine from factory?
Hello, Alex! First of all, congratulations for the nice video! As an E39 owner, just keep this car well maintained from the engine to the interior and body, keep taking care of it. You will be amazed of how comfortable, strong and reliable this modern classic BMW could be. Keep up the good work on it! Ciao!
Loved the video. Big fan of the e39. The fan clutch is stuck on which is why it’s so loud. Replace it before the fan explodes, taking out the cooling system with it. Replace it with a Hella/Behr one. Cheap replacements are loud too.
It's a fan clutch not a clutch fan.
@@Peter-pv8xx Corrected, thanks.
In Canada, the Kelly Blue Book value of a 2002 BMW M5 with 119,000 miles in this condition is between $12,000 and $13,000 so you got a hell of a deal. The downside is, you now own a BMW.
This is not a m5, there is a *big* difference between a 540 an m5.
@@benjaminkaric2874 I don't why it is, that people assume every BMW is an M.
@@benjaminkaric2874 a good running 540 is about 5,600 so still a decent deal.
Was a good deal overall( you can easy get 1500$ from scrap yards as it is). If you keep it you will have to spend $18-20 K or more to bring the car to perfect condition.
Not a M5 skippy
I love those E39s. I remember taking one out for a test drive, the salesman was nervous when I started going over 100 mph.
Check the junk factory brake boosters on those too. They're known for filling up with water due to a poorly designed drain hole. All the water will eventually finds its way into the engine causing it to hydro lock.
This guy is speaking facts! mine failed on my 540 and I had no assisted brakes anymore, I almost crashed lol. Mind you I was 18 at the time so I didn't have the strongest legs lol...
Sounds like something Ford would design
My exercised due diligence when it came to buying my 540. It was suburban driven with only 100k miles It died after 3 months of ownership because of the brake booster issue unbeknownst to me...
Wow it’s hard to find a manual that’s an awesome find 👍 I taught my daughter to drive manual two years ago. And she loves the stick shift cars. I told her to look around.. and the stick shift is like the dinosaur of transmissions. She was immediately bummed at hard it is to find one.
Absolutely love this car!! Please film more content with this e39, I really enjoyed this video. I miss my e39 m sport.
It’s so great to see someone who loves what they do as much as you do.
Keep doing the work yourself Alex, I love watching and learning and it keeps me subscribed. Unlike some other channels that try to piggy back off your hard work.
Awesome purchase, cool colour combo, sweet sounding engine, nice wheels. Great video, editing, videography and commentary. Thumbs up for O.J. a top guy. Enjoyed this video and looking forward to more content on this beauty. Thanks for uploading.
Yeah, clutch fans sound like a train moved in the engine compartment. Maybe a electric fan change mod. Great to see OJ again. Sharp dude.
These were the cars to get back then. The manual version of the v8. Would love to see a budget built…….buff it, clean it, fix the leaks, and enjoy it. See how far you can bring it back on a budget. Very cool. 👍👍
I own a 1999 BMW 540i with a 6 speed manual. It has about 269,000 miles on it and is still running strong. I definitely have a similar oil leak to that one, but mine doesn't seem as bad. One piece of advise I would give is to either swap in an electric fan in the place of that clutch fan. I had mine fail catastrophically. Luckily, it didn't do too much damage, but it can. I ended up going with a Zionsville Autosport kit that has been serving me well for the past about 4 months. I have been daily driving it for the past 4 months as well and it has been great. Mine has the metallic silver paint with the gray and black interior. The previous owner also covered the wood trim in carbon fiber wrap that actually I somewhat like better than the wood trim (I wish BMW would have offered that as well). Overall, the E39 540i tend to be decent cars especially if you take into account BMW's reputation. Nice car, and can't wait to see the finished product when she is done.
OJ Needs to have his own channel. Dude seems to really know his stuff.
Hey Alex - I really enjoy watching and learning how you troubleshoot issues and fix them. So please keep that up. Scotty Kilmer sometimes will go in depth with his fancy expensive diagnostic tools to figure out issues/troubles that most shop mechanics cant figure out.
Loving the frequent uploads!!
A nice E39. Looking forward to seeing how it progresses. I have previously owned a e82 (twin turbo diesel) coupe - awesome car. Great informative content.
I like when I see people like OJ knows so well a car.that is the the advantage when you work and fix only one make and not all car manufacturers out there..well done OJ.
20:17 I think it's called a Helmholz resonator. You can also find those on intake tracts. They are meant to silence droning sounds.
As OJ stated in the video, this is just a weight block to dampen mechanical vibration. A helmholz resonator would need a connection for the exhaust to go into it, where the opening size and the chamber volume was tuned to dampen a specific frequency.
@@nordlands8798 thnx for correcting
What a great find Alex. Can’t wait to see you clean her up!
Hey Alex, I’d love to stop by LSQ someday. Is that possible? I’m 10 mi N of your shop…
I drove an E39 540i this past summer with the manual, and boy was it great! Plus, even 540s in good condition are a fraction of the cost of the E39 M5.
Amazing car Alex! I wish my E39 was a manual, I'm stuck with the automatic for now lol. Also sounds like the fan is on and robbing some power! Definitely some cooling issues.
I love how excited Alex gets for BMW’s. I own two and they are like a favorite child who is also a problem child. When they act right they are a joy. Great deal Alex. Way to snag a fun ride for cheap. The two tone does look good, I have it in my X5. Gonna be neat watching this series. OJ is awesome man.
I love your description; so true. Very fitting for my current M3, an E36.
This car must be an individual. Or a custom job. That color combo wasn’t a standard available option.
Between Alex and Sreten I'm constantly tempted to buy one. I had a few Audis and celebrated the day I finally sold my last one. The 90s and early 00s BMWs look good and seem a lot easier to work on than Audis of the same vintage.
Your channel is one of the best out there. Enjoy watching and learning.
Love the NFS: Most Wanted BMW at 30:42. Dude even has the NFS: MW sticker on the front quarter panel.
Automatic transmission fluid for that manual transmission, Sreten’s magic trick for BMW manual gearboxes.
What's the plan with this one? A keeper, or a quick flip? Personally, I'd keep it. Even if I'm normally not a 4 door car person. I think it has a lot of potential.
Great project! I look forward to seeing more of it in future episodes.
Love E39 540's, looking forward to seeing what work you do on this one. I have a 2003 540i sport (had a 2002 540i sport prior), just replaced the timing chain guides, rebuilt the vanos and powder coated the valve covers (did all the work myself)...love these cars. Just wish mine was a manual....
One of my first quicker drives after getting my license was taking my bosses e39 touring from Frankfurt to Munich (I live in Germany) and man the way it sits and handles at speeds of 200+ km/h is very impressive by that time it wasn’t a new car anymore with 10 years on its back but it still was really planted and absolutely stabil through bends and stuff 👍🏻😊 since then I have a soft spot for them in my heart
Hilarious, you totally got me with showing your friend's car + interior and calling yours done! 🤣
When he showed it I doubted it was the same car. I was right.
Man this is my dream car. I love e39's of course I want an M5 but they are way out of reach for me. The one I always loved was the 540i in manual, but they are all automatics. But you found one and for 900 bucks.
Alex, your star is continuing to rise. Great impulse buy. Late 90s early 2000s euro cars cemented my obsession that is still going strong. #imacarguy can't wait to see the next video
i've had a 1997 540i for two years now, and i love it. my father had a 1999 540i wagon, and that was awesome
Love your videos man. Love seeing old cars being restored
Well, I got my old ‘99 M Sport 540i for $500 and while it did start up on first attempt and run, it did cost about 3k to get it back up to snuff pretty much everywhere else mechanically. In my case it was a DUI driver who lost his license and parked it for two years, so it needed everything serviced after sitting for so long lol. And Sport actually came out in 1999. It didn’t get the M Body* standard until 2003
Considering how little you paid for it, that's still sounds great to me. Especially if it wasn't your only car & you didn't have to rush getting it sorted. I really want to do the same with an E46 or E39. Such a perfect era for BMW's
What do you mean by "m body"? M sport Bumpers and stuff like that was availble from 1999, in europe at least.
@@GoldenCroc don't forget, in Europe you guys get all the good stuff & in the US we always get the shaft. The percentage of idiots is higher here, so we have to have crash rating standards which call for the more ugly body panels at all times!! Hahaha...kind of kidding, kind of not
@@GoldenCroc “Aerodynamic Kit”. Look at a 1999 versus a 2003 540i M Sport. Optional in 2000, became standard in 2003. Hence the reference to it getting the M body in 2003 [standard].
@@ic1815 As I said, it was included since 1999 in europe. As far as I know there has never been a possibility to option in/out various part of the pack here, unless you go "individual" program, or go back all the way to the M-tech parts pack days. Ok so, it seems its different in the US then. I Belive you, wouldnt be the first time. Though the E36 M3 was the (relatively) hardest shafting of all, in that regard.
I had 2 E39s, 1998 and 2000, manual sport package. Loved them both. This brings back memories! Valve cover gaskets leak oil right down into the ignition coils.
Damnit, I want one of these! What a amazing buy! Car wash and vacuuming, then fix everything. I’m so excited to seen how this comes together!
Seems that OJ could repair any E39 with a blindfold and with hands tied behind his back. He literally knows every bolt on these cars.
Hi Alex. That clutch fan I think is on its way out. I had a 525i....I'm in South Africa, so we had the 525i as base for the facelift. Anyway my clutch fan also kicked in when kinda cold and that is wrong, it should really only kick in in town driving when hot outside. I replaced mine with an aftermarket clutch, but that lasted only 6 months, so I bought a new one at the dealer and it solved the issue. Your fuel consumption will also get better with that fan not kicking in all the time. Mine had the usual E39 issues like engine mounts(hence why I replaced the fan and clutch as the blades snapped on the fan shroud under hard acceleration) , valve cover gasket leaks, oil pan gasket leaks, front suspension bushes oh and the ABS controller. Other than that I loved my E39. It was only dealer maintained as far as possible.
This channel just keeps getting better and better. Thanx Alex.
That has got to be the quietest BMW Vanos 4.4 v8 "TU" engine I've ever heard !... I used to have a 1999 auto 540i with the same Vanos "TU" engine and it always sounded like a diesel whenever I lifted the hood up whilst it was running ! - OMG ! Your one is whisper quiet !! Great buy man !
You finally convinced me to purchase the Carly scanner Alex. I looked over all the features and for the price is great. Cant wait to get mine👍🏼
iCarly is subscription service now, they'll give you a cheap deal on the device but will nickel and dime you for every feature. Wait until you hit the yearly subscription fee. There are lots of cheaper obd code reader there that could scan BMW modules without a yearly subscription...
"This is considered winning!" That got me laughing pretty hard
This is great ! I’m so stoked for this project. I own 2 E39 540i they are so great to drive. If you do the chain guides with instruction you would be a life saver
I love this channel ❤ Gives me hope to go out and buy something I want and fix.
The e39 is the best sedan ever made. Just the messenger. The wheels are worth more than the car as they are the 18'' variant. Nice pick up, and working cup holders.
I drove an E39 540i for 10 years and have nothing but fond memories of that car, they're wonderful machines. As to whether the Subaru or the E39 is more reliable...You drove the E39 50 miles on the first day. The Subaru barely made it around the block.
WOW what a sweet find, thanks for the reveal and the time at OJ's shop good stuff.
3:12 clutch fan needs replacement, when it sounds like that it means it's stuck on and it can send the plastic fan blade through the hood/radiator any moment.
I drove by earlier , my daughter lives around there and saw the tow truck. Awesome…!
I'm looking forward to the interior cleaning!
That is one of my all time favorite cars. You owe your towing buddy a huge Christmas present!
Love it when you jump on a BMW, Alex. Love it too when you visit OJ. That guy has so many insights beyond the obvious.
I love the professionalism and expertise OJ! Great to see you on the channel.
Nice score!! I wish I had you and OJ here in San Antonio. Between the two of you, you can make any vehicle work - and you guys aren't shady.
Awesome video. Love getting underneath to see what’s wrong. I like the level detail you show us!
You are so good and so honest and direct!! Keep it going please
Always love seeing OJ. They seem like a great shop.
I think the big question is if there are fitting and good replacement seats on the market and how much will they cost.
That is a great car! Had the same car in Norway. Had to replace the vanos-units. Lots of people bitch about them (they were a bigger head ache on later BMW v8s). Replaced them with rebuilt ones from a great guy in the US called Dr Vanos. 500USD for the pair, and no stress for a mechanic like you do to in an afternoon. No more misfires and smooth V8 (the M62B44 sounds kinda lika a diesel on idle with broken vanos). The valve cover gaskets are notorious for leaking oil. Have replaced them on both mye E39 540i and my L322 4.4i Range Rover (same engine). I would say its more than ten percent change that valve cover gaskets fixes it on a m62b44 engine. When replacing the rocker gaskets, be sure that the halvmoon part of the gasket lines up perfectly in the back. Classic M62 prob that makes the engine leak oil again from the back. The dynamo/alternator is crazy expensive new, type 1500 new (they are watercooled), but can be sourced from BMW x5 4.4is as well used (100 dollars), they are easy as shit to replace as well (done that as well, took me 2 hours start to finish without a lift). Just have a pan ready at the bottom for the coolant.
Great new addition to the new garage! Like these, please give it a bloody good clean/ detail!
Great project, great price and great investment. You can get some good money for that car. If you hold on to it, should be worth more over the next few years. Just ask Sam to store it for you, he's good at storing cars.
After living through my teenage/early 20s years of auto customization, I realize now, if it's not broke, don't fix it! The dying of the leather and the painting of the plastics proves my point. Sometimes the best of intentions turn out to be the biggest pains in the arses.
Absolutely love these, this is amazing. I have a 328i xdrive and even though it's a e90 when I bought it a few years ago it was super stiff and kinda hard to shift for the first few months almost like the last person didn't drive it too much for the last few years before I bought it. After about 4 months of regular driving it got far more smooth.
i have not ever been a big bmw person but i do understand the fun they can be and can appreciate them as my dad had a bmw 2002 from the 70s so if i was to ever own a modern day basket case this bmw would be it v8 bmw with a manual transmission sound like lots of fun
Be sure to replace the timing chain guides on that 540i Alex, they're a maintenance item on M62 and M62TU. May as well do the VANOS while you're in there! E39's are fantastic cars. The 540i is cool but the 6cyl cars are more desirable imo. Only a slight bit less power, but way better handling/steering feel due to having a steering rack instead of recirculating ball steering. Also better weight distribution because of the lighter engine and aluminum front subframe (540i's is heavier steel). Straight 6 is much more reliable too.
Soon on LegitStreetCars, I bought a new Koenigsegg Gemera for $27, fixed it for $2 and now it drives like a dream
Bought a 1996 manual e39 here in india in the same colour as yours. Was parked without doors for 15 years Around 53000 miles, got the engine running had a drive, amazing car especially in india as there aren’t many available. Great video looking forward to the build
I've never owned a BMW, but I've always admired them. Nice Purchase, looking forward to the repair videos. Cheers
Hi Alex can you do performance testing of your cl65 now that it runs great? I want to see the performance gain with the mods you have done
It's a CL65 actually.
I really want an e39 540i, its been my dream daily driver for a while
I've been daily driving a manual one for a few years and it's the best decision I've ever made
Such a great car for the channel, can’t wait to hear it straight piped!!
Looking forward to seeing this - I had a 525i e39 a while ago and when it got some engine troubles, I sadly didn't love it quite enough to spend the money to fix it and sold it on which I regret to this day.
Maybe it's time to begin the search for another set of used (real) creme seats and a used steering wheel? I would leave the dash and door panels alone. I think they look fine. That drivers side seat belt webbing might never clean up. This should be another cool project!
That's factory. He said that. Even my car has it and it's GM.
I’ve always wanted an E39… one day 🤞🤞 Love the way they look!
@legitstreetcars: if you decide you would like to sell this car, would you please let me know?
Transmission alone is worth over 900. Nice purchase Alex. I love the 540, I daily my 2001 540iA touring and love every minute of it.
17:17 over in Europe they had all sorts of options for interior colors that didn't exist in the states. They had everything from blue and red leather to cloth seats. This looks like they were trying to imitate the "Champagne Leather" option.
Nice classic Styling 32 rims (if i remember correctly)
Ok this channel is becoming the best car channel in youtube i used to watch goonzsquad but since they started making house video's i stopped never watched again
It looked like the e-fan on that thing worked too for the little I seen of it running in your vid. Nice find. The Halos on those e39's are sweet.
You scored, man. These were hella underrated cars. And they still are. Nostalgia! Great work! 👌😆😎
I owned a 1996 540i with 6 spd manual. Montreal Blue and parchment. Had the cell phone in the armrest where the rectangular recess exists. It was one of the best most fun vehicles I have ever owned. Sold it when I needed to put a car seat in back as it would not fit. Still miss it. Great buy Sir! Great buy.
Nice, I lost my virginity in a E39 540i. Was the best esperience in my life but my asshole hurted so bad
Nice project car!
Great car They where everywhere here in Europe and amazingly comfortable to drive. Great buy can't wait to see it finish.
What a bargain totally worth fixing 😀
M539 restorations approves this buy 😂 Way to go alex! Love your content! 👏 Greetings from greece! 🇬🇷
Super , best of luck with the car. Just ordered the Carly and thanks so much for the promo code. 🤜🏻🤜🏻🤜🏻🤜🏻
First time watching your channel, but I immediately knew it was a 2001 540i. Love these cars so much. Can’t wait to fix my non running one