Thirty nine years ago designers in Munich did not dream, that the buyer will spend 39 thousand dollars on BMW, capable to be dispersed up to 100 km/h for 7,5 seconds at what it will be only the middle of modelling scale. They also could not think, that in thirty nine years automobiles BMW will collect in Russia, and in the former USSR the magic word "E39" will dream each schoolboy.

Factory designation E39 - body BMW of 5-th series in penultimate generation. Sales of the automobile have begun right after prime-ministers in the autumn of 1995 on a motor show in Frankfurt. One and a half year one body - a sedan was issued only. In 1997 has appeared stylish, but not too capacious Touring. 1998 - year of a debut of model M5 created on the basis of body E39. In 2000 "five" has undergone small restyling. The list of the standard equipment has extended, new engines have appeared, and externally updated machines are easy for learning on painted in color of a body to new dimensional lanterns which are made as light-emitting diode rings around of forward headlights, to round indexes of turns and light-emitting diode inserts of back lanterns.

Not a secret, that at the end of 1999 has started the assembly conveyor of a factory "Autotor" in Kaliningrad which makes models 523i and 528i for the market of Russia.

E39 - All is thought over

Company BMW for a long time is known to attentive relations to trifles. "Five" E39 is made in the best German traditions. The minimal backlashes between body panels, fine anticorrosive protection, the highest quality of painting. In any sense engineers have provided even that average owner BMW "heats" a pedal of "gas" more often others and as consequence, gets in road accident is more often.

Skilled the mechanics, repeatedly assorting body E39 up to last basis, very much praise BMW for carefully thought over design. It is possible to remove-establish ten times a upholstery of doors, and it will be appreciable nothing. In difference even from other German automobiles, interior BMW understands as the children's designer, and then with the same ease all details become back, on regular places. Therefore if the machine has visited good service, it is difficult to find any traces of repair.

Check of number VIN - useful operation at purchase used E39. But few buyers know, that, except for inscriptions seen on a body and the duplicating tablet, VIN it is possible to read and through the panel of devices. Number of a body in many machines is in the block of management of the engine. On the other hand, any science of protection studies the last war, and skilled swindlers have already learned to erase from memory of the block not only VIN, but also the information on run of the automobile.

Search for the skilled electrician for BMW E39

Probably, the main lack of all BMW which completely is absent unless in a long body of 7-th series, is the limited space on a back seat. One more lack - however, peculiar to many other models of the big middle class, - the form of a pillow of a back sofa because of which the third passenger in the middle feels like uncomfortably and almost rests a head against a ceiling.

E39 the automobile as though "around of" the driver builds. The main person - the driver. And let all world will wait. Classical feature BMW - the central console revolved to the driver.

Advantages of interior of fifth series E39 - excellent quality of materials and a high level of a noise isolation. And not too it is a lot of lacks.

Shaky, in comparison with model of the previous generation in body E34, began window raiser mechanisms. Inside there are some plastic details which are frequently deformed and fail. To prolong window raiser service life it is possible if not to do gross blunders, for example, trying to open in the winter the frozen glass.

As a whole electric equipment BMW never put records of non-failure operation. Not because it is made carelessly - at all is not present. But in fact even base versions are equipped with set of electronic devices. Gauges, blocks, trunks of data transmission - electronic failures are possible, and from them nobody is insured. However, for masters by electric part BMW any more did not remain secrets. E39 is well investigated, and not decided problems for a long time are not present.

It is possible to relate to characteristic malfunctions, for example, astable work of liquid crystal displays - in due course some elements cease to shine. On it it is possible to close eyes.

It is worse, if the climate - control began to allocate independently air streams - it is necessary to change the block of management.

The ordinary word "maintainability" - concept slippery, is especial when speech comes about modern automobiles. If to mean an opportunity of repair on specialized HUNDRED at the qualified masters - that everything is all right. But in garage conditions E39 is not under repair. The automobile can bear in itself about 60 blocks of management.

In any case the electronic scanner is necessary. An optimum - firm. On the other hand, manufacturers of the diagnostic equipment try to give to the devices as much as possible opportunities for the widespread machines, and BMW - mark widespread. The same Chinese let out the scanner, capable it is quite good "to communicate" with E39 electronics. That is, the problem of repair of an electric equipment is reduced to search of the competent master.

It is noticed, that all automobiles BMW have small outflow of a current from the accumulator, even when all equipment is switched off. Therefore, if the automobile which has stood weeks three in garage, does not wish to started from the accumulator - be not surprised. All "charged" machines test similar problems.

E39 - Use cooled

System of cooling E39 - a thing whimsical. This lack passes decades, as by right of succession, from model to model. Fluctuation of temperature of antifreeze even in twenty degrees on a pointer is almost imperceptible. 120 degrees - are quite normal for BMW in an active mode of driving.

But if the pointer of the index of temperature has gone is a sign "stop - machine" further. In such situation it is necessary to stop and start to call. To everybody: to the master, the friend, the mother-in-law or simply to cause breakdown truck. But to go we do not advise further, because you is guaranteed will overheat the engine.

Ahead of a motor compartment can be one after another established up to three radiators. In due course between them the dirty, a dust and if there were any smudges of technical liquids all together sticks together accumulates and also promotes overheating.

Other E39 weak place - difficult electric controlled thermostat. It collapses rather quickly and as a result the engine or underheats, or overheats.

Eight-cylinder motors demand the even greater attention. Sometimes bursts surge tank for a cooling liquid. Additional fans fail: in a warm season they practically are not switched off, therefore the fan suffices on the average for five - seven years - just by then as the second-hand automobile gets to Byelorussia...

Recently a mechanical drive of fans (through viscous muff) have refused for the benefit of electric. The electric motor on the order is more reliable, but also sometimes fails.

Engines E39 not and are not killed

Engines of series E39 as a whole are similar to motors of previous series E34. What has changed?

First, E39 system of gas distribution. Since 1998 engines V8 M62TU with system VANOS and line "six" M52TU with system Double VANOS are accessible. And for the modernized machines of 2000 modelling year engines M54 with Double VANOS (520i/2,2 l, 525i/2,5 l and 530i/3,0 l) are offered. System VANOS known still on body E34, allows to change phases of opening of inlet valves, and Double VANOS - as well final.

Second, a design of sleeves of cylinders. Six-cylinder E39 motors M52 till 1998 instead of traditional pig-iron sleeves use special nickel - silicon (nkasil) a covering. Subsequently on motors M52TU and M54 has been solved to return to pig-iron sleeves. On eight-cylinder engines of release till March, 1997 a covering either nickel - silicon, or more proof aluminium - silicon (aljusil), and later - only aljusil.

Refusal of pig-iron sleeves has allowed to make engines more easy, but the new covering very much is afraid some sulfur, therefore the durability of the given technology in our conditions entirely depends on quality of gasoline.

Water in fuel fatally affects not only E39 diesel versions, but also on petrol. Corrosion appears in a fuel tank, puts out of action gauges of a level of fuel, destroys an enamel covering of a tank and litters a gasoline pump.

One more innovation - the valve in system of case ventilation which was not in old motors M50, but was in M60. The valve "is torn" with an enviable regularity, and the masters who are possessing experience of service E34 with engines M60, know about it.

Engines E39, as a rule, have the complicated design of catalysts, according to new, more rigid ecological norms. But under the charge of fuel E39 it is comparable with E34. Primary catalysts are moved up practically closely to final collectors. A characteristic detail: at E39 four lamda-probes.

Periodically the coil of ignition fail. The candles not replaced in time load system of ignition as a whole. That is, the increased interelectrode backlash causes increase in a penetrative voltage, because of it loading increases for isolation and there is a breakdown of the coil or a tip.

BMW E39 suspension bracket

In comparison with model E34, the suspension bracket of generation E39 has appreciablly changed. Aluminium details - in levers, steering drafts, underframes, support shock absorber racks, brake supports are widely applied. With some clauses, the list of aluminium details corresponds to the list of the most often malfunctions.

Let's start with a forward suspension bracket. Under the certificate of mechanics, service life of spherical support and sailent-blocks began more, than at E34. For example, the top sailent-blocks - on the average, everyone of 40.000-60.000 kms. Spherical support "go" on 100.000 kms and subject to replacement only together with levers. Forward stabilizer racks "keep" 20.000-30.000 kms. Shock-absorbers are specifically established and, unfortunately, for a long time "do not live".

That is typical, in a suspension bracket eight-cylinder E39 535i and E39 540i, designed on the big loadings, less than aluminium details, and it serves longer, than at machines with six-cylinder motors.

The design of back suspension bracket E39 is much more difficult, than at E34. Complication has led to to the raised number of refusals. "Floating" sailent-blocks - needle hinges of the bottom (integrated) lever which can serve from 20.000 up to 60.000 kms have appeared. Two more weak places - spherical support of back top levers, so-called "boomerangs", and aluminium top levers.

For E39 (and also for body E38 of 7-th series) are characteristic breakages of wheel bearings, it is especial by machines of the first years of release.

Original weak place E39 - rigidity of work of a suspension bracket. At travel of fine roughnesses impacts in a suspension bracket are audible. Founders of the automobile aimmed at the perfected controllability, in fact "soft" machines cannot precisely cope.

By some E39 with powerful motors system EDC - a suspension bracket with adjustable rigidity and a road gleam is established. It is rather rare option, diagnostics and which service are complex and cost dearly.

Knocks, flows and is not under repair

One of basic weak places BMW E39 - breakages of helmsmans laths. If on previous model E34 bavarians always established steering reducers on E39 reliable worm reducers have left only for updatings with heavy motors V8. And on versions have easier put lath steering management. Subsequently the same lath have removed on BMW X5 - by this machine lath it is possible to change almost every year. Meanwhile, the new detail costs 1000-1200 euros. Other way is not present: repair, as a rule, does not help...

E39 brake system is good except for two cases. The first - on automobiles with fair run across Byelorussia aluminium brake supports can "sour". - some license brake disks are quickly deformed by the second, and on braking characteristic vibration is appreciable. Therefore at replacement of disks, it is especial on not original, attentively examine supports.

In general for E39 in the market it is a lot of license spare parts. Everyone, even the fineest company from the most distant country considers the debt to let out though any spare parts for BMW. It creates illusion of cheapness of the maintenance of "bavarian". Be not under a delusion: if the basic consumable materials like filters - can be bought under the reasonable price the majority of details of the engine, transmission and should search for suspension brackets in original catalogues - and here that the prices can unpleasantly surprise you. What to do, BMW - a product of a high degree of quality and technologies. And good cheap it does not happen.

That how much

Faster others are lost in the price with automobiles with "small" engines. A minimum for E39 - two litres. This version now also is the most accessible offer - BMW E39 520i 1996 year it is possible to buy for 8500-9000 dollars. The model 523i the same age "will start" already from nine thousand.

E39 535i or E39 540i will cost at least 10.000-11.000 dollars.

Diesel E39 530d with very dynamical motor Common Rail there are 17.500-18.500 dollars.

Total about E39

The automobile harmonious and as a whole successful. The only thing that can confuse at purchase, - a rigid suspension bracket with high expenses for repair and unreliable steering mechanisms of six-cylinder updatings.

E39 generations E34 that is appreciable even on repair charges are more complex and more dear. On the other hand, progress "five" BMW was gave more easy, than to the E-class from Mercedes-Benz. On the average E39 it has turned out more strong and more reliably, than Mercedes W210 - and in fact in the previous generation all was on the contrary! Also "bavarian" usually better, than "big-eyed" is equipped.

Cost of service, certainly, above the average, but, in any sense, BMW - greetings from other world. This automobile is created for other culture and other conditions of operation. For this machine are very important good service and... The correct approach to purchase. Masters on HUNDRED speak so: if with BMW something happened - means, you "have incorrectly bought" it.