Simple advice: - The BMW 5 Series (E39) Message Forum

Go test-drive both an I-6 and a V8. Then decide for yourself what drives and feels "better". Some are happy with a 525i, others even crave for something more than an M5. It is very personal.

Ignore all the biased comments why an I-6 or V8 drives better than the other. It's the same can of worms as in Europe where the general question is "should I buy a 520i or a 523i?". Problems with opinions: everybody has one but not necessarily the "right" one.

When it comes to fuel economy and maintenance, it's easy: I-6 has better fuel economy and will in GENERAL be cheaper to maintain than a V8. Factor that in as well. And increase your odds of buying a good one that has a complete maintenance history and that has been thoroughly inspected before the deal is closed.

Good luck.

Gadjo

E39 I6 vs V8 - justagp 2007-01-01 19:26:38 (8333 views) (56232 thread views)
- Who the heII dug up this P O S!!! (nt) - caisson12 2007-12-31 20:50:03 (1054 views)
  - GSXRYDER did. I wonder why he/she did that. - Gadjo Dilo 2008-01-01 00:17:40 (675 views)
  - "Best of 2007" highlights? (nt) - Russ 2007-12-31 23:06:04 (470 views)
- I'm about to hit 240,000 miles....... - BogdenZ 2007-01-04 16:45:33 (1787 views)
  - Re: I'm about to hit 240,000 miles....... - Craig in Canada 2007-01-05 08:01:53 (1241 views)
    - Re: I'm about to hit 240,000 miles....... - BogdenZ 2007-01-05 08:33:39 (1065 views)
      Fun per mile...priceless! (nt) - edjack ©⁷⁶ 2007-01-05 12:16:46 (858 views)
      Great point. And the fun isn't fading either. (nt) - BogdenZ 2007-01-05 13:52:01 (656 views)
- Simple advice: - Gadjo Dilo 2007-01-04 15:40:00 (1344 views)
  - Re: Simple advice: - justagp 2007-01-05 22:29:30 (761 views)
    - Keep us posted - Gadjo Dilo 2007-01-06 10:49:19 (552 views)
- Re: E39 I6 vs V8 - HarryP 2007-01-04 08:40:41 (1250 views)
- Whatever your decision- get a warranty! (aftermkt) - KDJ 2007-01-03 15:51:51 (922 views)
  - Don't 100% agree - Craig in Canada 2007-01-04 08:28:22 (1004 views)
    - U have a 528, and I had a 540. 'Nuff said. - Eric S. 2007-01-04 21:54:45 (933 views)
      Re: U have a 528, and I had a 540. 'Nuff said. - Craig in Canada 2007-01-05 07:57:18 (666 views)
  - Totally agree, as per my post below in this thread (nt) - Eric S. 2007-01-03 22:41:20 (572 views)
- Re: E39 I6 vs V8 - Mrwindymiller 2007-01-03 13:35:16 (1125 views)
  - 0 - 60 530 vs 540 - 540nj 2007-01-03 15:09:52 (1481 views)
    - Re: 0 - 60 530 vs 540 - wofton 2007-01-03 19:17:24 (3631 views)
    - Re: They vary - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 15:20:56 (768 views)
  - Come on. 36mpg?? That's a little too good - Mike H 2007-01-03 13:58:23 (835 views)
    - I get that regularly - 4/98 528 sport/manual (nt) - Craig in Canada 2007-01-04 08:30:51 (628 views)
    - 45mph No A/C and you'll get 40mpg :) (nt) - kgorczyn 2007-01-03 14:50:31 (624 views)
      You sure that's not kph? - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 15:59:16 (474 views)
      Re: You sure that's not kph? - Craig in Canada 2007-01-05 07:55:30 (491 views)
    - I got 36mpg calc'd out of my 528iA Step before (nt) - Steve (UK) 2007-01-03 14:26:07 (524 views)
    - I haven't ever managed 36 for an entire trip, but - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 14:22:19 (518 views)
- The E39 is a great - sliced many ways - M5 LiTE 2007-01-03 08:33:07 (987 views)
  - Re: The E39 is a great - sliced many ways (pic) - GSXRYDER 2007-12-31 18:57:49 (549 views)
- Get the I6. I'm running short of 'lowly I6 owners' - THE H8ter ©⁶⁰ 2007-01-03 04:03:01 (861 views)
  - Welcome back H8. Happy New Year :-) (nt) - Filehorse ©⁵⁹ 2007-01-03 14:50:22 (550 views)
    - Re: Welcome back H8. Happy New Year :-) - THE H8ter ©⁶⁰ 2007-01-04 00:00:58 (517 views)
      It gets worse > > > - Filehorse ©⁵⁹ 2007-01-06 11:34:31 (535 views)
- just remember, buyer's regret is the worst thing - chivas 2007-01-02 23:19:36 (801 views)
  - especially true if you keep it a long time (m) - GNick 2007-01-03 00:13:27 (676 views)
    - the cost of owning a M5 vs 540 and the payoff - chivas 2007-01-03 11:45:21 (1011 views)
      That's not my experience. - Mattkins99 2007-01-03 17:44:13 (675 views)
      get ready for the clutch!!! - chivas 2007-01-04 00:32:33 (579 views)
      well, I'm not going to the dealer - Mattkins99 2007-01-04 17:04:49 (543 views)
      going with an OE clutch which costs the same - chivas 2007-01-06 01:53:34 (553 views)
- If I had it to do over again.... - Eric S. 2007-01-02 22:47:31 (1102 views)
  - Re: If I had it to do over again.... - justagp 2007-01-02 22:55:56 (801 views)
    - Where did the 6K go? Let's see.... - Eric S. 2007-01-03 07:58:50 (848 views)
- i-6 with MT is quick, no where as fast as 540 Mt - JYG y2K 528 5spCT 2007-01-02 09:39:08 (863 views)
  - Re: i-6 with MT is quick, no where as fast as 540 Mt - mixz1 2007-01-03 11:42:58 (597 views)
- I-6 = adequate power, but ... - Crusader 2007-01-02 09:25:40 (817 views)
- Re: E39 I6 vs V8 (pic) - wofton 2007-01-02 08:53:11 (1680 views)
  - I don't have any trouble passing-- - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 12:11:05 (773 views)
    - 5 speed manual makes all the diff - 540nj 2007-01-03 13:18:17 (744 views)
      Someone would buy E39 with auto trans? Incredible - BigGuy 2007-01-03 13:34:04 (833 views)
      Yeah, most of us. - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 15:15:56 (698 views)
      90% buy autos because... - 540nj 2007-01-03 15:26:25 (918 views)
      and its hard to shift - 540nj 2007-01-03 15:28:51 (724 views)
      Well, - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 15:37:10 (661 views)
      I don't see how it's luxurious to worry - OKV8iT 2007-01-03 17:58:59 (635 views)
      Not something you need to worry about - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 18:48:40 (605 views)
      Since when? (nt) - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 18:58:09 (472 views)
      Always - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 19:05:55 (542 views)
      My indie disagrees with you. (nt) - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 22:03:41 (551 views)
      Thats his problem. 99% of indies are idiots. - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 22:21:36 (552 views)
      If there's an idiot here, it's - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 22:46:31 (562 views)
      Thats fine - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 23:06:24 (595 views)
      If I didn't know better, I might think (url) - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 23:22:16 (559 views)
      Maybe I am, or maybe - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 23:35:26 (468 views)
      Don't go away mad! But if you - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 23:52:13 (517 views)
      Not bashing you, but.....(m) - JimLev 2007-01-03 20:39:56 (563 views)
      Not the point - Mike Levy 2007-01-03 22:25:03 (496 views)
      Mike, you're wrong on this one. - Dave535i 2007-01-05 21:48:10 (492 views)
      Okay, so thats another plus for the good old US - Mike Levy 2007-01-05 23:37:59 (445 views)
      Re: Not the point - JimLev 2007-01-03 22:43:01 (539 views)
      i was going to say putting on makeup - 540nj 2007-01-03 16:13:26 (445 views)
      Seems ridiculous, but 5 spds are a rare - cmybimmergo 2007-01-03 13:54:25 (562 views)
      Sadly not ridiculous - its the way we buy cars - BG 2007-01-03 23:21:45 (507 views)
      Very rare indeed - Mike H 2007-01-03 14:01:55 (475 views)
- Power, must have lots of power - tscales 2007-01-02 08:34:25 (646 views)
  - Re: Power, must have lots of power - OKV8iT 2007-01-02 15:45:03 (526 views)
    - Too soon to tell - tscales 2007-01-03 08:08:02 (440 views)
      I just had mine dyno'ed today VF 540 - 2k2_6speed 2007-01-03 17:53:00 (471 views)
- Re: E39 I6 vs V8 - cg 2007-01-02 07:44:58 (703 views)
- I've had ,98-528,99-540 and now 01-530 - joe88-325ic&2001-530 2007-01-02 00:42:19 (906 views)
- Driving the 530 after owning a 540 was (m) - GNick 2007-01-01 23:57:42 (1156 views)
  - Re: Driving the 530 after owning a 540 was (m) - kenr 2007-01-06 07:08:54 (626 views)
  - I think it is more the TQ that puts the smile - bud4ya 2007-01-02 12:44:08 (564 views)
- Re: E39 I6 vs V8 - Kip 2007-01-01 20:21:45 (802 views)
  - Rule is 'There is no replacement for displacement' (nt) - KeithS 2007-01-02 07:44:00 (517 views)
    - Right, when in doubt...bore it out. (nt) - JimLev 2007-01-02 18:15:28 (447 views)
      Re: Unless you gotta buy parts from BMW. Then lea (nt) - ve it alone. Mike Levy 2007-01-02 19:42:39 (422 views)
  - Re: E39 I6 vs V8 - justagp 2007-01-01 22:59:01 (639 views)
- I don't have a 530, but I can tell you that if (m) - JimLev 2007-01-01 20:00:49 (1055 views)
  - Re: I don't have a 530, but I can tell you that if (m) - justagp 2007-01-01 22:51:07 (842 views)
    - You'll have to use all 4 pockets&hope they're deep (nt) - Dave R. 98 540i, 71 02 2007-01-02 09:37:04 (557 views)
    - Keep dreaming - Mike Levy 2007-01-01 23:48:23 (748 views)
      Re: Keep dreaming - rdewert 2007-01-04 10:59:46 (491 views)
      Mechanical skills help ... - Crusader 2007-01-02 09:36:59 (622 views)
      5 Liter V8 - tscales 2007-01-02 12:04:27 (648 views)
      The M5 :-) Mine is actually more reliable than my - Mattkins99 2007-01-02 12:22:27 (680 views)
      Re: The M5 :-) Mine is actually more reliable tha - tscales 2007-01-02 13:29:53 (574 views)
      Re: Keep dreaming - LGLM6 2007-01-02 00:48:30 (694 views)
      My average is 19.5 MPG - KeithS 2007-01-02 07:47:22 (692 views)
      Re: My average is 19.5 MPG - OKV8iT 2007-01-03 18:28:35 (650 views)
      Re: My average is 19.5 MPG - FJ540 2007-01-03 00:54:07 (547 views)