2002 BMW 540i Sport (E39 Series)

Highlights

  • Immaculate low-mileage top-of-the-range late-model import from Japan
  • Near-spotless condition inside and out
  • One private owner since import (importer GMS Cars being first UK owner) in June 2018
  • Impressive, far-reaching and documented rejuvenation and refurbishment project
  • New Goodyear Vector 235/45 R17 all-season tyres

The Appeal

Discretion is a virtue, they say – and with this particular car, it’s being very, very virtuous indeed. Outside, unless you know your tailpipes, there is no evidence that this is (M5 excepted) the top model E39, a genuine 4.4 litre 282 bhp 540i – let alone a MSport model. 

No badges – so, on the autobahn, you’ll only know it when the driver passing you kicks down at 90mph (no less) to smoothly accelerate towards 120 and more while you watch the silver bullet disappear in to the middle distance. Without the expense and fettling that M5 requires, this is the ultimate mid-sized long-distance kilometer-kruncher/mile-muncher.
You’d never guess it’s 20 years old, and at 57,303 miles it neither feels nor looks it – inside and out. Stepping inside doesn’t feel like a timewarp either – the glistening brushed aluminium fascia, the firm leather seats, the very classy and sensible switchgear – it’s still a businessperson’s perfect modern express. Owning this understated, elegant car is an expression of your own discretion.
This one has to be the best E39 540i in the country right now. Why? Very simple; the vendor is well-known in BMW afficionado circles – especially for E39s - as someone who does everything 110%, knows no compromise, cuts no corners, takes positive pleasure in perfection. Having turned their attention yet again to the model widely regarded in these circles as the bees’ knees, it was always going to be good. And believe us, this one is so very good .. read on and admire ..

The History and Paperwork

  • V5C present and correct
  • MoT to 11 August 2023, no advisories
  • No history from the car’s first home in Japan, but a mass of paperwork documenting a comprehensive rejuvenation and refurbishment project over the last 6 months
  • Incredible near-professional attention to detail by a perfectionist and knowledgeable vendor
  • Just over 1000 miles covered since import and project completion
  • Two keys

The Interior

  • OEM Mtec II Sport interior, including new Anthracite velour floor overmats
  • Virtually unmarked condition throughout; no scratches or tears to seat leathers, which have received an intensive steam deep-cleaning and conditioning session
  • Heated front seats with memory settings
  • Rear seats look as though hardly used – front seats firm, full electric control
  • Parcel shelf formerly had the (unreliable) blind fitted – replaced with an OEM standard parcel shelf: original, plus the switch pack, will come with the car
  • Black base carpets in top condition, with new boot liner
  • Full-size Dunlop-shod spare wheel in boot
  • Headlining shows a small sag above the driver’s seat – see photographs
  • Electric steering wheel adjustment
  • OEM M Sport steering wheel with radio and phone controls
  • OEM M Sport sill plates
  • Instrument cluster professionally converted from kph to mph
  • Climate control and all electronics function perfectly

The Exterior

  • OEM Mtec II Sport exterior
  • Absolutely fabulous unmarked Titan Silver paintwork and extremely clean underbody  
  • No rust, anywhere
  • Xenon headlights
  • Powerfold exterior mirrors, chromatic, heated, dimming
  • Unmarked freshly refurbished BMW Style 66 17” alloys in OEM BMW silver, shod with new Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen 3 235/45 R17 allweathers
  • The wheels are on 15mm hubcentric spacers with an 82mm stud conversion, which has the wheels sitting much better  – see the photographs
  • New Steelmate rear Park Direction Control fitted (sounder in rear armrest cubby)
  • Headlamp washers
  • Washer bottle pumps and piping replaced
  • Manual key access, but central locking works as it should
  • All four door handles resprayed to correct the lacquer peeling
  • Exhaust back box delete done, to release some (not too much) of that lovely V8 burble. The OEM back box will come with the car, should buyer wish to refit.
  • Japan-spec BMWs don’t have car alarms fitted, but they do have the factory-fitted immobiliser – which satisfies UK insurance requirements 

The Mechanics

  • BMW modified the M62TU 4.4 litre 282 bhp V8 in 1998 to improve torque to 440 nm using single-VANOS variable valve timing
  • Top-end rocker gaskets and spark-plug gaskets replaced: full 5W30 oil & Mann filter change 
  • ZF 5HP24 (A5S440Z) 5-speed auto box fully serviced, with new ZF selector shift
  • Full braking system replaced – discs, pads, lines, fluid – with ATE Powerdiscs and ATE ceramic pads, TRW brake lines and Motul DOT5.1 fluid, including new HEL small brake lines by the ABS pump
  • Full cooling system overhaul (new thermostat, water pump, all hoses, coolant, sensors), except the 2017 Behr radiator which was in good condition already
  • Full replacement of the suspension system (arms, bushes, drop links, track rod ends, subframe bushes etc.) using top quality parts such as Lemforder, TRW and Febi
  • Rear anti-roll bar replaced with an M5-spec (thicker) part, with new Powerflex bushes, with new Powerflex bushes also for the front anti-roll bar
  • All four shockers replaced, with new OEM Sachs Sport shocks, Eibach Pro-kit springs, Febi top mounts & bearings, and some as-new spring pads and dust boots/bump stops from a low-mileage M5
  • Propshaft donut (the “guibo”) replaced

Summary

Sporting prowess and long-haul comfort, it's no surprise to see the market starting to recognise this top-end BMW saloon as a classic today. This particular example exudes class and discretion: with no badging, it’s only the fat single rear pipe which tells BMW aficionados that this is not a run-of-the-mill 520i. 

However, it’s very far from being a run-of-the-mill 540i either. It’s in quite exceptional condition: the amazing recent recommissioning and refurbishment conducted to exacting standards has literally granted this car a full new lease of life. You see a lot of very tired E39s about, but this one is even a lot fresher than many E60 successor models on today’s roads. With the low mileage, evidence of real care from a very savvy devoted BMW owner, and that wonderful 4.4 V8, it also represents astonishing value, as an investment, for what it is and what it does. It’s a stealthy healthy silver streak that not only really flies, but flies well under the radar. Don’t let it escape yours! 

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.

All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Consulta le nostre FAQ qui e i nostri Termini e condizioni qui

Domande frequenti sulle aste
Specifiche del veicolo
  • Anno 2002
  • Marca BMW
  • Modello E39 540i Sport
  • Colore Silver
  • Chilometraggio 57,303 Miglia
  • Cilindrata 4398
Dettagli d'asta
  • Tipo di venditore Privato
  • Città Walton-le-Dale
  • Posizione Lancashire
  • Paese Regno Unito
Storico delle offerte
30 offerte
  • we•••• £9,600 09/12/22
  • an•••• £9,500 09/12/22
  • we•••• £9,400 09/12/22
  • co•••• £9,300 09/12/22
  • we•••• £9,200 09/12/22
  • co•••• £9,000 09/12/22
  • we•••• £8,800 09/12/22
  • an•••• £8,700 09/12/22
  • we•••• £8,500 09/12/22
  • co•••• £8,400 09/12/22
Invia messaggio a team Aste di C&C

La galleria

Il modo più sicuro per acquistare un'auto d'epoca online

Il sistema di pagamento sicuro di Car & Classic protegge acquirenti e venditori. Al termine dell'asta, l'offerente vincente trasferisce il pagamento su un conto vincolato di terzi. Una volta completato il trasferimento del veicolo, entrambe le parti confermano di essere soddisfatte della vendita e il denaro viene rilasciato al venditore. Maggiori informazioni su come acquistare con noi
Processo di pagamento sicuro e protetto

Come funzionano le offerte massime

Il processo di offerta massima ti permette di fare offerte senza preoccupazioni.

Inserisci la tua offerta massima e il sistema farà offerte automaticamente per assicurarsi che tu sia il miglior offerente - fino all'ammontare da te stabilito come tetto massimo.

Anti-sniping

Car & Classic contrasta il fenomeno dello “sniping”, ovvero il fenomeno dei rilanci all'ultimo secondo per vincere l'asta.

Se viene fatta un'offerta nei 3 minuti prima della chiusura dell'asta, la scadenza di questa viene automaticamente estesa di 2 minuti per permettere agli altri offerenti di reagire e, se lo desiderano, di rilanciare.

Incrementi di offerta automatica

  • Se la sua offerta massima è uguale o inferiore al prezzo di riserva, la sua offerta massima sarà applicata per intero se lei è il miglior offerente.
  • Se siete il miglior offerente e fate un'offerta massima superiore a quella di riserva, la riserva verrà automaticamente inserita come prima offerta.
    • Una volta raggiunta la riserva, Car & Classic si assicurerà che tu sia il miglior offerente utilizzando solo gli incrementi di offerta indicati di seguito.
    • Vi terremo in testa fino alla vostra offerta massima O all'incremento più vicino alla vostra offerta massima, a condizione che la vostra offerta massima sia sufficiente a coprire il valore dell'incremento.

Ammontare dell'offerta Incremento
Da £0 a £9,999 £100.00
Da £10,000 a £49,999 £250.00
Da £50,000 a £99,999 £500.00
£100,000 + £1,000.00

Superamento immediato dell'offerta

Quando piazzi un'offerta massima e questa viene immediatamente superata, questo significa che un altro offerente ha impostato una soglia di offerta massima superiore alla tua.

Puoi fare nuovamente un'offerta o impostare una soglia più alta di offerta massima e il nostro sistema rilancerà fino alla nuova soglia, cercando di portarti a essere il miglior offerente.

Offerte massime di pari ammontare

Quando ci sono due offerte massime di pari ammontare, quella impostata per prima è quella che viene considerata “migliore offerta”.

Pre-autorizzazione

Potremmo trattenere un piccolo importo di pre-autorizzazione sulla tua carta fino alla fine dell'asta, quando quest'ultimo verrà poi stornato. Se vinci, verrà prelevata una caparra che verrà detratta dal pagamento del prezzo di vendita per il veicolo e non comporta costi aggiuntivi per te.

Cosa sono le Offerte pre-asta?

Offerte pre-asta significa che avete la possibilità di fare offerte prima dell'inizio ufficiale dell'asta.
Verrà comunicato se si è il miglior offerente o meno all'inizio dell'asta.

Problema con l'offerta

Le offerte sono contrattualmente vincolanti. Per tutelare l'utente, sono previste alcune regole nel caso in cui si ritenga che sia stato digitato in modo errato. Si prega di controllare e modificare quanto inserito.