Slammin Gears: 1999 BMW 528iT Wagon E39


We posted a nice E39 the other day that had two things wrong with it — first it wasn’t a wagon, and second it had two too many cylinders. I know the 4.4-liter V8 (why didn’t they call it a 544i…eh?) in the 540i is a sweet piece of machinery, but it isn’t an inline-6, and BMW is known primarily for its supremacy with the inline-6. Smooth, fuel efficient, and long is an inline-6 and BMW has made some of the best ever produced. So if you are going to step back into a 90s BMW, why not make it a wagon (that is grounded to the ground low) that is manual gearbox and inline-6 equipped, because BMW didn’t make a manual V8 wagon for the USA market. Find this 1999 BMW 528iT Wagon E39 offered for $11,995 in Los Gatos, CA via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

From the seller:
1999 bmw 528it
condition: like new
cylinders: 6 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 181818
paint color: black
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: wagon
1999 BMW 528i Touring/Manual w/ AirRide SuspensionHighlights:
Take an excellent ride with Manual transmission, add new wheels, exhaust, LSD, and airRide suspension, you get this legendary E39 Touring. You can continue this legacy with this rare find.Solid engine, N52TU. If I told you it has 15000 miles on it, you would believe it. It is that smooth. 2.8 liter TU has double vanos vs earlier models (intake vanos only) and it is larger than later models (wagon gets 2.5 liter only).
Car starts no matter in what cond. odo shows 182k. engine actually has 150k miles

Bullet proof 5sp manual transmission with short shifter kit. Oil recently changed to redline DT4 ATF. Clutch is strong and smooth, very easy to operate.
Use it daily or show it at “cars and coffee”. No matter it is 2 miles, 20, 200 or 2000 mile drive, it is always happy and ready to go.
Upgrades:
LSD
Brand new Quaife limited slip differential (Torsen)
3 oil changes at 0, 100, and 1000 mi, with Redline 75W90
Headlights
2001+ headlights with self-levelling, Zenon HID and constant-on LED angel eyes
restored lenses and repaired adjusters.
ABS Module
Updated ABS module with “trifecta” fixed, resulting in no dash lights

Suspension
Complete Air-ride upgrade (slam’em to the ground).
Adjustable heights on all four corners, front shock has camber plate.
5 preset level for flexibility on-the-fly adjustment (including one setting to “slam” to ground when parked)
AirRide front air Spring over shocks with camber plates; 16-click damper adjustments
OEM rear air springs for ride comfort. Originally, I put in Universal RE-5 springs but swapped them out for OEM. Still have the Universal RE-5 springs and installation fixtures I can include
Koni yellow rear adjustable shocks
Air tank doubles as tire inflator. No need to carry spare
Sway Bars
Eibach red Sway bars (front and back)
Wheels and Tires
Federal ss595 225/35r18’s
Rotiform RSE 18×9.5
Exhaust
Factory headers mated custom with all straight pipe exhaust except one resonator, finished with blue burnt tip (looks and sounds great)
Factory exhaust also included, if you need.
Bluetooth
retrofit for your phone and music play. Yes you can answer your phone using the car audio. One hidden Switch to select between Bluetooth and CD changer
added built-in iPhone charging cable
Paint

full ceramic coating
Maintenance:
Brake
new brake booster
new brake fluid and clutch fluid
new brake hoses
new brake rotors
new low dust brake pads
All fluids BMW
engine oil: Castro 0W40
coolent: bmw blue coolant
steering fluid: CHF-11, green
brake/clutch: bmw dot4, yellow
Interior
Update interior with gold trim. Very clean.
All window regulators work
All power seat buttons and memory work
All windows lightly tinted. Rear windows have factory pullout shades.
Steering wheel auto-rise works
Cigarette lighter, ash-tray work
Cup holders work!
Mirror auto-dimming works
Mirror auto-dipping (pass side when in reverse) works
Mirror has no oxidation
MID pixilation fixed
Remote one-button-push lock/unlock all doors
All door locks when reaching 5mph speed
…
Windshield Wash system
Re-piped the system and replaced motors for
regular windshield washer
high intensity waster
headlight washer
rear window washer and whipper overhauled
Tailgate
New rear hatch shocks installed. tailgate no longer droops.
New alignment done, car drives straight with good handling.
Loves long distance driving
Recently took it for a 2000 mi journey from CO through WY, ID, NV, to CA. no issues. You can drive back to whatever your destination is, no problem.
check the photos and a short video clip: https://youtu.be/dhQV7wHrleQ

See a better way to drive a wagon? tips@dailyturismo.com
How much to unslam?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t the cost to unslam be “a puff of air”?
I have no idea. How do these systems ride when puffed up? My friend had a W124 MB wagon that had the overly complicated and at the time broken rear suspension. It would never stop bouncing. Borrowed it for an errand one day. Made me seasick. Would it be like that?
It’s supposed to effect the damping, just ride height… apparently.
Sorry… it’s *NOT* supposed to effect the damping, just ride height… apparently.
Exactly…