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 Suspension

Highlights:
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