I'm Planning To Buy A 2000 Or 2001 E39...

[bob in houston]

I'm looking at a 2000 E39 with 79,000 and a 2001 with 55,000 miles. Both look great and have the Triptronic (is that right?) transmission. Both are 528's. Is there anything I should watch out for, or be aware of before I make this purchase. I have a 1995 530 E34 with 170,000, WITH a Nikasil engine block...yes, it idles a bit rough but runs very well otherwise.

[Andryuha]

why tiptronic? Just go with a manual

[Eric S.]

Originally posted by bob in houston@Dec 25 2004, 12:29 PM
I'm looking at a 2000 E39 with 79,000 and a 2001 with 55,000 miles. Both look great and have the Triptronic (is that right?) transmission. Both are 528's. Is there anything I should watch out for, or be aware of before I make this purchase. I have a 1995 530 E34 with 170,000, WITH a Nikasil engine block...yes, it idles a bit rough but runs very well otherwise.

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The major point that steered me away from the auto-manual/SMG/tiptronic was the fact that it WEIGHS so frappin' much! You are incurring a nearly 100-pound weight penalty with the auto as compared to the pure manual. Compare the weight figures for the auto or auto-stick and the 5-speed manual and see for your self. Go with the clutch, especially in the 528, where you'll need all the power-to-weight ratio you can get... (just my opinion)

[CosmosBlack]

That would be steptronic for BMW's...
I would advise going for a manual in a 528...the car is already slightly under-powered, with an auto that would make it a big handicap.