BMW 535

[Jim27]

1997 R reg BMW 535 - 3.5l V8 auto with sports and tiptronic modes

This is simply the most comfortable motorway cruiser I’ve ever driven. The 3.5l V8 pulls effortlessly and makes a magnificent sound when prodded with the right foot I bought this purely for work use (commuting and driving to see clients) and love it to bits but can’t justify running a 3.5l V8 daily driver whilst also having the GT-R sat on the drive. So, sadly, I’m selling her and will get something a little more frugal for work (hey ho boring old Mr Sensible strikes again…).



As it’s the bigger engine 5 Series (E39) it has plenty of toys and clever bits ‘n’ pieces. Everything from the automatic windscreen wipers to parking sensors. The multifunction display will tell you your average MPG over a journey, miles left in the tank, journey duration, how long until you need to change your underpants, etc. etc. It has speed sensitive stereo volume – as you go faster and road noise (minimal anyway) increases it automatically increases the stereo volume to compensate. It’s also got dual zone air con, 6 disc CD changer, brake wear sensors and coolant, oil and brake fluid level sensors. Other nice touch is the quick-clear windscreen function on the aircon. One very clever bit of design is the latent heat storage. When you turn your engine off it stores the latent engine heat in an insulated storage unit so that when you come back to the car, say the next day, it can reintroduce the heat into the engine to get it up to operating temperature very, very quickly thus reducing engine wear and enabling you to heat your car and clear the windscreen very rapidly indeed. You can also use this if you have to park up and it’s cold – you turn the engine off and press the REST button and it will allow you to operate the heater for a good couple of hours without having to have the engine running. So if you’re waiting to pick someone up you can stay nice and toasty warm without using any fuel.

Full service history
84,000 miles
Dark metallic green with cream leather and wanut trim
Multifunction steering wheel
Automatic wipers
Parking sensors
Full toolkit, jack, wheel chock, spare wheel, original cream mats and spare black mats, owner’s manual.
Old BMW locking wheel bolts (for “locking” read “seizing”) replaced with brand new McGard locking bolts.
New brake pads and brake wear sensors fitted all round by me last weekend.
Dual zone digital aircon (so you can chill your feet whilst roasting your passenger alive)
Cruise control
Remote alarm/central locking
ABS
Traction control (yes, you can turn it off but why you’d want to is beyond me)
Electric front & rear windows (with driver-controlled child locks)
Electric sunroof (quite rare on the 5 series)
Rear doors have child locks
Adjustable centre armrest
Headlight washers
Driver, passenger and side airbags
Still got 3 of 5 green service indicators lit on the dashboard, so not going to need a service for some considerable time yet.

Recon engine fitted recently - only done a few thousand miles since fitting (basically just run in) and still has circa 18 months warranty on it. Old engine died due to cambelt pulley failure. Have got full documentation on the engine swap.
Yes, she’s got a few small light scratches and pings on her, but she IS 10 years old. Mechanically there’s absolutely no issues whatsoever. I’m sorely tempted to keep her and convert her to LPG (would cost around £1,500 for a top-of-the-range sequential LPG system, fitted) but I don’t have the spare cash at the mo so that’s pretty much that.

Strangely this is the first car that Beloved actually DOESN’T want me to get rid of – she loves it to bits as, unlike the GT-R and my Mini Cooper, she can happily read a book or just snooze in it when I’m driving us somewhere… It swallows just about every kind of road surface with consummate ease and wafts you from A to B comfortably and with no fuss.

I honestly don’t want to sell it. But there you go. I’m sure there’s loads I’ve missed off. I’ll take some more photos and add anything else I can think of later on. I’ve just got the one photo at the moment so if anyone wants anything in particular snapping just let me know

Price: £4,500
Tel. 07980 617227

[chris_s]

where you kept that hidden ive been past yours lots recently lol

nice moter m8 good ;luck with the sale

for anyone that doesnt know jim hes a top bloke and you should buy this car from him if your in the market for a bmw

[Jim27]

I'm guessing you've been past mine during the day? When it'll have been sat in works carpark?

[Jim27]

Just fitted new windscreen wipers.

^^^Shameless bump

[chris_s]

no at night m8 still i guess i wouldnt be looking for it it as you know im inlove with your gtr and i want it lol

[Jim27]

Needs to go Friday, otherwise it's going as PX against the new (sensible booooo) car. The dealer will give me peanuts for it so make me a good offer and you never know...

[Jim27]

Right - this is due to go in part-ex against my new motor. It was supposed to go today but my new car isn't ready yet so it'll be happening next Saturday instead.

Suffice to say that the dealer isn't offering anywhere near the real market value of £4,500 for the car.

So - if anyone wants to make me a *sensible* offer for it before Saturday 20th Oct (and be able to 'do the deal' before then), then you never know - they may just get an absolute frikkin bargain.

It's gotta go, one way or another. I'm pushed on time so can't sit back and wait for someone to pay the real price - if someone wanted to buy it and sell it on then I'm sure they could make a nice small profit on it. Alternatively someone could get a bargain luxury motor to smoke around in themselves.

07980 617227

Jim

[Jim27]

Price now reduced to £3,500.

[chris_s]

whys the vxr for sale now ??????????????? you miss the gtr dont you lol

[Jim27]

It's a VX220, not a VXR. I love it to bits but it's not practical for work (i.e. I can't get a client in it comfortably in order to pop out for lunch or a drink) so unfortunately it has to go for something with 4 seats. Seeing how I'll have the money from the VX I've decided to sell the 535 and get something else that's 4 seats but a little sporty as well. Dunno what yet though!

[Madden]

If only it was a diesel i would of snapped your fingers off

[Jim27]

Yeah I know, but to be honest there's not a MASSIVE difference in fuel costs between diesel and petrol unless most of your driving is just motorwy cruising, plus the petrol has all the goodies fitted when you get to the 535 size, whereas the 530D doesn't necessarily have it all. Plus the diesels are a good £2,000 more expensive, so you've gotta do a LOT of motorway cruising to make that extra cost back in mpg savings!!!

[Madden]

Yea I'm looking for the 530d se or sport. I agree on the price difference it's crazy.

What do you get out of it around town then?

I know the 3l d does around 35-40mpg

[Jim27]

Around town it's probably 18-19mpg. On the motorway it's closer to 30, so averages out mid 20s I guess.

[Madden]

Dame what do you call good Mpg then?

What you getting to replace it with then