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Contact Adrian

Adrian

Posting for 14+ years

BMW 5 SERIES 520I SE 4DR AUTOMATIC [E39] 1999 - Read Advert

Camberley, Surrey

£1,450

Posting for 14+ years

|
2 Ads in a year

Contact Adrian

Vehicle history

This vehicle has not been reported stolen, scrapped, exported or flagged as unroadworthy.

Our vehicle history check is provided for guidance only. Please check all the details with the seller before purchasing

Want a more accurate HPI report?

Buy the full report for guaranteed data accuracy, outstanding finance, valuation, milage check & VIN match for £9.99 (normally £19.99)

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Vehicle history

This vehicle has not been reported stolen, scrapped, exported or flagged as unroadworthy.

Our vehicle history check is provided for guidance only. Please check all the details with the seller before purchasing

Want a more accurate HPI report?

Buy the full report for guaranteed data accuracy, outstanding finance, valuation, milage check & VIN match for £9.99 (normally £19.99)

Buy report now

Vehicle information

Seller Type
Private
Posted
5 days ago

Description

BMW 520i SE 1999 - Priced to reflect the repair and lack of MOT. The car starts, and runs, everything works, however it doesn't drive properly due to a misfire which leaves it with inadequate power to drive properly and it needs a new MOT. At the last MOT all necessary repairs were made, and it had zero advisories. It has only done 321 miles since.

Mileage 102,781 MOT expired. I have made a walk around video which which included a cold start which I had to edit so it met ebays limits. I have this and a second one which shows me moving through the automatic gearbox seamlessly. These were made on Aug 5th 2026. I have got these video's on youtube, and I can message the links.

The first 8 still photo's were taken in 2023, and the rest were taken on August 5th 2026. The car did have a private plate on it A11 CXW, but this was removed. Those pictures are from 2023.

This is a 520i SE with the 6 cylinder M52 petrol engine with Automatic gearbox in Aspen silver.

Although the MOT is expired, the last MOT was without any advisories at 102,460 miles. I only used the car lightly after that. It drove beautifully. Alas, due to family ill health, I stopped driving it to focus on looking after my mother. I intended to keep it indefinitely, but I never renewed the Mot. Now I am selling the house where the car is kept, and I have 2 other 'hobby' cars aswell, so it has to go.

If you look at the MOT history this car has never failed on anything to worry about. It has always been very minor things, which I think is a very good indication it was well looked after. It has no rust whatsoever. The underneath shows almost no corrosion. There are no visible fluid leaks. These all impressed me when I bought it.

I bought this off an elderly gentleman who had owned the car since 2006.

I do have 3 other cars (4 in total) and so I just can not keep on top of this.

About mid 2023, although it had been driving nicely, and the gearbox is smooth, after leaving it standing, which is never a good idea, on restarting it had a misfire. I had this diagnosed as a position sensor. I replaced that, but it did not solve the problem. Unfortunately, I just have not had the time to get it seen to, and it can't go for an MOT until this issue is repaired. The car has only covered 321 miles since the last MOT, which was passed with no advisories. So it ought to pass easily.

The things I did when I first got the car were:

1. Changed all of the plugs
2. Had an oil service done
3. I had various work done totalling £462 to prepare it for the MOT.
4. I put two new tyres on the rear.
5. I put in a new battery.

Later I had the camshaft sensor changed using a BMW part costing £132

The reason I bought the car in the first place and was willing to spend money on it was because it was such a nice example. I always admired the Aspen Silver back in the day.

It starts very readily, as shown on my longer video.... but it is not really driveable as the power was inadequate to safely drive it for its Mot when it became due. The car has not been properly used since. I have regularly washed it and regularly started it over this time. I have a theory it may be a vacuum pipe but I just do not know. That is why it needs an enthusiast buyer with an OBD reader.

It can be reversed back and forth on the drive. I do have a video of this aswell.

My hands on work on cars ended with analogue cars like MG's and Triumphs. So I do not have the wherewithall to fix this, however, I am fairly confident that for the right person who has the technical know-how and an OBD device or access to someone who does, this car could fairly easily be back to the road. When this is done, it is an above average example, but not immaculate.

For me to have it towed to a garage, and then pay £150 per hour labour to someone else is just not viable. So it needs a grateful home with someone who can do car DIY. Then you will have a super E39. The car is all original. No tasteless modifications.

The car has a V5 in my name from 2021, two working keys with remotes, a partial service history, and the original BMW book.

No timewasters. It is what it is. I have described it as accurately as I can.

It owes me well over £2500, and I suspect if it were repaired and properly prepared it could be resold for at least that price. Maybe more based upon some of the prices being asked in other adverts and taking into account this is a lower mileage than most of them... but as it is......., These cars are now appreciating, as any E39 fan will know.

I will accept £1,450 or an intelligent offer. I will not take a lowball offer until I have tried the response out. No Time wasters or tyre kickers. I have heard it all before.

This will probably need to be taken away on a trailer. However, if you know what the problem is, we can discuss you repairing it on my drive, and then drive off in it....

Either message me through Ebay, call or send a text. The phone is my secondary phone so it does not get answered immediately.

Ad ID: 1801672871

Exact specification may vary from the details on this page. Please contact the seller to reconfirm any details before purchasing. See Terms & Conditions for further information.

Overview

Performance

Running Costs

Interior

Exterior

  • Year
    1999
  • Mileage
    102,781 miles
  • Body Type
    Saloon
  • Colour
    Silver
  • Seats
    5
  • Doors
    4
  • Luggage Capacity (seats Up)
    460 litres
Motors