Time for a new car, 540 Wagon content

So I had purchased a 2003 4Runner to be my new daily driver. I fixed a couple things, changed the timing belt etc... I was about to register it when my buddy calls me on the phone. "Hey I am getting a trade I think you would like" What is it I ask...

Well long story short here is the trade / my new daily.

Needs a good cleaning, but the last owner had it for 5 years, and had it serviced regularly at a local BMW independent mechanic with a great reputation. Matching bridgestones on 19 Inch BBS wheels. Its had the chain tensioners replaced, Cold A/C etc...

I am pretty excited. I will do a little build thread documenting it as I start playing with the car.

That.
Is.
Awesome.

RWD V8 BMW wagon...very nice!

Wow! Love the e39 wagons. And that looks amazing on the BBS LMs!

BBS LM's have always been my favorite aftermarket wheels. Thats what sealed the deal for me.

I was thinking about briefly throwing them on the Chevelle just for the heck of it

And then would the BMW be wearing Camaro steels rims.
Could be interesting!

Cool purchase!

They are nice driving cars. Kinda wish they made the wagons with a six speed like they do with the sedans.

What is the longest you have ever owned a DD?

Been half looking for a BMW wagon myself. Leaning towards the I6 cars though. What's that V8 get for gas mileage?

Not sure yet, i will let you know.

Very sexy! I've always loved the e39 and e46 wagons, perfect cars to dd.

1988RedT2 wrote: Been half looking for a BMW wagon myself. Leaning towards the I6 cars though. What's that V8 get for gas mileage?

With the six speed I got a combined 19mpg. Probably close to 26-27 highway. Not sure about the auto. Sixth gear was tall.

That color LM looks really good with a red BBS decal, IMO.

In reply to Andy Neuman:

Not sure that is a good question. I had the last 4 runner for 5 months. I have had the Chevelle for a year and a half. My wife's Yukon for three years. I have had my SE-R for 9 years.

That's a sweet wagon.

What happened to the 4Runner?

On Craigslist...

https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/ctd/5600053088.html

Did you plasti-dip the trim and cladding on the 4runner, or did you buy it that way.

Well done!!

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

It was like that when I bought it. The wheels are plasti dipped. The siding is the black trim paint that the auto parts stores sell.

Wow, I gotta say, the E39 was a pinnacle of big-car design.

Duke wrote: Wow, I gotta say, the E39 was a pinnacle of big-car design.

I dunno, I like the wagons, but the E39 is a bit too "honda" for me, which is why I prefer the E38.

Op, nice score! My buddy has an LS 427 powered one that is just a killer ride:

That is awesome. Both of them.

Chris_V wrote:

Duke wrote: Wow, I gotta say, the E39 was a pinnacle of big-car design.

I dunno, I like the wagons, but the E39 is a bit too "honda" for me, which is why I prefer the E38. Op, nice score! My buddy has an LS 427 powered one that is just a killer ride:

I followed his build of that car. He has amazing fab skills, rivaled only by his killer photography skills!

The only thing I had a problem with on mine that wasn't cheap or easy to fix was the cats blowing up. Everything else you can DIY pretty easily assuming it's not a daily driver and can allocate a few days to certain things like valve cover gaskets, cooling system repairs, valley pan gasket etc.

At the time I had mine in the early 2000s there wasn't a good catalyst that would last longer than the stock ones and the stock ones ran $1200+ per side because it was a one piece thing from the header back. My cats both gave out before 90k miles.

Awesome!