2003 BMW 5-Series

540i Sedan

4.4L 8 Cylinder Gasoline Fuel

Automatic

WBADN63453GN88958

Clear

Rear Wheel Drive

Gasoline

Power Windows

This car is my beautiful baby! I hate to sell it, but I need the cash to fund some home improvements. This is the incredible BMW 540i. The 2003 year was the last year of the E39 body style, when BMW had worked out all the kinks and created a true masterpiece of automotive engineering; of which this car is a fine example. Its black coat shines along with the bright aluminium wheels, and the Xenon headlights with the "angel eyes" parking lamps give it a fierce look that perfectly reflects the car's capabilities. On the inside, the gray leather is still supple and soft to the touch, not cracked, cut or torn. The wood trim still gleams, and the fit and finish is exceptional. The driver and passenger both have electronic seat controls and individually operable, 3-level seat heaters. The climate control system has dual-zone temperature settings, and one button to push for "Max A/C" on those hot summer days. Speaking of the A/C, it blows cold, which is a necessary feature here in Alabama. The rear-view mirror darkens automatically to filter out bright lights from traffic behind. The rear seat is roomy and comfortable, with a fold-down center armrest and reading lamps for both passengers. This car has never been smoked in during my ownership (from 2005), nor do I believe it was smoked in before. The trunk is cavernous for a car of this size. The battery is under the trunk floor, as there is no room for it in the engine bay. This makes accessing the battery clean & easy on the few occasions when it is needed. Under the mat rests a full-sized spare and jack, and a well-stocked toolkit hides in the lining of the upper side of the trunk door. The engine bay, which was designed to hold the V6 that powers the lesser 525 and 535 models, is stretched to capacity to hold the massive 4.5L V8 of the 540. The engine block dominates the bay and getting as much as they did squeezed in beside it was a marvel of modern industrial design. The engine will absolutely plant you in the back of your seat, while not showing any signs of strain or effort whatsoever. Be careful in this car! You could be doing 90 MPH as soon as you look down, it begs to be driven hard and fast. This car is equipped with the desirable Sport Package, which changes the steering wheel, exterior trim (black instead of chrome), interior headliner (black instead of gray), and certain settings for the engine and suspension to deliver a firmer, more sporty ride. However, the car's ride is never rough or uncivilized, but the road feel is excellent. Shortly, the car becomes almost an extension of your right and left hand. There are a few minor problems with the car, as you would expect on any used car. The following are all the problems that I am aware of as of today, January 27th: The driver's side window does not roll down completely, but only about an inch or so. I imagine this is a track problem that can be fixed quickly by any qualified mechanic or a moderately handy owner. There are some light scratches on the trunk lid from being a cat's favorite resting spot. I have attempted to show these in a picture, but the picture didn't turn out so well. They are impossible to notice unless you are looking right at them up close. The weatherstripping along the top edge of the windshield has aged and cracked. I have shown this with a picture. Two lines of the LEDs on the central console display have become non-functional (a failure common to these models). However, it is still easy to read the displayed information. The Roundels (the circular "BMW" logo) on the hood and on the trunk have lost some of their enamel due to age and frequent washing. These should be easy to replace. The passenger side front turn signal has a blown bulb. Most bulbs on the car are easy to access and change; however, the turn signals are beneath other components in the crowded engine bay, so I felt safest not taking things apart that I didn't know how to put back together. Again, this should be a cheap & easy fix for a shop mechanic or a reasonably handy owner. Those are all the problems of which I am aware. As you can see, they are fairly minor in relation to the awesomeness of the car itself. Don't miss this opportunity to own a high point of precision German automotive engineering! The only more powerful BMW that you will find is the ultra-rare M5. New cars of this type & style are approaching $100,000! Why spend that much when you can get almost the same performance for a fraction of the cost! Please take good care of my baby, I'll miss her.