I'm thinking of getting a 540, probably a Touring. What sort of things should I look out for? I've seen mention of pre- and post-facelift models, piston ring modifications re excessive oil burning. Obviously the earlier cars are cheaper. I will probably go for an automatic. Are they always Steptronic or was there a conventional autobox offered?
I've had trouble getting accurate specs from the web. The handbook for my E34 lists the weights, top speeds, claimed mpg and 0-60 acceleration for all the models. Would an E39 owner mind posting these details if the book has them? In particular I'm interested in the weight of the Touring compared to the saloon, and the performance penalty.
In case international models vary, I would be getting a UK spec car because that's where I live.
By the way, I was looking at M5s and, although they are not too expensive, they're twice a 540 in price and more than twice as much to ensure, so the
540 looks much more practical.