This is tempting me. Tell me why I don't want it.
The add says:
2000 540i 6 Speed Manual trans
M Sport Package
4.4L v8 300HP (Monster)
Complete new cooling system
M5 suspension, steering wheel, brakes, and upgrades taillights.
126,000 miles very low for this car.
Is it a M?
My coworker picked up one of these a few years ago, also an M-Sport. Was a nice ride for the price. Not an M5, those had 400HP in '00.
Yup, not an M.
Do it.
Just a plain ol' 540i.
Get the VIN or at least the last seven of it and hit up BMWVin.com to see what all packages actually came on it.
I asked about those here once and was told they were pretty bad, so I didn't buy one.
I don't think the regular V8 has all the VANOS and associated problems of the M motor.
Either way, Toyman can handle all his own work. This was the era of still basically cooling systems, window regulators, etc. Typical BMW stuff.
And they are still plenty quick for DD use.
Because you live in SC and almost everyone has one here. 
We had seven or eight good years with our E39 until a cooling system failure lead to a seized engine. Annoyances along the way included leaky sunroof, brittle interior pieces, window regulator failures, and a few electrical gremlins.
The regular V8 has VANOS problems like the M motor, but fewer of them because it has fewer VANOSes. The engine in this car is 282 hp.
I've driven the 540i Sport 6-speed, the 540i Sport with all the M option boxes short of being an M5 and the M5. The 540i Sport didn't do much for me - pleasant enough, but not special. The M5 has a buzz to it, a feeling that the engineers were let off the leash. The M-equipped 540i is in the middle. The suspension feels good and it's a better steer than the normal 540i. I liked it, but I like the M5 more 
The E39 is a really nicely sized car. Big enough for adults but not enormous. I parked beside a new Civic Type R the other day and I swear the Civic was larger.
When did they stop eating cylinder bores in the V8? Earlier, I think.
the 540i was basically my dream car when I was a mid teen. It seemed to destroy everything else in every car magazine.
Streetwiseguy said:When did they stop eating cylinder bores in the V8? Earlier, I think.
Yeah, that was earlier. Fixed some time in the mid 90s IIRC. Plus, any that have made it to decent mileage without issue at this point aren't going to run into Nikasil issues or already had the issue and a new engine. It's the very low mileage cars from those years that are the concern.
If 3/4 race cams exist, do 3/4 M5s?
Y'all aren't helping here. The OP was tell me why I don't want it.
I just know buying this will end up with more heart ache caused by a voluptuous German girl.
Edited because I forgot an E.
In reply to Toyman01 :
Named Heidi
Streetwiseguy said:When did they stop eating cylinder bores in the V8? Earlier, I think.
M60 engines from approx. 1993 to 1996 used Nikasil liners.
Toyman01 said:Y'all aren't helping here. The OP was tell me why I don't want it.
I just know buying this will end up with more heart ach caused by a voluptuous German girl.
Sure, but those ten minutes of joy are awfully good
Neglected 540s are the poster children for cars that make people swear off BMW.
I'd say get a PPI. Easy to get way upside down, but also easy to keep it going if you start with a good baseline car.
I'll help. My dad had one of these and it was typical BMW, and between he and I, we have owned two E36s, one E30, and one E24.
Issues: Water cooled alternator broke, some belt broke, I believe it was the accessory, Rear main seal was leaking, I think it needed a cooling system, there was some other annoying little things like doors that rattled, shifter that pulled off in your hand, and such. This was from 82k to 110k. He sold it for around 7k a few years ago. His sentiment was good riddance to BMW and bought a new Mazda 3. Never looked back.
Overall, the V8 has a lot of torque (324 lb ft), enough to be very fun. I chased an old 911 Turbo on a back road and the 540i held its ground. But the power steering seemed to stop working during hard driving, and the brakes were literally smoking afterward. The steering rack is not rack and pinion, but recirculating ball so it's not as precise as an E36, but not bad.
Overall, it's a nice car, but it's a "relationship" car, and you will have to put time, money, and effort to make it work, like all relationships.
SO the gist is, unless it is significantly cheaper than an E46 330i, you’re looking at the wrong BMW.
In reply to Dudewheresmycar :
You're not helping...
Get yourself to a meeting now, and call your sponsor on the way. The 540 isn't inherently bad, but you're backsliding . . . .
You want the 530 version of that car if you want to have a long trouble free existence.
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker :
Huckleberry, where've you been?
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