90s BMW Question Please

[Split_Pin]

Hey chaps,

I'm interested in an E39 523i Auto that's on the beige just now. A fair few folk have owned it now from there I think.

The rear of the sills are rusty which doesn't bother me as thats a straightforward repair but it's got an issue with the gearbox that I'm looking for opinions on. I joined the E39 FB groups and whilst they seemed very helpful, I got a plethora of opinions.

The box holds onto a lower gear too long after climing a hill. Putting it into manual mode and back seems to sort it. Changes gears fine at all other times.

Some have said it just needs a box service, some have said it's a cam sensor and both the seller and I think it could be a sensor somewhere. (I know my 75 holds into lower gears when going up a hill but changes up as soon as its on the flat).

I'm not going to lie, I am very interested in it as its a really nice car, unmolested, lots of history and has heated electric velour seats. However I don't want something that's going to shit its gearbox completely in 1000 miles.

I know a few on here know their BMWs so any thoughts appreciated.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Rotten rear sills are not a straightforward repair. It's exhaust, prop and tank out as the rear inner sills will be fucked as well.

Depends what year the car is on the 'box fault, could be a ZF 5HP18 or a 19.

It's not 'just a box service m8'. It could be a cam senor, could be a valve body issue or something in the ABS system is spooking it.

It's a £500 car either way with those issues. It's not a classic and a 523i SE is worth fuck all to break.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

It's not that fucking brown thing is it?

[SiC]

Someone is in a foul mood this evening

[Warren t claim]

https://autoshite.com/topic/13656-bmw-a ... ent-421171

[Split_Pin]

Thanks chaps I'm steering well clear of it. R203JPK for anyone that's interested.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Good idea. It'd be alright for a couple of hundred quid but there will be so much wrong with it. For £200 you can chop off and weigh in the converters, any fuel, battery etc and weigh it in if it's borked. It could be so many things - oil level, gearbox or ABS ECU's, the selector switch, fuck knows.

A 528i has a value for the single vanos 2.8 engine but a 523i, not really.

I've got 200 quid for it.