E39 540is based on 100,000kms of driving.
Pros
Manual
V8 sound.
V8 torque
Easy to work on
Add a few M5 bits and they are as agile as a E39 M5
Awesome fun car to drive
Awesome cruising car
Comfortable
Reliable (except for the fuel pump failure)
Cons
None when the required maintenace is done
Some have mentioned the low beams, pre fl were excellent, fl were almost as good when the lenses are polished and the reflectors are good, Hids are better.
I've got a couple of dim pixels but all work
Parts replaced due to failure over the last 100,000km
Fuel pump
One rear suspension arm
Window regulator
Radiator before I bought it
overflow bottle just after I bought it...........should've been replaced when the rad was done.
Parts replaced due to maint & normal wear
oil
filters
Brakes (once @ 130km approx) still look excellent at 200,000km
Preventative maint at 198000km
all suspension arms bushes, subframe bushes, shocks complete with top mounts and spring seat etc, steering joints, swaybar link, swaybar bushes