1999 BMW 528i H5 Hartge

First registered in April 1999, this rare 3 owner Hartge H5 E39 has been driven just over 56,500 miles. Unusually for a Hartge BMW, the engine in this E39 5-series is the original one. Initially, the car was being converted to full Hartge H5 spec from new by Birds Garage which included fitting a 5.0-litre V8. However, the first owner pulled out and the 2.8i motor was put back in and given the Hartge treatment to deliver around 230bhp. In January 2001, the car was finally bought from Birds and began its operational life.

Not too much is known about the car’s ownership but it is understood that the first owner kept the car long term. Both he and his son were fans of highly-tuned German metal; also owning a Carlsson Mercedes.

Engine aside, the Hartge H5 spec applied to this car includes:

Hartge suspension

Hartge Aero (front and rear bumpers)

Hartge staggered 19 inch alloys

Hartge Sports Exhaust

Hartge reprogrammed ECU

Hartge Sports cam-cover

Birds Switch-Logic gearbox with manual shift

Hartge badges and side graphic

The vendor is a dealer of performance cars, including many BMWs, and when they received the car it needed quite a bit of work. They have serviced the car and carried out a number of minor restoration jobs in readiness for sale - more detail of which can be found within the description and in the History Highlights section below.

This actual car was subject to a YouTube feature back in March which can be viewed by copying and pasting the URL below:

https://youtu.be/OUa05YJhF_E

Externally, even the uninitiated will realise that this isn’t a regular E39 5-series. The Hartge badges and “love them or hate them” decal stripes aside, the stance on this H5 is what makes it appear so different from BMW’s original. The front valance and deep chin spoiler start the more aggressive look which is continued down the sides with fatter wheels and side skirting. On this particular car, the rear wheels have quite a noticeable negative camber, presumably to improve grip on cornering as well as to contribute to “the look”.

Largely presenting in great condition, the Oxford Green paintwork is very strong and the front bumper is free from stone chips, the place where most performance cars suffer. Although most of the unavoidable parking dents and dings have been addressed, there are a few minor marks around the car, for example a small scratch in the plastic on the outermost tip of the nearside door mirror (as can be seen in the photos). The Xenon headlamp lenses are clear and there are no signs of anything of concern on the exterior trims or glasswork.

The 19-inch Hartge 11-spoke alloy wheels have just been refurbished and so look in great condition. All are fitted with new Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres which appear to have plenty of tread depth. The Hartge-badge centre caps also present well.

The sand and beige interior is very clean and tidy throughout and the soft leather on the heated front sports seats and across the rear looks in good order with no scuffs or tears. The steering wheel is a BMW M-sport leather multi-function wheel and looks in good condition.

The vendor reports that the sunroof operation is rather slow and that the air conditioning isn’t as cold as it should be but all other interior controls such as radio, door mirrors and windows are understood to be working correctly.

Wood veneer trims (possibly birds-eye maple) across the doors, dash and centre console look in good order with no cracking. The plastic handle on the centre armrest lid has lost some of its lacquer but this could be dealt with relatively easily. The carpets - vulnerable due to their light colour - present in a very good condition and are protected further by new floor mats. The sill kick plates are recent replacements so are in excellent order. Unusually, the seatbelt straps are in a beige colour and consequently blend in really well with the seats and other interior trim to give a more luxurious look. The headlining and pillar trims appear clean and intact although the rear parcel shelf covering is looking a little baggy.

For such a big car it is always surprising to see that rear legroom isn’t that generous in the E39, presumably a lot of the space got designed into the huge boot. However, there’s still plenty of room to transport a family or group of friends in comfort.

If the engine bay looks rather full with the original 2.8-litre straight-six fitted, imagine what it must have been like when it had a 5.0-litre V8 plugged in. All looks clean and in good order with only the tiniest bit of surface rust around one of the bonnet catch holes and a small patch of bubbling where the windscreen wash-bottle is attached to the suspension strut tower.

The undersides of the car appear solid and well-protected by underseal and trays where appropriate. Whilst the last MOT from October 2019 gives an advisory that there is “general underbody corrosion from lack of use”, this was evidently not serious enough to be classed as a defect and the vendor has done a lot of work to the car since.

If you are at all worried by the state of the underneath or would like a closer look at any area of the car, why not use the ‘Contact Seller’ option to arrange a one-to-one video call with the vendor where you can discuss the car’s condition and direct him real time to anything of concern.

Inside the rather capacious boot, all is in good order. Under the carpet is a 16-inch spare wheel fitted with good rubber, along with the jack. In a flip-down compartment on the underside of the boot lid, you’ll find a small toolset with wheel brace, spanners, grips and a warning triangle. Under the cubby to the right behind the lining is the battery and fuse box and on the opposite side is the Alpine CD multi-changer unit.

Aside from the owner’s manuals, a few invoices and MOT reports there isn’t a great deal of documentation with this car. A copy of BMW Driver magazine featuring the Hartge H5 demo car is included - it was this that apparently inspired the first owner to buy one. The service book shows a pre-delivery inspection stamp from Cuntz Speyer in Germany before its arrival in the UK. Of the other seven service stamps, the first three are from Birds, three at independent specialists and the last by the dealer vendor.

To prepare the car for sale and restore some of the glamour to this Hartge, the vendor has carried out a number of small jobs in addition to the routine service and the items mentioned elsewhere in this description. The most significant of these jobs included:

new discs and pads all round

lower front ball joints

camshaft and crankshaft sensors

gearbox service

radiator cowl

new windscreen

The online MOT history confirms the low mileage and the car comes with an MOT valid until October 2020, an HPi certificate and two new keys and transponders.

If you’re looking for a BMW E39 5-series - and if you’re not you probably should consider one - but would like one that stands out a bit from the crowd, then this Hartge offers something a bit special. Not an outright street-racing weapon like the M5, the Hartge is more of a comfortable but performant GT cruiser especially with the less nimble auto box. However, you can be almost guaranteed never to find yourself parked up alongside another one.

It is very difficult to give an accurate value to such a car given there are few, if any, like it in the UK but when compared to other performance-tuned BMW Fives we think it’s reasonable to suggest that this gorgeous, low mileage example will fetch between £8,500 and £12,000. With the reserve typically lower than that, you could easily bag a bargain here and find yourself the owner of something truly unmatched.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor just off the M20/M26 junction near Sevenoaks, Kent; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ near Abingdon, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Also, localised paint repairs are common with collectable and classic cars and if they have been professionally carried out then they may be impossible to detect, even if we see the car in person. So, unless we state otherwise, please assume that this vehicle may have had remedial bodywork at some point in its life.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.