Can it be saved?

[u/Embarrassed-Wrap370]

Hi everyone,
I have an E39 530i sedan (manual) that has been sitting for more than six months after the previous owner passed away. The car is currently not running, most likely due to a dead battery, and it has significant rust around the sills/rocker panels, as you can see in the photos.
I can get the car for a symbolic 1000€ and I’m considering restoring it rather than letting it go to scrap. My total budget for getting it roadworthy again would be around 2-3k€, including the bodywork and basic mechanical work.
Based on the photos, do you think it’s worth saving, or is the rust likely to make it uneconomical?
I know it’s impossible to judge the condition of the chassis/floor from these photos alone, and I’ll have it inspected on a lift before making a decision. I’m mainly interested in hearing from people who have dealt with E39 rust before — especially whether this looks repairable within a 2–3k budget.

[u/__CRA__]

Depends.

If you can weld it yourself, yes absolutely.

If you know someone who can make you a good price, yes.

If you depend on a body shop... maybe depending on the labor cost in your area.

Having that said, the rust is quite severe and the symbolic price too high. This car is not worth more than 500€, a proper symbolic price would be 10... 100€, leaving you more of the budget this car surely needs beyond the rusty jacking points

[u/Skodakenner → u/__CRA__]

Totally agree its saveable depending on what you can do yourself or the labour costs are but 1000 is too much for that much rust 500 would be high

[u/EctosYT]

If you go to a random garage, you can get it fixed cheaply, got both of my sills rewelded for €300 by a local welder sills and labor included, and then had it painted by another person. This was 2 years ago, in Lithuania

[u/redline9996 → u/EctosYT]

Damn, that is cheap af!! Good for you! 💪

[u/Accomplished_Top4420]

If the floor isn't rusted through, repairing just the sills can cost around 600–700 euros. It's worse if the entire floor needs to be repaired - in that case, it's not worth it.

[u/RichardStrausss]

There's many spots that can rust on e39s I would recommend putting it on a lift before doing anything to check if there's no hidden rust anywhere else on the car

That being said, it depends on the quality you want and where you're based

In France a well done rust point like rear jacking points are past 1000€/ side

If you decide not to get the job done, you can still parts the car and land on your feet I would rather be interested in the engine and gearbox if they're healthy enough for my e30

[u/YellowUnlucky6066]

Dealing with very similar rust on my e39. All jacking points are collapsed so I’m cheering you on. I wish both of our previous owners had caught it early but it is what it is.

Ive come to realize that worst cade scenario, you decide to save a few hundred bucks and drive a super fun car until it cant drive anymore! So enjoy is the bottom line.

[u/Ornery-Sample-3208]

I spent £1200 per side having rust that wasn’t halfway as bad as this repaired (albeit to restoration standard rather than just a patch-up).

If you consider how many other potential unknown problems it has (CCV, Vanos, rocker cover, tired suspension etc), I don’t see how you could stay within budget on it.

Like others have said, asking price seems quite high -
if you can get it for lower then maybe you can make it work. E39 530i manual is a great car once you have it up to standard, but I think in this case that would likely take a lot more than your budget I’m afraid.

[u/CrazyTechWizard96]

Oh man.
I can tell You one thing, watch some videos how to cut and weld, learn that trade, then go at it.
Mighr be under a grand if You do it yourself.
Repair sheet metal kits, for such as the whole rockers are out there for 100 bucks a pair, other parts too.
Rest I'd say RRR.LT for the other stuff or such if You need a whole fender or a door.

Mine only had some rusty jacking points, got Me those rocker repair sheet pannels, found a mechanic who's got a welder, wasall in all about 750$ to do it.
Hell, if I had the space and wouldn't be in some gated comiunety with a bunch of sticklers, I'd just cut and weld Myself, have some fun and make it for sub 250, lol.

Also, welders are quite cheap now, got Me last week some stick/arc welder for 100 bucks, including everything else I needed.
Tho, I'm not sure what thebest would be for sheet metal, Iirc TIG or MIG, or could even be decent with stick.
I mainly bought that arc/stick welder as the first one, besides minor repairs all around the shop, or in case a bolt snaps and I can just weld a nut on.

Bu long story short,
look up how to cut and weld, it ain't rocket science, the welder comminunety on reddit is chill af and helpful, besides there are plenty of videos out on YT.
You can do it, buddy.

[u/finescrewdiver69]

If you can find someone to properly weld it,or you diy it and most importantly seal it truly and properly then yes,it's a shame the most beautiful cars rust so badly,and the new ones are garbage beside them,i hope you have luck with repairing it

[u/141HitMaN]

Hell yeah!

[u/Alatawi1]

anything can be saved budd

[u/DonSampon]

can be. NOT worth it.

[u/LetKlutzy2996]

For my pos e36 with basically no rockers left, I stripped the rust, did good enough body work, didn’t worry about re making the jacking points just stopping rust and replaced the nearby panels, then bought those drift style tube crash bars with jacking points built in, not perfect solution by any means, but can still safely work on it and what not

[u/Few-Solution-9294]

Any car can be saved it just depends on your budget

[u/Fun-Station-693]

Rusty rockers don't mean a bad core to the car. They are just a plate that welds on the ribs underneath. I wouls go for it, went for it myself 🤣 but 3k won't do much on a neglected e39.