My '99 Carbon Black E39 M5

[TheAngryDog]

Less of a project, currently my daily, though coming off the road after new year so that I can get the jobs done I need to do, and not worry about needing the car the next day etc.

So, this is how I bought it, on July 1st 2013. I've wanted one for years, so after a issues earlier in the year, I decided to hell with it all and MTFU and get one bought. So I did .

So its a 6 owner (7 inc me) '99 pre facelift, with the modified VANOS accumulator fitted.
The previous owner had a back box delete done on it (it barks under full chat! ), gear box and diff oils replaced, and at some point its had a replacement clutch. The last owner also replaced the fuel pump as it failed on the original day that I was going to pick the car up. Other than that the car has had various amounts of money thrown at it by the previous owners, a trend I am continuing .

The car is everything that I thought it would be. Its quiet and understated when cruising, goes like an M5 should and is very predictable with its handling. I can see me owning this for some time to come!









Has the 4:3 TV in standard, which obviously no longer works.





Had the dead pixels issue on the clocks. Miles where 261 miles less than shown when I picked it up.



The power plant. VANOS' are a little noisy, but I arent too worried about that, they're certainly quieter than alot I have heard.



No rust in the fuel flap area, which is a bonus.



Standard Silverstone inserts on the seats.



Also has the Silver gear knob and hand brake handle.

So I had the pixel issue repaired in September, so now no more dead pixels!



This is the Dash Clock test on the hidden menu.

Also fitted some smoked side repeaters.



Fitted Silver indicator bulbs





Leather gear knob



More recent changes have been Tinted rear Celis look lenses and black painted kidney grills.



The passenger side headlight has the standard fogging issue.



Its also had LED side lights fitted.

So while it is off the road, these are my plans for it;

New thermostat as its running a bit cool - only gets to 1/4 on the gauge.
New spark plugs and oil change (Proper NGK ones and 10w60 Castrol Edge) inc filters
Fit new M5 front Grill, as someone has replaced it with a normal Sport one in the bumper
Fit new front discs and pads as they're a bit juddery now.
Sort front suspension creak when cold - will probably freshen up front and rear suspension bushes and top mounts.
Fix starting issue (advised it may be the Charcoal Activated filter or expansion tank)
Timing Chain Guides check and replace if needed
Sort rust on body work (rear sills, boot lid and rear quarter just above the bumper
Full respray
Replace headlights for Angel Eye face lift ones (ordered, just waiting delivery)
Fit new leather handbrake handle
Replace centre arm rest handle
Replace top oil breather hoses
Coolant and brake fluid change as I do not know when they were last done.
Also ordered a pair of number plate holders for it.
I'll also be looking to improve on the stock audio, as its very lacking.
I'm considering having the plenum powder coated too - just not sure on the colour(s).

I'll update as and when bits get done, but nothing is going to happen until after new year now.

Wish List:

New engine, rebuilt to take boost from a supercharger - not sure this will get SWMBO approval though .
Uprated brakes and suspension to go with the above.

We can all dream eh?

Thanks for reading.

ETA: Change pic so can see front seats.

Edited by TheAngryDog on Monday 30th December 21:42

[Amirhussain]

Nice, looks quite sleeperish in black, the E39 M5 is a car that I HAVE to own one day, best of luck with the rest of your plans.

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks Amir.

I think LeMans Blue is my favourite colour, then Carbon Black (which is blue) and then Imola Red. Silverstone Blue has grown on me as well, though Carbon Black looks awesome when clean and waxed;





One of the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's I put on in August on the rear - £350 a pair which I didnt think was bad.



Fronts are Michelin Pilot Sport 3's, that will get replaced with Goodyear's once they're ready to replace (still have 4mm of tread on them!)

[*Al*]

Love these cars wish I still had mine, it was a facelift 2001 in Silverstone blue.

[davepoth]

AIUI the later Mk4 satnav will fit to your car without much trouble. That's 16:9 and I think you can get Freeview on it.

[cerb4.5lee]

Always lusted after one of these there isn't anything I don't like about them, thanks for sharing the piccies & the developments with yours, enjoy it.

[TheAngryDog]

davepoth said:

AIUI the later Mk4 satnav will fit to your car without much trouble. That's 16:9 and I think you can get Freeview on it.

You need the Digital TV receiver I believe. My plan is to drop to a single DIN HU, hopefully retro fitting the single DIN MID so that I retain the OBC functionality, unless I fit the double DIN HU in the boot.

cerb4.5lee said:

Always lusted after one of these there isn't anything I don't like about them, thanks for sharing the piccies & the developments with yours, enjoy it.

Cheers Lee. Honestly, as a car that can pretty much do everything (I pretty much moved house in this car without a Van or use of anyone elses car) even though the rear seats dont fold.

As its a V reg 99 car, rear PDC was an option, annoyingly not specified by the first owner , though they did specify the SunDym (factory rear tinted) windows.

Hoping to also relocate the air temp sensors from the MAF's (which have been tested and are well within spec ). I want to fit the rear PDC at some point.

Its an awesome car. I think everyone should at least drive one at some point in their lives.

[chris116]

I so want one of these.

Hope to have one at some point in 2014.

Carbon black is probably my favourite colour, love the way it changes to deep blue in sunlight.

[Cemesis]

Get the Mk4 and a widescreen unit. Looks much better than the single din conversion.

Check for rust on all the jacking points (remove the jacking blocks) and get it fixed immediately if you find any.

[sshenton1975]

Looks lovely. I had a 2001 Lemans Blue for a year and it was a great car. Got fed up with chasing rust though. Are you planning to get the wheels redone in the shadow chrome? Looks like they have been painted plain silver at some point?

[Terminator X]

Bork Factor scares me, would have one otherwise

TX.

[0a]

A hardcore manual v8 version of the typically auto 5 series of the time, what a shame the current m5 is just another auto

[daymoon]

Nice car!

Angel eyes will make a huge difference!

[TheAngryDog]

Cemesis said:

Get the Mk4 and a widescreen unit. Looks much better than the single din conversion.

Check for rust on all the jacking points (remove the jacking blocks) and get it fixed immediately if you find any.

Checked for rust already when I bought it, but i'll be checking again soon. The Mk4 ans widescreen costs a small fortune

sshenton1975 said:

Looks lovely. I had a 2001 Lemans Blue for a year and it was a great car. Got fed up with chasing rust though. Are you planning to get the wheels redone in the shadow chrome? Looks like they have been painted plain silver at some point?

Cheers! Mine touch wood doesnt have that much rust aside from whats been mentioned, which is good. The wheels have been painted silver by the previous owner. I am considering going gun metal grey for the wheels.

Terminator X said:

Bork Factor scares me, would have one otherwise

TX.

Bork factor can be high. I'm doing the crank shells as well as the cam chain and guides, so I should pretty much have all that covered.

0a said:

A hardcore manual v8 version of the typically auto 5 series of the time, what a shame the current m5 is just another auto

Yeah it is a shame they're mainly auto now. I much prefer manuals.

daymoon said:

Nice car!

Angel eyes will make a huge difference!

Cheers. Yeah they will, should the seller ever send them to me. Only been waiting since December 16th for them. I dont even think he has sent them tbh so I'm gonna have to put an eBay claim in.

SWMBO has approved the supercharger conversion for next year too

[TheAngryDog]

Bit of an update;

Angel Eye headlights have arrived. May fit them this weekend seeing as how Im not taking the car off the road til March now.

Also looks like I wont be needing the Carbon Activated Filter, which is handy, though I need to work out why my fuel pump isnt always getting powered up. Whether thats a fuel pump fault or something else, I do not know.

[TheAngryDog]

Today saw the fitting of new discs, plugs and an oil and filter change. Next weekend comes the thermostat

[jgy6000]

Mike, the cars looking great!

Boy do I miss it. Such a great car, loving the updates your doing also.

The reason the wheels were done in silver was the place I took them to talked me out of getting them done in shadow chrome because they were quite badly pitted, and they said shadow chrome can highlight the imperfections. Personally I don't like dark wheels anyway and like the silver on carbon black. Each to there own but I'm also a believer that OEM is best.

[davepoth]

TheAngryDog said:

Bit of an update;

Angel Eye headlights have arrived. May fit them this weekend seeing as how Im not taking the car off the road til March now.

Also looks like I wont be needing the Carbon Activated Filter, which is handy, though I need to work out why my fuel pump isnt always getting powered up. Whether thats a fuel pump fault or something else, I do not know.

A friend of mine bought a borked Porsche 944 for £500 which had a fuel pump issue - it wouldn't pump unless a car battery was connected direct to it.

The PO had spent hundreds of pounds and dozens of hours on it. We swapped out the fuel pump relay and it was fine. Given that the relay will be cheap and easy to change I'd give that a go.

[TheAngryDog]

jgy6000 said:

Mike, the cars looking great!

Boy do I miss it. Such a great car, loving the updates your doing also.

The reason the wheels were done in silver was the place I took them to talked me out of getting them done in shadow chrome because they were quite badly pitted, and they said shadow chrome can highlight the imperfections. Personally I don't like dark wheels anyway and like the silver on carbon black. Each to there own but I'm also a believer that OEM is best.

Hi Jose, thanks for your comments . I'm glad you like how it's coming on. I'm thinking of keeping the silver wheels now, unless some cheap LM's come up.

I can uunderstand why you got them done silver. I wasn't being critical of your choice mind .

You should get another .

Forgot to mention I also changed the top vanos breather hoses

[TheAngryDog]

davepoth said:

TheAngryDog said:

Bit of an update;

Angel Eye headlights have arrived. May fit them this weekend seeing as how Im not taking the car off the road til March now.

Also looks like I wont be needing the Carbon Activated Filter, which is handy, though I need to work out why my fuel pump isnt always getting powered up. Whether thats a fuel pump fault or something else, I do not know.

A friend of mine bought a borked Porsche 944 for £500 which had a fuel pump issue - it wouldn't pump unless a car battery was connected direct to it.

The PO had spent hundreds of pounds and dozens of hours on it. We swapped out the fuel pump relay and it was fine. Given that the relay will be cheap and easy to change I'd give that a go.

Cheers, I'd decided yesterday just to replace the fuel pump relay, going to order it tomorow