2002 E39 530i Sport

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R5PNY said:

Thanks sparks_E39... I'm not on the classifieds looking at E39s!!!

No problem! I've had two, I can't think of anything else as good for what they cost.

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Bit of a rough ride this past month. Hit a massive pothole but luckily no damage. A week later it overheats, then won't heat up properly, knackered thermostat. Now I have to replace the led angel eyes as one bulb has blown.

All part of the fun!

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E65Ross said:

Ouch, nasty period! Happens to us all. I was hoping this month would be free from any car bills - totally forgetting I had car tax! Then 1st March it's booked in for an MOT and my AA renewal comes out a week or so later as well.....all bills that would need to be paid anyway but would be nice to have just 1 month where the car doesn't cost anything other than fuel!! Still, there's always April

I have tax looming and I'll do the MOT early in April as I will be away and it will be off the road when it's due in June. Hows the 745 going?

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E65Ross said:

The 745i is going well thanks drives dandy, done over 5k miles already! No wonder I seem to be spending so much on fuel!

Just totally off-topic and spur of the moment I'm actually near Poole this weekend, if you did fancy having a look/spin out in it Saturday early evening (circa 5:30pm) for a short blast let me know. I've got a seminar in Bournemouth which finishes at 5pm - I'm in no real hurries to get back to Southampton, as long as i'm back by around 7:30-8 or so for some dinner! If interested send me a PM and also message here (sometimes PMs don't come through for some reason)

Ah I'm getting muddy in North Dorset this weekend I'm afraid. Let me know when your back this way, I'd like to see it! I'll be based at HMS Collingwood in Farham in a few months, a bit closer to your neck of the woods!

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Thanks dude. You too.

Made the decision today to ditch the LED angel eye markers and go back to OEM halogen yellow. I'm not fussed about having the LED lights, one blew the other day, and the amount of complaints about them lasting a year like these "good ones" then giving up made me decide to go to the seemingly more reliable original ones. They were fitted by the previous owner. They are more white irl than in the photos where they look blue. I don't think if I had fitted the xenon kit I wouldn't have bothered with them. I think the car will benefit by looking more OEM, which is probably obvious I'm a big fan of. I still have the xenon lights though which really are a must. They aren't too bright, I never get flashed and I've never had any friends complain about them when we've been out and about. So much better than standard.


Still got that pesky airbag warning light to sort out...

Edited by sparks_E39 on Friday 21st February 09:42

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Markgenesis said:

Passenger seat fault ?

Yes. I can easily bypass it to get through the MOT but I would like to permanently fix it. Involves stripping the seat down though and it is annoyingly expensive.

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Yellow halogen Angel Eyes fitted. Much prefer them.

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Max M4X WW said:

sparks_E39 said:

Yellow halogen Angel Eyes fitted. Much prefer them.

Snap, if only they could be a bit brighter.

Indeed, they would make good drls but, they are practically invisible in daylight. I have heard that you can fit 20w bulbs (10w as standard apparently) but I haven't looked into it... Regardless, I'm pleased I made the change. The white xenons and yellow rings look pretty cool

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Max M4X WW said:

I fitted 20w bulbs in place of the standards, they just about went in. They then melted, popped and never really made things any brighter as the filaments were in a different place.

Hmm, I'll bin that idea then! Well at dusk they look great

[sparks_E39]

After a scary fault with the EML light and it running rough, which turned out to be a really cheap fix (coil) I'm hoping for a while my wallet is given a bit of a rest! However I'm booking the MOT soon...

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S3_Graham said:

Hey mate, any pics of the yellow halo's? i've got white as it matches the HID's but could be tempted if they look good.

Ref your rust on the boot, I had chipsaway do the bit around the handle on my car, was £150ish. Did a good job and will keep it at bay for a year or so hopefully!

I managed to finally fix the rough running on mine, turned out to be a cracked spark plug!!

Mine is currently utterly and inexcuseably filthy. I havent washed it since christmas. Had a bit of a rough few months (splitting up with the fiance and buying her out of our house) so the car has taken a real back seat. Is your pic at fleet services on the M3??

Hi Graham. I've yet to take any photos of the new halo's, I'll get onto it and post one up. I can see the appeal of the white rings, but after mine blew, and reading lot's of reviews of their potentially short lifespan I decided to go back to OEM. I like the way they look with my white hids.

I think the boot repair will be the first on my list to do after my basic training, I'll keep chipsaway in mind! Glad you got yours sorted, and sorry to hear of your recent troubles. That's right, Fleet Services London bound late last year. We never drive past it! My car was disgracefully filthy! It was a good few weeks after that until I cleaned it, it was pretty much black from behind Any other plans for your 530i?

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benjj said:

I was considering swapping my 530i for an M5 to use as the family bus so I gave it a good clean up earlier in the week.

Now I'm keeping it as it looks so much better when clean, shiny and immaculate inside.

Vive le 530iA Sport.

Looking good!

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Sorry Graham I meant the bulbs, one bulb per side to illuminate the two angel eyes. I've used standard halogen bulbs to replace the leds. I'm not sure how to clear that brake service light, I'm sure there's a way though.

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It would be great to get a few of our cars together.. I have a lot of free time in April so perhaps something can be arranged.

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Thanks! Yours isn't a Sport, over here it's known as an SE with those bumpers. It may have Sport suspension....

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benjj said:

US market didn't have SE/Sport, that car certainly does have the Sport Option Pack: seats, suspension etc.

As said above, identical to our cars minus front and rear bumpers.

I see, didn't know that. You could still order them with the Sport bumpers though in the US judging by the amount of pictures of US E39's I've seen.

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benjj said:

Maybe, not sure. You do see a lot of US spec cars with M5 bumpers on, not seen many with the Sport inserts (same bumper after all).

Ah quite true. I really want the M5 type bumper on mine. Cotswold BMW apparently supply the grill etc for it for around £50, it's just a matter of taking out the t bar apparently. Is it necessary to have any modifications done to the grill for the ducts on a standard Sport I wonder. If you're reading this Fox, I know you've done the mod to your car.... cheers

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Mine's dusty too. It's soon to be taken off the road though, going to the BTCC at Donnington in April, then that's it till I guess mid July

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E65Ross said:

When you heading down this sort of way? Remember to let me know and I'll take you for a spin in the 745i

Cheers bud I'll be based at HMS Collingwood in Farham from July.

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E65Ross said:

We'll have to meet up if we don't before then. Hopefully we can get a few up to Mercedes Benz Sunday service....if I manage to get on the list (or my mate who often comes with) do but you can't you'd be more than welcome to hitch a ride up.....it was awesome last year.

Thanks mate, when is it?