BMW E39 528i SE Auto - Bangernomics

[ATM]

Bought this yesterday. W reg 2000 528i with genuine BBS wheels.

£600

My plan is just to use it for a bit and try not to spend any money on it. That's probably impossible so let's say try not to spend too much money on it.

Why did I decide I needed another car?

Well my other car is an E46 coupe with a 5.7 litre engine which I've been using as my daily driver. There are a few jobs that need doing to it so I thought it was time to get something else to use for day to day stuff. Also I'm hoping to use get the E46 out on some Track Days this year. So I've been looking round for a while but not bought anything. My mate bought a Mazda MX5 last week for 650 quid which inspired me to do better. I've never bought a car this cheap since about 15 years ago when I bought a Fiat Panda for 500 quid. Obviously I'm not comparing a 528 to a classic Panda.

There are some problems:

Lacquer Peel on boot lid
Electric windows on Passenger side dont work
Boot lid catch doesn't stay closed

Here are some pics I snapped to send to my mates who think I'm mad

Edited by ATM on Friday 4th May 09:56

[walsh]

I had one of these as an only driver for about 2 years.

It was brilliant. I paid about the same as you, got 25000 miles out of it. Spent £7.20 on some ATF fluid for the power steering, and 30 quid to replace the windscreen washer hose, and get the headlight adjusted.

Oh, and new rear tyres, but that was my fault.

Pretty bomb proof, provided you don't care about replacing stupid bits (pixels on dash for example),Apart from the overheating issue. Thats a bit of a pain.

[ATM]

walsh said:

I had one of these as an only driver for about 2 years.

It was brilliant. I paid about the same as you, got 25000 miles out of it. Spent £7.20 on some ATF fluid for the power steering, and 30 quid to replace the windscreen washer hose, and get the headlight adjusted.

Oh, and new rear tyres, but that was my fault.

Pretty bomb proof, provided you don't care about replacing stupid bits (pixels on dash for example),Apart from the overheating issue. Thats a bit of a pain.

Pixels are going on mine. I might just put some black insulation tape over the area and ignore.

The tyres all have tread and match but some are starting to look old. It has 235 40 18 tyres all round but they look a bit stretched on the 10 inch wide rears. If I'm honest the main reason I bought the car was the wheels as I'm hoping to be able to transfer them to my fun car. Maybe I'll use these old looking tyres for some drifting practice.

[papercup]

ATM said:

Boot lid catch doesn't stay closed

Open it up, the little spring will have snapped. Usually has a hooky bit both ends. Just bend the end of the spring out to make it a hook, and hook it on!

[aspirated]

Interesting spec, looks like it has the facelift Amber taillights which I thought only came on the police spec e39s?

[ATM]

aspirated said:

Interesting spec, looks like it has the facelift Amber taillights which I thought only came on the police spec e39s?

It was imported from Japan.

[trowelhead]

Nice work is it auto?

Be fun to see how many miles you can rack up without spending anything.

[bearman68]

I drove one of these from Usk to Aberystwth and back on the weekend. Really good drive. smooth, powerful(ish), and just a perfect car really. Bomb proof as others have said. £600 quid is a steal.

[ATM]

trowelhead said:

Nice work is it auto?

Be fun to see how many miles you can rack up without spending anything.

Auto - Yes. I apologise for pointing out the title of the thread does say auto.

So day 3 of ownership and money spent so far nothing - other than tax, insurance and fuel.

I was on the motorway yesterday trying not to fall asleep and the driver in front slammed on their brakes. I hit mine and the vibration was quite alarming. It definitely woke me up. So if I don't touch the brakes it's fine. I would guess the brakes are at fault but I've heard a lot about the e39 wobble. So is this wobble from bushes or is it simply the brakes?

[Barchettaman]

Love a good shed thread.

Best of luck OP!

[ATM]

papercup said:

ATM said:

Boot lid catch doesn't stay closed

Open it up, the little spring will have snapped. Usually has a hooky bit both ends. Just bend the end of the spring out to make it a hook, and hook it on!

Meant to have a look at this yesterday.

Will go and have a look and maybe take some pics.

[BorkFactor]

ATM said:

So is this wobble from bushes or is it simply the brakes?

Check the brakes first, but it may well be the bushes as my E46 did this. They were totally shot when replaced and the wobble was noticeable but not as bad as it can be with knackered brakes. I would imagine it is a similar story on the E39.

Nice car, I like the wheels! Wonder why someone imported it from Japan?

[ATM]

BorkFactor said:

Check the brakes first

Assume I am a total car novice - how do I do this?

[walsh]

ATM said:

Auto - Yes. I apologise for pointing out the title of the thread does say auto.

So day 3 of ownership and money spent so far nothing - other than tax, insurance and fuel.

I was on the motorway yesterday trying not to fall asleep and the driver in front slammed on their brakes. I hit mine and the vibration was quite alarming. It definitely woke me up. So if I don't touch the brakes it's fine. I would guess the brakes are at fault but I've heard a lot about the e39 wobble. So is this wobble from bushes or is it simply the brakes?

The "E39 Shimmy" is normally something you can feel at a 60-70 mph cruise, rather than a wobble on the brakes.

I know a lot of them do it, but I cant for the life of me remember what causes it.

Mine did warp a disk toward the end of my ownership. Only slightly, but enough to produce a vibration at higher speeds.

[BorkFactor]

ATM said:

Assume I am a total car novice - how do I do this?

Well I am not far from a mechanical novice, so here is my experience:

Check the discs through the wheel for a lip - mine had a bit of one when they needed done shortly after I bought the car. You may also be able to crawl underneath the car to have a look at the inside of the discs - mine were utterly fked on the inside, considerably worse than the outside. Replaced them, and the judder was pretty much gone, it was a complete transformation.

[papercup]

walsh said:

ATM said:

Auto - Yes. I apologise for pointing out the title of the thread does say auto.

So day 3 of ownership and money spent so far nothing - other than tax, insurance and fuel.

I was on the motorway yesterday trying not to fall asleep and the driver in front slammed on their brakes. I hit mine and the vibration was quite alarming. It definitely woke me up. So if I don't touch the brakes it's fine. I would guess the brakes are at fault but I've heard a lot about the e39 wobble. So is this wobble from bushes or is it simply the brakes?

The "E39 Shimmy" is normally something you can feel at a 60-70 mph cruise, rather than a wobble on the brakes.

I know a lot of them do it, but I cant for the life of me remember what causes it.

Mine did warp a disk toward the end of my ownership. Only slightly, but enough to produce a vibration at higher speeds.

The E39 shimmy has nothing to do with brakes, its usually felt in a straight line around 40-50mph, from memory (My current 540 doesn't do it, the previous one did...). New front lower arms (which come with the bushes installed) fixes it.

Your brake issues are something else, and sound like they need looking at! New disks and pads ought to do it.

[ATM]

papercup said:

walsh said:

ATM said:

Auto - Yes. I apologise for pointing out the title of the thread does say auto.

So day 3 of ownership and money spent so far nothing - other than tax, insurance and fuel.

I was on the motorway yesterday trying not to fall asleep and the driver in front slammed on their brakes. I hit mine and the vibration was quite alarming. It definitely woke me up. So if I don't touch the brakes it's fine. I would guess the brakes are at fault but I've heard a lot about the e39 wobble. So is this wobble from bushes or is it simply the brakes?

The "E39 Shimmy" is normally something you can feel at a 60-70 mph cruise, rather than a wobble on the brakes.

I know a lot of them do it, but I cant for the life of me remember what causes it.

Mine did warp a disk toward the end of my ownership. Only slightly, but enough to produce a vibration at higher speeds.

The E39 shimmy has nothing to do with brakes, its usually felt in a straight line around 40-50mph, from memory (My current 540 doesn't do it, the previous one did...). New front lower arms (which come with the bushes installed) fixes it.

Your brake issues are something else, and sound like they need looking at! New disks and pads ought to do it.

OK

I'll probably just order some then.

[ATM]

Any ideas what this is?

Edited by ATM on Friday 4th May 09:57

[dragonheart]

Its a reader for Japanese toll booth cards. If you look you should find a card slot in the mirror.

[ATM]

dragonheart said:

Its a reader for Japanese toll booth cards. If you look you should find a card slot in the mirror.

Damn

Was hoping for some form of phone.