2000 E39 528i 110k miles - what to look for?

[Pommygranite]

Thanks, i will do.

I found the accelerator and steering a little stiff and heavy but it seemed bmw 'normal' will just take some getting used to.

Felt quality though, really solid and good design integrity.

In some respects it suits Australia well as it didnt feel like it wanted to go all the time, more a cruiser so that might help not lose my license.

So - any upgrade enhancement ideas?

Not sure if it has the latest clear/red rear lights so might source those.

Also thinking the Angel Eye thing is a bit naff so might just try and refresh it all back to new with some good quality detailing products on the exterior, specifically the black exterior trim.

[benjj]

The black trim responds well to being re-blacked. I use Autoglym plastic & rubber care, works well.

As for the lights, might be worth trying to refinish your lenses with the sandpaper trick. Have a look on youtube etc for methods. You can buy kits specifically for this now, not expensive.

Gliptone products are good for leather, just done mine inc doorcards and steering wheel, feels brand new in there now

[sparks_E39]

I prefer the headlights you have to the later angel eyes. I liked them when I was a bit younger... but now think the whole halo ring thing is a bit cheap/naff looking.

[Pommygranite]

Thanks for the ino.

looking at replacing the tape player/radio job by - seen a few aftermarket 7" screens like on later models such as:

http://www.dynavin.com/products/n6_e39.php

http://www.eonon.com/Car-GPS/Specific-Car-GPS/BMW/...

Any good?

[RC1]

good news on the purchase... have a good poke around the top rear of the cylinder head and below for the common weep from rocker cover gasket and also from the oil filter housing gasket...

try to get a bmw diagnostics tool like inpa plugged in to get the codes read on the transmission and engine etc... will help you plan a roadmap for the immportant jobs...

get the gbox oil and filter and sump pan gasket done as a precautionary measure as well.. at least here in the uk the zf boxes supplied with the e39s were known to have issues later in life...

[Pommygranite]

Thanks all for the tips.

Picked it up today and massively impressed - such a superbly designed, engineered and built car. Love it already.

Full of kit, all works well, not a squeek or rattle, no dead pixels,engine and gearbox fabulously smooth. I love the way it 'makes you drive' smoothly when taking off, lower speed and when you want to get your foot down its spot on.

Has 170k Kms and feels like it could do double.

2 minor faults have arisen on ay one though:
1. The brake light/rear light bulb error light has come on but all lights are fine - any ideas how to get rid of the warning?
2. The vanity mirror light doesn't work

Also the matte chrome cover on the ashtray lid is missing - can I find one without buying the whole gear surround? Can I buggery. Breakers yard it is.

Oh and there's only one key - $430 for another. Bugger,

Minor bits apart its just ace. I'm hooked.

Pics up at the weekend.

[S3_Graham]

With the rear light bulb, check the circuit board that the light bulbs screw into. On my E36 it had melted a bit of plastic and the contact needed bending back so it would touch the bulb.

The x28 engine responds fairly well to tuning if you are that way inclined.

[Pommygranite]

Thanks for the info - i'll have a look as that seems very possible.

With regards to tuning, whats the easy/cheap quick wins?

[BGarside]

I think the cooling system is a weakness on these. The all-ali M52 engine doesn't like overheating & since you are in Oz I guess this will be a potential issue. Consider replacing any or all of the following:

Water pump - I think originals had plastic impellers which detach.
Thermostat & 'stat housing / seal
Radiator & expansion tank / cap - I think they tend to bow ouwards at the bottom when they are on the way out
Cooling fan viscous coupling - if it's the viscous coupling type, not sure if so on the E39.
Radiator rubber hoses.

I've just done most of the above on my E36 325i. Got the bits online on eBay and from Euro Car Parts (the OE quality ranges). Not too expensive. Don't know where you'd get them in Oz though except from BMW dealers. Might be cheaper to order from the UK depending on weight/airmail costs...

[Pommygranite]

Thanks for all the tips - will definitely be sorting a few things out as mentioned. The cooling system gets mentioned everywhere! Will chase up the servicing garages and see if it was done. I have put it in Readers Cars.

Here it is









Clean-ish inside. Note



No dead pixels!



So, so smooth. Absolutely love it. Now cars here in Oz are expensive and especially here in WA where I live - I mean this is a 14yr old BMW for 4600 pounds (no bloody pound sign on keyboards here either...) but this was a good price for this car here in WA. What is great is that its quite heavy/smooth from no speed to speed and out here speeding is policed heavily with bad fines/points (think 100 pound fine & 2 points for 6 mph over the limit and they will do you, no let offs here) so it means nice and cruisy rather than always wanting to go.

Also love the fact its fully specced with M suspension, shorter final drive ratio, leather and full electrics. Its also got a full toolkit and a first aid kit under the passenger seat which was an amusing find.

A few things I just love in terms of attention to detail:
- one touch windows on all - I park in an underground ever day so nice to just flick the switch, no holding up and down.
- one touch sunroof switch
- electric under thigh seat extension
- non slip strips in the boot for my laptop bag
- one touch on the key lowers all the windows and opens the sunroof - great here when its 35 degrees and sat outside before getting in
- electric steering column raises and lowers when turning ignition off and on

A few things I do need to attend to:
- 3 cracked climate control buttons which is quite common I believe and cheap to fix
- had a foggy front headlight - one hour later, 4 grades of sandpaper and a plastic polish and its like new
- leather needs a good clean
- need to find a matte chrome cover for the ashtray as its missing - can I find one anywhere in oz? - anyone in the UK fancy sending me one in return for an Amazon gift voucher/other?!


Next steps I'm not sure on so welcome any views as don't want to chav it up:

Do I change the chrome kidney grill to a black one?



Black badge and script?



LED interior kit - bit harsh?






Welcome all the views on the potential mods.

Edited by Pommygranite on Monday 13th October 13:17

[hornetrider]

Don't chav the badges or the interior lights. On an E39 I'd leave the kidneys as they are too.

[Pommygranite]

hornetrider said:

Don't chav the badges or the interior lights. On an E39 I'd leave the kidneys as they are too.

Cheers - that's what I'm erring towards - clean and standard.

[WinstonWolf]

Press and hold the lock/unlock on the keyfob, all the windows go up or down!

That's a beaut

[sparks_E39]

Leave it standard. That's the best look for them. Black grills look like a Halfords special on an E39. They just don't work.

[sparks_E39]

WinstonWolf said:

Press and hold the lock/unlock on the keyfob, all the windows go up or down!

That's a beaut

To be fair a boggo mk1 Focus can do that