E39 530i Sport Touring
Discussion
Thought I ought to start a thread as I am sure they will be some people interested in the car.
So what is it? Its a Japanese import 2002 BMW E39 530i Sport Touring, in Titanium Silver Metallic.
I purchased from another PH'er, and his thread for the car can be found here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I travelled up on the train to Preston from Derby yesterday to meet Dan, who was great and had obviously taken care of the car. After a couple of hours going over things, I departed for the trip home which went by faultlessly. So far, I am very pleased.
This is my first foray into an E39 and BMW in general, but I have been wanting one for a little while. This one seemed to be a good example with none of the dreaded rust
Anyway, enough rambling, some pictures:
A pit-stop on the way home:
This morning on the driveway:
Please excuse the state of the driveway, it is a work in progress!
Cheers, Matt
So what is it? Its a Japanese import 2002 BMW E39 530i Sport Touring, in Titanium Silver Metallic.
I purchased from another PH'er, and his thread for the car can be found here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I travelled up on the train to Preston from Derby yesterday to meet Dan, who was great and had obviously taken care of the car. After a couple of hours going over things, I departed for the trip home which went by faultlessly. So far, I am very pleased.
This is my first foray into an E39 and BMW in general, but I have been wanting one for a little while. This one seemed to be a good example with none of the dreaded rust
Anyway, enough rambling, some pictures:
A pit-stop on the way home:
This morning on the driveway:
Please excuse the state of the driveway, it is a work in progress!
Cheers, Matt
Edited by meb90 on Tuesday 14th September 12:10
Thanks all
I would agree that it has been cared for by Dan, I intend to keep the car in the same condition. I've been rubbish at washing my other cars due to them having paintwork issues, but I don't have that excuse any more!
Dan - I can understand your view! I am enjoying it so far
Regarding the Mondeo, yes it is a 2.5T. No thread I'm afraid as I never started one. I'll write some words here though seeing as you asked.
It's been a great car, I bought it with 146,000 miles 5 years ago, replaced the entirety of the suspension as it was original and knackered, and replaced things as and when they were required (not much in truth). I did stage 1 Bluefin map it, so on paper it had about 260bhp and 400Nm but I never dyno'd it. As it sits, it is on 218,000 miles, but it won't cover anymore as I will be braking it soon. The engine developed a knock, and when I dropped the oil I found slivers of metal in the oil. I suspect a big end bearing has spun. It isn't worth fixing to me as it has some rust underneath, and rebuilding the engine isn't something I want to do. Hence the purchase of the 530i to take over estate car duties
Talking of estate car duties, I bought some compost for the garden which it coped with excellently, I love the self levelling suspension!
I would agree that it has been cared for by Dan, I intend to keep the car in the same condition. I've been rubbish at washing my other cars due to them having paintwork issues, but I don't have that excuse any more!
Dan - I can understand your view! I am enjoying it so far
Regarding the Mondeo, yes it is a 2.5T. No thread I'm afraid as I never started one. I'll write some words here though seeing as you asked.
It's been a great car, I bought it with 146,000 miles 5 years ago, replaced the entirety of the suspension as it was original and knackered, and replaced things as and when they were required (not much in truth). I did stage 1 Bluefin map it, so on paper it had about 260bhp and 400Nm but I never dyno'd it. As it sits, it is on 218,000 miles, but it won't cover anymore as I will be braking it soon. The engine developed a knock, and when I dropped the oil I found slivers of metal in the oil. I suspect a big end bearing has spun. It isn't worth fixing to me as it has some rust underneath, and rebuilding the engine isn't something I want to do. Hence the purchase of the 530i to take over estate car duties
Talking of estate car duties, I bought some compost for the garden which it coped with excellently, I love the self levelling suspension!
d_a_n1979 said:
Thank goodness for that or I'd have owed you £40 
Glad it's got another year of clean health pal
Keep it in the condition it's in and it'll never fail an MOT 
Haha! Glad it's got another year of clean health pal
Keep it in the condition it's in and it'll never fail an MOT I was 99.9% sure it would pass, but MOT day is always comes with a little nervousness.I am glad too. That's my plan! Hopefully won't be much of a challenge
Quick question - I've had a scan through your thread (and not had a chance to get under it), did you get chance to Lanoguard the rear arches? I know you got to the front arches and the sills. Sorry if you did mention it.
d_a_n1979 said:
I did, but not as much as I'd have liked. It was all down to time and fragility of the rear arches due to their age and the fact that you can't get them anymore!
So really; the best thing you can do is get the small Lanoguard kit; get the long nozzle too and just spray the hell out of the area again. You'll only need to loosen sections of the arches to do that; rather than removing them as I did with the fronts.
Oh; have a big tarp and plenty of soap to hand; you'll smell like old sheep for a few days, but you'll be fine out in the rain
Cheers for that. I'll look at getting a kit. Think its one of the situations where proactive action is better than reactive.So really; the best thing you can do is get the small Lanoguard kit; get the long nozzle too and just spray the hell out of the area again. You'll only need to loosen sections of the arches to do that; rather than removing them as I did with the fronts.
Oh; have a big tarp and plenty of soap to hand; you'll smell like old sheep for a few days, but you'll be fine out in the rain
Oh yummy, I am sure the wife will enjoy that! I'll have to tell her its better than smelling of another woman's perfume...
Today was service day, something I've been meaning to do since I took possesion, but I finally got a free afternoon today. Also, Dan gave me his unused leftover oil, so it seemed rude not to! So jobs completed:
- Engine oil and filter changed (TripleQX 5W-40 oil and Mahle filter)
- Air filter (Mahle) [I am aware the old filter is a reusable K&N, but I just prefer the reduced faff of a paper filter]
- Spark plugs (NGK BKR6EQUP)
After all that, it was then a much needed bath time:
Other bits & bobs I'd like to do:
- New dipstick (current one is just looking tired)
- New oil filler cap (same reason)
- New fan shroud
- Engine oil and filter changed (TripleQX 5W-40 oil and Mahle filter)
- Air filter (Mahle) [I am aware the old filter is a reusable K&N, but I just prefer the reduced faff of a paper filter]
- Spark plugs (NGK BKR6EQUP)
After all that, it was then a much needed bath time:
Other bits & bobs I'd like to do:
- New dipstick (current one is just looking tired)
- New oil filler cap (same reason)
- New fan shroud
Edited by meb90 on Saturday 23 October 19:56
d_a_n1979 said:
Crikey Matt
That filters filthy! I cleaned it last year too...
Itll be cleanable again FYI unless you can't be arsed
How's the touring otherwise?
I know! It was dirty - where were you driving!! That filters filthy! I cleaned it last year too...
Itll be cleanable again FYI unless you can't be arsed
How's the touring otherwise?
I'm leaning towards can't be bothered to be honest, but I may change my mind. I wondered if it'd change the induction noise but I can't tell any difference.
The touring is going well! I haven't used it for any more compost trips - don't worry
As mentioned, a new dipstick and oil filler cap fitted this morning. Nothing particularly wrong with the old ones, but they looked tired/old and the plastic at the sump end of the dipstick looked like it was deteriorating. The new dipstick fits with a very satisfying action. A boring picture:
Next up - new bonnet struts as during fitting the above, and checking the oil I was nearly guillotined twice!
Next up - new bonnet struts as during fitting the above, and checking the oil I was nearly guillotined twice!
Today saw the fitting of new bonnet struts. OEM manufacturer Stabilus used, as BMW parts prices were crazy.
Bonnet action is now much more positive, and my fears of being guillotined are gone
However, on Friday night my driver's side wing mirror got smacked by an oncoming car. Obviously all their fault!
I suspect it was 50/50 in all honesty - it was a dark narrow country lane. The mirror cap is cracked, as well as the bezel around the glass, but fourtunately the mirror itself has survived unscathed. The hunt is now on for (more) new bits! Harrumph.
Bonnet action is now much more positive, and my fears of being guillotined are gone
However, on Friday night my driver's side wing mirror got smacked by an oncoming car. Obviously all their fault!
I suspect it was 50/50 in all honesty - it was a dark narrow country lane. The mirror cap is cracked, as well as the bezel around the glass, but fourtunately the mirror itself has survived unscathed. The hunt is now on for (more) new bits! Harrumph.
Time for an overdue update!
The wing mirror has now been fixed. Dan, the previous owner, still had the wing mirror caps from when he replaced them so kindly offered to post them if I covered the postage. They aren't perfect which is something I will sort, but they are in one piece! So a big improvement and I am grateful to Dan for sending them.
Somehow the glass itself survived which is crazy expensive to replace so I dodged a bullet there! I had to buy a new glass bezel/surround, but I can cope with that.
Pictures of the fixed wing mirror:
Whilst out and about in November seeing family, I called via BMW Cotswolds in Chippenham - I was collecting some parts they couldn't post (mainly a new radiator fan shroud). It is the biggest showroom I have ever seen! It had some very nice cars inside which I would have photographed but I was on a tight time deadline. I did manage to take a picture of the touring on the way back to the car to show how big the place is!
Only other issue has been that an engine warning light popped up on the way home a few weeks ago. The codes suggested it was running lean, so I've checked the vacuum lines and took the intake pipes between the MAF and throttle body off to inspect them. I couldn't see anything, so I put it all back together again, cleared the codes and it has been fine since! Must have had a wobbly moment.
Finally, having got it dirty over the last few weeks, today was time for a wash! Looking much cleaner now:
I suspect it'll be dirty by the end of the week again!
The wing mirror has now been fixed. Dan, the previous owner, still had the wing mirror caps from when he replaced them so kindly offered to post them if I covered the postage. They aren't perfect which is something I will sort, but they are in one piece! So a big improvement and I am grateful to Dan for sending them.
Somehow the glass itself survived which is crazy expensive to replace so I dodged a bullet there! I had to buy a new glass bezel/surround, but I can cope with that.
Pictures of the fixed wing mirror:
Whilst out and about in November seeing family, I called via BMW Cotswolds in Chippenham - I was collecting some parts they couldn't post (mainly a new radiator fan shroud). It is the biggest showroom I have ever seen! It had some very nice cars inside which I would have photographed but I was on a tight time deadline. I did manage to take a picture of the touring on the way back to the car to show how big the place is!
Only other issue has been that an engine warning light popped up on the way home a few weeks ago. The codes suggested it was running lean, so I've checked the vacuum lines and took the intake pipes between the MAF and throttle body off to inspect them. I couldn't see anything, so I put it all back together again, cleared the codes and it has been fine since! Must have had a wobbly moment.
Finally, having got it dirty over the last few weeks, today was time for a wash! Looking much cleaner now:
I suspect it'll be dirty by the end of the week again!
So I took the touring on track yesterday.
It wasn't a proper track day - MSV who own some of the better known tracks have been doing an event called Drive! where you drive 3 laps of the circuit (in a group of about 15 cars) behind the safety car in your own car. I did one last year at Oulton Park, and this was at Donington Park. Was great fun and a completely different perspective of the track. Maximum speed I saw was about 50mph so it wasn't scary and everyone was well behaved.
You get some pictures of the car as you drive on the track, but they put a border on which I understand but I wish they didn't! I'll copy a cropped picture below:
Looks good if I say so myself - although it now needs a wash from the outing!
It wasn't a proper track day - MSV who own some of the better known tracks have been doing an event called Drive! where you drive 3 laps of the circuit (in a group of about 15 cars) behind the safety car in your own car. I did one last year at Oulton Park, and this was at Donington Park. Was great fun and a completely different perspective of the track. Maximum speed I saw was about 50mph so it wasn't scary and everyone was well behaved.
You get some pictures of the car as you drive on the track, but they put a border on which I understand but I wish they didn't! I'll copy a cropped picture below:
Looks good if I say so myself - although it now needs a wash from the outing!
d_a_n1979 said:
Haha absolutely
Car looks well on track too. Looks fully loaded as well
Yes, four up with the better half and the in-laws. The price is per car so it makes no difference price wise.Car looks well on track too. Looks fully loaded as well
I think it looks good on track, but I won't be taking it on track in anger any time soon. Too much risk for my liking afankyouverymuch.
Short update for this evening.
This evening saw me swap to the summer wheels and tyres. Done for two reasons:
1) The temperatures are about right but mainly because
2) Last time I used the touring it started making a squealing noise akin to a dust shield rubbing on a brake disc. So as I was investigating that, I decided the wheels could be swapped. Typically I found the issue on the last wheel I removed - a small stone wedged between the disc and heat shield. Once evicted, the front nearside wheel rotates silently again
Although I did find that front offside disc dust shield has a loose fixing, but although the dust sheild can move a little, its not going to cause any damage. I'll have a look if I can get hold of new dust shields and replace at some point
Sits at 99,964 miles so nearly at 100,000
This evening saw me swap to the summer wheels and tyres. Done for two reasons:
1) The temperatures are about right but mainly because
2) Last time I used the touring it started making a squealing noise akin to a dust shield rubbing on a brake disc. So as I was investigating that, I decided the wheels could be swapped. Typically I found the issue on the last wheel I removed - a small stone wedged between the disc and heat shield. Once evicted, the front nearside wheel rotates silently again
Although I did find that front offside disc dust shield has a loose fixing, but although the dust sheild can move a little, its not going to cause any damage. I'll have a look if I can get hold of new dust shields and replace at some point
Sits at 99,964 miles so nearly at 100,000
d_a_n1979 said:
Wow you've done some miles in it Matt...
And one it hits 100k it'll fall apart into a small heap haha
It's not even run in yet pal
Re brake disc shield; leave it until it falls off... Its a hub off jobby and not really worth it TBH.
Haha! I know. It maybe hasn't been used as much as it should be, but it doesn't help I've got this and the Fiesta which gets used most days, if I'm not working from home. Also, and I know it sounds ridiculous (it does to me but I couldn't help it), I was weirdly nervous of getting to 100,000 miles for no good reason. I don't know why... Once it passes 100,000 miles I probably won't care especially as I don't actually do that many miles any more.And one it hits 100k it'll fall apart into a small heap haha
It's not even run in yet pal
Re brake disc shield; leave it until it falls off... Its a hub off jobby and not really worth it TBH.
Thanks for the thought on the dust shield, it as above it is a hub off job then I am happy to put that off
The shield had a very small witness mark so I don't think it's a big issue.5 In a Row said:
I had a 530d a few years back and it was very proficient at collecting small stones between the dust shield and disc - on one occasion somehow managing it while making progress on the motorway!
Anyway, from memory I simply cut one of the shields off because it was rattling and only held by 1 rivet.
It's only the first time it's happened to me (so far). Noting the comments above I'll leave the dust shields for now and if they become an issue I'll sort them out then Anyway, from memory I simply cut one of the shields off because it was rattling and only held by 1 rivet.
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