Underbonnet clean-up.

[Kerry540]

I have just started cleaning up my E39 540 Sport and have been concentrating on some underbonnet items.
My first job was to replace the rusty cam cover bolts with new chrome bolts when I had the weeping camcover gaskets replaced and at the same time, had the PAS bracket chromed.
[pic][/pic]

Next, I found that the cabin filter covers were stained and no amount of back-to-black would tidy them up so I had them painted body colour and chromed the retaining clips. I replaced the shock tower nuts with some chrome acorn nuts and stainless steel washers and chromed the earth terminal stud.
[pic][/pic]

Having fitted carbon boot and bonnet badges, I found the original badge exactly fitted the engine sound hood where the roundel is so I fitted the old enamel badge here, and although my car is not an "M" car but does have all the "M" sport body and trim, incl the wheels I fitted an "M" badge to the sound hood.
[pic][/pic]

And to finish off the detailing, I fitted the M3 oil cap and a billet dipstick handle. I also went round the engine bay and replaced all the nuts and bolts I could with either chromed stock replacements or polished stainless fasteners.
[pic][/pic]

Next job is those rusty discs and calipers.

Kerry.

[belleair302]

Kerry re calipers and disks have a look at what Phoenix Motorsport in Camberley Surrey can do. I had my calipers done there a few weeks ago....top job and not so expensive.

Good luck.

[vincenz]

Does the M stand for marketting?

[Kerry540]

vincenz said:

Does the M stand for marketting?

Yes, and S stands for spelling!

[Sheriff JWPepper]

A 540i is a great car in it's own right, garnishing it with M badges cheapens it.

Clean up looks good but lose the Ms.

[vincenz]

Kerry540 said:

vincenz said:

Does the M stand for marketting?

Yes, and S stands for spelling!

Indeed,

But I know, as well as you do, the engine is not from the Motorsport division and I think your trying to imply it's something it isnt and therefore it looks tacky.
IMO

[burriana]

Ditto above I'm afraid Kerry. You have a great car in its own right.

If it's not a Motorsport engine what have you got to gain by putting a Motorsport badge on?

Just my own humble opinion and it's a free world of course

[burriana]

oh, and I could have done with that old bonnet badge as mine has just had a chunk taken out of it!

[vincenz]

Kerry540 said:

I also went round the engine bay and replaced all the nuts and bolts I could with either chromed stock replacements or polished stainless fasteners.

Also, (and im not meaning to get on your back here) but every bolt on your vehicle has a prescribed torque, some are more critical than others.
But to do this under the engine bay is dubious, if the only benefit was a cosmetic one.

Unless of course you had the torque settings to hand and fastened each one to their specific value.

[DSM2]

vincenz said:

Kerry540 said:

I also went round the engine bay and replaced all the nuts and bolts I could with either chromed stock replacements or polished stainless fasteners.

Also, (and im not meaning to get on your back here) but every bolt on your vehicle has a prescribed torque, some are more critical than others.
But to do this under the engine bay is dubious, if the only benefit was a cosmetic one.

Unless of course you had the torque settings to hand and fastened each one to their specific value.

To add to this, did you check torques and specs of bolts / nuts?

Different materials are used for fasteners, depending upon the torque required and the operating conditions in terms of temperature and vibration etc.

Using lower than recommended spec fittings, even if torqued correctly, can lead to problems.

Attention to detail is impressive though!!

[Kerry540]

Replacing fasteners such as radiator mounting bolts, coil bolts, PAS pumps and clamps etc may well have torque values but I would like to know who ever uses a torque wrench on these.

The strut top mount nuts were torqued, as are the wheel nuts and I will use a torque wrench on other safety critical areas, although I have yet to see a main dealer use a TW even on brake calipers, or even on wheels for that matter.

The "M" badges are something we will have to agree to disagree with. I would NEVER put an M5 badge on the car as that is very tacky but I don't consider replacing a leaky oil cap with an M3 cap, or fitting an "M" accessory dipstick, both of which are hidden under the bonnet too tacky.

As for the "M" on the engine shield, well the jury is out on that!

Kerry540.

[dibbly_dobbler]

Kerry - I doff my hat to your petrolheadedness ! There's no way I could be ars*d doing all that and as it is under the bonnet, I presume you are doing it purely for personal pleasure.

Keep up the good work and pay no heed to the knockers.

and welcome !

[Kerry540]

Thanks,

I couldn't afford a new car, (hate the new 5 anyway), so want to get my 2003 car as clean as possible. I did a full Zaino 5 stage polish when I got it but that is now down to a single stage Autoglym wax and polish!
Wheels get washed weekly to remove brake dust as I refurbed them as soon as I got the car. Leather fed every 6 months. Took about 5 hours last Sunday polishing out a scratch in my plastic headlamp lens. Was worth it though, do you know how much a new HID headlamp is?
Gulp.

Kerry540

[burriana]

Come on then ... I for one want to see some pics in all it's polished glory


we like pictures on here we do

[french]

Putting any M emblem on a non M car is the same as wearing a fake Rolex your only kidding yourself & looking pretty daft meanwhile .
Especially when you try to quantifi it by saying your car has M-sport styling t ........well M-tech is not M motorsport is it .......& again really smacks of replica TAT!!

[Kerry540]

french said:

Putting any M emblem on a non M car is the same as wearing a fake Rolex your only kidding yourself & looking pretty daft meanwhile .
Especially when you try to quantifi it by saying your car has M-sport styling t ........well M-tech is not M motorsport is it .......& again really smacks of replica TAT!!

So who rattled your cage? How do YOU define an "M" car?
Not sure if you are actually aware, but BMW factory fit accessories and M-Tec components wearing the "M" logo are available on all models, even a 318Ti Compact smart@ss.
I have factory fitted from new, M-Tec wheels, trim, sill plates, steering wheel and rubbing strips, all of which carry the "M" logo.
I also have "M" suspension factory fitted but no logo's there.
As you seem to be a beginner in your knowledge of BMW, let a girl educate you who worked for BMW for 13 years.
There is no such thing as M motorsport. There is BMW Motorsport who run the race teams, and there is M-tec who do the sports styling and accessories for the brand.
You seem to believe that only an "M" engined car is justified in wearing an "M" logo anywhere.
WRONG!
I have not tried to imply the car is an M5, especially as my registration number is BMW 540L, and I would not swap for an M5 anyway as I prefer an automatic.
Replica TAT? Get that chip off your shoulder and grow up.
Putting an M3 badge on a 316 saloon is tacky, or M3 mirrors on your Saxo, but "M" accessories on any BMW sits fine with me.

Kerry540.

[dibbly_dobbler]

Kerry540 said:

Thanks,

I couldn't afford a new car, (hate the new 5 anyway), so want to get my 2003 car as clean as possible. I did a full Zaino 5 stage polish when I got it but that is now down to a single stage Autoglym wax and polish!
Wheels get washed weekly to remove brake dust as I refurbed them as soon as I got the car. Leather fed every 6 months. Took about 5 hours last Sunday polishing out a scratch in my plastic headlamp lens. Was worth it though, do you know how much a new HID headlamp is?
Gulp.

Kerry540

That sure is keen ! I gave mine a wash and hoover at the weekend then set out to wax it - got bored/tired after about 30mins so now have 1 shiny door

[dibbly_dobbler]

Kerry540 said:

french said:

Putting any M emblem on a non M car is the same as wearing a fake Rolex your only kidding yourself & looking pretty daft meanwhile .
Especially when you try to quantifi it by saying your car has M-sport styling t ........well M-tech is not M motorsport is it .......& again really smacks of replica TAT!!

So who rattled your cage? How do YOU define an "M" car?
Not sure if you are actually aware, but BMW factory fit accessories and M-Tec components wearing the "M" logo are available on all models, even a 318Ti Compact smart@ss.
I have factory fitted from new, M-Tec wheels, trim, sill plates, steering wheel and rubbing strips, all of which carry the "M" logo.
I also have "M" suspension factory fitted but no logo's there.
As you seem to be a beginner in your knowledge of BMW, let a girl educate you who worked for BMW for 13 years.
There is no such thing as M motorsport. There is BMW Motorsport who run the race teams, and there is M-tec who do the sports styling and accessories for the brand.
You seem to believe that only an "M" engined car is justified in wearing an "M" logo anywhere.
WRONG!
I have not tried to imply the car is an M5, especially as my registration number is BMW 540L, and I would not swap for an M5 anyway as I prefer an automatic.
Replica TAT? Get that chip off your shoulder and grow up.
Putting an M3 badge on a 316 saloon is tacky, or M3 mirrors on your Saxo, but "M" accessories on any BMW sits fine with me.

Kerry540.

+1. Excess flaming chaps - out of order.

Go Kerry - nice rebuttal !!

[BlueC2]

Kerry540,

Looks nice to me!

What did you use to clean up your plastic lenses? Mine are a little scratched from previous cleaning and I'd like to perk them up.

[french]

Kerry540 said:

french said:

Putting any M emblem on a non M car is the same as wearing a fake Rolex your only kidding yourself & looking pretty daft meanwhile .
Especially when you try to quantifi it by saying your car has M-sport styling t ........well M-tech is not M motorsport is it .......& again really smacks of replica TAT!!

So who rattled your cage? How do YOU define an "M" car?

Lets see M5 yes:M3 Yes M6 yes
Not sure if you are actually aware, but BMW factory fit accessories and M-Tec components wearing the "M" logo are available on all models, even a 318Ti Compact smart@ss.

As I said previously M-Tec is NOT from any of the M cars

I have factory fitted from new, M-Tec wheels, trim, sill plates, steering wheel and rubbing strips, all of which carry the "M" logo.

Hope you like it

I also have "M" suspension factory fitted but no logo's there.
thats because its not the same spec as the M5 Luv

As you seem to be a beginner in your knowledge of BMW, let a girl educate you who worked for BMW for 13 years.

Lol


There is no such thing as M motorsport. There is BMW Motorsport who run the race teams, and there is M-tec who do the sports styling and accessories for the brand.

Pedantic too

You seem to believe that only an "M" engined car is justified in wearing an "M" logo anywhere.
WRONG!
Err no

I have not tried to imply the car is an M5, especially as my registration number is BMW 540L, and I would not swap for an M5 anyway as I prefer an automatic.

Just as well then

Replica TAT? Get that chip off your shoulder and grow up.

Yup Replica TAT!!!

Putting an M3 badge on a 316 saloon is tacky, or M3 mirrors on your Saxo, but "M" accessories on any BMW sits fine with me.

Fine but its fake TAT!!

Kerry540.