Discussion
Lucky man 
My e39 - Alpina B10 3.3 manual - goes in for oil service & MOT next week; I'm also having the rear ball joints replaced on the precautionary principle - nothing untoward, but they are now 140K miles old and bound to be shot (all the other susp bushes have been replaced in last couple of years)
Oh, that reminds me Triumph man - rummaging around earlier I found a NOS steering idler arm bush for an e34 (bought destined for my old 540 long gone, but never fitted) - happy to post it to you FOC if of interest
My e39 - Alpina B10 3.3 manual - goes in for oil service & MOT next week; I'm also having the rear ball joints replaced on the precautionary principle - nothing untoward, but they are now 140K miles old and bound to be shot (all the other susp bushes have been replaced in last couple of years)
Oh, that reminds me Triumph man - rummaging around earlier I found a NOS steering idler arm bush for an e34 (bought destined for my old 540 long gone, but never fitted) - happy to post it to you FOC if of interest
Well thought it time to update! Front end had been getting vague and I had a vibration under braking. After steeling my resolve, I set about tearing it apart this weekend. I’m in the process of replacing: upper and lower control arms, track rods and track rod ends, droplinks, and ARB bushes, and NSF wheel bearing. Dampers were done at its mot in April.
Unfortunately photos won’t upload... but I can report that so far removing the entire steering knuckle is the easiest thing to in terms or removing arms. I used a generic ball joint tool (not the pickle fork) and “adjusted” the threads of the arms with an angle grinder so it would fit. I can also report that should a sleeve from the knuckle come out with the track rod end, getting the splitter on it will solve the issue...
The OSF ARB bush is a pain in the arse to change, especially when you lose the rear bolt in the chassis... what a
nugget.
As it is after a day’s work I’ve got the nearside stripped and new arms in position on the car (not torqued of course!) I’m taking the knuckle up to a garage to get the bearing bolts out as even my impact gun was defeated. The driver’s side has been mostly stripped, and the new ARB bush installed (mostly!)
Beer time now, and I’ll carry on in the evenings - thankfully the E34 is back on the road so I can take my time!
Unfortunately photos won’t upload... but I can report that so far removing the entire steering knuckle is the easiest thing to in terms or removing arms. I used a generic ball joint tool (not the pickle fork) and “adjusted” the threads of the arms with an angle grinder so it would fit. I can also report that should a sleeve from the knuckle come out with the track rod end, getting the splitter on it will solve the issue...
The OSF ARB bush is a pain in the arse to change, especially when you lose the rear bolt in the chassis... what a
nugget.As it is after a day’s work I’ve got the nearside stripped and new arms in position on the car (not torqued of course!) I’m taking the knuckle up to a garage to get the bearing bolts out as even my impact gun was defeated. The driver’s side has been mostly stripped, and the new ARB bush installed (mostly!)
Beer time now, and I’ll carry on in the evenings - thankfully the E34 is back on the road so I can take my time!
Edited by Triumph Man on Sunday 28th October 19:49
I realised last week that the car had developed a coolant leak, so got under it, yep definitely the water pump, can't be the thermostat, I only did that 18 months ago...
On Sunday I stripped the fan, shroud, pulley off etc to find that it was definitely the thermostat. Oh tits, and I only ordered the water pump, because, you know, it was definitely that leaking.
Ah well, shut the bonnet on it, went for a lovely walk in a wood carpeted with Bluebells and a nice lunch at Waitrose.
This morning I've ordered a new thermostat and radiator, because I decided that was looking a little dodgy and it's simple enough to do when the fan and shroud are off.
On Sunday I stripped the fan, shroud, pulley off etc to find that it was definitely the thermostat. Oh tits, and I only ordered the water pump, because, you know, it was definitely that leaking.
Ah well, shut the bonnet on it, went for a lovely walk in a wood carpeted with Bluebells and a nice lunch at Waitrose.
This morning I've ordered a new thermostat and radiator, because I decided that was looking a little dodgy and it's simple enough to do when the fan and shroud are off.
Edited by Triumph Man on Monday 29th April 12:06
Good choice choosing a 530i manual, but I'd be slightly biased. I bought mine about 3-4 years ago from an old farmer type near me. As its also an SE, I decided to 'un-old man' it a bit, by dechroming it, adding 18" wheels, and tinting the rear windows. Its absolutely not for everyone, but I still have the staggered style 32's, so its all reversable ! I think yours are sportpack 17"s, as I remember having a 2003 520i ES with cloth sports seats and the same wheels.
Thank you! I count myself very lucky to have found it, in pretty much my ideal spec. Yes I'm biased but I think the wheels suit it, although I will need to get them refurbed soon though...
The shadowline trim on your works nicely against the grey I think, and both style 32 and 37 wheels are nice!
The shadowline trim on your works nicely against the grey I think, and both style 32 and 37 wheels are nice!
Little job done that I’d been putting off: valve cover gasket replacement - not too bad a job as it turned out. I’d been putting off due to fear of discovering a cracked or warped valve cover. Shakedown run was a baptism of fire - I had a call from my girlfriend that she had broken down on the A303 in a vulnerable place - so a *ahem* high speed run ensued to rescue her. Silly cow had run out of fuel... 
Realised I’ve had the car 3.5 years, and from 145000 miles we are now on 193000 miles. Still like it - needs a good clean.
Realised I’ve had the car 3.5 years, and from 145000 miles we are now on 193000 miles. Still like it - needs a good clean.
Another good job done - wheel bearing and handbrake mechanism. Nothing like spending 7 hours under your car because everything’s stuck and inaccessible.. but we got there in the end. Tried the job a couple of weeks ago but the handbrake shoe retaining pins had pulled through the backing plate so I had to get a new one of those, and rebuild most of the handbrake.
The observant among you will notice I also renewed the hub. For the sake of £50 I thought I’d save myself some hassle of having to remove the old bearing from the hub.
And my face at the end of the job...
The observant among you will notice I also renewed the hub. For the sake of £50 I thought I’d save myself some hassle of having to remove the old bearing from the hub.
And my face at the end of the job...
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