2001 BMW 525iA Sport Touring (E39)
Discussion
I recently bought this as a general load carrier, smoker, and anything else that I wouldn't do in the CL.
I had it checked over by the garage and aside from requiring brake pads soon, one tyre soon and they topped up all the fluids, they gave it a clean bill of health. It has covered just over 133,000 miles.
I had the aircon regassed and dye added as it was not very cold and so far it seems to be holding up. It's not a patch on the CL though so maybe this is BMW climate control - a bit weedy.
Next up was sound only coming from the OSF door speaker, so a quick internet search suggested this was the BM54 amplifier. I sent it off to Cartronics and they turned it around in a day and Robert's your mother's brother - sterophonic sound restored.
THe passenger sunvisor has been snapped off and the OSF arch liner has seen better days. The windscreen rubber surround is perishing (they all do that sir, apparently). There is a slight rattle from the sliding boot floor which is annoying.
Tyres are a mixture of Kleber and Michelin Alpin all-seasons so I am set for whatever winter may throw at west Berkshire. They are the incorrect size of 225/45 R17 so I suspect it was cheaper to fit these than the handbook size of 235/45 R17
BMW beards will have spotted it also has replica M5 wheels and not the style 66 it should have had from the factory. They can stay as they are for now as I do not intend to throw a load of money at it, but I think some style 33s would look better.
The tinted windows may well have to come off but it doesn't look an easy job.
If any BMW beards have useful information or observations, please feel free to comment.
An on-line chassis decode returns this list of build codes
Type Code DS42
E Series E39 (2)
Series 5
Type TOUR
Model 525I TOURING (EUR)
Steering RL
Doors 5
Engine M54
Displacement 2.50
Power 141
Drive HECK
Transmission AUT
Colour OXFORDGRUEN 2 METALLIC (430)
Upholstery STANDARDLEDER/BEIGE E36
SANDBEIGE E (N6SN)
Prod. Date 2001-07-11
L812A National version Great Britain
P337A M Sports package
S202A Steptronic
S220A Self-levelling suspension
S227A Sport suspension+lowered+ride-height
S249A Multifunction f steering wheel
S302A Alarm system
S339A Shadow-Line
S386A Roof railing
S412A Luggage-compartment floor, extendable
S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S434A Interior surface aluminium
S441A Smoker package
S473A Armrest front
S481A Sports seat
S508A Park Distance Control (PDC)
S520A Fog lights
S534A Automatic air conditioning
S555A On-board computer V with remote control
S602A On-board monitor with TV
S609A Navigation system Professional
S632A Preparation BMW Handy (Motorola)
S672A CD changer for 6 CDs
S694A Provisions for BMW 6 CD changer
S710A M sports steering wheel, multifunction
S715A M Aerodynamics package
S775A Headlining anthracite
S785A White direction indicator lights
S788A BMW LA wheel, Individual
S850A Dummy-SALAPA
S853A Language version English
S863A Retailer Directory Europe
S877A Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A On-board vehicle literature English
Novelty mobile phone in the armrest. I presume this would still work with a SIM.
Replacing the BM54 amplifier
Broken cover due to hamfistedness
Pretty clean inside but the leather could do with a clean. I have bought some Gliptone stuff.
Arch liner damaged
Original chrome grilles. These will be refitted.
Broken sunvisor
Overall it drives quite nicely but I am not a fan of the steering weight. The CL has probably spoiled me to some extent. I can't see any rust anywhere and Oxford green is a pleasant colour.
I had it checked over by the garage and aside from requiring brake pads soon, one tyre soon and they topped up all the fluids, they gave it a clean bill of health. It has covered just over 133,000 miles.
I had the aircon regassed and dye added as it was not very cold and so far it seems to be holding up. It's not a patch on the CL though so maybe this is BMW climate control - a bit weedy.
Next up was sound only coming from the OSF door speaker, so a quick internet search suggested this was the BM54 amplifier. I sent it off to Cartronics and they turned it around in a day and Robert's your mother's brother - sterophonic sound restored.
THe passenger sunvisor has been snapped off and the OSF arch liner has seen better days. The windscreen rubber surround is perishing (they all do that sir, apparently). There is a slight rattle from the sliding boot floor which is annoying.
Tyres are a mixture of Kleber and Michelin Alpin all-seasons so I am set for whatever winter may throw at west Berkshire. They are the incorrect size of 225/45 R17 so I suspect it was cheaper to fit these than the handbook size of 235/45 R17
BMW beards will have spotted it also has replica M5 wheels and not the style 66 it should have had from the factory. They can stay as they are for now as I do not intend to throw a load of money at it, but I think some style 33s would look better.
The tinted windows may well have to come off but it doesn't look an easy job.
If any BMW beards have useful information or observations, please feel free to comment.
An on-line chassis decode returns this list of build codes
Type Code DS42
E Series E39 (2)
Series 5
Type TOUR
Model 525I TOURING (EUR)
Steering RL
Doors 5
Engine M54
Displacement 2.50
Power 141
Drive HECK
Transmission AUT
Colour OXFORDGRUEN 2 METALLIC (430)
Upholstery STANDARDLEDER/BEIGE E36
SANDBEIGE E (N6SN)
Prod. Date 2001-07-11
L812A National version Great Britain
P337A M Sports package
S202A Steptronic
S220A Self-levelling suspension
S227A Sport suspension+lowered+ride-height
S249A Multifunction f steering wheel
S302A Alarm system
S339A Shadow-Line
S386A Roof railing
S412A Luggage-compartment floor, extendable
S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S434A Interior surface aluminium
S441A Smoker package
S473A Armrest front
S481A Sports seat
S508A Park Distance Control (PDC)
S520A Fog lights
S534A Automatic air conditioning
S555A On-board computer V with remote control
S602A On-board monitor with TV
S609A Navigation system Professional
S632A Preparation BMW Handy (Motorola)
S672A CD changer for 6 CDs
S694A Provisions for BMW 6 CD changer
S710A M sports steering wheel, multifunction
S715A M Aerodynamics package
S775A Headlining anthracite
S785A White direction indicator lights
S788A BMW LA wheel, Individual
S850A Dummy-SALAPA
S853A Language version English
S863A Retailer Directory Europe
S877A Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A On-board vehicle literature English
Novelty mobile phone in the armrest. I presume this would still work with a SIM.
Replacing the BM54 amplifier
Broken cover due to hamfistedness
Pretty clean inside but the leather could do with a clean. I have bought some Gliptone stuff.
Arch liner damaged
Original chrome grilles. These will be refitted.
Broken sunvisor
Overall it drives quite nicely but I am not a fan of the steering weight. The CL has probably spoiled me to some extent. I can't see any rust anywhere and Oxford green is a pleasant colour.
Great specification. Love the green.
The Motorola (V50) still works in my E46, just popped a new sim in it. Hilarious.
I had aftermarket tints on my Touring when I bought it, was a pain removing all the glue but they look a million times better. Try to do this in the warm weather, or wack the heating up in the car for a bit!
I would also recommend really cleaning the inside of the arches to help prevent them rusting through. As they all eventually head that way, shame mind.
The Motorola (V50) still works in my E46, just popped a new sim in it. Hilarious.
I had aftermarket tints on my Touring when I bought it, was a pain removing all the glue but they look a million times better. Try to do this in the warm weather, or wack the heating up in the car for a bit!
I would also recommend really cleaning the inside of the arches to help prevent them rusting through. As they all eventually head that way, shame mind.
It's just had its first tip run. Air conditioning still cold but it takes a while to really blow the low temperature. Loaded a few CDs in the changer and it's OK, but susceptible to skipping over bumps. According to the computer it's averaging around 28 MPG which I suppose is about where I expected it to be. I'll do a proper tank-to-tank test in due course.
It definitely attracts the wrong sort though. Quite a few Max Power / Fast and Furious types right up my backside.
It definitely attracts the wrong sort though. Quite a few Max Power / Fast and Furious types right up my backside.
Lovely car, I had a saloon with the same engine.
You might find it sounds a bit tappety when started from cold, but as long as it only lasts a few seconds, it's fine and nothing to worry about.
Poor running from cold and sluggish performance can be down to the vanos seals, the unit can be stripped down and rebuilt.
Rough running can be the pcv valve in the breather pipes.
The abs unit is too close to the exhaust manifold, and gets burnt out - £££s.
Due to the myriad suspension joints, shimies and vibrations at speed can be virtually impossible to eradicate.
The sump is huge and takes 7.5 litres of oil to change.
The BM3 unit behind the glovebox can forget what it's doing, causing most electrical things to stop working.
I was fortunate - mine was fairly trouble free, although the abs unit failed before I sold it.
What a delightful car though - I'd have another if I could afford it.
You might find it sounds a bit tappety when started from cold, but as long as it only lasts a few seconds, it's fine and nothing to worry about.
Poor running from cold and sluggish performance can be down to the vanos seals, the unit can be stripped down and rebuilt.
Rough running can be the pcv valve in the breather pipes.
The abs unit is too close to the exhaust manifold, and gets burnt out - £££s.
Due to the myriad suspension joints, shimies and vibrations at speed can be virtually impossible to eradicate.
The sump is huge and takes 7.5 litres of oil to change.
The BM3 unit behind the glovebox can forget what it's doing, causing most electrical things to stop working.
I was fortunate - mine was fairly trouble free, although the abs unit failed before I sold it.
What a delightful car though - I'd have another if I could afford it.
Love the colour and I like the light interior.
Maybe my standards are just a bit low (and I've never had a Mercedes...) but I had two 51 plate E46s and the aircon in both (which I believe is the same system as in the E39) seemed pretty good. You should get nice cold air out of it pretty quickly.
The aircon in my second E46 was a bit limp when I first got it, but after leaving it running at max speed min temp (16°C in this car's case) for a few days it seemed to get itself together, and I never had any further problems with it for the 7 years I had the car. Perhaps the previous owner hadn't used it enough or something.
The aircon final stage resistor can go wrong, which can can produce various symptoms. Google 'e39 hedgehog' and you'll find plenty about it.
I don't know whether it's another bit of shared technology, but it seems the CD changer in the E46 was sometimes misconfigured in a way that made skips more likely: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Maybe my standards are just a bit low (and I've never had a Mercedes...) but I had two 51 plate E46s and the aircon in both (which I believe is the same system as in the E39) seemed pretty good. You should get nice cold air out of it pretty quickly.
The aircon in my second E46 was a bit limp when I first got it, but after leaving it running at max speed min temp (16°C in this car's case) for a few days it seemed to get itself together, and I never had any further problems with it for the 7 years I had the car. Perhaps the previous owner hadn't used it enough or something.
The aircon final stage resistor can go wrong, which can can produce various symptoms. Google 'e39 hedgehog' and you'll find plenty about it.
I don't know whether it's another bit of shared technology, but it seems the CD changer in the E46 was sometimes misconfigured in a way that made skips more likely: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by to3m on Sunday 2nd September 01:15
Lovely load lugger 
Agree; a nice set of 16" Turbines on that with big soft wafty tyres on will see it running like a proper waft-bus
Re the arch liner; has it torn out of the fitting, or torn itself? Wondering if a small self-tapper will sort that; or just get one from a breakers yard etc?
As others have said; have you checked all the sills/jacking points/inner rear arches for rust etc? Hows the suspension, any car wobbling at speed (if so, looks at rear upper arms and front lower thrust arms).
Cooling systems need to be watched on these; not the best but a good overhaul makes them a lot better (stick with Walher/Meyle/Febi/Behr etc); use RealOEM for your part numbers and try to buy from C3BMW or BMWmotormec via eBay; both excellent resellers of quality, genuine items
Agree; a nice set of 16" Turbines on that with big soft wafty tyres on will see it running like a proper waft-bus
Re the arch liner; has it torn out of the fitting, or torn itself? Wondering if a small self-tapper will sort that; or just get one from a breakers yard etc?
As others have said; have you checked all the sills/jacking points/inner rear arches for rust etc? Hows the suspension, any car wobbling at speed (if so, looks at rear upper arms and front lower thrust arms).
Cooling systems need to be watched on these; not the best but a good overhaul makes them a lot better (stick with Walher/Meyle/Febi/Behr etc); use RealOEM for your part numbers and try to buy from C3BMW or BMWmotormec via eBay; both excellent resellers of quality, genuine items
Nothing untoward to report, though I haven't driven it a lot. I tend to take it to work and back on Thursdays but have worked from home lately so it's just sat there, however the new AA solar battery charger is doing its job nicely.
In other news, thanks to the bay of Flea, I sourced some reasonable (not perfect by any means) second hand style 66 wheels with the correct sized 235/45 R17 Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme tyres. They have enough tread for this winter so all good. I am ready for whatever Mother Nature may throw West Berkshire's way.
As soon as the weather turns I'll rid myself of the replica M5 wheels. I hope the wheel bolts are interchangeable
In other news, thanks to the bay of Flea, I sourced some reasonable (not perfect by any means) second hand style 66 wheels with the correct sized 235/45 R17 Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme tyres. They have enough tread for this winter so all good. I am ready for whatever Mother Nature may throw West Berkshire's way.
As soon as the weather turns I'll rid myself of the replica M5 wheels. I hope the wheel bolts are interchangeable
Edited by tobinen on Sunday 21st October 15:16
A second hand sun visor has been sourced this week for £20 from an E39 Facebook page. It's in good order so a small weekend job for me
One thing I have noticed is the gearbox down-changes from 5th to 4th up the slightest incline, especially on cruise. A quick internet trawl suggests this may be the lock-up solenoid on its way out. All other gear changes are fine. If there is no immediate rush to fix it I will leave it for later unless erly repair prevents something more serious.
I've ordered a torque wrench and socket as I don't have these for when I want to change the wheels over.
One thing I have noticed is the gearbox down-changes from 5th to 4th up the slightest incline, especially on cruise. A quick internet trawl suggests this may be the lock-up solenoid on its way out. All other gear changes are fine. If there is no immediate rush to fix it I will leave it for later unless erly repair prevents something more serious.
I've ordered a torque wrench and socket as I don't have these for when I want to change the wheels over.
to3m said:
I don't know whether it's another bit of shared technology, but it seems the CD changer in the E46 was sometimes misconfigured in a way that made skips more likely: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Thanks a lot for flagging this! I was about to fabricate some rubber CD changer mounts for my 2001 E39.strangehighways said:
Lovely car. I've never had the pleasure of owning an E39 but would like to at some point.
How do you find the engine in the estate with the Auto box? Is it just enough or fine for most scenarios?
It's fine for every day stuff, but I would buy the 3 litre if there is a next time. The V8 was out of my budget but would be the one to have I think.How do you find the engine in the estate with the Auto box? Is it just enough or fine for most scenarios?
My first trip of some distance in the Touring this afternoon back to Cambridge. I gave it an energetic workout via Bicester, Buckingham, Milton Keynes and St. Neots. It's a very smooth engine as BMW knows S6s but lacking oomph.
The driver's seat is very comfortable but the wireless is s
t, though it is 17 years old. The winter tyres seem ok but it's too warm and one can feel the movement on the blocks of the Vredestein wintrac extremes
That all said I'm beginning to like it more but it confirms my feeling that a 3.0 SE with 16" wheels would've been the correct choice
The driver's seat is very comfortable but the wireless is s
t, though it is 17 years old. The winter tyres seem ok but it's too warm and one can feel the movement on the blocks of the Vredestein wintrac extremesThat all said I'm beginning to like it more but it confirms my feeling that a 3.0 SE with 16" wheels would've been the correct choice
Lovely looking E39, but I think I'd find a 525iA a bit sluggish too!
I had an E46 325ti for 3 years which seemed pretty lively, but I replaced it earlier this year with an E91 325i that feels slower, even if it is supposed to be more powerful - and they are both manual!
Factor in some more weight and an auto and it isn't going to get too exciting - but must be a wafty delight!
I had an E46 325ti for 3 years which seemed pretty lively, but I replaced it earlier this year with an E91 325i that feels slower, even if it is supposed to be more powerful - and they are both manual!
Factor in some more weight and an auto and it isn't going to get too exciting - but must be a wafty delight!
Finally sold the M5 replicas for £100, so the 66s and tyres came in at net £110, which I think is pretty reasonable. Second hand centre caps came, but 2 were very loose so may be unuseable. The others seem to be holding in but there is no 'snap' or 'click'. For £8.40 I won't lose any sleep over them.
I really miss DAB and a decent stereo though, of which the CL reminds me everytime I drive it.
I really miss DAB and a decent stereo though, of which the CL reminds me everytime I drive it.
How to waft in style. Good purchase Sir!
I’d have a good look at the front arch liners. If they’re anything like the E46’s they’re tucked along the inside of the arch lip and designed to rub off the paint and galvanising and, hey presto, you get lovely corrosion along the lip. I replaced both front wings on mine due to this and have shaved away the parts of the liners which were rubbing on the inner lip. I periodically remove the liner to get rid of any crud that’s got past the trimmed-back liner.
Keep the updates coming
I’d have a good look at the front arch liners. If they’re anything like the E46’s they’re tucked along the inside of the arch lip and designed to rub off the paint and galvanising and, hey presto, you get lovely corrosion along the lip. I replaced both front wings on mine due to this and have shaved away the parts of the liners which were rubbing on the inner lip. I periodically remove the liner to get rid of any crud that’s got past the trimmed-back liner.
Keep the updates coming
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