2002 E39 530i Touring - Japanese import

[d_a_n1979]

As per the BMW General thread:

Up to Glasgow on Saturday 2nd March to buy this

Decided that diesel and I do not get on; so the land-barge (E65 730D) went Friday 1st March and this was collected Saturday

These are pics from the seller; it's covered just over 85k miles and drives faultlessly... It's already had plenty of work to it (autobox oil and filter, suspension arms, brakes etc), just needs my touch














It's been up on my pals ramps today for a good look over underneath, it's spotless with no rust anywhere.

The oil filter housing gasket is leaking as they normally do, so that along with a new stat, water pump and main belts have been ordered today, to be fitted next Tuesday

Also have replacement Lunex 6000k xenon bulbs, Osram Cool Blue H7 main beam bulbs and 10w CREE LED halo lights to fit, alongside a K&N air filter, Hella carbon pollen filters and a full oil & filter change (TripleQX 5W40 & Mann filter courtesy of Carparts4less). I ran this oil & Mann filters in my previous E39s and E38 and never had any issues with it, more so as I'll change the oil 2/3 times a year as I do limited mileage

The interior needs a thorough clean (been lashing it down here since Saturday) and then new car mats and boot liner can be fitted, along with interior LED bulbs etc

Will update as I go along

Edited by d_a_n1979 on Wednesday 21st April 09:10

Edited by d_a_n1979 on Wednesday 9th March 07:58

[martin mrt]

I’m Sure I seen this for sale last week somewhere, at a handsome price too, but the condition looks to reflect the price.

Nice purchase

[d_a_n1979]

martin mrt said:

I’m Sure I seen this for sale last week somewhere, at a handsome price too, but the condition looks to reflect the price.

Nice purchase

You might have done; I certainly didn't pay anywhere near the asking. It was bit of a cheeky price

[Roger Woods]

Great cars. Pretty much the best all round car I have had. My e39 touring was the only one in Saudi Arabia when I had it. It was always well received when I used to go to the main dealers in Riyadh which sold 100's of 7 series each year but staff were always more interested in my 523. Good times

[d_a_n1979]

Its immaculate underneath, not an ounce of rust... Did find the oil filter housing gasket leaking though, so that’s been ordered along with a new stat, water pump, coolant, the 2 main belts etc, oil and filter ordered also & booked in, next Tuesday, to have it all fitted 8)

Will get more pics up as things progress

[markirl]

Looks like an absolute beauty, well done

[spreadsheet monkey]

Nice car OP, looks great.

I always keep an eye on the market for Jag XK8s (which are shockers for rust) and I see quite a few Japanese imports advertised. The lack of rust is appealing as most of Japan doesn’t use salt on its roads.

Are there any obvious spec or power differences between Jap and Euro spec E39s?

[d_a_n1979]

spreadsheet monkey said:

Nice car OP, looks great.

I always keep an eye on the market for Jag XK8s (which are shockers for rust) and I see quite a few Japanese imports advertised. The lack of rust is appealing as most of Japan doesn’t use salt on its roads.

Are there any obvious spec or power differences between Jap and Euro spec E39s?

Specs can be different; for instance this is the alcantara interior, but other than that it's fairly standard

Lots of stupid Japanese wiring/aerials etc, so they'll all get snipped and removed

No parking sensors too, which I find odd, more so on a large car like this, so that's going to get looked into as well!

Re the rust; every import I've had have been rustless; so it's a great way to get an older car that's not falling to pieces etc

[Oh Behave]

Great purchase, looks immaculate!

[nsa]

spreadsheet monkey said:

Nice car OP, looks great.

I always keep an eye on the market for Jag XK8s (which are shockers for rust) and I see quite a few Japanese imports advertised. The lack of rust is appealing as most of Japan doesn’t use salt on its roads.

Are there any obvious spec or power differences between Jap and Euro spec E39s?

Have a look at 28car.com I saw a nice 97 XK8 on there today. 10k, no idea if that is a good price but nothing rusts over here. I can't link to the ad but search "XK8" in the text box on the right of the page.

[gregs656]

That is a stunner. Top purchase that.

[spreadsheet monkey]

nsa said:

spreadsheet monkey said:

Nice car OP, looks great.

I always keep an eye on the market for Jag XK8s (which are shockers for rust) and I see quite a few Japanese imports advertised. The lack of rust is appealing as most of Japan doesn’t use salt on its roads.

Are there any obvious spec or power differences between Jap and Euro spec E39s?

Have a look at 28car.com I saw a nice 97 XK8 on there today. 10k, no idea if that is a good price but nothing rusts over here. I can't link to the ad but search "XK8" in the text box on the right of the page.

Thanks for the link. Although I still window shop for XK8s, I've already had one and am not in the market for another. At least not for now

As well as 90s Jags, I also see the import companies doing a brisk trade in Range Rover Classics and Discoveries and classic-shape Minis. Basically anything 15-20 years old where the potential buyers are wary of rust! All interesting stuff, but don't want to take the OP's thread too far off topic...

[d_a_n1979]

A fair bit of work done to the car so far; it'll be 2 weeks into ownership tomorrow, so I've not delayed in getting some essentials done

It's had, so far: new front tyres (Nexen N'Fera SU1s for now, as I'll more than likely be moving up to either OEM 18" alloys (Style 37s possibly) or aftermarket alloys (probably 19s via the likes of BMAutosport, just need to decide on which); a cooling system overhaul (stat, pump, coolant flush & refill), oil filter & oil change (ECPs Tripe QX 5W40 for now; it'll get another change soon too, using this one as a flush, so to speak), oil filter housing gasket replacement (explains the leak all down that side of the block and coating the underneath too), heater valve replacement (one side stuck open), new interior mats and boot liner, new genuine Hella headlights and OEM xenon retrofit (the OEM Hella xenons the car came with were in good condition but the adjusters were in pieces and I've not got the skill nor patience to replace these myself).

It's going to get OEM Mtec front suspension fitted sometime later next week; currently it's got OEM dampers but the springs look aftermarket and the front end is a touch bouncy, so they need swapping out ASAP really. Doesn't help both dampers are weeping slightly and the bump stops have more or less disintegrated!

I'm going to get it into a local window tinting company, get the silly dark tints off and some lighter tints fitted. They make the interior very dark and I'm not keen at all.

I've not had chance to give it my level of wash and detail; it's been bloody horrible here weather wise, so as soon as I get chance, I'll get the engine bay thoroughly cleaned and detailed and then give the whole car a deep clean and wax and get some more pictures up

[d_a_n1979]

Finally got round to actually washing the car myself; plus a full bottom inside (it needed it)


It's been thoroughly cleaned inside and out and given a good coating of wax too; wheels cleaned as best as I can, they're presentable for now, until I source their replacements  


A few shots of the alcantara interior too; it's a lovely place to be (until I wear my leaking Rohan gilet and there are feathers everywhere and they're a sod to hoover up)  






























It's in with BMW tomorrow for an airbag recall.

Then it's in for more suspension work next week (full front OEM Sachs shocks; OEM BMW Mtec springs or Eibach Pro-kit springs (haven't decided which yet), new front & rear top mounts, new front drop-links; an Mtec 82mm stud conversion and 15mm hubcentric spacers and then it'll get booked in for it's MOT

[80quattro]

That's a very clean E39. Best engine as well, but I would be biased. I upgraded my 17" Style 32's to 18" Style 37's, that along with lower profile tyres, made a significant handling improvement.

[Sf_Manta]

Rather minty fresh that.

I love that interior , is it Alacantia? Gah, can't spell it.

[d_a_n1979]

80quattro said:

That's a very clean E39. Best engine as well, but I would be biased. I upgraded my 17" Style 32's to 18" Style 37's, that along with lower profile tyres, made a significant handling improvement.

Yeah, my 3rd 530i now, previous 2 were saloons and before that, an E38 728i... The straight 6 is a love engine and the E39 530i handles the best too IMO, proper steering and not a box.

I’m looking for some Style 37s but they’re always stupidly priced unfortunately. Not desperate for them though, they’re not my favourite alloy wheel.

I may end up going aftermarket with alloys, quite fancy a set of BBS CH-Rs but need to justify their price. Other than that, I’ll keep my eyes on what BMAutosport have on their website etc

The E39s do handle the best on 18s, but this is a waft bus & the 17s give it a very smooth ride

[d_a_n1979]

Sf_Manta said:

Rather minty fresh that.

I love that interior , is it Alacantia? Gah, can't spell it.

Thanks & yes, it’s alcantara

[Mr Tidy]

Nice car, but a bit too lardy for my liking.

And I much prefer heated leather to Alcantara!

[d_a_n1979]

Mr Tidy said:

Nice car, but a bit too lardy for my liking.

And I much prefer heated leather to Alcantara!

Thankfully; it's not your car

I wanted Alcantara for a change, so that's one of the main reasons I bought it... And if you knew the size of me (I like picking up heavy rocks for a hobby), the car suits me to a tee!