2002 E39 530i Touring - Japanese import

[d_a_n1979]

New suspension up front today (Sachs dampers & OEM BMW Mtec springs with OEM BMW rubber seats and top-mount cups & Sachs bump-stop kit), new Meyle top mounts, new Meyle HD drop links also



Rear Febi top mounts fitted, but replacement dampers needed, so Sachs parts ordered this afternoon too  


Also fitted the Mteconline 82mm stud conversion kit and have fitted 5mm hubcentric shims for now until I get my replacement alloys on



































The car currently is sitting higher at the front; but the dampers were shot, it'll settle soon enough. Be good to get the rear end refreshed too  

[d_a_n1979]

Full clean MOT today

New Sachs rear shocks to fit sometime this week & hopefully my replacement alloys will land with me too

Will update with pictures when I can

[d_a_n1979]

Front suspension fettled today and new rear Sachs dampers fitted along with new bump stops and dust covers:













Car needs to settle onto the suspension a bit more; but it'll do that in its own time. Car drives and handles superbly though now with all new OEM/Sachs Mtec suspension

[Sf_Manta]

Must feel night and day different now.

I remember when i first updated to the KW suspension on my E46... what a difference that did

Top work

[aaron_2000]

The only downside for me with Jap imports is they're usually auto, but for this one I could live with that. What a great buy. I'd probably go JDM if I was looking for one, they're getting too high mileage and rare here now. I won't ask what you paid, but did you have much change from £5k if any at all?

[d_a_n1979]

Sf_Manta said:

Must feel night and day different now.

I remember when i first updated to the KW suspension on my E46... what a difference that did

Top work

It drives really well, that fresh suspension feeling haha Just need a quick steering tweak next week as the steering wheel is slightly off, so my pal will sort that for me.

I’m trying to stay OEM with this E39 for a change, I did consider coilovers, but that may be an idea further down the line, mainly as it’s the front 2 that you get and then lower the rear via INPA etc. This is my first ever touring, so it’s a learning curve as well.

I’ve a replacement stereo to decide on yet and other bits I want to do to it as well, so the new OEM spec Mtec suspension will see me through nicely.

[d_a_n1979]

aaron_2000 said:

The only downside for me with Jap imports is they're usually auto, but for this one I could live with that. What a great buy. I'd probably go JDM if I was looking for one, they're getting too high mileage and rare here now. I won't ask what you paid, but did you have much change from £5k if any at all?

For me I’ll only go auto, just not interested in pudding sticks anymore, like to have easy driving and that waftability that you get with a decent auto

Mines only covered just over 85k miles, so they’re out there, probably best to speak to someone who imports cars and get them to find the spec you want.

Your guesstimated price isn’t far off at all, but I was happy to pay that due to its condition and rarity in this country. With the work I’ve done to the car, I’d get my money back and more on top, if I were to sell... But I’m not

[andy43]

Bargain at that (approximate) price. The lack of rust on jap cars is a real shock when you get underneath them.
I had an E91 with the same seat materials - chose that car partly because of the Alcantara which I first experienced in a silver E39 Touring funnily enough.
Looks really tidy and you're really getting stuck into the running repairs. Like

[Court_S]

That’s lovely. The E39 has aged very very well indeed.

[d_a_n1979]

andy43 said:

Bargain at that (approximate) price. The lack of rust on jap cars is a real shock when you get underneath them.
I had an E91 with the same seat materials - chose that car partly because of the Alcantara which I first experienced in a silver E39 Touring funnily enough.
Looks really tidy and you're really getting stuck into the running repairs. Like

Thanks; yes, the alcantara swung it a lot for me. don't get me wrong, I loved the black leather and heated seats in a previous slate green 530i; but the alcantara doesn't need it (but I've got a decent heated seat cover, just incase)

It's also nice to be able to hoover the interior clean and not have to worry about leather cleaning & conditioning too!

This cars spotless underneath; not an ounce of rust; amazing really. Another reason why I was happy to pay more. Plus it'd had all the suspension arms replaced (not a cheap job), so all I've done is refresh the suspension & drop links and fitted new headlights as they were sorely needed!

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

That’s lovely. The E39 has aged very very well indeed.

Thanks; fully agree.

I do like the E39; it's roomier inside too compared to my father in laws F10 530D! That feels quite cramped in comparison

[d_a_n1979]

New boots fitted

Before:





After:





They’re OEM Style 37s from an E38, front ones are 8x18 with an offset of 13, and the rears are 9.5x18 with an offset of 25. They’ve been bored out to fit an E39 as well, the rears are fitted with 5mm hubcentric shims to get them sitting more or less flush. Final offsets are 8 up front and 20 on the rear.

They’re more or less a square set up with their offsets. Great for handling & a much better 'turn in' feel

It's still riding a touch high with the new suspension but I'm sure it'll settle soon enough.

It rides brilliantly though; but not driven it yet on the 18s, so that'll make a difference I'm sure  ;)

Edited by d_a_n1979 on Sunday 7th April 19:18

Edited by d_a_n1979 on Sunday 7th April 19:20

Edited by d_a_n1979 on Monday 30th November 22:13

[d_a_n1979]

Brake calipers wire brushed & painted in Hammerite satin silver... No more rusty eyesores behind the shiny alloys!

[d_a_n1979]

Engine bay detailed today; haven't touched it since I bought the car. It needed a good hoover first haha

DISA valve repaired with the X8R kit, the o-ring that should have been on the DISA when I removed it was non-existent So glad I did this job today, took me about 30mins all in including removing it and then trying to get the spindle apart; it was seized solid, so ended up gently hammering it out

Also fitted a Z3 3.0 intake boot section to replace the resonator section that comes on the E39s; sounds a bit throatier now

Cars had a quick snow foam, wash, rinse and towel dry too:

[MRobbins1987]

That's lovely. I used Steve at Grinspeed to set up and fit the suspension on my EP3, certainly knows his stuff.

[d_a_n1979]

MRobbins1987 said:

That's lovely. I used Steve at Grinspeed to set up and fit the suspension on my EP3, certainly knows his stuff.

Cheers

Aye, the angry little man knows his stuff

[Max M4X WW]

Wow! Your car looks great. Can't help notice the front plate plinth is missing which personally I would fit along with an M5 lower grille.

Very jealous of your wheels, my previous 540i has them but the new 525i is missing the 18's unfortunately - one day! Also missing electric seats this time around (plus nav, blinds, comfort seats.. but I went for the condition over spec this time.

My Silver 525i Sport Saloon is pretty clean having covered 91k miles but less so underneath I expect. A couple photos of mine just because they almost match (apart from the fact they are both saloons!)..

Current:



Previous:



I also started an E39 thread on here, be good to see a couple of photos of yours in there also: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[d_a_n1979]

Max M4X WW said:

Wow! Your car looks great. Can't help notice the front plate plinth is missing which personally I would fit along with an M5 lower grille.

Very jealous of your wheels, my previous 540i has them but the new 525i is missing the 18's unfortunately - one day! Also missing electric seats this time around (plus nav, blinds, comfort seats.. but I went for the condition over spec this time.

My Silver 525i Sport Saloon is pretty clean having covered 91k miles but less so underneath I expect. A couple photos of mine just because they almost match (apart from the fact they are both saloons!)..

Current:



Previous:



I also started an E39 thread on here, be good to see a couple of photos of yours in there also: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks pal

I removed the plinth as I don’t like them and I’m quite happy with the OEM Style front valance.

I’m trying to keep this car OEM as possible, the plinth was damaged hence why it was removed.

I like the 17” Style 66s, but they look more lost on a touring than a saloon and I was lucky to land the spec of th Style 37s I’ve got as you’d have to buy 2 sets to get this set together and then bore them out to fit an E39

[shalmaneser]

what a wonderful old barge. Was worried when you spoke about getting rid of the 17s as they're one of my favourite e39 alloys but the replacements are lovely too!

Looks in amazing condition inside and out!

[Max M4X WW]

d_a_n1979 said:

Max M4X WW said:

Wow! Your car looks great. Can't help notice the front plate plinth is missing which personally I would fit along with an M5 lower grille.

Very jealous of your wheels, my previous 540i has them but the new 525i is missing the 18's unfortunately - one day! Also missing electric seats this time around (plus nav, blinds, comfort seats.. but I went for the condition over spec this time.

My Silver 525i Sport Saloon is pretty clean having covered 91k miles but less so underneath I expect. A couple photos of mine just because they almost match (apart from the fact they are both saloons!)..

Current:



Previous:



I also started an E39 thread on here, be good to see a couple of photos of yours in there also: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks pal

I removed the plinth as I don’t like them and I’m quite happy with the OEM Style front valance.

I’m trying to keep this car OEM as possible, the plinth was damaged hence why it was removed.

I like the 17” Style 66s, but they look more lost on a touring than a saloon and I was lucky to land the spec of th Style 37s I’ve got as you’d have to buy 2 sets to get this set together and then bore them out to fit an E39

Fair enough, I assumed the lack of plinth was due to it being a small Jap one before - surprised yours doesn't have the US/Jap tailgate with the smaller recess or infill panel. That's what saloons have anyway but not sure on touring.