2003 BMW 530iA Sport Touring (E39)

[tobinen]

I bought this yesterday from another PHer. It's done 135,000 miles and it is generally in good condition, certainly better than my green one.

The drive home revealed a few issues to sort.

It pulls slightly to the left and the steering wheel in off slightly to the right
The temperature gauge reads too cool, so I have ordered a new Wahler thermostat from C3BMW
The tailgate glass switch needs to be replaced
The headlamp lenses are a bit cloudy
The aerial is missing
A bit of paint is missing from the OSF wing and some minor dents in the NSR quarter
The EML came on in my first trip to the shops after arriving home (it was off during the drive home)

All-in-all I am happy with it and it should provide some decent service for a couple-or-so years.

[Northbrook]

Guess you like E39s... :-)

What's better about this car than your green one? Both these particular examples, and the variants themselves.

[tobinen]

The bigger engine in this was the main reason and the heated seats are a bonus. The 2.5 is nice but it's a bit asthmatic up hills

[d_a_n1979]

Great buy pal; it'll serve you well I'm sure

As said in the Barges thread; a new stat will soon sort the temp gauge issue. Go for Walher IMO. Tracking & alignment needed by the sounds of it; but as you'll know, get all the suspension checked first as it could be a worn/failing bush (track rod ends and inner CV joints need checking too as if they can't be adjusted, they need to be replaced).

EML will more than likely be a split in the intake boots or the resonator section that's just behind the MAF; check it all and replace that's needed; check the vac lines too

Some TLC and that'll be a cracking touring IMO; nice to have the heated seats too

Does this mean your 525i will be up for sale soon?

[tobinen]

Thanks Dan. OF thinks it's a grommet or something at the back of the engine, sorry can't remember what he said but I think he's sending it to me in the post. Intake related IIRC.

Yes the Oxford Green 2.5i will be going once it's ready for sale.

[tobinen]

Some parts have arrived and I assume from OF (thanks chap). A quick search for the part numbers and they are 15 and 17.





I have the new thermostat but it's too cold (for me) to mess about with that yet.

[Jhonno]

From recent experience, I'd recommend rebuilding the DISA even if there is no error. 115k on mine, and only a little worn, and it was affecting the way the car drove.

[d_a_n1979]

tobinen said:

Some parts have arrived and I assume from OF (thanks chap). A quick search for the part numbers and they are 15 and 17.





I have the new thermostat but it's too cold (for me) to mess about with that yet.

Yes; them bungs can perish, drop off and then you wonder why you're having running issues.

Definitely check the intake boots though; it's amazing where they can crack, but hard to see. Takes 5mins to remove the air box & MAF and then give the intake section a good look over. Check the ribbed sections and the small section that connects to the TB; they tend to crack there. If not on the resonator section that the MAF connects too. You can remove all this by buying the Febi intake section for a Z3 3.0i

[d_a_n1979]

Jhonno said:

From recent experience, I'd recommend rebuilding the DISA even if there is no error. 115k on mine, and only a little worn, and it was affecting the way the car drove.

Fully agree

Something I recommend to anyone new to the petrol E39s; rebuild the DISA toot-sweet with the X8R or i6Automotive kit as soon as; a good 'peace of mind' fix etc

[tobinen]

Is that the one with the metal flap?

[Jhonno]

tobinen said:

Is that the one with the metal flap?

Yeah, unless it has had a new one in it's recent past it will have a plastic one.

I got my kit from www.x8r.co.uk, comes with metal flap/pin etc. Made a massive difference.

[d_a_n1979]

Jhonno said:

tobinen said:

Is that the one with the metal flap?

Yeah, unless it has had a new one in it's recent past it will have a plastic one.

I got my kit from www.x8r.co.uk, comes with metal flap/pin etc. Made a massive difference.

^^^ This

[g3org3y]

Congrats.

tobinen said:

The bigger engine in this was the main reason and the heated seats are a bonus. The 2.5 is nice but it's a bit asthmatic up hills

Heated seats FTW. 3.0 FTW.

Which error code do you get in the DME for the EML out of interest?

Identifying vacuum leaks in these can be frustrating.

d_a_n1979 said:

Jhonno said:

tobinen said:

Is that the one with the metal flap?

Yeah, unless it has had a new one in it's recent past it will have a plastic one.

I got my kit from www.x8r.co.uk, comes with metal flap/pin etc. Made a massive difference.

^^^ This

Yes, rebuild kit or buy a replacement

[tobinen]

Oh dear. This looks expensive. The lights came on during driving but not at start-up. I went to the shop, came back they stayed off for the short trip home.

The good news is the EML is now off, for now!

[d_a_n1979]

tobinen said:

Oh dear. This looks expensive. The lights came on during driving but not at start-up. I went to the shop, came back they stayed off for the short trip home.

The good news is the EML is now off, for now!

I had that pal; all 4 sensors were absolutely gunked up!

Removed them all; cleaned them with brake cleaner, cleaned the connections (peace of mind); reconnected and zero issues...

However, I a) may have been lucky and b) apparently they're usually a sod to remove, but none of mine were corroded due to it being an import...

Worth a try though; it's a free fix. Took me around an hour all in to jack each corner up, wheel off and disconnects/clean/reconnect sensors and pop the wheel back on etc

[tobinen]

Ok thanks Dan.

[tobinen]

I took it for an hour's blast this afternoon and the ABS light did not come on so I wonder if it might have been low battery voltage. I have a trip planned tomorrow so I will see. I haven't checked the vacuum plugs yet. The EML was off for 30 minutes then came on.

The steering/suspension definitely needs a check over. It won't track true in a straight line and generally feels odd on top of the pull to the nearside. One for WIM after I change over the tyres from the green one. I think I will book it in to the garage and ask it to give it a suspension once-over.

Otherwise I still enjoy the extra power over the 2.5i.

[tobinen]

With the other E39 sold I can now turn my attention to this. New windscreen moulding ordered. The lower one looks a bit rough so I'll order that as well as the lower corners which have started to perish.

Old one removed and cleaned the area



I checked the DISA and it looks original. There is no play but on advice above I will order the repair kit.



I think this is the quick wash reservoir and it's not connected. I put in fluid and it leaks from the connector.



I have the new thermostat but I am debating whether to attack all the engine jobs in one go and take it off the road for a bit now that the CL is in use. The cowl has been bodged sympathetically repaired to hold the tank but I may order a new one. I can't see the state of the CCV but the engine is dry down below.

[tobinen]

X8R kit arrived.



Instructions are fine but the white cam would not pull out with pliers as per the picture. A bit of effort and a piece broke off.



Not much left on which to grab



As the flap was not required I decided a destructive method was required and resigned myself to a new valve if it all went wrong. Which it did.





I am now looking for a new valve.

[d_a_n1979]

tobinen said:

X8R kit arrived.



Instructions are fine but the white cam would not pull out with pliers as per the picture. A bit of effort and a piece broke off.



Not much left on which to grab



As the flap was not required I decided a destructive method was required and resigned myself to a new valve if it all went wrong. Which it did.





I am now looking for a new valve.

Oh balls

DON'T fit an aftermarket; speak to Simon Garland of RoTrip and see if he can source you a known working one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/rotripbmwspares

He's well known on the E39 FB groups as a tried & trusted reseller of parts