The 'Oh crap, I won it' E39 530i

[d_a_n1979]

swampy442 said:

I was always advised to do the cooling system overhaul, guess I have no chance now

Ahem... Yup

If you've done the rad already etc; just sort the stat and water pump pal and if not already, change both top & bottom hoses

Not expensive and deffo DIY'able if you've the time/inclination etc

[Pupbelly]

All good fun I think is the term but the thread would dry up without these little 'challenges' to keep it alive!

Great work though

[swampy442]

All was not well in E39 world. Driving to work and a big cloud of smoke out the back. It cleared quickly but still, alarming. Then starting up to go home, another big cloud of smoke. Time to do the PCV/CCV valve.

[swampy442]

Looks like it hadn’t been done in 200k miles lol. Guess what, it’s much smoother to drive, more responsive and generally feels much better for it. So when people say do the E39 big hitters list when you buy one, do it!

It’s in this morning for an exhaust, that’s the annoying rattle sorted. Getting there

[JeremyH5]

swampy442 said:

Getting there

[GrantD5]

Reading through this as i just got a 2004 30i but on a x3 thinking, yep I'm gonna have to do that, I'm also gonna have to do that soon. Thanks

[swampy442]

You’re welcome, people told me to do this stuff, I was sceptical but every part. I was advised to replace has failed

[Jhonno]

CCV made a big difference on my E46 330i too!

[GrantD5]

How much have you spent on CCV parts? Assuming this may need doing on my 3.0i X3 at some point. Any advice would be good!

[swampy442]

GrantD5 said:

How much have you spent on CCV parts? Assuming this may need doing on my 3.0i X3 at some point. Any advice would be good!

It’s up to what you’re happy to spend really, you can get the kit for as cheap as 25 quid, not sure how long that would last or how well it would fit. I was advised to get brand name but by people like meyle or Febi

[d_a_n1979]

GrantD5 said:

How much have you spent on CCV parts? Assuming this may need doing on my 3.0i X3 at some point. Any advice would be good!

Get the Meyle kit from C3BMW; deffo not something you want to skimp on

c£85 IIRC

However; to do the job fully & make life easier, it's best to remove the inlet mani as you'll have full access than rather than having to 'feel your way' through the job. Plus it'll allow you to see what vac lines have perished and need to be replaced...

If you do this, you'll need replacement inlet mani gaskets, go for Elring

[GrantD5]

d_a_n1979 said:

Get the Meyle kit from C3BMW; deffo not something you want to skimp on

c£85 IIRC

However; to do the job fully & make life easier, it's best to remove the inlet mani as you'll have full access than rather than having to 'feel your way' through the job. Plus it'll allow you to see what vac lines have perished and need to be replaced...

If you do this, you'll need replacement inlet mani gaskets, go for Elring

Thank you lads, wasn't looking to cheap out just wanting to know costs. I have a DISA valve on order and I know the CCV is another issue. Thanks for the heads up.

[Huff]

d_a_n1979 said:

Get the Meyle kit from C3BMW; deffo not something you want to skimp on

c£85 IIRC

However; to do the job fully & make life easier, it's best to remove the inlet mani as you'll have full access than rather than having to 'feel your way' through the job. Plus it'll allow you to see what vac lines have perished and need to be replaced...

If you do this, you'll need replacement inlet mani gaskets, go for Elring

this !

[Court_S]

swampy442 said:

Looks like it hadn’t been done in 200k miles lol. Guess what, it’s much smoother to drive, more responsive and generally feels much better for it. So when people say do the E39 big hitters list when you buy one, do it!

It’s in this morning for an exhaust, that’s the annoying rattle sorted. Getting there

Had much the same with my E46 325ti; warped rad, dead water pump, cracked expansion tank, dead thermostat, snapped rear springs etc.

Sounds like you’re very much getting there with the car though.

[swampy442]

I love working on BMWs, they’re so well designed they just come apart so easily.
Todays task was try and fix the non working OBC button. Think there’s a circuit fault ss there’s no continuity between the wires and the plug, new stalk it is then

[therusterman]

Believe this isn't uncommon with the e39's.

[HazzaCrawf]

swampy442 said:

I'm not a religious man, but in the words of Winston Zeddemore from Ghostbsters 'If theres a free long weekend off in it, I'll believe anything you say' Or words to that effect.

If I had a wife she'd say "Stop touching it, leave it alone" Instead my brother said those words, and he has a point, it works so why mess about? I want it to be right. So down the unit I went again

Just had a read through this entire thread and couldn't help but notice the 130i LE sat there in front. What's the story with that? I've just got one myself

Would love a 530i or 330i one day so I'll be following this thread with interest

[JeremyH5]

swampy442 said:

I love working on BMWs, they’re so well designed they just come apart so easily.
Todays task was try and fix the non working OBC button. Think there’s a circuit fault ss there’s no continuity between the wires and the plug, new stalk it is then

Did it work? I have the same issue on my E38 and a replacement stalk didn’t solve it. I’m told I need a new slip ring on the steering wheel.

[swampy442]

HazzaCrawf said:

swampy442 said:

I'm not a religious man, but in the words of Winston Zeddemore from Ghostbsters 'If theres a free long weekend off in it, I'll believe anything you say' Or words to that effect.

If I had a wife she'd say "Stop touching it, leave it alone" Instead my brother said those words, and he has a point, it works so why mess about? I want it to be right. So down the unit I went again

Just had a read through this entire thread and couldn't help but notice the 130i LE sat there in front. What's the story with that? I've just got one myself

Would love a 530i or 330i one day so I'll be following this thread with interest

Well the story was I had it, enjoyed the crap out of it, then sold it to buy a Volvo 850 T5 R ?? I’m a serial car buyer and box ticker. The Volvo came up at the right price. If that had sold I would have kept the 130. I still fancy a non LE as a cheap thrasher

[swampy442]

JeremyH5 said:

swampy442 said:

I love working on BMWs, they’re so well designed they just come apart so easily.
Todays task was try and fix the non working OBC button. Think there’s a circuit fault ss there’s no continuity between the wires and the plug, new stalk it is then

Did it work? I have the same issue on my E38 and a replacement stalk didn’t solve it. I’m told I need a new slip ring on the steering wheel.

No it didn’t fix it, I tested continuity between the button touch points and the output pins and it was open circuit so I assume an internal fault.
On the E39 the stalks don’t pass through the slip ring, all that does is the airbag and the steering wheel buttons, and they all operate fine