19k Miles BMW 540I Japanese Import

[Trevor555]

What a great find.

Thanks for sharing.

[Prohibiting]

Very nice. I used to own the estate version and it’s one of the few cars I genuinely regret selling. Mine wasn’t as nice as this but it was still tidy. Are you going to do anything to the exhaust to release more of that lovely V8 noise?

[Somerset Jim]

sutoka said:

Real Timewarp example, can you still say Jap in this world of workery?

It hadn’t occurred to me. Certainly no upset was meant.

[Somerset Jim]

d_a_n1979 said:

Does you E39 have DSP or similar Jim?

There could be a BM54 amp in the boot that any head unit you fit, needs to be connected to, which involves a specific loom & wiring etc

I wanted to avoid all that in my previous touring, so opted for the Grom Audio BT3 Bluetooth kit, which works with the OEM steering wheel controls & head unit faultlessly. Full Bluetooth hands free & A2DP music playback

It worked brilliantly

I have seen the Grom unit but think that given the modern units look so similar to the original units, I’d like to opt for one of those. If I could change the on board computer to show across the whole screen without part of the non working sat nav showing at the side, then I would keep the original unit.

Is there a way that the existing radio can be opened up so that the frequencies cover more than just radio 2? If not then this is another reason to change.

[Somerset Jim]

Prohibiting said:

Very nice. I used to own the estate version and it’s one of the few cars I genuinely regret selling. Mine wasn’t as nice as this but it was still tidy. Are you going to do anything to the exhaust to release more of that lovely V8 noise?

At the moment I don’t because we have 5 V8’s including an AMG, but never say never!

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Does you E39 have DSP or similar Jim?

There could be a BM54 amp in the boot that any head unit you fit, needs to be connected to, which involves a specific loom & wiring etc

I wanted to avoid all that in my previous touring, so opted for the Grom Audio BT3 Bluetooth kit, which works with the OEM steering wheel controls & head unit faultlessly. Full Bluetooth hands free & A2DP music playback

It worked brilliantly

I have seen the Grom unit but think that given the modern units look so similar to the original units, I’d like to opt for one of those. If I could change the on board computer to show across the whole screen without part of the non working sat nav showing at the side, then I would keep the original unit.

Is there a way that the existing radio can be opened up so that the frequencies cover more than just radio 2? If not then this is another reason to change.

You can access the hidden menu in the cluster Jim, set the country to Canada and that'll open up more frequencies

But without swapping the BM54 amp for a UK spec one; then all you get are the limited frequencies unfortunately

Re aftermarket head units; be very careful with ones that say they fit both the E39 and the E53 X5; they have difference faceplates and the E39 is flatter with more sharper corners; the X5 one is rounder; so they don't actually fit properly at all

It is these guys that are recommended by a few folk on the BMW 5 forums: https://audiotechdirect.com/oem-style-units/bmw/

Think that's the link you posted on the first page; but if you register and ask on the 5 forums, those that have used them will be able to let you know which specific head unit they used

[sutoka]

Somerset Jim said:

sutoka said:

Real Timewarp example, can you still say Jap in this world of workery?

It hadn’t occurred to me. Certainly no upset was meant.

I wasn’t offended lol just pointing it out

[meb90]

Great looking car OP, enjoying the work so far.

19,000 miles is crazy! Its never been used!

[Somerset Jim]

d_a_n1979 said:

You can access the hidden menu in the cluster Jim, set the country to Canada and that'll open up more frequencies

But without swapping the BM54 amp for a UK spec one; then all you get are the limited frequencies unfortunately

Re aftermarket head units; be very careful with ones that say they fit both the E39 and the E53 X5; they have difference faceplates and the E39 is flatter with more sharper corners; the X5 one is rounder; so they don't actually fit properly at all

It is these guys that are recommended by a few folk on the BMW 5 forums: https://audiotechdirect.com/oem-style-units/bmw/

Think that's the link you posted on the first page; but if you register and ask on the 5 forums, those that have used them will be able to let you know which specific head unit they used

Will get something sorted on the 5 forum in that case. It seems to be a bit of a mine field!

[Somerset Jim]

meb90 said:

Great looking car OP, enjoying the work so far.

19,000 miles is crazy! Its never been used!

It honestly feels and smells like a new car inside. I had to start it and move it from one side of the drive to the other. The engine sounds and feels very refined.

Managed to clean and feed the rear seats. They aren’t that dirty and feel fine however they seem to be taking up the leather balm quicker than other cars have previously so I’m guessing the dry climate in Japan has taken effect.





And a couple of photos of the Japanese stickers which presumably relate to taxes and permits in Tokyo. It’s certainly in very different surroundings in rural Somerset!

[Max M4X WW]

Looks great!

You probably know anyway but the rear 'diffuser' should be black. It looks odd to me in Silver but maybe they were going for the M5 look.

[Somerset Jim]

Max M4X WW said:

Looks great!

You probably know anyway but the rear 'diffuser' should be black. It looks odd to me in Silver but maybe they were going for the M5 look.

Thanks.

Yes, I have found a couple on eBay but before I start changing anything I’ll do the under seal and use it a bit.

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

Max M4X WW said:

Looks great!

You probably know anyway but the rear 'diffuser' should be black. It looks odd to me in Silver but maybe they were going for the M5 look.

Thanks.

Yes, I have found a couple on eBay but before I start changing anything I’ll do the under seal and use it a bit.

It just bolts off Jim Very easy to remove, sand back and paint satin black etc... Deffo a DIY/rattle can jobby

[Somerset Jim]

d_a_n1979 said:

It just bolts off Jim Very easy to remove, sand back and paint satin black etc... Deffo a DIY/rattle can jobby

Good to know. I presumed it would be similar to the others I have sealed. Fingers crossed nothing snaps!

[Somerset Jim]

Had some time this afternoon and having booted the garage Queen out for what will be a few days I made a start on stripping on of the wheel arches, removing and cleaning the rear wheel. It was not an easy job as Dan says, but I managed to somehow get the lining out without breaking the liner (thank god). To my astonishment for a 21 year old car, it was like new under there. Having given it a clean it will have the dehumidifier on it for a while to dry everything thoroughly and I may come back out to try and remove the plastic liner under the doors.











The correct attachment for my compressor arrived today while doing the above so as soon as this is ready then I’ll be able to apply the seal.

I also spoke to the DVLA today and they inform me that they are working to a 2 week time scale at present which is much faster than the indicated 6 weeks. My previous experience was of a car during 2020 which took almost 4 months! I will believe 2 weeks when I see the documents.

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

Had some time this afternoon and having booted the garage Queen out for what will be a few days I made a start on stripping on of the wheel arches, removing and cleaning the rear wheel. It was not an easy job as Dan says, but I managed to somehow get the lining out without breaking the liner (thank god). To my astonishment for a 21 year old car, it was like new under there. Having given it a clean it will have the dehumidifier on it for a while to dry everything thoroughly and I may come back out to try and remove the plastic liner under the doors.











The correct attachment for my compressor arrived today while doing the above so as soon as this is ready then I’ll be able to apply the seal.

I also spoke to the DVLA today and they inform me that they are working to a 2 week time scale at present which is much faster than the indicated 6 weeks. My previous experience was of a car during 2020 which took almost 4 months! I will believe 2 weeks when I see the documents.

Looks absolutely spotless under there Jim

My previous touring was exactly the same condition when I did the Lanoguard under-sealing... Unfortunately the rear arch lines were fairly fragile and one had already split; so I had to leave them in situ and did what I could; but the fronts came apart easily (they were fitted brand new, by me as the original ones turned to dust)...

Can be seen here on page 11 of the project I had going on the BMW 5 forums:

https://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/136573-here-we-go-a...

[Somerset Jim]

Well it’s been a while and mostly because I have been busy with work and waiting on bits and pieces removed the arch liner a few days ago. Before doing so I thought it prudent to speak to BMW to double check availability of a replacement liner in case this disintegrated when removing. Luckily it came off with very little damage and will be reusable again. I had bought some 5 litres of dinitrol 77B for a previous project which was unused due to needing a compressor. So for this project I bought the compressor and the appropriate bits and used a while litre on this one wheel arch! As can be seen from the photos, it is definitely covered and should last for some time. I think some fine tuning is in need for the next arch.







I spoke to the DVLA last week and they have confirmed that the papers have been processed and the new registration which will be fitted as soon as I have the V5.

The car is going into Grants of Wellington whom are excellent guys I trust with all of my previous and present BMW’s. Hopefully I can take it out for its first proper drive later in the week all being well. Then on to the other 2 wheel arches.

[Somerset Jim]

Well it’s been a while and mostly because I have been busy with work and waiting on bits and pieces removed the arch liner a few days ago. Before doing so I thought it prudent to speak to BMW to double check availability of a replacement liner in case this disintegrated when removing. Luckily it came off with very little damage and will be reusable again. I had bought some 5 litres of dinitrol 77B for a previous project which was unused due to needing a compressor. So for this project I bought the compressor and the appropriate bits and used a while litre on this one wheel arch! As can be seen from the photos, it is definitely covered and should last for some time. I think some fine tuning is in need for the next arch.







I spoke to the DVLA last week and they have confirmed that the papers have been processed and the new registration which will be fitted as soon as I have the V5.

The car is going into Grants of Wellington whom are excellent guys I trust with all of my previous and present BMW’s. Hopefully I can take it out for its first proper drive later in the week all being well. Then on to the other 2 wheel arches.

[trails]

DVLA turnaround certainly sounds better than the crazy delays recently reported.

I've brought an import now, so interesting to see how long the process takes

[Lotusgone]

Kudos for the great buy and bearing the bid/importation process. Thanks also for demonstrating that the km-miles change can be straightforward, I'll be searching the websites later.

You'll probably know this already, but from my experience of having an E39 540 as a second car, it eats electricity just sitting there.