19k Miles BMW 540I Japanese Import
Discussion
By way of an update, I took the car out to get some milk which ended up turning into an evening drive since the sunset was so good just before Easter. The car was obviously feeling left out and wanted some more attention so decided to throw an engine management light. After reading the codes it was showing code P1160 which after some searching was likely to be a MAF sensor. Auto doc was the place that had an OEM brand (Bosch) so I ordered one ready for when we returned.
Having done the school run and with daughter no 1 off to gymnastics I had daughter no 2 and said that if we could fix the car then we would take it to the park. With a focused 5 year old by my side I knew we had about 5 seconds to get the job done and to my astonishment it was a very simple job to change.
We then plugged the OBD reader back in and reset the codes and took it for a run to a park a few miles away and touching wood, all seems to be good again for now. It is going into the specialist garage on Wednesday for some suspension bushings to make it perfect and then its just a case of enjoying it.
The gratuitous photos from the sunset were worth it though… I do like the lines of these cars and somehow the square plates go well with it:
Having done the school run and with daughter no 1 off to gymnastics I had daughter no 2 and said that if we could fix the car then we would take it to the park. With a focused 5 year old by my side I knew we had about 5 seconds to get the job done and to my astonishment it was a very simple job to change.
We then plugged the OBD reader back in and reset the codes and took it for a run to a park a few miles away and touching wood, all seems to be good again for now. It is going into the specialist garage on Wednesday for some suspension bushings to make it perfect and then its just a case of enjoying it.
The gratuitous photos from the sunset were worth it though… I do like the lines of these cars and somehow the square plates go well with it:
Speedgelb said:
Enjoyed reading this, and really like the car!
It's all the better for having the M badge off
Thanks. I have taken 5 of those badges off with one left to go!It's all the better for having the M badge off
It went into the garage today for some suspension bushings and it was lovely to take the long way home and give it a decent run again… any excuse!
Ambleton said:
My pal has a similar era 7 series with the same engine (albeit with more miles on)
Check the timing chain tensioner. His car ate it and chewed up loads of stuff. Engine rebuild and all sorts and no end of problems since.
In fact I'm not sure BMW ever created a bombproof V8. I6 are more their forte
Thanks for the heads up. The tell tale sign for this usually is a rattle in the chain as you can hear it slap against the guides when the tensioner becomes slack. No sign of this gladly but I shall be keeping an ear out for any changes in the tick over noise for sure!Check the timing chain tensioner. His car ate it and chewed up loads of stuff. Engine rebuild and all sorts and no end of problems since.
In fact I'm not sure BMW ever created a bombproof V8. I6 are more their forte
DevonLad said:
What a lovely car, looks great. Correct me if I'm wrong but that looks like thr top of Wrangway Wellington? Not to far away from me, I will keep my eye out for you.
Thanks. Yes you are right, that is wrangway direction on the side of the Blackdowns. The spine road along the top there is a great road for a 30 minute blast around here. Where are you based?S. Gonzales Esq. said:
If you reach the point where you’re hearing the noise then the damage is already done. New tensioner seems like a sensible bit of age-related preventative work, and not expensive.
OK understood. I shall have a look into that in that case - Thanks for the heads up.Been using the 540i for the odd trip here and there recently and decided that it would be wise to do an oil change despite the oil on the dip stick looking in good nick. Just gives piece of mind that everything is up to schedule in my mind. As can be seen from the photos the old air filter had seen better days!
It was also good to see that the inside of the engine wasn’t showing any signs of varnishing.
It was also good to see that the inside of the engine wasn’t showing any signs of varnishing.
d_a_n1979 said:
Looking nice & clean that Jim
Take it that's yourself on FB that's just accused me of looking to fit an S62 to my 540i
I'll be doing an oil change in mine this weekend; dipstick route with my Pela pump etc - its had a recent oil change looking at the paperwork, but I'll get this done and then I know it's been done and I'll look to change it twice a year thereafter
Need to order diff fluid too!
Diff oil is a good shout. What will you be going for? I’m going to follow your lead and get some discs and pads since I cooked mine over the weekend with some spirited driving!Take it that's yourself on FB that's just accused me of looking to fit an S62 to my 540i
I'll be doing an oil change in mine this weekend; dipstick route with my Pela pump etc - its had a recent oil change looking at the paperwork, but I'll get this done and then I know it's been done and I'll look to change it twice a year thereafter
Need to order diff fluid too!
The new cubby hold arrived this week and fitting it was relatively easy (thanks for the link Dan). The old one just perished in my hands when I tried to slide it shut.
In other news we are now expecting the bigger brother to the 540 coming from Japan in a few months after a successful bid this week. It is a similar but smaller engine being the 735i but with lower mileage again at only 13k miles and a one owner car from new! This one has the adaptive suspension option from factory which worries me a little but with the low mileage I hope it should be relatively trouble free.
In other news we are now expecting the bigger brother to the 540 coming from Japan in a few months after a successful bid this week. It is a similar but smaller engine being the 735i but with lower mileage again at only 13k miles and a one owner car from new! This one has the adaptive suspension option from factory which worries me a little but with the low mileage I hope it should be relatively trouble free.
Back to the E39 and the fan clutch arrived today. With the correct tools it is an easy but satisfying job to complete. The old part was original BMW which was likely from when the car was new. My guess is that some of the fluid from the clutch assembly had leaked and the unit had failed, hence the spotting on the fan blades.
Also in the box were the charcoal pollen filters. The old ones looked like they had been in there for some time and were certainly in need of replacement! The drain holes on both sides (inside the boxes) were blocked and therefore were in need of clearing out. Always good to get this sorted in the summer months rather than finding a leak in the winter months!
Then took the car out for a spin to make sure all was working well and topped up with fuel. On the way home it passed a landmark mileage…
Also in the box were the charcoal pollen filters. The old ones looked like they had been in there for some time and were certainly in need of replacement! The drain holes on both sides (inside the boxes) were blocked and therefore were in need of clearing out. Always good to get this sorted in the summer months rather than finding a leak in the winter months!
Then took the car out for a spin to make sure all was working well and topped up with fuel. On the way home it passed a landmark mileage…
I opted for a Sachs assembly which I thought was OEM (but you’ll likely know more than I!).
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/sachs/1219504
Seems to work fine, which I guess it should when its fresh out of the box!
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/sachs/1219504
Seems to work fine, which I guess it should when its fresh out of the box!
ballans said:
I’m over the other side of the Blackdowns in West Hatch and know that road well. Great fun!
I also use Grants in Wellington for my BMW and can confirm they are excellent. Has Austin showed you his Golf?
It’s a small world. They are a great bunch in there. He hasn’t showed me his golf but did show me part of their camper project when the E39 arrived.I also use Grants in Wellington for my BMW and can confirm they are excellent. Has Austin showed you his Golf?
d_a_n1979 said:
Sachs is OEM for suspension but didn't know they made the fan clutch etc
Behr is OEM for the clutch, I've always sourced them from C3BMW
I didn’t know that site existed - now its bookmarked!Behr is OEM for the clutch, I've always sourced them from C3BMW
The Sachs part is on now so I wont bother changing it unless it starts sounding like a plane again.
MD707 said:
What auction site are you using to find these cars, they're incredible
You would be able to find them on any of the Japanese auction sites however the one I use is Provide Cars and a chap called Phil Keenaghan who helps with translations and organising logistics. They would want a deposit of circa £750 to enable you to bid on cars otherwise they offer a 2 week trial period to search the auctions to see what comes up.Well, it has been a while since starting this thread and I thought an update is in order.
We have been using the 540 for some trips in the summer months, the most notable of which was up to Leighton Buzzard via the Cotswolds for a weekend to visit some friends. The car handled excellently along the various A and B roads and was a joy to drive. Stopped for some photos along the way of course and when I arrived the car’s twin was waiting on my mate’s drive. He bought my fathers old 525d touring when dad sold it on about a decade ago and it is still going strong now with circa 175k miles on the clock, 100k of which has been with a remap to 200hp. Interesting to see that it sits slightly lower than mine.
After another month had passed the decision was made to move on the 840ci due to lack of use. This is mostly because I don’t really fit in it properly and my children were not very interested in it despite egging me on in the auction when we bought it a year or so ago! Before the photographer came over I took it out for one last spin and couldn't resist a photo of them together for posterity.
With winter closing upon us I decided that it was the right time to change the brakes all round. Having cooked them earlier in the year I had warped one or both of the fronts. These should give a much better result and with less brake dust I hope.
After fitting them (I haven’t done brakes before) I tentatively went for a couple of drives up on the hills nearby to bed them in. The car went into its carcoon for the winter shortly after where it shall remain until the spring. While in there it has a small heater which kicks in below 8 degrees to keep off any potential for freezing damage.
That’s all for this car this year. In other news the 7 series arrived yesterday and earlier in the month I ended up buying another car at the Japanese auctions which I will share probably next summer when it is likely to land in the UK.
Happy New Year to you all.
We have been using the 540 for some trips in the summer months, the most notable of which was up to Leighton Buzzard via the Cotswolds for a weekend to visit some friends. The car handled excellently along the various A and B roads and was a joy to drive. Stopped for some photos along the way of course and when I arrived the car’s twin was waiting on my mate’s drive. He bought my fathers old 525d touring when dad sold it on about a decade ago and it is still going strong now with circa 175k miles on the clock, 100k of which has been with a remap to 200hp. Interesting to see that it sits slightly lower than mine.
After another month had passed the decision was made to move on the 840ci due to lack of use. This is mostly because I don’t really fit in it properly and my children were not very interested in it despite egging me on in the auction when we bought it a year or so ago! Before the photographer came over I took it out for one last spin and couldn't resist a photo of them together for posterity.
With winter closing upon us I decided that it was the right time to change the brakes all round. Having cooked them earlier in the year I had warped one or both of the fronts. These should give a much better result and with less brake dust I hope.
After fitting them (I haven’t done brakes before) I tentatively went for a couple of drives up on the hills nearby to bed them in. The car went into its carcoon for the winter shortly after where it shall remain until the spring. While in there it has a small heater which kicks in below 8 degrees to keep off any potential for freezing damage.
That’s all for this car this year. In other news the 7 series arrived yesterday and earlier in the month I ended up buying another car at the Japanese auctions which I will share probably next summer when it is likely to land in the UK.
Happy New Year to you all.
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