19k Miles BMW 540I Japanese Import

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Somerset Jim said:

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!

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.

[Somerset Jim]

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.

[Somerset Jim]

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.

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

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.

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!

[Somerset Jim]

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!

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

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!

Triple QX 75W90 pal

Thats all that's needed... No need to spend silly money

[Court_S]

That’s a cracking looking car OP, certainly is worth cherishing.

[Somerset Jim]

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.

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

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.

Glad you got the cubby sorted

That 735i looks a belter; what a great fleet you'll have!

[Somerset Jim]

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…

[ChocolateFrog]

That engine looks sparkling clean, not a hint of carbon buildup.

Both cars seem criminally underused by their previous owners. Can't be many lower mileage E32's about these days.

[d_a_n1979]

ChocolateFrog said:

That engine looks sparkling clean, not a hint of carbon buildup.

Both cars seem criminally underused by their previous owners. Can't be many lower mileage E32's about these days.

It's an E38 isn't it...

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

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…

Which clutch did you go for Jim?

Something I'll be doing on mine. I usually go for the Behr clutch from C3BMW

[Somerset Jim]

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!

[ballans]

Somerset Jim said:

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?

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?

[Somerset Jim]

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.

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

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!

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

[Somerset Jim]

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!

The Sachs part is on now so I wont bother changing it unless it starts sounding like a plane again.

[d_a_n1979]

Somerset Jim said:

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!

The Sachs part is on now so I wont bother changing it unless it starts sounding like a plane again.

C3BMW and BMWmotormec: http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/BMW-MOTORMEC?_rdc=1 are invaluable pal; superb for parts when needed etc...

I've a number of tried & trusted resellers that I always use; so if you want their info let me know

[MD707]

Somerset Jim said:

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.

What auction site are you using to find these cars, they're incredible