New E39 owner... What inexpensive mods?

[trickywoo]

helix402 said:

Only use genuine BMW pdc sensors, new or used. Aftermarket don't work.

Depends how much they cost. I recently had the choice of spending £130 each for BMW ones for an E60 (which I think may be the same as E39) or £15 aftermarket.

I went aftermarket and three months in its still working fine. £130 is a massive piss take.

[Mike-tf3n0]

I have a quantity of German made black piping which is not BMW stuff but looks identical to the original pipe used by BMW for the screen wash system. I used it to replace all the cracked bits under my bonnet last year and have had no problems with the washers since. There are still a few metres in my garage, if anybody wants some please PM me and we'll sort a price.

[Depthhoar]

Rear PDC sensor replacement is a bumper off job. Not as difficult as you might anticipate but a helper is very useful when putting the bumper back on since the bumper refit is more awkward than difficult.

('How to' from memory:
1. Remove the three rear-most plastic rivets in each rear wheel arch that help hold the wheel arch liner in place.
2. Detach connector to PDC control unit & release cable ties on right hand side of the boot, create some slack in the PDC wiring and push out rubber grommet to outside of car.
3. Unscrew 3 nuts - 6 total - located below each rear light cluster each side of boot space.
4. Pull bumper off being careful pulling through the PDC wiring.)

Edited by Depthhoar on Friday 21st July 18:37

[Fox-]

I've had mine for 11 years. Great cars, but quite fragile these days sadly.

Rear PDC isn't quite a bumper off job - you can slide it off on its runners enough to remove the sensors.

[LGriffiths88]

Wow! Some amazing replies here guys. Soon as I'm home from work I'll spend some time reading them.

The reason for wanting tints is to protect my kids in the back from then (when we have it) sun.

There is water spurting out the body work. Shoots the length of the bonnet when pressing the intensive wash button.

[johnwilliams77]

LGriffiths88 said:

Wow! Some amazing replies here guys. Soon as I'm home from work I'll spend some time reading them.

The reason for wanting tints is to protect my kids in the back from then (when we have it) sun.

There is water spurting out the body work. Shoots the length of the bonnet when pressing the intensive wash button.

You can get little blinds without chaving the car.

[njw1]

E-bmw said:

SebringMan said:

The sensors however don't like too much paint on them, irrespective of the source.

For the record, you should NOT paint them at all, if they are the wrong colour either build a bridge & get over it or buy the correct colour.

I've painted plain black unpainted sensors with no problems, the colour coded sensors appear to be black sensors that have been painted anyway from experience.

[Depthhoar]

Fox- said:

Rear PDC isn't quite a bumper off job - you can slide it off on its runners enough to remove the sensors.

You're quite right - my error. I'm fitting a tow bar to my 530d at the moment, had a brain fart when thinking about the OP's question and forgot you could slide the bumper out a little on its two damper units. I've got the bumper off at the moment fitting a Westfalia detachable tow bar unit to the bumper assembly, which is sans the two dampers - hence my error.

So, OP, should be a less committing job though take care to make enough slack on the PDC cable.



(Above) Bumper off. Two PDC sensors can just be seen at either end of the white polystyrene insert and are an easy exchange. The remaining two sensors are behind the polystyrene. The bumper can be slid back and held on the two horizontal damper units whilst the sensors are replaced.


(Above) The reason for my brain fart - no bumper dampers with the tow bar installation. My bumper with the new tow bar unit installed ready to go on to the car. All 4 PDC sensors visible in the shot.

Edited by Depthhoar on Friday 21st July 21:44

[tonyinbrighton]

Had my E39 5251 for 10 years now and covered over 100k miles without any roadside failures at all including many 400 miles per day runs through France - great cars built to a good standard.
I have done quite some preventative maintenance over the years including radiator replacement and various minor issues to do with PDC and engine management systems but overall if you treat the car well it will serve you faithfully. I have her up on a ramp a couple of times a year to keep an eye on the underbody and minor oil leaks - it's worthwhile to nip any corrosion in the bud.
I think about a V8 sometimes but the straight six is a real peach.....
Happy driving!

[80quattro]

A bit like the OP, I have a facelift E39 - albeit a lowly SE - that I looked at improving along with some cheap mods. I have a 12 month head start however ! I opted for the rear Suntek film and also fitted the shadow chrome trims. IMHO, both features seem to work well on Anthracite grey in my case:

[njw1]

^^ I like that a lot, I maybe a little biased however as this is currently sat on my drive;