The E39 thread

[helix402]

d_a_n1979 said:

FYI these are £6.05 from BMW with delivery; you might be wasting your time trying to sell it

£2.99+99p-every penny counts!

[RichardM5]

PowerslideSWE said:

RichardM5 said:

Mine always ticks quite loudly for a few minutes if it’s been left for more than a month or so. A short run and it’s back to being pretty quiet again.

As quiet as these things get anyway, it's a noisy engine

Apart from the fuel injectors, it’s pretty quiet at idle if the VANOS is in tip top shape.

[PowerslideSWE]

RichardM5 said:

Apart from the fuel injectors, it’s pretty quiet at idle if the VANOS is in tip top shape.

Then mine isn't I've heard worse S62's but it sounds a little like a V8 diesel at times.

[tobinen]

Hello, I don't suppose anyone has a headlamp adjuster screw and gear as this knocking around please? Or know of a source? Ta.

[tobinen]

It's front brake pads and discs time. Any recommendations for reasonable quality parts and reasonable prices? Normally ECP would be my first port of call but this thread may have better knowledge leading elsewhere. Thanks

[helix402]

Try CP4LESS, same company cheaper. ATE are good.

[d_a_n1979]

tobinen said:

It's front brake pads and discs time. Any recommendations for reasonable quality parts and reasonable prices? Normally ECP would be my first port of call but this thread may have better knowledge leading elsewhere. Thanks

ATE or Brembo blanks with ATE/Pagid/Mintex discs; if you just want completely basic

If you want to go a bit more aggressive; I'd highly recommend the Mtec grooved or C hook discs along with Mtec's own brake pads; or EBC Redstuff/Yellowstuff pads.

I run Mtec grooved discs and EBC Yellowstuff pads on my 530i touring; it's all in the project in Readers Cars

[E-bmw]

As per usual brakes & opinions are polarised, as conversely having had issues with all of the above, I would touch neither Mtec or EBC with a barge pole.

Pagid/Mintex for budget/midrange or Brembo/Ate for better brands would be my choice.

[d_a_n1979]

E-bmw said:

As per usual brakes & opinions are polarised, as conversely having had issues with all of the above, I would touch neither Mtec or EBC with a barge pole.

Pagid/Mintex for budget/midrange or Brembo/Ate for better brands would be my choice.

I've never had any issues with any of the brakes mentioned; hence my opinions I've run Mtec brake discs and EBC pads for a long time. Yers, at one time EBC had a bad name for their pads, but they changed the make-up of them and they've been very good since; had them on track day supercharged cars and normal every day road going cars, zero issues. Had more problems with Brembo stuff than anything else TBH

ATE discs and pads are very good; but their ceramic stuff isn't all that IMO

Like you said; horses for courses etc

[tobinen]

I know brakes can border on fanatical religion, but I just want bog standard, at a fair price

I think Pagid looks favourite from what I can see so far.

The only choice on the front which I don't know yet is the diameter - 296mm or 320-something. I have no idea what 'for government vehicle' means

[lufbramatt]

I ended up getting a service kit from BMW uk (park lane BMW I think?) on eBay for about the same price as euro car parts wanted. Pads were textar with BMW branding, discs are OE. Job done no fuss. Don't forget you need a or wear sensor too.

[helix402]

tobinen said:

I know brakes can border on fanatical religion, but I just want bog standard, at a fair price

I think Pagid looks favourite from what I can see so far.

The only choice on the front which I don't know yet is the diameter - 296mm or 320-something. I have no idea what 'for government vehicle' means

Government vehicle is a Police car. I’ve found Pagid brake pads tend to squeak which is why I recommend ATE. Pop your chassis no into realoem website and you should find the the disc size. Don’t forget to use Ceratec or Plastilube on the new pads not Copperslip. I’m not debating the pros and cons of Copperslip as there’s lots of info already online about it.

The Pagid app is also useful for checking disc size.

[d_a_n1979]

tobinen said:

I know brakes can border on fanatical religion, but I just want bog standard, at a fair price

I think Pagid looks favourite from what I can see so far.

The only choice on the front which I don't know yet is the diameter - 296mm or 320-something. I have no idea what 'for government vehicle' means

Like already said; stick the last 7 digits of your VIN into the RealOEM website (box is at the top of the home page) and it'll bring up your exact car; look on front axle and rear axle and it'll show you the pictures of the parts and what size discs you need

IIRC the fronts are either 296mm or 324mm (pre and post facelift, SE and Sport)

[helix402]

[Depthhoar]

As has already been said, replacement brake choices are wide and varied.

But here's my two cents...

Been really pleased with Zimmermann brakes for both my E39s. Zimmermann are OE suppliers for the E39 M5 front rotors, or at least they are the spitting image of the original BMW ones I took off.

They also do pads which I've found to be excellent on my diesel (keeping to OE pads on the M5) though can be a little dusty. Rotors and pads are really well priced, too. Rotors are 'Made in Germany' as well.

Here's the web catalogue to check for fitment: http://ows-cdn.tecdoc.net/otto-zimmermann/home.jsp...

Can be a little difficult to get hold of as all my orders have come directly from an eBay supplier in Germany. Can take 10-14 days to arrive. I think Autodoc and its clone websites also supply at good prices.

[ATM]

I got some front discs from autodoc for my 550i. They were the cheapest I could find on Ebay after the ones I had bought from euro car parts over 18 months before and never fitted turned out to be wrong. They were the proper 2 piece jobbies with alu centres and I got the pair delivered from Germany for 148 quid all in. I'm pretty surprised by that considering the box had 26kg stamped on it. I still have the other pair which are brand new as euro car parts would not refund me. Does anyone know how I can figure out what car these fit so I can try to flog them?

[tobinen]

I popped into BMW Hungerford for some prices

Front pads and discs - £279
Rear pads and discs - £164

I bet they don't sell many! Discount requested and declined.

At least I have some part numbers now

[d_a_n1979]

tobinen said:

I popped into BMW Hungerford for some prices

Front pads and discs - £279
Rear pads and discs - £164

I bet they don't sell many! Discount requested and declined.

At least I have some part numbers now

Jesus wept... Haha; know wonder they get laughed at, regularly...!

Have you looked on ECP/Carparts4less/Autodoc and asked your local motorfactors too?

[tobinen]

Yep, on the case. 296mm front discs as turns out.

Cheers

[akirk]

tobinen said:

I popped into BMW Hungerford for some prices

Front pads and discs - £279
Rear pads and discs - £164

I bet they don't sell many! Discount requested and declined.

At least I have some part numbers now

To be fair - I would happily have paid those prices recently - e39 M5 - but with AP Racing brakes on the front - getting on for £1,000 to replace disks / pads / fit / etc.