Dropped my E39
Discussion
I debated whether to lower my E39 or not, as an SE model & now 14 years old..the ride was a little 'squishy' & body roll negotiating anything that deviates from a straight line would have made a 70's Cadillac proud!
I have now had some H&R springs fitted, 30/40mm drop, & as well as improving the appearance the ride is now hugely improved. Surprisingly so!
It's not to crashy on rougher roads, but the feeling through the steering wheel is much better. It actually has some 'feel' as apposed to the connected by strings of yoghurt sensation.
For a car I bought as a short term 'thing' & not something I intended to modify or change in any way, I have now changed/fitted:
18" alloy wheels, replica Parallels
Depo LED angel eye lights
Black kidney grills
Clear indicators side & rear lights units
LED interior & number plate lights
Private plate (just my initials, nowt weird & removes the age letter)
H&R lowered springs
De-badged
That's it, she's still a '97 523 SE, worth almost nothing, but she doesn't look it, & that is rather nice.
With petrol going up so much & as a fairly regular 'pootler' of the Queens highway, anything bigger in the engine dept becomes just a little too expensive.
I have now had some H&R springs fitted, 30/40mm drop, & as well as improving the appearance the ride is now hugely improved. Surprisingly so!
It's not to crashy on rougher roads, but the feeling through the steering wheel is much better. It actually has some 'feel' as apposed to the connected by strings of yoghurt sensation.
For a car I bought as a short term 'thing' & not something I intended to modify or change in any way, I have now changed/fitted:
18" alloy wheels, replica Parallels
Depo LED angel eye lights
Black kidney grills
Clear indicators side & rear lights units
LED interior & number plate lights
Private plate (just my initials, nowt weird & removes the age letter)
H&R lowered springs
De-badged
That's it, she's still a '97 523 SE, worth almost nothing, but she doesn't look it, & that is rather nice.
With petrol going up so much & as a fairly regular 'pootler' of the Queens highway, anything bigger in the engine dept becomes just a little too expensive.
Edited by Waynester on Wednesday 16th November 01:47
Fox- said:
LED plate lights are lovely.
Not keen on the other lights, I really think Hella is the way forward on these, everything else just looks a bit.. EBay?
Looks nothing like a 14 year old car though!
Thanks..Not keen on the other lights, I really think Hella is the way forward on these, everything else just looks a bit.. EBay?
Looks nothing like a 14 year old car though!
Car was registered December '96 so a wee bit older still..
Re: lights. The originals were discoloured, misted constantly & had nice bright orange indicators, hence initial need to change.
The extra brightness especially this time of year is very much needed!
E39 headlights are rather poor!
eybic said:
I was behind a car with LED numberplate lights (I think it was a BM too) the other day in the dark and you could hardly read the plate, the LED's were so bright the plate was not really legible so I suspect you might be in for a pull if yours are similar.
Not at all with these, just about right. Plate is very clear to see & read. I know what you mean though, some are ridiculously bright!
I was followed by a new '11 plate Mercedes at night recently & the headlights were terrible, so bright. Every little bump they were flashing blue, just way to intense!
I ended up slowing down just so he would be in front. Made my lights look like barely flickering candles!
Waynester said:
Not at all with these, just about right. Plate is very clear to see & read.
I know what you mean though, some are ridiculously bright!
I was followed by a new '11 plate Mercedes at night recently & the headlights were terrible, so bright. Every little bump they were flashing blue, just way to intense!
I ended up slowing down just so he would be in front. Made my lights look like barely flickering candles!
Now you can retrofit an auto-dimming rear view mirror I know what you mean though, some are ridiculously bright!
I was followed by a new '11 plate Mercedes at night recently & the headlights were terrible, so bright. Every little bump they were flashing blue, just way to intense!
I ended up slowing down just so he would be in front. Made my lights look like barely flickering candles!
The Stiglet said:
Waynester said:
Not at all with these, just about right. Plate is very clear to see & read.
I know what you mean though, some are ridiculously bright!
I was followed by a new '11 plate Mercedes at night recently & the headlights were terrible, so bright. Every little bump they were flashing blue, just way to intense!
I ended up slowing down just so he would be in front. Made my lights look like barely flickering candles!
Now you can retrofit an auto-dimming rear view mirror I know what you mean though, some are ridiculously bright!
I was followed by a new '11 plate Mercedes at night recently & the headlights were terrible, so bright. Every little bump they were flashing blue, just way to intense!
I ended up slowing down just so he would be in front. Made my lights look like barely flickering candles!
sparks_E39 said:
Where are those LED number plate lights from?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CANBUS-3-SMD-NUMBER-PLAT...Edited by Waynester on Friday 18th November 01:02
Waynester said:
Has yours been de-chromed or original (shadow line?) spec?
I have a roll of the correct tape to do this, it's just...gettting it done thats the problem.
Shadowline from the factory. I don't know if it is because mine is one of the last 528's before the facelift (it's a November 1999) but I've seen a few similar vintage E39 SE model with the de-chrome. I have a roll of the correct tape to do this, it's just...gettting it done thats the problem.
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