New E39 530D Owner.. servicing?
Discussion
Hi all..
Aside from a very brief (1 month!) stint with an E38 7 series, I've finally landed myself in a leggy but well maintained E39 530D. I'm thrilled to bits with it and got it for what I consider a pretty decent price.
However it is due a service right off the bat and looking around, I'm not sure there's many good BMW specialists in my area (Coventry & Warwickshire).
Having come from old VW ownership, the general verdict was to stay the hell away from the main dealers and go to specialists only. I just wondered if the attitude is the same for older BMW's or whether main dealers are slightly less bad news? Thinking about getting it booked in for an Inspection 2 service which they're pricing at £400.
Any thoughts / advice would be much appreciated. Cheers.
Aside from a very brief (1 month!) stint with an E38 7 series, I've finally landed myself in a leggy but well maintained E39 530D. I'm thrilled to bits with it and got it for what I consider a pretty decent price.
However it is due a service right off the bat and looking around, I'm not sure there's many good BMW specialists in my area (Coventry & Warwickshire).
Having come from old VW ownership, the general verdict was to stay the hell away from the main dealers and go to specialists only. I just wondered if the attitude is the same for older BMW's or whether main dealers are slightly less bad news? Thinking about getting it booked in for an Inspection 2 service which they're pricing at £400.
Any thoughts / advice would be much appreciated. Cheers.
They are easy enough to do the basics DIY (see http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/tech_... but if you want to pay someone else have a look here (especially as it has been reinstated) http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
They're not complicated cars and so are easy to work on. A good local general garage (who are good & who you trust etc etc.) will be able to do most things on these cars, apart from the gearbox if it's an auto. General servicing will be no problem for your local spannerman; inspection service slightly more difficult for him since there are innumerable arms/bushes that don't readily show wear (when subjected to the pry bar test) even though they are actually starting to fail. A good indi should know these foibles on the E39.
How important to you is a BMW stamp in the service book? Personally, I prefer to see indi stamps. Don't assume competence at the franchised dealer, they vary massively. BMW dealers may or may not know much about your car as they're now quite elderly but will have the special tools and proper ecu connectivity. One thing you can count on though is that the apprentice will be working on your car not the Master Tech. Neither of my E39s have been to a franchised dealer in my ownership, and that includes my M5.
If you're at all handy with the spanners you can do quite a lot of work on your car as they're easier to work on than the more recent iterations.
Well worth searching out a place that's got the right kit & experience to do a full 4 wheel alignment. The E39 is a joy to drive when the suspension is sorted and been properly aligned!
Great choice BTW.
Awesome cars.
How important to you is a BMW stamp in the service book? Personally, I prefer to see indi stamps. Don't assume competence at the franchised dealer, they vary massively. BMW dealers may or may not know much about your car as they're now quite elderly but will have the special tools and proper ecu connectivity. One thing you can count on though is that the apprentice will be working on your car not the Master Tech. Neither of my E39s have been to a franchised dealer in my ownership, and that includes my M5.
If you're at all handy with the spanners you can do quite a lot of work on your car as they're easier to work on than the more recent iterations.
Well worth searching out a place that's got the right kit & experience to do a full 4 wheel alignment. The E39 is a joy to drive when the suspension is sorted and been properly aligned!
Great choice BTW.
Awesome cars.
I'd go with the above 
.
TBH I don't mind buying a car without the stamps but I do like to see evidence of good quality parts being used and paperwork to support the lack of stamps. If you are competent with the spanners and are patient I'd give it a go yourself.
If you do some work on your cars I'm happy to lend a hand the first time around for beer money. Otherwise I'd give these guys a go:
AutoTech BMW Warwick ; they are however almost as expensive as BMW on some occasions so beware
I'd try Sytner BMW's prices for the above reason.
Shire Motors in Warwick I'd also give a go. For servicing they will be fine on the car and they tend to use parts they trust and will use genuine bits if you ask them.
Buyers must hate my cars ; I normally give them mountains of paperwork!
.TBH I don't mind buying a car without the stamps but I do like to see evidence of good quality parts being used and paperwork to support the lack of stamps
. If you are competent with the spanners and are patient I'd give it a go yourself.If you do some work on your cars I'm happy to lend a hand the first time around for beer money. Otherwise I'd give these guys a go:
AutoTech BMW Warwick ; they are however almost as expensive as BMW on some occasions so beware
I'd try Sytner BMW's prices for the above reason.
Shire Motors in Warwick I'd also give a go. For servicing they will be fine on the car and they tend to use parts they trust and will use genuine bits if you ask them.
Buyers must hate my cars ; I normally give them mountains of paperwork!
Edited by SebringMan on Saturday 18th March 10:43
Edited by SebringMan on Saturday 18th March 10:44
I have previously been a bit of a basic DIY'er but rather lost enthusiasm for it to be honest so had intended to just find a good specialist to maintain this for now.
I have certainly heard of Autotech in Warwick so glad to hear a recommendation for them. Front end on the E39 feels a little
vague and has got a bit clunky in the last few days so could with getting it in sooner rather than later for a service and a check over!
I also love not very far from Sytner BMW in Coventry so could consider them too I suppose.
Really appreciate the info.
I have certainly heard of Autotech in Warwick so glad to hear a recommendation for them. Front end on the E39 feels a little
vague and has got a bit clunky in the last few days so could with getting it in sooner rather than later for a service and a check over!
I also love not very far from Sytner BMW in Coventry so could consider them too I suppose.
Really appreciate the info.
After a bit of reading around I decided to have a punt on Dack Motor Group in Coventry. Pretty convenient location for me, and the reviews are universally good on both Facebook and Google Maps. Arguably they're suspiciously TOO good (astroturfing?) but I willing to give them a try and see how it goes.
Inspection II service is costing me £279, plus a few other bits (brake fluid change, etc). Booked in for Wednesday.
Will report back on my experience with them.
Inspection II service is costing me £279, plus a few other bits (brake fluid change, etc). Booked in for Wednesday.
Will report back on my experience with them.
Diesel filter is a must and DIY (Carparts4 less etc)
Oil breather needs to be the later type .Again easy and cheap and very very important .
Check air filter, cheap and DIY
Auto box can have the oil and magnets etc cleaned off and the results are amazing. Not too expensive .
Buy a code scanner from ebay C110 is a good budget model.
If yours has "swirl flaps" get rid ASAP .This is very important . And may have been done.If so a good sign .
I have a 525d and put money into it when needed. But for the cars value, forget a "branded " garage . Find a good Polish indi etc ! Mine is excellent and works out £25.00 a hour and he never stops and has worked on many friends cars .
I hate EGR's so blanked mine straight away.
Boost pipes etc can be a issue . worth replacing many which is super cheap and easy .
They EAT suspension rubber bushes etc .So again change
nice cars, good luck
Oil breather needs to be the later type .Again easy and cheap and very very important .
Check air filter, cheap and DIY
Auto box can have the oil and magnets etc cleaned off and the results are amazing. Not too expensive .
Buy a code scanner from ebay C110 is a good budget model.
If yours has "swirl flaps" get rid ASAP .This is very important . And may have been done.If so a good sign .
I have a 525d and put money into it when needed. But for the cars value, forget a "branded " garage . Find a good Polish indi etc ! Mine is excellent and works out £25.00 a hour and he never stops and has worked on many friends cars .
I hate EGR's so blanked mine straight away.
Boost pipes etc can be a issue . worth replacing many which is super cheap and easy .
They EAT suspension rubber bushes etc .So again change
nice cars, good luck
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