e39 540i upgrade or not?

[Planman]

Hi I have just acquired a mint 540i with only 72K on the clock. Its a lovely car but I have aspirations for the mtech body kit. Its this easy to do and where is the best place to get the parts. I supppose the sensible thing to do would be to buy an msport version in the first place, but these will be thin on the ground in good condition and with low mileage.

Any assistance appreciated.

Edited by Planman on Tuesday 26th July 14:28

[d_a_n1979]

Planman said:

Hi I have just acquired a mint 540i with only 72K on the clock. Its a lovely car but I have aspirations for the mtech body kit. Its this easy to do and where is the best place to get the parts. I supppose the sensible thing to do would be to buy an msport version in the first place, but these will be thin on the ground in good condition and with low mileage.

Any assistance appreciated.

You either need to find the front & rear bumpers in decent condition, get them, respray them and then fit them...

Or buy them new from BMW and then do the above...

Finding them undamaged, 2nd hand currently can be hard work; personally I'd buy them new, along with new exterior door trims and front/rear bumper trims etc

If you're looking to do the suspension too; just buy Sachs sport spec shocks (PNs 556838 fronts, 170857 rears) and either OEM Mtech springs from BMW (you can only source them from BMW) or buy the Eibach pro-kit springs

Really; it's all down to how much you want to spend/how passionate about this you are and your cash flow etc...

I'm midst 'rebuilding' my current E39 540i which has hailed from Japan; I've literally replaced the whole cooling system, all the belts & top end gaskets; all the brakes system and all the suspension parts bar shocks/springs (I'm looking to install coilovers in the near future, as I want to be able to dial the ride height in better than shocks/springs can)

It all adds up, very quickly

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Planman]

Thanks for that - your car looks very smart - just the look I want!

My car is factory fitted with the sport suspension - I think I read that all 540s have this maybe?

[d_a_n1979]

Planman said:

Thanks for that - your car looks very smart - just the look I want!

My car is factory fitted with the sport suspension - I think I read that all 540s have this maybe?

Not sure; there are plenty of SEs about, they could be spec'd with Mtech suspension from factory etc

Ref the Mtech bumpers; don't forget that you'll need the specific front corner undertrays and front undertray also. OEM ones aren't cheap and 2nd hand ones, undamaged are rarer than rare hens teeth!

[skullandbiscuits]

If that had shadowline trim, it would look absolutely ace. Isn’t that the SE aero factory bodkykit?

[Planman]

skullandbiscuits said:

If that had shadowline trim, it would look absolutely ace. Isn’t that the SE aero factory bodkykit?

Thanks. It’s factory front valance and rear spoiler yes. I had thought the same about shadow line - any ideas where you can get the kit?

One thing I don’t like about the SE is the lack of a visible exhaust. Had thought about an alpina bumper and an eismann rear box.

[d_a_n1979]

Planman said:

skullandbiscuits said:

If that had shadowline trim, it would look absolutely ace. Isn’t that the SE aero factory bodkykit?

Thanks. It’s factory front valance and rear spoiler yes. I had thought the same about shadow line - any ideas where you can get the kit?

One thing I don’t like about the SE is the lack of a visible exhaust. Had thought about an alpina bumper and an eismann rear box.

IMO keep it subtle, get a back box delete and a simple down turn exhaust tailpipe and have folk guessing

Ref the exterior trim. Best bet is 2nd hand but they do have galvanic corrosion issues (which mine suffers from). So I'll be getting mine flatted off and wrapped satin as I don't like gloss black

Ref Eisenmann back box. Massively expensive for what they are and bloody loud too FYI

You'd be better off with a custom made system for that kind of money IMO

[helix402]

Here you go, M Style.



I’ve had a non gen E46 Sport front bumper from them and the fit was good. Used parts are a pain to prep for painting.

As mentioned it would look odd with a Sport kit and chrome trim.

Edited by helix402 on Friday 29th July 08:47

[tobinen]

Your car but I'd keep it as OEM as possible.

[d_a_n1979]

tobinen said:

Your car but I'd keep it as OEM as possible.

In agreement; keeps the value then more so!

Some subtle changes are fine; but big body changes can impact values and at the low miles its on, it'd be better left OEM

[Planman]

Thanks for all the helpful comments. I think in hindsight I will drop the mtech kit idea and keep the retro look. However, thinking of shadowlinekit and I do need to bring out the exhaust noise a bit more without going too rude.

If I go the shadowline look how to replace the chrome strips in the body/bumber mouldings? Do I need new mouldings or can you just remove the chrome?

If new mouldings, ECS Tuning and Schmiedmann seem to stock complete kits:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-parts/shadowline-d...

https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/bmw-E39/1933344-new...

Schmiedmann also stock a complete OEM shadwline window kit, but its not cheap - about £900!

[d_a_n1979]

Planman said:

Thanks for all the helpful comments. I think in hindsight I will drop the mtech kit idea and keep the retro look. However, thinking of shadowlinekit and I do need to bring out the exhaust noise a bit more without going too rude.

If I go the shadowline look how to replace the chrome strips in the body/bumber mouldings? Do I need new mouldings or can you just remove the chrome?

If new mouldings, ECS Tuning and Schmiedmann seem to stock complete kits:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-parts/shadowline-d...

https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/bmw-E39/1933344-new...

Schmiedmann also stock a complete OEM shadwline window kit, but its not cheap - about £900!

Get the mouldings via Cotswolds BMW; their prices are fine, no need to use Schmiedmann for stuff like this etc... Tell Cotswolds BMW you're on the BMW 5 forums and you'll get the forum discount

Don't forget that with the likes of Schmiedmann & ECS; you'll more than likely pay import taxes also, worth bearing in mind!

They just pop off and pop back on; but IMO, they'll look odd without the chrome whist you've got the chrome window trim etc

The exterior window trim is very expensive; if you can, find someone local to you that specialises in stuff like this and ask them to wrap it for you, or you could DIY 'plasticote' it, both are removable then and you can return the car to OEM if you so wish

[Planman]

Thanks, good suggestions.

On the body/bumper mouldings am I simply asking for mtech, or is there an OEM version non mtech without the chrome? Presumably mtech comes with m sport badge which I don't want.

[d_a_n1979]

Planman said:

Thanks, good suggestions.

On the body/bumper mouldings am I simply asking for mtech, or is there an OEM version non mtech without the chrome? Presumably mtech comes with m sport badge which I don't want.

4 versions

Plain, with M badge (what I have fitted), with M5 badge (for the E39 M5 obviously) and the chrome stripped versions

Part number 1 here:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=DN62...

[helix402]

Schiedman parts will be hit by import charges.

[Touring442]

I've had quite a few bits from them and haven't had that.

[helix402]

Touring442 said:

I've had quite a few bits from them and haven't had that.

Unfortunately I was hit with a charge when I bought a new wheel.

[d_a_n1979]

helix402 said:

Touring442 said:

I've had quite a few bits from them and haven't had that.

Unfortunately I was hit with a charge when I bought a new wheel.

Yup; everyone I know that's had parts off Schmiedmann this year have been caught out by import taxes etc

Might be down to the total value etc; but for most parts, they're source-able via BMW here in the UK