2003 BMW 530iA Sport Touring (E39)

[tobinen]

I bought this yesterday from another PHer. It's done 135,000 miles and it is generally in good condition, certainly better than my green one.

The drive home revealed a few issues to sort.

It pulls slightly to the left and the steering wheel in off slightly to the right
The temperature gauge reads too cool, so I have ordered a new Wahler thermostat from C3BMW
The tailgate glass switch needs to be replaced
The headlamp lenses are a bit cloudy
The aerial is missing
A bit of paint is missing from the OSF wing and some minor dents in the NSR quarter
The EML came on in my first trip to the shops after arriving home (it was off during the drive home)

All-in-all I am happy with it and it should provide some decent service for a couple-or-so years.

[tobinen]

The bigger engine in this was the main reason and the heated seats are a bonus. The 2.5 is nice but it's a bit asthmatic up hills

[tobinen]

Thanks Dan. OF thinks it's a grommet or something at the back of the engine, sorry can't remember what he said but I think he's sending it to me in the post. Intake related IIRC.

Yes the Oxford Green 2.5i will be going once it's ready for sale.

[tobinen]

Some parts have arrived and I assume from OF (thanks chap). A quick search for the part numbers and they are 15 and 17.





I have the new thermostat but it's too cold (for me) to mess about with that yet.

[tobinen]

Is that the one with the metal flap?

[tobinen]

Oh dear. This looks expensive. The lights came on during driving but not at start-up. I went to the shop, came back they stayed off for the short trip home.

The good news is the EML is now off, for now!

[tobinen]

Ok thanks Dan.

[tobinen]

I took it for an hour's blast this afternoon and the ABS light did not come on so I wonder if it might have been low battery voltage. I have a trip planned tomorrow so I will see. I haven't checked the vacuum plugs yet. The EML was off for 30 minutes then came on.

The steering/suspension definitely needs a check over. It won't track true in a straight line and generally feels odd on top of the pull to the nearside. One for WIM after I change over the tyres from the green one. I think I will book it in to the garage and ask it to give it a suspension once-over.

Otherwise I still enjoy the extra power over the 2.5i.

[tobinen]

With the other E39 sold I can now turn my attention to this. New windscreen moulding ordered. The lower one looks a bit rough so I'll order that as well as the lower corners which have started to perish.

Old one removed and cleaned the area



I checked the DISA and it looks original. There is no play but on advice above I will order the repair kit.



I think this is the quick wash reservoir and it's not connected. I put in fluid and it leaks from the connector.



I have the new thermostat but I am debating whether to attack all the engine jobs in one go and take it off the road for a bit now that the CL is in use. The cowl has been bodged sympathetically repaired to hold the tank but I may order a new one. I can't see the state of the CCV but the engine is dry down below.

[tobinen]

X8R kit arrived.



Instructions are fine but the white cam would not pull out with pliers as per the picture. A bit of effort and a piece broke off.



Not much left on which to grab



As the flap was not required I decided a destructive method was required and resigned myself to a new valve if it all went wrong. Which it did.





I am now looking for a new valve.

[tobinen]

d_a_n1979 said:

Oh balls

DON'T fit an aftermarket; speak to Simon Garland of RoTrip and see if he can source you a known working one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/rotripbmwspares

He's well known on the E39 FB groups as a tried & trusted reseller of parts

OK, nothing ordered yet. I'll give him a try

[tobinen]

d_a_n1979 said:

That's the intensive wash for the windscreen (button on the end of the stalk); does the pump run ok? If so, just fix the piping (it does go brittle with heat & age and likes to randomly fall apart; sop always handy to have 4mm (IIRC) washer piping in spare; for 'just in cases')...!

There is no hose attached so I will look for some hose. The stalk button works so I don't understand the purpose of intensive wash. It's not a major concern yet, as the DISA takes priority. Why didn't I just leave it all alone?

[tobinen]

Unfortunately rotip has none but I have bought a genuine used one from another breaker - £80.
£250 for a new one is just blatant profiteering.

I suppose I can have another go with the X8R kit

Do I risk it again?

[tobinen]

Time for a few jobs. First, the thermostat.

Relatively straightforward as I didn't need to remove the cowl completely. However, I did turn the previous bodge on the expansion tank to a break so may have to buy a cowl after all. The wiring harness sheathing has crumbled to dust.



The viscous fan coupling was a bd to undo and I am pretty sure it's shot in any case as it rattles a bit. I ran it up without the fan attached and it took ages for the thermostat to open even in this heat. Once I had a hot bottom hose I rechecked the gauge. Bloody great, it hasn't budged.



I left it idling for as long as I dare but tapped out at about 10 minutes. The auxiliary fan moved ever-so slightly every 30 seconds but barely ran up to full speed so maybe I bailed too early. It's difficult to know. Is the gauge reading taken from the 'stat or the sensor near the bottom hose? Is the cluster at fault?

The hose has been cut to the intensive wash pump and the washers.





The DISA is fitted and looks in very good condition. I will see if I can return the unused XR8 kit.



All the windscreen moulding, scuttle trim and corners are here but it's too warm right now.

[tobinen]

Righto. Fan coupling on the way and I have found the relevant temp gauge thread on the 5 forum. There is no conclusive answer sadly.

[tobinen]

After this picture was taken the LH wiper arm came off easily but the RH pivots are not budging. A wiper arm puller now ordered.

[tobinen]

New coupling in. This went on first time and did not put up a fight.



The new puller tool was good but sadly it does not extend enough to remove the LH block thing on the spindle so I need another new tool. It looks as though I will not be taking this camping next weekend.

[tobinen]

New scuttle panel. I can put the arms back on if I want but I am not going to take it far until I have the temp gauge issue sorted.

[tobinen]

Yes, I can think I can rule out the thermostat! I think I read somewhere that there is a sensor at the back of the engine/head which is for the ECU/gauge

[tobinen]

Some good news, the windscreen moulding is in. A bit fiddly but once I had the knack it was OK.



I found some more stuff on the YouTubes for additional menus.

Running the clocks test which should peg all the needles you can see the temperature gauge doesn't go to the limit.



This is the gauge after idling for 30 minutes.



And this is the temperature according to test 2 in the 'hidden' menu (note: it never went higher and the thermostat never opened):



Therefore I am happier about taking it camping this weekend. If a calibration can be done on it I may look into that at a later date. Hopefully the longer spindle puller tool will be here by Thursday and I can change the scuttle panel. I also need to re-bodge the expansion tank to cowl fixing.