Introducing my new 2002 525iT 5speed Sport Wagon

[tinius]

I finally got some presentable photos after washing my new 2002 525iT on Saturday. It's a Sport Wagon 5-speed manual with just over 100K miles, Titanium Silver with standard gray interior. It spent most of its life in Minnesota, and I'm just now discovering several spots of rust that I need to figure out how to deal with. I saw the rust when I got it, but I have been looking for a 5-sp manual for more than a year, and didn't want to pass on this one.

I don't have the talent or vision to manage mods as most of the other readers, so I tend to put my time and energy into keeping it stock and well-maintained. I want everything to work properly, all the time. I put 80K miles on my previous touring in 7 years, but it still looks about as good as it did when I got it. I expect to drive this one for 10 years.

I have already manually sanded and refinished both badly pitted headlight covers and replaced the adjusters on both sides. I just received new rubber gaskets for the low beams and xenons and replacements for some other deteriorated rubber parts under the hood. It's missing some of the plastic shielding and ducts behind the bumper and under the transmission, which I'll be replacing as soon as I get all of the parts.

Now that I have a place to work on the car (I moved out of a condominium in March), I'm assembling tools and documentation to do more of the work myself that I paid so dearly for on my previous touring. I expect to learn a lot from the the other E39 owners.

South Carolina doesn't require ANY stickers on the windshield, nor a front tag. I'm looking for the trim strip in silver to replace the dummy tag bracket; that will clean up the front.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8242532517_fc14cb5119_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8243601120_b47be9dde4_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8243615042_a96c9ba307_c.jpg

The roof antenna is broken off. I haven't found a US source for the Kathrein K705564 to replace it. I have a friend in Germany who may be able to send me one from there. Or I might replace it with a dummy silver shark fin, if I can figure out the attachment and sealing against water.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8242545955_622664e9cc_c.jpg

Regards,

[RVAE34]

Looks great, Stephen! I am enjoying your old touring as well :)

[motorade1]

SC in the house!

[sfgearhead]

Congrats! She looks great.

[jp5Touring]

Looks in great shape,, 5 speed to cool.
I would try a salvage yard on the roof antenna,

[noodlesandsam]

What is the BMW part #. I got a mast in April. I'll look for my part # to compare. I do know there are two styles.


What is the BMW part #. I got a mast in April. I'll look for my part # to compare. I do know there are two styles.

I think a yard will be difficult. These get squished easily.

[jayster0966]

Nice touring you got there. If your still looking for the short ant mast for the roof, shoot me a PM. I do have the short wire mast that screws into the base. Just replaced mine with the shark fin off of a X3.

[noodlesandsam]

If it is the early style, and he does not want it, I'll take it for a spare.

[tinius]

Thanks for the offer, jayster0966. I am looking for the replacement Kathrein K705564 antenna which came with the car.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2najqsj.jpg
I haven't found any US source for it, but it is still available in Germany.

Is your "wire mast" antenna the one that is shown in realoem (item 1)?
http://i49.tinypic.com/2rzc314.png

I would also be interested in a photo and/or part number for the X3 shark fin. Since I don't have a car phone I don't really need an antenna, just something to cover up the socket, so I was looking at a dummy plastic fin. I expect your X3 fin probably looks better.

Thanks,

[jayster0966]

Sent you a PM with links.


If it is the early style, and he does not want it, I'll take it for a spare.

If your interested, let me know. Its yours for free. Just pay for the postage.

[dpowell43]

nice wagon.

[rjhagan]

Great looking wagon! Congrats... Keeping the Star Wheels? I've got them and intended to change them out for something more aggressive but they're starting to grow on me..

[gonzilla]

Thanks for the offer, jayster0966. I am looking for the replacement Kathrein K705564 antenna which came with the car.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2najqsj.jpg
I haven't found any US source for it, but it is still available in Germany.

Is your "wire mast" antenna the one that is shown in realoem (item 1)?
http://i49.tinypic.com/2rzc314.png



That realoem diagram is the same picture I kept coming across when looking for an antenna mast. It turned out that everyone had the wrong picture. The correct part number for the mast in your first picture is 84-50-6-907-083. They're $20 @ tischer.

[noodlesandsam]

Right. The realoem pic is what the older cars got.

[AquilaBMW]

OP - that is a gorgeous touring you have there. Congrats on the purchase!

It's one of those times where keeping it original is not a bad thing at all.

[tinius]

Great looking wagon! Congrats... Keeping the Star Wheels? I've got them and intended to change them out for something more aggressive but they're starting to grow on me..

Re: Star Wheels. There is other work which needs to be done first, mainly on the front suspension, then new tires. The right front is chopped and makes a lot of noise on a smooth road. The right rear is worn to the limit on the inside edge. For over 80K miles in my 528iT I never had a problem with uneven wear.

The Star Spoke 81s are in pretty good shape from the outside. But when I cleaned the front wheels a week ago, and it was clear they have seen too many Minnesota winters (previous owner).

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8301155043_2444fd8825.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8302206760_3719723a69.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8302206674_18bb8b9a3f.jpg

I gave them a double coat of this front and back and I'll see whether it works keeping the dust off or at least easy to remove.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8301154777_5fb41efb70.jpg
http://flic.kr/p/dDxAbP

BTW, I hand-sanded then polished the headlight covers with PlastX on 3 Nov and they are still clean and clear. I have heard of the polish washing off within a couple of weeks and then the sanded, opaque surface re-appearing.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8301276485_3d8832bddf_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8301259983_a1239831c8_c.jpg

[tinius]

That realoem diagram is the same picture I kept coming across when looking for an antenna mast. It turned out that everyone had the wrong picture. The correct part number for the mast in your first picture is 84-50-6-907-083. They're $20 @ tischer.

Based on Mike "gonzilla's" info, ordered 84-50-6-907-083 from getbmwparts.com (which turned out to be BMW of Silver Spring MD) for only $20.93. It is the original, stubby, rubber antenna, including the installation tool:
http://i49.tinypic.com/34euofm.jpg

Success! But it turns out the socket on the roof has the broken off foot of the old antenna stuck in it, a brass, female thread over a threaded stud, and there's no way it's coming out. So, I can either order a new TELEPHONE ROOF ANTENNA BASE for another $77:
http://i45.tinypic.com/fonoqw.jpg

or give up, pull the base and cover the hole with something water-tight. Or just leave the ugly broken off base where it is.

Is anyone interested in the brand new stub antenna and tool for $22 shipped?

It's always something.

[noodlesandsam]

How about drilling, and using an ez out? I might take the base off the roof to do that. It would suck to slip.

[motorade1]

Yeah I want that stubby antenna. sending PM

[cwise12]

Hey! You stole my touring :(

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/EbayEmaxx/e39%20door%20lighting/IMG_6660.jpg

Looks great, though! I personally love the style 81's on the car; they look strong and sophisticated.