tuanies
02-15-2013, 09:48 PM
Last summer I found out we were expecting a second child. At the time we had the minivan (2011 VW Routan SE) for my wife and a 1990 Mazda Miata that was my car. I decided having an impractical car wasn't going to work out in case we had to be in two different places. My wife also couldn't drive stick so I couldn't just take the van with my daughter and leave her home alone without a means of transportation. Thus the Miata was sold at the end of August and I began my search for another car.
I've always had a thing for E39 tourings and decided to look for one, in between Volvo's, Subarus Focus wagons, Contour SVTs, practically everything.
I ended up finding a 2000 528i wagon listed for $4000 and went to check it out. It had 174k miles on it, sport package, automatic and shadowline trim. There's a couple dings here and there but mechanically sound - the previous owner was one of those that just took the car to the shop every time something was wrong.
So I offered $3500 and he accepted. After waiting 3-weeks for him to get the title, I finally got the car towards the end of September.
When I got the car, it had the usual E39 problems - the seat switches and plastics were broken, needed a new CPS, a little VANOS rattle on cold start ups. Otherwise it was what you'd expect from an older $3500 car.
So since I've had it I've done the following
CPS
Air Filter
Cabin Filters
Sport seats
Can holder delete
Also have a DrVanos rebuilt VANOS module on the way and will do the oil change, spark plugs and transmission drain and refill with new filter.
Anyways onto the pictures
Style 5s are my favorite wheels of all time
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8476811851_3445845c63.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476811851/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476811851/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
My front bumper is scraped up from the last owner
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8477902184_72f68ce69c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8477902184/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8477902184/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
Last owner managed to back into something, but the tail light is fine
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8476811211_898e5ef86f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476811211/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476811211/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
MTECH wheel
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8477900948_ccef8bc3a4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8477900948/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8477900948/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
"GRAU" can holder delete plate
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/8476810631_c2328abb10.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476810631/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476810631/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
As for plans for the car - I just want to get everything sorted out mechanically, then stereo, manual swap, fix the exterior, get the MTECH bumpers and refinish the wheels. I have black kidneys on the way already :)
I've always had a thing for E39 tourings and decided to look for one, in between Volvo's, Subarus Focus wagons, Contour SVTs, practically everything.
I ended up finding a 2000 528i wagon listed for $4000 and went to check it out. It had 174k miles on it, sport package, automatic and shadowline trim. There's a couple dings here and there but mechanically sound - the previous owner was one of those that just took the car to the shop every time something was wrong.
So I offered $3500 and he accepted. After waiting 3-weeks for him to get the title, I finally got the car towards the end of September.
When I got the car, it had the usual E39 problems - the seat switches and plastics were broken, needed a new CPS, a little VANOS rattle on cold start ups. Otherwise it was what you'd expect from an older $3500 car.
So since I've had it I've done the following
CPS
Air Filter
Cabin Filters
Sport seats
Can holder delete
Also have a DrVanos rebuilt VANOS module on the way and will do the oil change, spark plugs and transmission drain and refill with new filter.
Anyways onto the pictures
Style 5s are my favorite wheels of all time
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8476811851_3445845c63.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476811851/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476811851/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
My front bumper is scraped up from the last owner
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8477902184_72f68ce69c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8477902184/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8477902184/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
Last owner managed to back into something, but the tail light is fine
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8476811211_898e5ef86f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476811211/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476811211/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
MTECH wheel
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8477900948_ccef8bc3a4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8477900948/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8477900948/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
"GRAU" can holder delete plate
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/8476810631_c2328abb10.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476810631/)
E39 Touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuanies/8476810631/) by tuanies (http://www.flickr.com/people/tuanies/), on Flickr
As for plans for the car - I just want to get everything sorted out mechanically, then stereo, manual swap, fix the exterior, get the MTECH bumpers and refinish the wheels. I have black kidneys on the way already :)