At last, an E39!

[wet willy]

After two years looking I landed a 1999 540 Sport. 6 speed M/T 40K on the odometer. What a great ride. I had a blowout on the left steer tire bringing her back from the windy city. The tires looked new, when I got home I cheked the date code, 17 years old. lesson learned. Ordered 4 Michelin Pilot Sports that day. I gotta thank everyone here for all the posts I read through to learn what I could about these cars. The one problem I see is 2 broken mounts for the oil filter housing, no problem getting the mounts just wondering about the wire fastened to 1 of the rubber mounts. I am guessing a ground wire. Should I remove the battery cable before the wire to the mount? Thanks for any advice, Mike. 678021

[justinca540i]

Might be helpful to post an image of the "ground wire" in question. Perhaps it could be just a safety wire to hold it in place?

[wet willy]

Great idea justinca540i. Not that good at that stuff, but I will try. There are 2 zip ties holding it onto the mount now. Thank you. Mike.

[Twistytee]

Nice score! Got to love finding a low mileage example and 6 speed to boot.

[wet willy]

Thanks Twistytee! My Z3 has been sitting for a while now. Here is a pic of the wire, Hard to see though.678112

[Twistytee]

That wire is the ground for the oil pressure switch. No need to remove the battery wire when replacing the broken mounts, but you’ll want to secure it again to keep the switch properly grounded.

[wet willy]

Thanks a ton Twistytee!

[JimLev]

Car looks good Willy. Those mounts usually get broken when the oil cap is torqued on too tight or when removing it.
Hold the oil filter housing with your hand when your removing or installing the cap.

[wet willy]

Thanks JimLev! I will remember that when I do my own service. While researching the housing here it seeems like a common problem. The oil was changed just before I bought it by Knauz BMW in Lake Bluff Il. I can't say they broke it, but I would have thought they would have repaired it. The seller replaced the trunk shocks and a cupholder during the same service. I don't think it would have added that much more cabbage to fix the housing. Great avatar by the way, take care, Mike.

[mikalanjavin]

I recently purchased a 2003 530i. The rear 2 tires looked to be in good condition however they were from 2002! It's always good to look at the date code on all the tires (including the spare!)