Jamesthebikeguy's 2000 540i/6 Build thread

[jamesthebikeguy]

Some of you may know, I used to be an active member of the e39 section when I owned a 97 528i 5spd. Now I have returned after owning a 99 328i 5spd, then a New 09 Mazdaspeed GT. Its nice to own the e39 again and is just the "right" car. Power is nicer than the 528i, however I miss the tighter steering and the i6 smoothness.

Old e39:







The 2000 540i/6 is in great shape, and has a Black + wood interior with Anthracite Metallic Exterior paint. Came only with snows, but have big plans for for solid rubber in the spring


Sorry for the bad pictures, it’s extremely dirty, but that’ll have to do:



Mods less than a week after registration:


Depo Smoked Headlight covers for OEM H.I.D Hella headlights:




Depo smoked side lights:


Depo Smoked Celis Facelift taillights:





aFe Cold air intake:

[mjbauman]

Nice 540 and cool upgrades to the lights... Nice pictures of the car and work you are doing.
Now you have to just get rid of that ridiculous signature.

[dookateh]

Thats anthracite?

[e39alpine5]

Thats anthracite?

Hard to tell under the thick layer of road jizz

[Kevin Da Clean1]

jamesthebikeguy,

Good choice on the smoked Hella/OEM tails. By the way, where did you buy yours from? Just wondering. Also, I have always loved the picture at the bottom of your sig. It always make me LOL.

[Orxan4ik]

those arent Hellas, they are eBay tail light that CLOSELY replicate Hellas. Im actually considering picking a set of clears for myself.

nice car OP, did the intake make a difference?

[jamesthebikeguy]

Nice 540 and cool upgrades to the lights... Nice pictures of the car and work you are doing.
Now you have to just get rid of that ridiculous signature.

Thanks, and as far as the Sig is concerned. I need a decent picture of the new 540i until the 3 year old Sig goes away.

Thats anthracite?

So the shock tower says, #397.

Hard to tell under the thick layer of road jizz

Picked up the car and in the 6 days it has been registered, Massachusetts has recieved 3 snow storms, and well over 2 feet.

jamesthebikeguy,

Good choice on the smoked Hella/OEM tails. By the way, where did you buy yours from? Just wondering. Also, I have always loved the picture at the bottom of your sig. It always make me LOL.

Thank you, they are Depo taillights.

those arent Hellas, they are eBay tail light that CLOSELY replicate Hellas. Im actually considering picking a set of clears for myself.

nice car OP, did the intake make a difference?

Not eBay taillights. I mean they might not be Hella, but Depo is a hellava lot nicer than run of the mill ebay lights

The afe Intake absolutely made a difference. Not night and day, but something that a passenger would notice. It makes a little more noise than the factory intake, but mostly audibly unnoticeable

[Orxan4ik]

Thank you, they are Depo taillights.




Not eBay taillights. I mean they might not be Hella, but Depo is a hellava lot nicer than run of the mill ebay lights

The afe Intake absolutely made a difference. Not night and day, but something that a passenger would notice. It makes a little more noise than the factory intake, but mostly audibly unnoticeable

How much was the intake if u don't mind me asking? (: also, by eBay I meant non-oem. DEPOs are OK, they don't have a reflective part on the tail light for example

[jamesthebikeguy]

How much was the intake if u don't mind me asking? (: also, by eBay I meant non-oem. DEPOs are OK, they don't have a reflective part on the tail light for example

Intake I see most places for $295 - $315. However Amazon had a sale on the last one in their stock for $214, so I jumped on it. I wouldn't have dropped the $$ on the intake that quick but with $100 savings over most other places I had too.

Not to mention it was the dry flow, which is a more expensive option and I prefer alot.

[jamesdc4]

Nice.
I usually wash my car before doing any modding.

[crdiscoverer]

those arent Hellas, they are eBay tail light that CLOSELY replicate Hellas.

Meh... 3 celis bars vs 4 in the real Hellas. No reflective strip. Not as bright. To me they are just passable. At least the reverse light is tilted and not a square.

If we are talking about resemblance, the DJ Auto headlights are impressive.

[AnotherGeezer]

I usually wash my car before doing any modding.

Have to pick and choose when I can wash my car due to the average temperatures staying well below freezing these days.

But I agree. Mods just don't have the same impact when your car is a rolling salt-lick

[Jason5driver]

Have to pick and choose when I can wash my car due to the average temperatures staying well below freezing these days.

But I agree. Mods just don't have the same impact when your car is a rolling salt-lick

Lazer-wash...
LaserWash TouchFree Carwash

[AnotherGeezer]

Sounds like a place Dr Evil would take his car.

[jamesthebikeguy]

Lazer-wash...
LaserWash TouchFree Carwash

kinda stupid to even bother washing the car at this point. Did the modifications last saturday, and from Tues - Wed, Amherst MA got over 2-feet of snow.

This upcoming saturday is supposed to snow, as well as early next week.

Not to mention that the roads are still constantly salted and sanded, and many of the local parking lots have standing snow.

I'll be skipping washing the car was for a bit.

[jamesthebikeguy]

Two Mods:

OEM All Weather floor mats: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...1#post21370485






I also installed new buttons in my key, not a bad way to spend $5 bucks shipped:

Quick DIY by picture












And the End Result a New looking key!


Last But not least current photos

[Pannalstaroz]

Mate I like the sig, it make me laugh too. Not sold on the tails, but to each his own.

[dgz32]

Nice pick up, sir. Where did you get the buttons for the remote? I've two keys that need these replaced.

|dg

[jamesthebikeguy]

Nice pick up, sir. Where did you get the buttons for the remote? I've two keys that need these replaced.

|dg

I purchased them off ebay from seller "09shopwinwin" for exactly $3.55.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_1898wt_1151

a good use of a few bucks in my opinion.

[mjbauman]

lookin' good! Love the rubber foot mats, wish I had those versus my factory carpet mats that get nasty in the winter and look as old as they are.

[Mark@EAC]

Welcome back, I love seeing repeat e39 owners.

[jamesthebikeguy]

lookin' good! Love the rubber foot mats, wish I had those versus my factory carpet mats that get nasty in the winter and look as old as they are.

Yeah when I picked her up she didn't have floor mats at all. I know buy summer time I will also have a set of OEM carpeted ones, but thought it was a good idea to pick up a set of rubbas

On my previous e39 i have gone through a few sets of OEM carpeted mats because they really do get dirty and gross, even if you wash them. I'll just have to wait and see if these look good when you clean them or if they will get nasty as-well.

Welcome back, I love seeing repeat e39 owners.

Haha thanks!

My BMW heritage (order of ownership):

1. 95 318ic (My first car)
2. 95 325i
3. 97 528i
4. 99 328i
5. 00 540i

Past other cars (no particular order):

1. 89 Chevy c/k 1500
2. 95 Jeep Wrangler
3. 97 Lincoln Town Car
4. 89 Jeep Cherokee
5. 01 Jeep Cherokee
6. 98 Dodge Neon
7. 97 Volvo 850 t5
8. 95 E350 Powerstroke
9. 09 Mazdaspeed 3 GT

Although I may be missing some cars, I have owned more than 1 at a time for most of my life, and was only with out a BMW for 2 years that I was driving my 09 Mazdaspeed 3.

Current cars:
95 E350 Powerstroke
00 BMW 540i/6

[mattmartindrift]

what happened to the MS3?

I love those cars.

[bimmerfiver]

Lazer-wash...
LaserWash TouchFree Carwash

I dig it, went through their whole 'process'. I need one of them in my town, not 85 miles away:

http://www.touchfreecarwashing.com/locations.htm

OP - Wash your car. Nice 540, cool.

[bimmerfiver]

Lazer-wash...
LaserWash TouchFree Carwash

I dig it, went through their whole 'process'. I need one of them in my town, not 85 miles away:

http://www.touchfreecarwashing.com/locations.htm

OP - Wash your car. Nice 540, cool.