Introducing my 540iA 97 EU-CRO

[CaleCro]

Hi all, I was registered long ago on this forum formally to find info about and what to look to buy e39 540, now that day has come and i park one 540 in my garage finally....

Car is from 1997, m62b44 with 370.000 km on his neck., full service history....I was looking for him 4 years to buy in excellent condition, and finally I did.

It is in nice condition (if we look on car that has 18 years), but there is plenty stuffs to do more...




Modell: 540I
Motor: M62 - 4,40l (210kW)
Gearbox: Automatic steptronic
Color: Fjordgrau Metallic (310)
Interior: Standard leder/Black (N6SW)


Production date: 10.09.1997


Standard Equipment:


S260A Side airbag for driver/passenger
S411A Window lifts,electric,front/rear
S473A Armrest front
S520A Fog lights
S540A Cruise control
S548A Kilometer-calibrated speedometer
S555A On-board computer V with remote control
S415A Sun-blind, rear
S459A Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S488A Lumbar support, driver and passenger
S694A Provisions for BMW 6 CD changer


Optional Equipment:


S216A HYDRO STEERING-SERVOTRONIC
S223A Electronic Damper Control (EDC)
S299A BMW LA wheels with mixed tires
S302A Alarm system
S320A Deleted, model lettering
S339A Shadow-Line
S416A Roller sun vizor, rear lateral
S423A Floor mats, velours
S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit
S438A Fine wood trim
S441A Smoker package
S456A Comfort seat with memory
S494A Seat heating driver/passenger
S508A Park Distance Control (PDC)
S522A Xenon Light
S534A Automatic air conditioning
S629A Car telephone (GSM) w card reader, front
S670A RDS Radio BMW Professional RDS
S672A CD changer for 6 CDs
S677A HiFi System Professional DSP
S863A Europa Retailer Directory Europe
S879A On-board vehicle literature German
www.bmwarchiv.de


i will post some pictures now...

[edjack]

Enjoy! Looks very clean for the "km on his neck."

[CaleCro]

Thanks.

Now there is some plans to do. Car is pre face lift, so i will convert it to FL.

Also it will be added: M-sport pack, 18-19'' rims , sport electric comfort seats from e38, and minor diys in interior.

But first of all i will install custom sound instead of crappy OEM DSP HiFi sound system.

Whole setup will be SQL oriented, Stealth, 3 way setup + sub, all Active via Alpine PXA-H800 sound proc.
I'm considering to put Android tablet, Car PC so i can have rear camera, GPS, internet.....

[Dking078]

An e39 with EDC & Servo steering? Now those are two daum rare options. Congrats!

[CaleCro]

First owner was CEO of our power distribution company, so they didn't hesitate on any options when they was ordering car (1998...). Then car had full option list. later models get much more, but i will add much more.

At first i don't like S-EDC but when i drove some miles....omg what a cool stuff... only thing that will do, will change springs to lower car a little. when S-EDC is activated it is enough stiff and bumpy...

some interior pictures after 370.000 km

[CaleCro]

on these pictures was old steering wheel and gearshift

[BMW540san]

Dobrodosao and no it's not from Google, I speak the language. I'm originally from Bosnia and I've lived here since 96. If you a fancy drive to Biograd Na Moru, I'll look for your car. I'll be staying there for 2 weeks in a few days.
Very nice car and nicely optioned too. M pars would look good on it. I've had style 32 on my car but rare 18X9 and 18x8 OEM setup and car looked really good with them.
Looking forward to see your progress.

[CaleCro]

ha ha, welcome and take a good rest on holidays.

Yes style 32 are nice in 18'' dimensions but as you say very rare, also as oem style 42 18'' (not Rondel one piece)

i will try to stick with bmw OEM wheels, but only if i found them in good condition.

cheers

[dannyzabolotny]

Wow, this car looks to be in amazing condition! Great find!

[BMW540san]

ha ha, welcome and take a good rest on holidays.

Yes style 32 are nice in 18'' dimensions but as you say very rare, also as oem style 42 18'' (not Rondel one piece)

i will try to stick with bmw OEM wheels, but only if i found them in good condition.

cheers

Good choice on sticking with OEM wheels. If you could find OEM set of M pars in Croatia, it'd be a nice addition to car as they're forged and would reduce unsprung weight. I imagine that M steering wheel was added afterward? Also, I'm curious how big is the E39 following in Croatia considering that it's sort of gas guzzler other than diesel version.
Looking forward to enjoy myself in Biograd. Unfortunately, rental Opel Corsa will have to do. I'll miss my 300 HP old beast.

Here is a shot just before I sold 18" wheels:



And now with M Pars and OEM Aero spoiler:

[CaleCro]

Good choice on sticking with OEM wheels. If you could find OEM set of M pars in Croatia, it'd be a nice addition to car as they're forged and would reduce unsprung weight. I imagine that M steering wheel was added afterward? Also, I'm curious how big is the E39 following in Croatia considering that it's sort of gas guzzler other than diesel version.
Looking forward to enjoy myself in Biograd. Unfortunately, rental Opel Corsa will have to do. I'll miss my 300 HP old beast.

Yes M st.wheel was added later. There is a lot of new/used BMW equipment for ours bimmers, we are near motherland of BMW so it is logical. Prices are nearly 30% cheaper than in US.

Currently price of gas is 1L=1.44$ and price for full tank is 100,8$ (70L*1,44$). So yes it is gas guzzler, it consumes 18L /100 km it town, small cars like Opel Corsa diesel about 6L/100 km. But i can forgive gas consumption when i her my mighty V8, car is amazing, and i feel very happy when i start him in the morning.....

Style 32 18'' are really good looking on PFL e39, very nice

[BMW540san]

Yes M st.wheel was added later. There is a lot of new/used BMW equipment for ours bimmers, we are near motherland of BMW so it is logical. Prices are nearly 30% cheaper than in US.

Currently price of gas is 1L=1.44$ and price for full tank is 100,8$ (70L*1,44$). So yes it is gas guzzler, it consumes 18L /100 km it town, small cars like Opel Corsa diesel about 6L/100 km. But i can forgive gas consumption when i her my mighty V8, car is amazing, and i feel very happy when i start him in the morning.....

Style 32 18'' are really good looking on PFL e39, very nice

Interesting. For some reason I was convinced that parts are cheaper in US due to no VAT and huge competition between parts supplier. Excluding dealer parts, common maintenance items are very cheap here:
Oil filter $5-$8 Mann, Hengst etc.._
Air filter $12-$15 same German brands
5L container of Liqui Moly synthetic oil $35-$40
But I imagine that labor prices are considerably cheaper in Croatia.
I'm hoping that in about 10-15 years I'll be permanently move back to Croatia and enjoy the beauty of it.

[CaleCro]

maybe only new parts might be cheaper...

example

5L container Mobil 1 5w-40 is around 40$
filters are the same price

I'm talking about used parts, recently i bought whole interior trim PIANO LACK BLACK for 55$

OEM M-pack bumpers with fog lights and PDC sensors around 500$

labor prices are definitely cheaper

[CaleCro]

some new plans are going to realize very soon...

Eibach PRO-KIT springs...30mm front / 20mm rear in combination with OEM EDC struts
eibach_pro_kit_new.jpg
Eibach anti roll bar kit 28mm/18mm
Eibach antiroll kit.jpg

and all this above for this....

Front: Japan Racing JR10 18x8,5 ET?(15,25,35) 5x114/120 MachinedS (235/40/18)
18x8,5 ET25 5x114_120 MachinedS.jpg
Rear: Japan Racing JR10 18x10,5 ET25 5x114/120 MachinedS (265/35/18)
18x10,5 ET25 5x114_120 MachinedS.jpg

still don't know which brand of tires to choose, was thinking about Pirelli P Zero, or Continental SC5

Also Note on front rims, wihich ET would be best fit for e39

[gmak]

Sweet.

[Brandon002]

I might be alone on this, but I can't stand when wheels are drilled for multiple bolt patterns. I think it makes them look cheap.

[CaleCro]

well some progres with wheels was done so far.

Wheels Style 32 17'' 8J and 9J was sold, and will replace them on summer RH XD 8.5Jx18, 10.5Jx18. whell centers will be same color as car..
12341180_10208385762141148_461717736833109917_n.jpgIMAG2498.jpgIMAG2506.jpg

and because of these nice rims, car will be lowered with Lowtec springs (only they can fit together with EDC suspension), in front -45, rear-30


some pictures of winter setup on style 33 16''
IMAG2412.jpgIMAG2489.jpg


and mighty v8 ...

[CaleCro]

lets continue after some time


Ordered RADINOX rear lips 3,25'' for rear wheels and new set of tyres Vredestein Ultrac Vorti 235/40/18 and 265/35/18

3_25 Radinox_2.JPGIMG_0972.jpgIMG_0967.jpg


they will be repainted into silver color and will put some clear coat or ceramic coat over them.



Inside interior some modifications were done.

-PDC switch from e38 (in progres of installing front pdc sensors)
-gearshift leaver from e90/e91 performance packet
-piano black trim cover


before
d.jpg
after
IMG_0953.jpg

[CaleCro]

Last few days i was playing with some interior parts

tacho rings and new piece in front of gearstick.

before
IMG_0951.jpg
after
13254529_10209608299306991_4113741539078508393_n.jpg

and
IMG_1043.jpg

IMG_1047.jpg

[CaleCro]

well.............. one picture 1000 words. I done some modifications

IMG_1028.jpg

IMG_1064.jpg

IMG_1079.jpg

IMG_1089.jpg

IMG_1082.jpg

[CaleCro]

Serial equipment
IMG_1110.jpg
Because of S-EDC problem is how to lower car to keep up edc struts?

but we will find solutinon....Lowtec has springs. but...im still searching


and back to original v8 grille
IMG_1189.jpg
IMG_1192.jpg

and now plan is to put Alpina front lip and from e38 front PDC sensors.

[CaleCro]

So much things was installed from recent post... so i will post pictures..


On exterior:


Car was lowered 30/30 and as for now i'm not satisfied with rear springs...front are good.
On rear car is too much bumpy, not stiff enough in booth modes of S-EDC





new Alpina lip and FL Hella BiXenon added




INTERIOR:


In interior was added most of interesting things....


Kontur seats from e38...







Headliner Anthracite Alcantara suede OEM from M5






for me best and hardest mod that was done...NBT navi ...thx to BmwPlanetDude








Conversion from PFL-FL steering wheel....in progres


FL M sport steering wheel from M3 SMG finished with individual logo, now i'm waiting for slip ring from 3/99 FL to be adjusted onto my 9/97 PFL car

[Dking078]

How hard is it to find the fire extinguishers over the pond? I've been dying for one

But an M5 slick top.... Daaaaaaang~!

[JPR10]

ACS type 3 are my favorite wheels on the E39.

EDIT: I noticed you didn't go with those.... car looks good though.

[CaleCro]

How hard is it to find the fire extinguishers over the pond? I've been dying for one

But an M5 slick top.... Daaaaaaang~!

For these seats you can order bracket and fire extinguisher directly from any bmw dealer... whole set cost me less than 80$, brand new.

M5 slick top is very rare to find in any condition....i had luck to find one in pristine one.