Tempting Thoughts..... Should I or Shouldn't I?

[AquilaBMW]

So... recently, someone I know acquired Black 540i Wagon. He has since taken it up to Seattle for a couple of weeks and had been daily driving till the Alternator decided to kick the bucket.

Since I had sold the C/F hood it had, we decided it would be a prudent move to acquire a parts car that might have running issues and use that to complete the wagon - things like hood, seats, and such were needed.

I found this 2002 540i 6MT with 164K miles on it. Seller informed me the car had the SES light on and had a loud start up rattle. When I went to see the car, it indeed had a pretty loud and short start up rattle, but once it was running - it was quiet. It did not even have the typical VANOS clunk typical of the M62TU. Seller informed me the car had produced error code P0101 and he had been told this was the chain guides.

Listening to the engine, I have to say I was pretty doubtful it was the guides, not even the VANOS units were making noise. I felt it may just need a tensioner.

The car rides on Biltstein PSS Coilover with Blue springs and rides surprisingly well. It is of course a manual transmission, and also has an SSK installed with a new shift boot and all. Everything works including the heated seats, etc.

Any-hoo, I acquired the car as a parts car. I then started toying with the idea of converting the old Wagon to s 6 speed since we would have a complete donor car on hand. We initially only needed some parts like the hood, alternator and few bits and pieces, but now this potential idea has reared it's head.

What do you guys think? Oh, by the way. My cousin drove the car home - a distance of about 70 miles and informed me the SES light went out by itself.








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[shwy]

If you decide to part it out, i think I'll have to visit for a few pieces. Looks excellent though! Nice find.

Definitely condone a 6 speed wagon!

[AquilaBMW]

If you decide to part it out, i think I'll have to visit for a few pieces. Looks excellent though! Nice find.

Definitely condone a 6 speed wagon!

I'll update once the part out starts, pretty sure that is what's going to happen.

[fullthrottle540]

I would fix the front plate & rear rust, remove the skull and graffiti stickers, update the expired tags and check the oil level. Previous owner looks like the type to ignore oil

[AquilaBMW]

I would fix the front plate & rear rust, remove the skull and graffiti stickers, update the expired tags and check the oil level. Previous owner looks like the type to ignore oil

LOL! Actually, PO just had oil changed. He is not a car guy, so he does not work on cars. He took it to a Jiffy Lube who created another error code on the car - go figure! Stickers are coming off. PO and I laughed about that. The tags are actually current, car was just registered to 2018 as well.

[mooll]

come on really gonna part this one out too
too nice to part

[XAlt]

You mean P0011, might've dodged a bullet\sticky vanos? We are supporting genocide if we keep putting down E39s like this. Sand it out, $5 rustoleum, throw the headlights into the furnace, and make it the beater of the century.

[magrahamkp08]

Definitely do the 6 speed swap in the wagon. I just did it on mine and its AWESOME!. Just think that spare motor you can build up for a blower and dump it in the wagon with minimal down time!

[jp5Touring]

Looks to nice to part out.Drive it for a month then decide. Plenty of whipped E39's out their for parts.

[adm750]

I'm grabbing some popcorn....waitin' to see what happens here.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Man, stop listening to these chimps..... I need a part!

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Whut's the inner trim like on that heap? I need the trim around the shifter if it's Vavooma, and uncracked, same for the CD cover plate on the dash, lemme know!

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And a DSP amp!

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[magrahamkp08]

Not to hijack the thread, but i am parting out a 504i/6 ill look and see if i have those parts

Man, stop listening to these chimps..... I need a part!

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Whut's the inner trim like on that heap? I need the trim around the shifter if it's Vavooma, and uncracked, same for the CD cover plate on the dash, lemme know!

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And a DSP amp!

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[juststeve]

I would switch drivetrains along with any upgrades from the sedan, replace the clutch & chain guides in the process.
then, put the sedan back together as an automatic, repair the bodywork and flip it.

[Dave Sal]

That car almost looks new.

[AquilaBMW]

The car is far from perfect. And I do have to agree that after examining it close up, someone put a heap of real good work in it. Like I said, the shifter boot is new - I mean literally brand new and there were some other little things I noticed. The car for instance came with Gloss Door trim and Gloss Shadowline - my guess is that this was ordered this way which is uncommon for a 540i from 2002.

The good news is my buddy wants to keep her. He has forbidden me from parting it out. I have given him the car for a week to make a final decision, if he decides to keep it, he has agreed that we will build a DINAN 5 out of it. I have most of the needed parts for that so it would be a nice project.

This may turn from a Part Out Alert into a Build Project.

[tmvE39E53Z32TT]

Fix the damage in the rear and flip it. Too nice to part out.