Building fully spec'ed E39

[likeaboss]

Hello, bimmerheads

I want to share with you about my e39. It is 2001 530iA SE model. So there is nothing very special about it, but my goal is to make fully spec'ed e39 as possible. Maybe you will give me some ides about possible options, maybe i will source something with this forum help, because further I go, the harder is to find something. Second goal is to make identical replica to Alpina B10. Process is really slow, because parts are very rare.

So, when i bought it, it had these options:

- 16:9 SAT/NAV;
- black leather standart mechanical seats;
- PDC;
- DSC;
- Rain sensor;

And I think thats all. During ownership, i retroffited these options:
- Double glazzing;
- Rear electrical sunblind;
- Rear doors sun blinds;
- Rear console fridge;
- Black leather electrical recaro heated seats with memory;
- Black headliner;
- Individual anthracite birch interrior wood trim;
- M steering wheel;
- Alpina front lip;
- Exterior gloss shadowline trim
- Xenon headlights.

My future goal options is:
- DSP2 (M audio if i'll be lucky);
- Extended leather;
- Memory side mirrors;
- Memory and eletrically adjusting steering wheel;
- Thinking to swap natur poplar wood instead of birch;
- Countur seats;
- Picnic tables with vanitty mirros;
- Multifunction rear armrest;
- Comfort front windshield;
- Servotronic.

Dont know whats is more possible.

What about building Alpina replica, I need:
- Instrument cluster;
- Door sills;
- Floor mats;
- Boot mat;
- Rear spoiler;
- Exhaust trim on rear muffler;
- Steering wheel Alpina trim instead of ///M.

Wheel rims and front lip Already is.

Few photos:

[NarenTeQ]

Beautiful looking car.
I really like the mods you have done so far. Keep it going.
The wood trim pieces are classy.

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[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

The birch anthracite trim is beautiful, leave it alone. Polish it, but leave it in the car. Didn't know you could get the double pane glass for these things. The fridge, what can you fit in there? A diet beer???

[likeaboss]

Ha, yes this fridge actually is pointless, specially if when know that this option was really expensive. You can put in it 2 cans. But for me it is valuable because of its rarines and it is fullfiling ny option list.

Why im thinking to change birche to poplar. Because in black interior when day is cloudy, trim looks like simple black piano. No wood texture at all. When sun is shining then yes, its great. And i think poplar would ad some contrast between colors in interior. Im only thinking at this moment.

[Nyc Dito]

Love the double pane glass. I Hope to do the conversion next year =)

[likeaboss]

One of my favorite mods : )

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Stupid question: Double pane glass weighs twice the regular glass.... was there a beefed up regulator to deal with all that fat?

[dannyzabolotny]

Stupid question: Double pane glass weighs twice the regular glass.... was there a beefed up regulator to deal with all that fat?

I would assume so... my 1995 750il had the double pane glass and all of its window regulators still worked after 21 years and 188k miles. Maybe they had been replaced but they all worked very well.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

I wonder if that would solve the regular regulator issues, Lol, all the regs but the drivers door on my wagon are all busted right now.

[DennisCooper]

Hi

Likeaboss - (only 2 pictures show up for me) Excellent progress so far for going the OEM++ route and trying to fit as many OEM options as possible from the official E39 designated ones as well as from other BMW's from the same era! If you look around on the various BMW forums around the world, you'll see (if you haven't already) quite a few examples of E39's with similar levels of retrofits and OEM modifications. In short, there's absolutely lots more things you can do! I'll list some here

1. Powered tailgate release which uses parts from an E38 if I remember correctly. It won't 'close' the bootlid either from vague memory.
2. Modify the rear seat bench for electrically operated up/down headrests, and the modified E39 powered lower seat bench. You could perhaps see if you can do this with the E39 child booster seat option
3. OEM flip down DVD player and screen
4. E46 SMG steering wheel - you can then change gears with the paddles. I loved when I did mine about 7 years ago! I've now converted to a manual gearbox, so will soon move on the kit I have !
5. There's an OEM suspension kit for the saloon/sedans which either is switchable electronic dampers or air ride I can't remember which but I think it's the former, and it's called SDC I think! vague as I've only seen it mentioned a few times
6. Fit the active seats from the E38, which give the massaging function.

The Alpina parts that are genuine are indeed rare to find, so you'll need to scour the classifieds a lot to find items. The Birch Anthracite will sell very fast and for substantial amounts given the rarity of the design/colour and that you have a Left Hand Drive car. A right hand drive set is very very hard to find as I want a set !

The BMW official line is 'Drinks Cooler' I believe, it's not actually a 'fridge'. To retrofit it properly is a big job as there's a special loom needed so that the temperature is separately controlled. The air flow is taken from the existing A/C system. There's only space for 2 normal cans of drink as well. It's rare as an option as it impedes access to the rear seat and effectively turns the car into a 4 seater.

Bimmerupsnotty - The window motors are more substantial for the double glazing option when fitted, there's no need for an uprated alternator when retrofitting them as they don't pull masses of more current - the weight of the double glazing panels isn't as heavy as you are perhaps thinking or suggesting.

Cheers, Dennis!

[likeaboss]

Stupid question: Double pane glass weighs twice the regular glass.... was there a beefed up regulator to deal with all that fat?

Actually they dont weights twice. And regulators in my car are regular, they work perfect 4 years after retrofit, and it doesnt feel that it would be hard for them to lift double pan windows.

[ColtonBH]

I would assume so... my 1995 750il had the double pane glass and all of its window regulators still worked after 21 years and 188k miles. Maybe they had been replaced but they all worked very well.

I believe in the e38s, regulators are same between double pane and single, I was curious about this as well

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[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Thanks Dennis, just wishful thinking that there might be a heavier duty window regulator for the E39. I am sick of replacing regulators. 3 E39's= more regulator replacement. Sick of it.
I'm betting the cupholders and regulators were designed by the same idiot engineer lackey at BMW during Octoberfest... BMW needs to fess up on the engineers name and address so that we can get our hands on him and give him a proper tar and feathering, after I beat his stupid a$$ to a bloody pulp.

[blackknight530i]

Thanks Dennis, just wishful thinking that there might be a heavier duty window regulator for the E39. I am sick of replacing regulators. 3 E39's= more regulator replacement. Sick of it.
I'm betting the cupholders and regulators were designed by the same idiot engineer lackey at BMW during Octoberfest... BMW needs to fess up on the engineers name and address so that we can get our hands on him and give him a proper tar and feathering, after I beat his stupid a$$ to a bloody pulp.

Someone was making aluminum pulleys for good working regulators that wouldn't fail again. I think it was dville, but I could be wrong. If your regulator was already chewed up, it wouldn't be able to be upgraded, but if it's still good and you just want to make sure it doesn't fail, then a small price to pay for good pulleys would be totally worth it.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Yeah, I forgot about that thread! Now you've got me looking at a brand new rear regulator I've had laying around.... It's the rear regs I despise the most, everyone with an E39 already knows why, so, is it the one simple single layer pulley that takes a crap? I can't remember, but that one wouldn't be too hard to replicate. The other one, down at the bottom, it's got multiple channels. But that's the one that the cables just get all discumboobulated when the top pulley goes bad. I think it's just the top pulley that you have to worry about. I'm thinking a pulley wheel with a bearing from a compound bow or something like that.

[WBAD530i]

Yeah, I forgot about that thread! Now you've got me looking at a brand new rear regulator I've had laying around.... It's the rear regs I despise the most, everyone with an E39 already knows why, so, is it the one simple single layer pulley that takes a crap? I can't remember, but that one wouldn't be too hard to replicate. The other one, down at the bottom, it's got multiple channels. But that's the one that the cables just get all discumboobulated when the top pulley goes bad. I think it's just the top pulley that you have to worry about. I'm thinking a pulley wheel with a bearing from a compound bow or something like that.

Add that to your list of mods to your touring after you retrofit the x5 panoramic roof. Then start your own company for the compound bow infused regulators.

"Robin hood regulators, LLC"

You're welcome.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Shet, the friggin' list just keeps on growing...

[geargrinder]

Yeah, I forgot about that thread! Now you've got me looking at a brand new rear regulator I've had laying around.... It's the rear regs I despise the most, everyone with an E39 already knows why, so, is it the one simple single layer pulley that takes a crap? I can't remember, but that one wouldn't be too hard to replicate. The other one, down at the bottom, it's got multiple channels. But that's the one that the cables just get all discumboobulated when the top pulley goes bad. I think it's just the top pulley that you have to worry about. I'm thinking a pulley wheel with a bearing from a compound bow or something like that.

That sounds familiar like somebody was working on a regulator-hack like that a long time ago... I remember some thread where various pulley/bearing ideas were being thrown out and I think the bow idea came up...

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Yeah, the compound bow pulley idea was mine, I sorta remember, I think. I'm gonna get some measurements tonight.
The X factor is the bearings inner diameter measurement, it has to slip over the hub that is currently riveted to the bracket.
I believe a bolt goes through and fastens on to the door. You'd think I'd remember all this crap after having had to do it so many times!!! Lol... .. . Drugs

[likeaboss]

Hi

Likeaboss - (only 2 pictures show up for me) Excellent progress so far for going the OEM++ route and trying to fit as many OEM options as possible from the official E39 designated ones as well as from other BMW's from the same era! If you look around on the various BMW forums around the world, you'll see (if you haven't already) quite a few examples of E39's with similar levels of retrofits and OEM modifications. In short, there's absolutely lots more things you can do! I'll list some here

1. Powered tailgate release which uses parts from an E38 if I remember correctly. It won't 'close' the bootlid either from vague memory.
2. Modify the rear seat bench for electrically operated up/down headrests, and the modified E39 powered lower seat bench. You could perhaps see if you can do this with the E39 child booster seat option
3. OEM flip down DVD player and screen
4. E46 SMG steering wheel - you can then change gears with the paddles. I loved when I did mine about 7 years ago! I've now converted to a manual gearbox, so will soon move on the kit I have !
5. There's an OEM suspension kit for the saloon/sedans which either is switchable electronic dampers or air ride I can't remember which but I think it's the former, and it's called SDC I think! vague as I've only seen it mentioned a few times
6. Fit the active seats from the E38, which give the massaging function.

The Alpina parts that are genuine are indeed rare to find, so you'll need to scour the classifieds a lot to find items. The Birch Anthracite will sell very fast and for substantial amounts given the rarity of the design/colour and that you have a Left Hand Drive car. A right hand drive set is very very hard to find as I want a set !

The BMW official line is 'Drinks Cooler' I believe, it's not actually a 'fridge'. To retrofit it properly is a big job as there's a special loom needed so that the temperature is separately controlled. The air flow is taken from the existing A/C system. There's only space for 2 normal cans of drink as well. It's rare as an option as it impedes access to the rear seat and effectively turns the car into a 4 seater.

Bimmerupsnotty - The window motors are more substantial for the double glazing option when fitted, there's no need for an uprated alternator when retrofitting them as they don't pull masses of more current - the weight of the double glazing panels isn't as heavy as you are perhaps thinking or suggesting.

Cheers, Dennis!

Hi, Dennis,

thanks for your possible retrofit list.

1. Yes, powered boot lid is in my list also, just forgot to mention it.
2. That i didnt understood, e39 didnt had powered lower seat bench as I know? e38 doesnt fits. Or is it?
3. Can you show me this? Didnt heard of. Sound interesting.
4. Aboud SMG im thinking also, but im not sure, because also im dreaming about conversing it to 6-spead mechanical gearbox. I do like automatic also, so im not sure about this at the moment .
5. S-EDC i'm not sure im going to retrofit this option. Maybe only then when i will complete everything else..
6. I want sport-comfort seats aka countur. But they didnt had massage option. BUT, i will converte them to have it ))


By the way, are you the only one who see only 2 pics, or everybody else doesnt see all my uploaded pics?


And yesterdays purchase - full set of DSP2 for a sedan. Waiting for a retrofit.

[ColtonBH]

I like this thread, I'm planning on long term doing things similar to this in my e38

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[likeaboss]

I like this thread, I'm planning on long term doing things similar to this in my e38

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Actually if you're not in to it yet, think again very careffully . This is obsession. Ilness. Like drugs. Sometimes i would like to not have it. But once you start it you cant stop. Sometimes i think to myselft this is enough, i should stop, because it cost pretty much, time consumes, wife gets angry . But then you found sometging for sale and buying it. Lying to wife that you need to repair something but buying DSP set instead . Retrofitters life is hard and under rated

[ColtonBH]

Actually if you're not in to it yet, think again very careffully . This is obsession. Ilness. Like drugs. Sometimes i would like to not have it. But once you start it you cant stop. Sometimes i think to myselft this is enough, i should stop, because it cost pretty much, time consumes, wife gets angry . But then you found sometging for sale and buying it. Lying to wife that you need to repair something but buying DSP set instead . Retrofitters life is hard and under rated

I know what I'm in for XD. In my 740il,I spent many hours researching period correct aftermarket audio parts that would fit in nicely with the interior, something I might pursue in the 750 as well. Already planning on dying all the leather bits, refinishing wood interior, and keeping a lookout for individual parts that may pop up

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[benysound]

2. E39 don't have rear electric seat . You can move all from e38 to your e39 . The e38 rear seat is too long for e39.

I have picnic tables+ vanity mirrors for sale if you are interested ! Beige color , not black !

[DennisCooper]

Hi

Likeaboss - You'll need to look through similar project threads as I mentioned, there's some owners who've done all sorts of intermix E38 to E39 modifications and I vaguely remember someone modifying the electric adjustable E38 lower rear bench to fit the E39 and similarly, add the powered rear headrests as well. The massaging system's from the E38 seats can also be done to the E39. The easiest way is to indeed find E38 Sport contours with active seats! but that could take some time.

For the OEM flip down screen and DVD player, look in realoem.com and you'll see it shown in diagram form, again, finding one in real life might take some time!

I can understand about changing to manual gearbox and not needing the SMG! that's the position I'm in after converting to 5 spd manual!

I can now see the rest of the pictures

The DSP retrofit I personally wouldn't do as it's so old and mediocre, even when brand new, it sounded 'mediocre' ! however, if you wish to keep as totally 'OEM' as possible, then I can understand why you want to install it.

Cheers, Dennis!