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Thread: New to me 2001 525i e39

  1. #1
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    New to me 2001 525i e39

    Last week I picked up this e39 locally from CL with 126K on the clock. I have been looking casually for one over the past few years, and recently when I decided to get rid of my Honda (yea...I know) I started looking more seriously.

    PICTURES: http://imgur.com/a/dOpkQ

    First I would like to thank all that participate on this forum as I have learned so much without even owning one. Now that I am an owner...I'll need to really learn! I plan on doing most/all work myself as I have easy access to pretty much every tool and a car lift. It will be my DD. My brother owned an e36 328i and I remember how well it drove. To me, the e39 is the best of both worlds, smooth and sporty at the same time. The e39 chassis clearly loves the highway as 70+ it just eats up the road.

    The PO worked in health care and had all maintenance done at at BMW dealer locally. The car clearly shows it mechanically. When looking at the car there was "even wear" which is a good tip I picked up from being a very amateur watch collector/trader. When one part looks too new and other parts are beat, it means there is something going on.

    The spec is very basic, but I was looking for a mechanically clean car with minimal rust for a little money. Which is very difficult in the NE. ALL PIXELS WORK and ALL ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS WORK...I couldn't believe it.

    I paid $3K for the car with 4 snows (1 more season on them & OEM weather mats)

    I am in the process of getting the maintenance records from the dealer. My goal/spec for the car is to be a highway cruiser for trips as it is an auto...for now

    Done over the past 3 Days
    -Basic Cleaning
    -#129 O-Ring for PS Reservoir -I have 9 left if you want one shoot me a pm and I'll send you one for free on me. CONUSA
    -Cabin Filters/Air Filter -sans foam dust collector.
    -Griots Leather Replenisher -ongoing

    Immediate Future Work
    -Oil Change with M1
    -Steam Rugs
    -Light Paint Correction
    -I think the AC Compressor Clutch needs replacing...sounds like an airplane taking off Not sure though. Blows ICE Cold.

    Midterm Work -6 months
    -Locate an OEM Roof Bars
    -Repaint Bumpers or M5 style bumpers, Hood, Drivers Fender
    -Surface Rust repair/paint Dr. Door Sill, Trunk lid

    Longer Term Work -12 Months
    Larger OEM Wheels/Tires
    Replace Front Seat Cushions/Maybe a diy as I don't wanna pay
    Seat Heaters/May just pick up e38 seats...not sure.
    Rear Fridge

    BMWVIN
    *I omitted the VIN
    Type code DT43
    Type 525I (USA)
    E series E39 ()
    Series 5
    Type LIM
    Steering LL
    Doors 4
    Engine M54
    Displacement 2.50
    Power 141
    Drive HECK
    Transmission AUT
    Colour ORIENTBLAU METALLIC (317)
    Upholstery STANDARDLEDER/BEIGE E36 SANDBEIGE E (N6SN)
    Prod.date 2001-06-05

    Vehicle options
    S210 Dynamic stability control
    S292 BMW light alloy wheel, cross spoke 29
    S319 Integrated universal remote control
    S403 Glass roof, electrical
    S459 Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
    S534 Automatic air conditioning
    S640 Preparation f tel.installation universal
    S650 CD player
    S694 Provisions for BMW 6 CD changer
    S773 Fine wood trim
    S785 White direction indicator lights
    S818 Battery master switch
    S925 Dummy-SALAPA

  2. #2
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    Welcome to this forum, it will help you often.

  3. #3
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    where are you at? I have some larger OEM wheels I would be happy to offload. type 17's or 19's? (7 spoke in 17") and contemplating getting rid of the 37's (in 18")

    welcome to the forum and the addiction.....
    I am on my 4th e39 and 7th bmw....

  4. #4
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    Thanks guys. The forum has been infinitely helpful. Hopefully, I can give back and contribute as I work on the car.

  5. #5
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    sounds like an airplane taking off

    Check the fan clutch. It may be frozen. If so, the blades can break off and wreak havoc under the hood, and dimple the hood itself. The clutch s/b loose enough to rotate by hand.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  6. #6
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    Thanks for the suggestion. I will check in the morning.

  7. #7
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by edjack View Post
    sounds like an airplane taking off

    Check the fan clutch. It may be frozen. If so, the blades can break off and wreak havoc under the hood, and dimple the hood itself. The clutch s/b loose enough to rotate by hand.
    Dang. Beat me to it. AC compressor doesn't sound like anything. The FANS are what make jet engine sound. If its making that sound w/ the AC off then as Ed says it's not AC related its the 'visco' / mechanical fan.

    When you say rear-fridge do you mean the OEM option? That's a rare unicorn item to find, insanely expensive, and, is pretty useless waste of $$$$ IMO. All it does is blows the AC air over 2 drink cans. Mmmm very slightly cooler than ambient beer. Plus by all reports its a relatively big PITA to install. All just to blow AC air over a couple drink cans...
    2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
    2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
    2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)

    Former:

    1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
    1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)


  8. #8
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by awltoga View Post
    Replace Front Seat Cushions/Maybe a diy as I don't wanna pay
    Seat Heaters/May just pick up e38 seats...not sure.
    Honestly trying to find a set of decent tan seats would be the way to go I think.

    Pros there are
    - if you can find Sports or E38 Sport Contour, they are much better than the base seats so, model upgrade as well as condition-upgrade
    - tan is not a hugely popular so it doesn't demand a premium... you might very well find a tan-interior enthusiast owner who wanted to swap to black or M5 interior with good seats FS. that does happen from time to time.
    - get seat heat added at same time

    Cons are
    - tan wears and shows dirt more than black so used ones will show it more, not all used ones will be worth it...
    - for seat-heat you'll need to get the console wiring sorted too...
    2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
    2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
    2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)

    Former:

    1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
    1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)


  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    Honestly trying to find a set of decent tan seats would be the way to go I think.

    Pros there are
    - if you can find Sports or E38 Sport Contour, they are much better than the base seats so, model upgrade as well as condition-upgrade
    - tan is not a hugely popular so it doesn't demand a premium... you might very well find a tan-interior enthusiast owner who wanted to swap to black or M5 interior with good seats FS. that does happen from time to time.
    - get seat heat added at same time

    Cons are
    - tan wears and shows dirt more than black so used ones will show it more, not all used ones will be worth it...
    - for seat-heat you'll need to get the console wiring sorted too...
    Hey JC, I just swapped out my old seats for 18 way comforts out of an E38, great condition, biege, everything but the heat works. What's involved with that? Have not done a search.....
    Set the controls for the heart of the sun

  10. #10
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
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    Sorry - Although I've pulled seats a shizzload of times, I'm not asspurt on the heatseating Steveo.

    Obv you need the controller buttons on the console if you didn't have heat, but aside from that... dunno... I vaguely remember something about there being 2 versions of heatseating that worked differently.
    2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
    2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
    2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)

    Former:

    1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
    1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)


  11. #11
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
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    OK quick search suggests that pre-9/98 is the heatseat control cutover...

    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...7#post25967227

    So control panel needs to match the build date type of the seats.

    And if the car didn't have seatheating before there's a retro-fit harness available apparently. I bet its not cheap anymore.
    2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
    2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
    2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)

    Former:

    1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
    1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)


  12. #12
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    Thank you for the comments. Sport contour from an e38 are definitely the way to go if I am going to swap them out straight up. Not sure yet...No rush...just planning.

    On the fridge side, def not oem as I think i would have to find the unicorn, pay extra, then somehow tame it for my use. And I am not into animal husbandry. So, prob the Costco/Amazon route to make it look oem-ish. Maybe using a button dont use/oem button in middle console for sunshade or something as an on/off switch with the fridge powered only when the car is on. But again, far from a priority.

  13. #13
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    were you able to get the records from the dealer?

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    Sorry - Although I've pulled seats a shizzload of times, I'm not asspurt on the heatseating Steveo.

    Obv you need the controller buttons on the console if you didn't have heat, but aside from that... dunno... I vaguely remember something about there being 2 versions of heatseating that worked differently.
    Yeah, it's the first time I swapped seats, the old ones had heat, and it all worked before I took 'em out. I'll have to look it all up.
    Set the controls for the heart of the sun

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    OK quick search suggests that pre-9/98 is the heatseat control cutover...

    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...7#post25967227

    So control panel needs to match the build date type of the seats.

    And if the car didn't have seatheating before there's a retro-fit harness available apparently. I bet its not cheap anymore.
    Hmmm, gonna have to find more on this. The 740iL the seats came out of was an '01, my wagon is a 2000. All the reading I had done, I thought it would have been a direct plug and play deal, have a beer, throw a movie on, like everyone said. Lol, crap, guess I didn't read enough. and they were all stoned or something...
    Set the controls for the heart of the sun

  16. #16
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    I rang them earlier in the week, left message, no call back. I got sidetracked with life. Gonna call today. I am hoping for at least "major" maintenance. When I brought it home I checked the cabin and air filters, all were relatively new, but I replaced them anyway. Oil service (according to 'light meter thingy') was recently done, but going to change it out next week. I figure it can't hurt.

    The only thing I can see that needs attention is a weeping at the bottom of the PS reservoir, as it is damp/dirty under it. Looks like a hose(s) are cracked. And it is stained from it on splashguard.

    But other than that the engine bay is very clean, but does not look like it was detailed. I am going to put it on the lift this weekend and spend some time going through it visually and take some pictures.

    Thanks guys.

    Quote Originally Posted by nikh23 View Post
    were you able to get the records from the dealer?
    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by edjack View Post
    sounds like an airplane taking off

    Check the fan clutch. It may be frozen. If so, the blades can break off and wreak havoc under the hood, and dimple the hood itself. The clutch s/b loose enough to rotate by hand.
    Clutch is good, checked it a couple days ago. The mystery continues... Thank you for the suggestion and info.

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