My new E39 540i

[nike32]

Let me begin that I sold my E38 this Saturday, that I had for 6 years and loved it, but had to sell it

After selling E38, I started looking after good 740i or 540i, having no luck here locally (in Finland) either a way overpriced or rust buckets.

I found one in Estonia that I went to look today, and came back with it

It is an 540i (6/99) with retrofitted M-Sport by previous owner.

The car have some issues, but not bad.
1. Pixels are dead on the speedo info-screen
2. Driveshaft is banging, when accelerating hard on 1st gear, at high rpms, I think either center bearing or U-joint
3. Cup holders, right one doesn't close and they are missing half of the holding arm
4. Brake pedal have very slight pulsing about every 10seconds or so when standing still
5. Fuel gauge is won't going under 17 litres

(If something is familiar to you, let me know what could be the reason)

Chains and guides were replaced few years back by previous owner.

Pulls strong, even though I didn't even floor it, because of the driveshaft.

Body is in very good condition.


Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[nike32]

Some more, and also my E38

Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[tptrsn]

Beautiful car! I think you should put some M5 mirrors on it to dress it up even more. To me they make a really nice improvement. E38 was a beauty too!

[nike32]

Thanks, I didn't even think off M5 mirrors, I will try to search if I will find some I like them too


Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[JimLev]

Beautiful car! I think you should put some M5 mirrors on it to dress it up even more. To me they make a really nice improvement. E38 was a beauty too!

Good find Nike32.
Yes, M5 mirrors would look great. I love mine.

[geargrinder]

Looks good man, I agree I think I like your E38 more! I was just trying to convince Americans that M62 engined cars are not as populous on the ground in Europe as they are here...

I'll just comment on your least important issue - cupholders - IMO the only way to go for the center cupholders is the old "eBay special": https://www.ebay.com/bhp/bmw-e39-front-cup-holder

They work great, maybe not as 'elegant' as the folders from the factory but they really do work way better. Only advice is obtain some stronger 2-sided tape than they come with to install as the stuff that it comes with is generally not strong as it shoudl be.

[nike32]

Looks good man, I agree I think I like your E38 more! I was just trying to convince Americans that M62 engined cars are not as populous on the ground in Europe as they are here...

I'll just comment on your least important issue - cupholders - IMO the only way to go for the center cupholders is the old "eBay special": https://www.ebay.com/bhp/bmw-e39-front-cup-holder

They work great, maybe not as 'elegant' as the folders from the factory but they really do work way better. Only advice is obtain some stronger 2-sided tape than they come with to install as the stuff that it comes with is generally not strong as it shoudl be.

I was thinking of those, but on eBay they also sell original type ones, have to take a look which I like more.


Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[TooEasyL2P]

You can buy that part and replace it for pixels, but I don't know if you need to remove needles to get to that part. If yes it might be hard job. Maybe not hard, but you need to be careful.
But first try to find out what wrong is with your fuel gauge. Because if it's cluster problem then it will be easier to change whole cluster. In my country they are going for 30 euros or so (with m rings).

Cupholders are selling for 15 euros. But I would go for those chinese ones. Because as far as I know OEM ones brake often.

2-2.jpg

[geargrinder]

Yeah... OEM are 'elegant' but 1. barely actually work even when unbroken, and, 2. get brokened real easy

[TooEasyL2P]

Yeah... OEM are 'elegant' but 1. barely actually work even when unbroken, and, 2. get brokened real easy

And they don't spread trust. When I place XL coffee cup I still try to drive a bit more careful. I don't trust them to hold it on tight corners.
But they aren't broken, so will not change them. Soon.

[nike32]

And they don't spread trust. When I place XL coffee cup I still try to drive a bit more careful. I don't trust them to hold it on tight corners.
But they aren't broken, so will not change them. Soon.

Yeah original ones are quite brittle and as you said don't bring trust to the way the hold.
I had E39 530D Touring, they were working, but for example 0.5litre cola or something, they were not tight enough.


Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

14 years since the last E39 rolled out of the Dingledorfosaurous plant, and you guys are still wondering about the factory cup holders....

[Jason5driver]

Why did you have to sell the E38 ?

[nike32]

Why did you have to sell the E38 ?

Been thinking of that for some time, wanted something a bit with bigger engine, it was 730i, and I also had to pay almost 3000€ bill, so I had to sell it to pay the bills and bought E39 on the leftover

Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[nike32]

Ordered somethings to start work with a car a little bit, atleast so far.
Engine mounts, they seem ok, but I think they are shot, not many replace them, and I feel a slight vibration on idle.
Fuel filter, just to be sure, after Estonian fuel, also quite expensive, and probably wasn't changed as much as needed.
Bosch spark plugs, platinum +4
Have to take a driveshaft to the machine shop so they can repair U-joint and balance it.
Very fun car to drive, but missing that V8 sound I had on E38, have to make exhaust a bit lighter and cut middle and back muffler.

So far my work horse is helping me out as I don't want to drive on broken driveshaft(propshaft whatever it's called)

[nike32]

Replaced spark plugs with Bosch Platinum ones, previous owner said that they were changed not much ago, but to be sure I changed them, and I think they been for a while there.


Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[alabbasi]

I dig the manual seats, they add lightness.

[Kenny1958]

Looks like a lovely car nike32 and sits nicely on those style 95's.

[nike32]

Looks like a lovely car nike32 and sits nicely on those style 95's.

Thanks I also like them, would be better if they would be staggered, but will do for now.



Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[Kenny1958]

Where in Finland are you ? my family is in Lappeenranta.

[nike32]

Where in Finland are you ? my family is in Lappeenranta.

Espoo mate, near Helsinki.
You were born in Finland?

Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[Mannyf540]

14 years since the last E39 rolled out of the Dingledorfosaurous plant, and you guys are still wondering about the factory cup holders....

[Kenny1958]

Espoo mate, near Helsinki.
You were born in Finland?

Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

No I'm British but my ex wife and twin girls live there I,v not long returned from their graduation.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[edjack]

Replaced spark plugs with Bosch Platinum ones, previous owner said that they were changed not much ago, but to be sure I changed them, and I think they been for a while there.
Lähetetty minun ONEPLUS A5010 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

You may be sorry using the Plus4s:

I need to share my recent experience with you. My 540i was missing badly at engine speeds below 2000 RPMs. I pulled all the Bosch Plus 4 plugs, and found that one had NO ELECTRODES, and another had only one! Both plugs were also finger-loose, and there had been blow-by through the threads.

It’s very possible that I did not properly torque these plugs when I installed them, and they loosened up. However, others have had them loosen up, even with proper torquing.

Once loose, the plugs could not transfer heat to the head, and probably got hot enough to loosen the electrodes, or even vaporize them.

The plugs were in there for 10K miles.

There appears to be no permanent damage. The engine sounds and works fine, with no extraneous noise. I may have been lucky.

BMW currently specifies NGK BKR6EQUP for all E39 engines.

[geargrinder]

Yeah. Bosch has multiple platinum models. The cheaper ones don't have the greatest rep and it's because of dropped 'trodes. The better more $ ones can be good, but I agree - for M62 I like the NGKs perfectly fine.