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Thread: FS 2003 540i/6 178k - TC guides failed. North NJ

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    2018 M3 6MT, 2001 740iL

    SOLD 2003 540i/6 178k - TC guides failed. North NJ

    Edit: SOLD

    Edit: pics and more details.
    For sale 2003 540i 6 speed 178k miles. Asking $3,000. Black Sapphire w black interior. The timing chain guides just let go and I am ready to let someone else take on the project. Car has a handful of other issues beyond the guides. There is some rust in the drivers side rear door sill and fender, and a bit of bubbling under the paint in the top of the rear fender arches. It is the full 2003 M-Tech II package. Dampers were replaced with Bilstein PSS ~5 years ago anyway, and the M-style bumpers both have some cracks in one corner. Original clutch and flywheel are still good, no slip at full throttle. Except for above mentioned rust paint is in good shape, as is the interior, no stains/tears minor creasing in driver bolster. I have had the car for 12 years and 100k miles, and am ready to move into something newer.

    Timing chains failed with little warning, not driven at all once failed. There was the slightest bit of a whine/whir coming from the driver side front of the engine that started about 50 miles before TCG failure. Not sure if it was related. Planned on bringing to shop for a checkup assuming it was like an alternator/pulley/bearing thing. A few days before I was to go the shop I start it up to leave from work. I got a check engine light. No other noise, and still running fine. Drive car home ~14 mile trip. Still no noises. Scan it, P0011. Car sits for a few days, then bring it to shop. Still no noise except the whir. Park at shop. Car sits for ~20 mins off. Start it up with mechanic friend with his head under the hood. Blam thats when they let go. Car started and idled fine, but the guide failure chain rattle noise was immediately obvious. I shut it down after ~3-4 seconds. He said he only heard noise in the front of the engine, and nothing that sounded like earth shattering engine internal failures. I have not started it since, and I am not going to turn it over ( or warm it up ) to do compression tests.

    As for the rest of it.. Oil changes every ~8k miles with Mobile 1 5w30. Most recent oil change was 1500 miles ago with "high mileage" Moble1 5w30.
    100k / 10 years ago - cooling system so its due again
    116k new power steering pump
    136k new alternator
    141k Valve cover gaskets, 8 new ignition coils, fuel filter, sway bar links and thrust arms, trans and diff fluid changed
    150k Bilstein PSS / B14 installed
    154k Sunroof clips and headlight adjusters replaced, Backstone oil analysis shows everything looked good.
    159k FSU
    160k Brakes, Zimmerman Z-coated rotors, Cool Carbon pads, fluid flush, new front wheel bearings, all 4 O2 sensors, and exhaust manifold gaskets.
    165k MAF
    175k New H8-DLG battery, master and slave cylinder replaced, fluid flushed.

    Engine always ran wonderfully, always a blast to drive, had it for 12 years. I am just ready to graduate to something newer/faster. Was getting mentally prepared to sell it in another year or two anyway, but with the TCG failure the time is now.
    Edit: more details. AC ice cold, heated front seats working 100%, no missing pixels in dash, 1 line of pixels starting to go on the radio display.
    IMG_20190105_131116.jpg
    IMG_20190105_131106.jpg
    IMG_20190105_131150.jpg
    IMG_20190105_131232.jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by agentrnge; 01-11-2019 at 09:39 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    2001 BMW 750il
    Quote Originally Posted by agentrnge View Post
    Black Sapphire w black interior. The guides just let go on my 540. Going through the thought process to fixit or walk away. I have not seen any non running for sale ads in a while. Car has a handful of other issues beyond the guides. There is some rust in door sill and a bit of bubbling under the paint in the rear fenders. It is the full M-Tech II package. But, the dampers were replaced with Bilstein PSS ~5 years ago anyway, and the M-style bumpers both need to be replaced as they each have cracks in one corner. Original clutch and flywheel are still good, but probably worth doing to make the car 100%. Interior is decent shape. I have had the car for 12 years, and am ready to move into something newer. Guessing it would need $4-5k to do everything to make the car 100% and I dont feel like going down this path myself. I see lots of posts where people suggest selling a potential project car to someone who wants to take it on. Thoughts / offers ?
    Post and pictures, these type of car goes for about 1800-2500 depends on condition. Check to see if you have compression on all your cylinders first.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    2001 BMW 750il
    Pm me picture

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    2018 M3 6MT, 2001 740iL
    lapd: Thanks for the response. I will put some fresh pics up in a day or so, and make this a more complete post with maint history.

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by lapd1989 View Post
    Pm me picture
    Yeah sure bro. It will make it more irresistible

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    2018 M3 6MT, 2001 740iL
    Middle of winter and all, car is about as dirty as it gets in the above pics and interior has not been cleaned/detailed since summer. Here is an older exterior picture from ~25k miles ago after a bath. She cleans up well and looks like a champ after a clay bar and wax. Interior pics are new.
    20140505.jpg
    IMG_20190105_131605.jpg
    IMG_20190105_131632.jpg
    Last edited by agentrnge; 01-06-2019 at 11:38 PM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by agentrnge View Post
    Middle of winter and all, car is about as dirty as it gets in the above pics and interior has not been cleaned/detailed since summer. Here is an older exterior picture from ~25k miles ago after a bath. She cleans up well and looks like a champ after a clay bar and wax. Interior pics are new.
    20140505.jpg
    IMG_20190105_131605.jpg
    IMG_20190105_131632.jpg
    Let me get a shipping quote and I’ll pm my offer for it.

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