Bought this for myself 2 weeks ago; it's been in the UK 12 months. It's only just covered 85k miles and it's in superb condition
I've already done a few bits to the car (new tyres; cooling system overhaul (stat, pump, coolant flush & refil, oil filter & oil change, oil filter housing gasket replacement, heater valve replacement (one side stuck open), new interior mats and boot liner, new genuine Hella headlights and OEM xenon retrofit (the OEM Hella xenons the car came with were in good condition but the adjusters were in pieces and I've not got the skill nor patience to replace these myself).
I'll be getting the window tints removed and some lighter ones sorted in a few weeks and then will look to sort some new alloys & suspension too. Won't be lowering it too much, so will probably stick with lowering springs TBH.
It's really nice to be back in an E39; my previous ones I really missed and buying an E65 730D was the wrong move on my part. Didn't love the car and couldn't gel with a diesel at all.
Some pics of when I collected the car:
I'll keep updating this thread as I go along
Last edited by danb1979; 03-14-2019 at 01:33 PM.
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
Very nice - nice stands too
Thanks; that's my pals workshop. He's a well respected motorsport mechanic (Ford M Sport and BMW) so knows his stuff. He's fairly old-skool; so does set-ups in a 'box' rather than with laser tracking systems etc
My steering was off, so he got it all straightened for me when I had the new tyres fitted
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
Your touring looks very nice. I'd leave the tint as is.
Wow. Very nice. I hope my project looks that nice, someday...
Finally got round to actually washing the car myself; plus a full bottom inside (it needed it)
It's been thoroughly cleaned inside and out and given a good coating of wax too; wheels cleaned as best as I can, they're presentable for now, until I source their replacements
A few shots of the alcantara interior too; it's a lovely place to be (until I wear my leaking Rohan gilet and there are feathers everywhere and they're a sod to hoover up)
It's in with BMW tomorrow for an airbag recall.
Then it's in for more suspension work next week (full front OEM Sachs shocks; OEM BMW Mtec springs or Eibach Pro-kit springs (haven't decided which yet), new front & rear top mounts, new front drop-links; an Mtec 82mm stud conversion and 15mm hubcentric spacers and then it'll get booked in for it's MOT
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
Nice wagon!
98 540i 6, 525 whp, 120 mph 1/4, V3 Si S/C'er @16 psi, W/A I/C, Water/Meth, Supersprint Headers, HJS Cats, 3" Custom Exhaust, UUC Twin Disc, Wavetrac LSD, GC Coil Overs, Monoball TA, AEM FP, Aeromotive FPR, AEM Failsafe AFR/Boost, Style 65's w/275's, M5 Steering Box, Eibach Sways, M3 Shifter, Evans Coolant, 85 Deg Stat, PWM Fan, 10" Subs, B.A. speakers, Grom Aux/BT, Still Rolling as my DD!
Very nice! Love the alcantara.
1987 Buick Grand National
2001 BMW 540i
Alcantara interior... rarely seen in the US on an E39 unless it was retrofitted. very nice
The side mirrors... why do they look so different to me compared to other E39 mirrors ?
Stancing is for drivers trapped in an abusive relationship of their own lives.
Wow! That’s cool, the rear side panels, are those alcantara too?
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
They’re fully electric folding electro-chromatic mirrors... I’ve never seen them on an E39 before either... Unfortunately their folding mechs are mashed, so I’ll probably replace them with aftermarket M5 style folding mirrors, a bit smaller then too, more to my liking
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Thanks...
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Thanks, it’s a great place to be
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No, just the standard anthracite carpet... I’d just hoovered it to within an inch of its life, hence the lines left haha
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
VERY nice!!
New suspension up front today (Sachs dampers & OEM BMW Mtec springs with OEM BMW rubber seats and top-mount cups & Sachs bump-stop kit), new Meyle top mounts, new Meyle HD drop links also
Rear Febi top mounts fitted, but replacement dampers needed, so Sachs parts ordered this afternoon too
Also fitted the Mteconline 82mm stud conversion kit and have fitted 5mm hubcentric shims for now until I get my replacement alloys on
The car currently is sitting higher at the front; but the dampers were shot, it'll settle soon enough. Be good to get the rear end refreshed too
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
I just bought a 00 528it 5speed and am doing similar mods at the moment im doing Bilsteins front and rear tomorrow
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
New boots fitted
They're OEM Style 37s, but E38 9.5" (offset 25) rears and E34 8" fronts (offset 15); so they're a fairly straight set up. The rears are spaced out 5mm with hubcentric shims
Before:
After:
It's still riding a touch high with the new suspension but I'm sure it'll settle soon enough. Rides brilliantly though; but not driven it yet on the n18s, so that'll make a difference I'm sure
Last edited by danb1979; 04-05-2019 at 08:35 AM.
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
LOVE the interior!
E70 LCI 35d
E90 LCI 328i xDrive
E39 528i Sport/5
E28 535is
E84 X1 35i M Sport package
E38 740i Sport
E39 M5 LMB/Blk
The tints may still be coming off; wary though that they may damage the rear screen heater element when being removed!
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
Engine bay detailed today; haven't touched it since I bought the car. It needed a good hoover first haha
DISA valve repaired with the X8R kit, the o-ring that should have been on the DISA when I removed it was non-existent : So glad I did this job today, took me about 30mins all in including removing it and then trying to get the spindle apart; it was seized solid, so ended up gently hammering it out
Also fitted a Z3 3.0 intake boot section to replace the resonator section that comes on the E39s; sounds a bit throatier now
Cars had a quick snow foam, wash, rinse and towel dry too:
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
Thought I'd bring this up to date; a lot more work done recently (diff oil and plugs changed, full brake overhaul with Mtec grooved discs and EBC Yellowstuff pads up front, Mtec pads on the rears with HEL braided brake lines all round and Motul DOT5.1 fluid flush and refill; HEL braided vanos line (OEM one was weeping); replacement alternator as the OEM was running at 13.4v (far too low); prop donut changed too; all 4 rear arms changed too for Meyle HD items and a 'cop' OEM transmission undertray fitted (fits well with some OEM bolts and a few zip ties); it's also had a full Hunter tracking and alignment, car handles superbly now )
Pics:
And after all that; it was filthy (more so with the bedding in of the brakes); so it was treated to an in-depth clean and polish
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
Nothing much to report lately as the car hasn’t had much done
I have had the KM speedo readout changed to miles via NCS Expert and someone who knew how to use it
Next I’m going to look into getting the tyres changed and maybe a stainless back-box; an off the shelf one via Schmiedmann probably; they look to be very well made
After that; rear bumper needs a respray (there’s a slight crack to it where someone’s kindly driven into my car whilst it’s been in a car park), so will get rear PDC fitted also as they don’t spec it on Japanese cars for some reason!
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
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