Hello Everyone, new member here just picked up a 2003 Alpine white e39 540i with Mtech yesterday. It definitely needs some work. The car has 73,000 miles, (can’t really tell because of dash pixels) This is my first bmw, 3rd car I’ve ever owned, I’m a little nervous about how much I might have to spend to bring this car back to perfect running condition. If there is anyone who knows a lot about these cars, maybe has done a restoration of their own and could reach out to me I’d love to talk and would appreciate any information/ knowledge.
Thank you,
Will
Well I've been around the block a time or two, ask any questions you have here. Plenty of people here have much much more knowledge then I do and are willing to help.
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Is there a way to send PMs ?
Yes, you can't receive them right now for some reason. I tried.
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I was trying to post pictures but I couldn’t figure out how on my phone. Do I need to be on a computer?
I couldn’t figure out how to post pictures. Do I need to be on a computer?
I think you have to have 5 posts to do pics.
I'll throw a few links to get you started.
Common diy fixes:
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app
E39 FAQ:
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app
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Thank you SeaGreen ill look into it. Check engine light came on right when i got home with the car yesterday, so im trying to get a friend with a scanner to come check it out for me
Nice looking M sport. Very clean. If you have access to an older laptop and can download a copy of INPA from Mikes easy tools and start running diagnostics on your own. Cheap K + DCAN cable from the bay should get you started.
“She’s the last of the V8’s, she sucks nitro...phase 4 heads, twin overhead cams...600 horsepower through the wheels, she’s meanness put to music...”
I was able to get it scanned, the codes are P0491 and P0492.
Those are secondary air pump codes, think smog pump.
Basically it pushes fresh air into the exhaust upon startup to warm up the cats earlier.
There are about 3 things it could be.
Step 1 is to confirm the pump is working. Do you hear what sounds like the sound of a wurring electric motor from the passenger side front bumper? It's located basically behind the fog light. If so then the pump is working, if not then the pump isn't.
The pump will only run for around 30 seconds when the car is dead cold.
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Last edited by seagreen323i; 01-17-2023 at 09:02 AM.
numero uno problem with the secondary AIR system is the vacuum line that goes from the control solenoid to the air injection control valve. Heat cycling makes it brittle and it breaks. Also the rubber fittings at the intake manifold deteriorate over time. Since you have both banks impacted, this is a likely culprit. Here's a good vid that explains how this system works and what the various parts look like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT9OgD7tWgU
Very Nice!
At that mileage, you shouldn't have too much to do.
Start saving...
Cooling system will be at the top of the list at the mileage.
The ENTIRE cooling system.
Get the car up to 55.
Does it shake slightly?
Signs that your front end will need attention soon.
Until you do a front end refresh, don't drive at 55...
The more you nose around the forums, the more you will learn about your ultimate driving machine.
Keep in mind, not all the things that go wrong with these cars will go wrong with yours.
Forums are a place where people come to learn how to fix problems.
You have many years of driving enjoyment with that car.
Congratulations!
Tom
Your on a steep learning curve starting out with one of these cars. But it can be done. Start devouring YouTube. So many vids there that cover every subject. You will get some great, invaluable advice here. But.....there are so many issues that these cars have, especially at 20yrs old. You have 2 choices on doing work on the car. Either learn how to do it yourself, or pay a shop. A shop will soon put you upside down in the car, very quickly. Example-even though the car has "low" miles, it is 20 yrs old and we don't know how it has been taken care of. I will get push back here, but those timing guides/chains are probably original. Time/heat are not kind to the guides. So, a shop will charge $3-5K to do that job correctly. And, you haven't dealt with cooling system, brakes, suspension, transmission. If your up for it, applause! If once you really evaluate the car and decide that you want to move to something a little less maintenance heavy, there are many here who would buy that car from you(me included). Please try to not "rat rod" it, and keep it true to it's original design. But, it's your car and you can do what you want.
Absolutely beautiful version.
I have every intention on keeping the car oem. My first car was a 2000 Jeep Wrangler that I ended up spending $7000 fixing at a shop. Then I moved to a 2014 Audi S4, realized i wouldn't be able to afford the repairs if anything broke, so I moved to this 540 hoping that the $15,000 price difference from the S4 would be enough to repair anything wrong and have a solid daily driver. Im also hoping that ill be able to learn a little more and do some work myself. Unfortunately im the only carguy in my family so i didnt grow up wrenching or anything so im starting from scratch.
I started working on the 540 as my first real project, it's pretty far from stock but everybody has their likings. Mine wasn't as extraordinary of an example as yours is so I didn't feel bad. In my defense everything is reversible if I ever decide to go back.
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I bought the 540 from the second owner, 75 year old man who owned it since 2013 with 30k miles. First 10 years were spent in Nevada and then it moved to New York in 2013. clean carfax, no accidents, and it seems like the second owner took pretty good care of the car. Got some maintenance receipts, most recent repairs being evap purge valve, parastatic battery drain, and airbag clockspring.
As a first thing i would look over the cooling system. If that hasn’t been done yet. I just bought every single hose, overflow bottle, rad, sensors u name it.
Can I ask the purchase price?
Just interested in your starting point.
Considering the mileage, and the appearance, $10k is not an unreasonable price.
Avoid the shops.
Start your tool collection now on what you'll save by DIY.
As you can see by the response here, help is close and willing.
More pics would be cool.
T
Hey everyone, so I’ve figured out that I need new valve cover gaskets pretty bad, I’m bringing it to a shop tomorrow for new tires. Should I have them do valve cover gaskets too or is that something I can save $500 and do myself?
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