MY2000 E39 540i 6 Speed Manual - Glacier Green

[Dbn540i]

Gorgeous car. To own two E39's in the best specification is a dream. Safe travels.

 

[nirvash]

So glad this car went to you and continues to be in good hands! Congrats and many happy and safe miles. I had the pleasure of driving this car down to CT from JHB; let me just say I made good progress...but did discover that the fuel guage doesnt read accurately and 1/4 is actually empty

Have to agree with you, an E39 540i manual is the most uncompromised car out there. The only negative could maybe be that it is a little low, so one needs to watch for steep driveways etc

Would be interested to see how it feels at altitude vs the coast, because it feels very healthy down here.
I can't believe you have a set of 18" style 32's on yours, so jelly! Perfection!

Going to post in the wanted section now to try find another set of 17" style 32's to run a square 9" setup.

Thanks for all the kind words everyone, I appreciate it and am enjoying the car so much! (but also need to crack on with the m5!)

 

[naeem9]

Congrats on this beauty.

 

[nirvash]

Couldn't resist a wash, vacuum and a couple phone pics:

 

[nirvash]

As with older car, once purchased and the digging gets deeper, issues are unearthed...

There is a massive power steering leak, lost a full reservoir worth of fluid in 2 drives/parked from Friday to Today (Wednesday).
Jacked the car up, slid myself along a dirty driveway to get underneath, and started inspecting.
Some sweating on the pump itself, but the leak is coming from the opposite side (drivers side).
Will have a look further tomorrow, a lift would be nice, so mite take the car in.

Missing the plastic undertray (which I knew about), so the underneath/engine bay is filthy with grime. Will have to get into that at some point.
Everything underneath is covered in grime which makes diagnosing things hard, so really want to get an undertray and clean it all up.
(also need one for the M5)

The front bumper has a lot of little cracks, and paint chips, will need to sort that, these cars are pretty low and long so it's to be expected.
A very tough choice would be going with the Mtech bumpers or keep the pre fl sport ones, each to their own, I like both, and would keep the originals if I decided to change them.

Little bits here and there that need attention. In time...

Next,
A little internal dilemma that I am battling with.
I love the Style 32's on the car, but always thought 18's fill the arches of the E39 better. Tire sizes for the 17's has also become a big issue as time goes on.
I have an extra set of M5 Style 65's, which have for many years been my favourite BMW Wheels EVER.
So I am considering putting these on the 540i.
No, I am not trying to make a "fake M5" but certain M5 parts just work nicely with the "lesser" 5's.
Would like to hear your opinions just out of interest.
Also...
getting the Style 65's refurbed, I know people won't get the shadow chrome right, so is the next best thing just going hyper silver, or like a light gunmetal/anthracite, or just going for an attempted shadow chrome to look as close to actual shadow chrome as possible?
Maybe even a pale satin gold for Glacier Green? Out there..... 😬 😬 😬 😱😱😱
What are your opinions?
And which do you think would suit Glacier Green best?

A couple more pics from yesterday:

 

[Benji]

As far as I know, this is also missing the steel skidplate - highly recommend you source this too.

My opinion (again ) these cars are so unique with their aero kit and "small" wheels, I would keep it just the way it is, especially as you have another E39 on style 65s and M-sport bumpers

 

[M3boi]

As far as I know, this is also missing the steel skidplate - highly recommend you source this too.

My opinion (again ) these cars are so unique with their aero kit and "small" wheels, I would keep it just the way it is, especially as you have another E39 on style 65s and M-sport bumpers

100% agree.

 

[Dbn540i]

I would also say keep it the way it is. These cars are just so unique in their own little way. That adds to the rarity.
Tyres are a huge issue currently for me also. The struggle is real.

 

[nirvash]

So,

I've decided to go a sort of different, some would say more "period correct" "old school" direction with wheels.

Can anyone recommend a place to get center bores bored out from 72.6 to the E39 74.1 in the southern suburbs preferably?

You guys will just have to wait and see next week.

In the meantime:

 

[Dbn540i]

Man, this colour is sick 🤩

 

[nirvash]

Man, this colour is sick 🤩

Thanks, it is growing on me big time, never thought about it much, and never sought after it so to speak, but it's got a lot of things going for it which is cool.
A bit more "exciting" than a regular silver or something like that, a bit of blue, a bit for green thrown in, pretty unique.
Not a tough looking colour like Black or Metallic Grey, I would call it charming haha Very cool in different lighting situations.

Liking it more and more....

On a different note,
I found this pic on the net, I think style 65's could look very cool in a warm bronze colour vs the traditional shadow chrome.
Just a cool pic and food for thought.
Not necessarily what I am doing or going with, just thought I would post it up here because it looks cool🤟

 

[Benji]

Oooh the suspense! Looking forward to the wheels update

 

[nirvash]

Small update,

more to come in the following days....

 

[Dbn540i]

Just show us the wheel man

 

[nirvash]

Just show us the wheel man

Haha, I can't, took them away and don't have them right now😅
Sorry for the tease...

Not all fun and games though,
while the car is in getting its power steering lines replaced and hopefully fixing the leaks, I got them to run diagnostics on the car, it has the dreaded trifecta of lights, and the diagnostics points to the ABS unit😢

The previous owner thought it may be a wheel speed sensor, but I don't know if I should bother getting those changed and mess around with that, or just straight up look for a replacement unit??

Do people still rebuild these, anyone know of anyone in Cape Town who rebuilds these with success?
Or should I go secondhand? New? I don't even want to know what they cost new....

 

[Benji]

Have you done a diagnostic with INPA to see each wheel speed while driving? Mine had the trifecta and it turned out to be a loose connection at the wheel speed sensor.

It seems the issue with the ABS modules are dry solder joints, but they seem to be extremely small and difficult to get to, so I wouldn't trust anyone to rebuild these unless they have successfully done it before. There are companies in USA who provide this service, but not sure of anyone in SA. I believe a replacement will need to be coded to your car, but this should be fairly easy with NCS

 

[Alex/M5]

Try "Combined Electronic services" in Plattekloof. They're not cheap but they would be the only people I would trust. We took the e34 m5 ecu there to get the finicky dry solder joints repaired.

 

[nirvash]

Try "Combined Electronic services" in Plattekloof. They're not cheap but they would be the only people I would trust. We took the e34 m5 ecu there to get the finicky dry solder joints repaired.

Thanks @Alex/M5 & @Benji
Been given a couple suggestions by people, so going start with a proper thorough diagnostics first and take it from there

Read and heard about Combined Electronics when looking up the issue, also seen a couple threads on this forum, so if it gets to that point I may give them a try.
I heard they also do the dead pixel ribbon fix for the e39's.

 

[nirvash]

So the new wheels and tires are finally on!

265/35 R18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 wrapped around 18x9 +25 Square A-Line Scorpion (Style 5/BBS Reps) wheels.
Bored out to 74.1
Custom Grey Bronze center
5mm ECS Tuning spacers all round with extended bolts

The weather was terrible so I couldn't take any lekker pics, but here you go anyway:

 

[///M Individual]

Personally prefer the original wheels or IF you must change, an oem wheel.

Just my opinion though, it is your car and if you like it that's all that matters!