530d auto

[spawn616]

Hello everybody,
I'm looking for a e39 530d simply coz its a great car,and its got the power to tow a car,which is the main reason I'm looking for a turbo diesel,
I'm set on the bmw simply for its quality and eco ability compared to other cars in its price range
But now me real question,how reliable is the auto box for towing,about 1.4tons every 3 to 4 months maybe

 

[zaleonardz]

If you can, find a 530d manual, they are out there...

The auto boxes are quite strong on these cars, but with the E39 you are looking at something that has miledge on already, so as long as you budget for a gearbox rebuild @ about 20k, you will not make a mistake.

The engine on the other hand is one of the best diesels in the world, IMO...

 

[P1000]

E39 has the GM 5l40e gearbox. It is great when it is working, it should be able to do the towing, but it will break at some point in its life due to the soft alloy the valve body is made from. A rebuild will run you R21500.

 

[spawn616]

Iv looked for manuals,too high a milage,I'd prefer manual simple for towing,iv looked at 6 e39 now and I think Iv found the bmw for me,is there anyone out there that can do a flush on the gbox??and what software mods can be done without maxing out the gbox??

 

[zaleonardz]

Gearbox is already max (on the auto's) so its best to do no mods.

I am being stupid here, but have you looked at the E60 530d in a manual... going for good money these days....

 

[P1000]

No SW mods on that box. The box is already maxed out and then some. Do not flush the box if it has more than 160kkm on, you will only make the end come sooner then. That said, if you get a good sample, they can last long, mine has 277kkm on with original everything. Just never take the odo meter reading as the true mileage, these cars are clocked so often, its scary...

 

[spawn616]

I don't have cash for a e60,plus I don't like the shape,
I ment flush as replace oil in box,I use redline atf in my drag car and its great,can I atleast decat the car,its about to hit 160km,according to bmw and I drove it this afternoon,I'm just alil dissapointed at lack of grunt but I could be used to 200wkw

 

[P1000]

I repeat don't flush/change ATF if it has more than 160kkm on, i can show you why not. Don't do software unless its a manual. the box is rated at 390nm, the engine already does more than that. I don't like the e60 either, but it has a much better box with loads of tuning capacity.

 

[zaleonardz]

Decats are fine...

There is also the alternative of doing a manual conversion later on

 

[P1000]

Decats are fine...

There is also the alternative of doing a manual conversion later on

Decats are good, yes, but you cannot really gain power without a remap, since the boost is controlled electronically.

If you can find a donor car, you can do a manual swap, but they do not exist...

 

[spawn616]

I'm a honda man , so help me out,can the e60 box be fitted to this motor,like honda any bseries parts are interchangable so its straight swap with no bracket modification,so are all m motos and boxes changable,if that is the code for the motor,p1000 ur actually the asshole that's convinced me in buying a high highway milage bmw lol

 

[P1000]

LOL, asshole, you say? Thats nice...

The biggest problem with swapping the boxes is the electronics, which changed too much between the E60 and E39, so it is not possible...

 

[zaleonardz]

have not done any research on the matter, but if the E39 540 is so easy (remember clutchy's) then in theory the diesel should be the same, and that was just a ZCS coding and bypassing some safety gear.

However, finding a box, and gear for the E39, this could be a significant problem. Are the boxes not backwards compatable on the I6's ?

 

[MikeR]

:wave: here is a nice buy. but get here checked out for history first
http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c...er-Special-Only-R159950-00-W0QQAdIdZ269324914

 

[P1000]

have not done any research on the matter, but if the E39 540 is so easy (remember clutchy's) then in theory the diesel should be the same, and that was just a ZCS coding and bypassing some safety gear.

However, finding a box, and gear for the E39, this could be a significant problem. Are the boxes not backwards compatable on the I6's ?

An e60 manual on an e39 might be possible, but the linkages differ quite a bit, and I'm afraid there might be too much custom work needed, plus you will require a custom driveshaft.

I think the problem with other boxes are, they all have puny torque ratings compared to the diesel. What I can source is a 320d box, which is the same as the 530d, but then you will have to do a custom job on the driveshaft and then you need to find the pedal box, shift linkages etc off an e39 and hope it all fits together...

My solution to the problem is to wait for the box to fail and have money at hand for a rebuild... These are some of the nicest auto boxes out there ITO shift quality.

Mike, that is quite a good deal if the mileage is real.

 

[zaleonardz]

P1000,

Yehp, I hear you. Although you should be able to use a standard BMW drive shaft if you change out the center portion as well, but this all gets very complicated, and unless your getting the spares at R2.50 and doing the labour yourself, its actually cheaper just to have the auto box rebuilt anyway....

ANd Agreed, once working they are nice....

So what we are saying is that it is possible to do the conversion with a bit of study, but perhaps impractical.

Oh and, I am not a fan on custom drive shafts....

 

[spawn616]

i hear what your saying,since i know a bit about autos since i had a full custom autobox built i can say that the car i am gna buy has no slippage in the box,and my towing days are few and far between,
the car:
1.needs cables for electric seats(just driver)
2.needs a service
3.cupholder thingies are broken ,they dont close back in
4.tyres eventually,
5.radio works,but how much for the newer front loader mp3 version
that the only real problems with the car,last service was done at 150k km
p1,u know what i mean,ur car is a true fu to ppl bad mouthing(touchwood) high milage vehicles,i think if i get this thing u guys must come on the breakfast run this sat,have a good ol chat

 

[zaleonardz]

Have codes read as well,

 

[P1000]

Cupholders break when they are used, and apparently quite expensive (mine still works though :thumb.

You should not notice slippage in these boxes, the software adjusts so well, you will find slightly jerky gearchanges near the end, and at some point it will just stop moving forward. (or another popular mode of failure is no reverse, but a new valve body will solve that).

Unfortunately, I cannot make the breakfast run, I have some other business to attend to.

 

[spawn616]

i did that,showing minor errors for globes