Chef's E39 530d

[ChefDJ]

OK I had a quick look through this huge thread regarding your vehicle and what you have had done.

But I have lost track of it all. Please a quick recap of what you have done will be great.

You have had it remapped (did you go with the economy? Also who did this and at what cost?) and you had the the exhaust done.

Can you tell me exactly what you had done so I know what to ask for (as far as the exhaust goes).

Out of interest what else have you had done?

So far I have had done:

Refurb - Diff
New Pulleys
Refurb - Turbo
Bright White Angel Eyes
Kenwood Radio (Double Din)
2 x Amps (one for speakers and 1 for subs)
2 x Earthquake Subs
All speakers/tweeters replaced
2 x Front Bilstein Shocks
Dashcam DOD LS430W

6 New tyres (Did 4 then hit a bloody pothole cost me 2 more)

Smash and Grab window tinting

I am doing it as the cash is available. Really want to do back shocks next then the exhaust. Then maybe remap.

The pic in my signature is my vehicle as it was. Will get new pics in at some stage.

Thanks again.

Hi bud

The software I have was done by MASPerformance, which used to be owned by a friend of mine who has since sold the business. They gave me a power+economy mix map, so that when I do need the power it's there, and the car is lighter on diesel. Cost me R3500 at the time. A lot of people advised me not to do so, due the infamous GM gearbox reputation the E39 diesel was blessed with. This gearbox has a tolerance of only 390Nm yet the car came out standard with 410Nm, before software.

I still don't know how much my car is kicking out now. I don't race my car. I took it to Tarlton once to see what times I got on the quarter mile and that was all. I do drive spiritedly when I want to, but I never redline the car.

Regarding the exhaust, I had a custom 63mm downpipe fitted (decat) to remove the clogged catalytic converters (or rather the diesel particulate filters), and they also fitted a new flexpipe for me. The E39 530d has two cats and two flexpipes. I also had the backbox removed and they fitted a 76mm straight pipe to a new tip for me. Total cost was R1850.

Other things I had done since owning the car:

New discs and pads all around.
New expansion tank.
New tensioner pulley.
New water pump and thermostat.

I also repaired the broken headlight adjusters with adjusters I bought off of eBay.

I removed the boot lid lining to try and seal up some cracks with silicone that were causing rattles in the boot.

And I've replaced the main cabin lights with LED's for a brighter cabin at night.

Then, with the help of Fanatics:

Removed the dreaded swirl flaps.
Blocked off three of the four vacuum lines (engine mounts, EGR and swirl flap actuator).
Replaced the last vacuum line, going to the vacuum cannister and turbo.
Replaced the vacuum cannister.

I had s,ash and grab fitted nut removed it again as the work was shoddy, and I had HID's installed which I also removed as I wasn't happy with the installation and results of the lighting.

I can't remember if anything else was done, other than services.

 

[BarryPr]

Removed the dreaded swirl flaps.
Blocked off three of the four vacuum lines (engine mounts, EGR and swirl flap actuator).

Thanks Chef. Appreciate the trouble.

If you do not mind explaining this swirl flap and why you blocked off these vacuum lines?

 

[ChefDJ]

Removed the dreaded swirl flaps.
Blocked off three of the four vacuum lines (engine mounts, EGR and swirl flap actuator).

Thanks Chef. Appreciate the trouble.

If you do not mind explaining this swirl flap and why you blocked off these vacuum lines?

The swirl flaps sit inside the intake manifold, right on top of the engine. Typically the flaps stay closed at idle, but still allow air to move through as there must always be air flowing through. They open up as revs climb to 2000rpm, where they will be fully open. They control the amount of fuel/air that mixes, lowering emissions and providing more lower-end torque. However their removal hardly affects performance at all.

They are known to collect a build up of carbon and break free from their harness, and then they get swallowed into the engine and cause major damage to the engine. It is a MUST to have them removed to prevent this. You replace them with blanks. Search more in this thread and you will find my entire procedure and the blanks I used.

Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swirl_flap

As the link suggests, the BMW diesel engines manufactured between 2001 and 2004 are notorious for engine failure caused by a swirl flap.

The vacuum lines I had blanked off due to advice passed on to me by Andy1GP on the forum. The line to control the swirl flaps was blocked off because the swirl flaps were not in use anymore, so no use for the line. The line to the engine mounts was blocked to eliminate chance of a vacuum leak. This caused no vibration whatsoever. And the line to the EGR was blocked off because I wanted the EGR disabled. This improves fuel consumption. It;s only there for Euro spec emissions regulations. In SA the laws aren't so strict.

 

[BarryPr]

mmmmm Yes this is not me. I will need to get someone to do this. If you need a website sure I can help you. If you want me to work on your engine you best move along.

Thanks for this.

 

[ChefDJ]

I'm sure the Fanatics don't mind helping you out :thumbs:

It's not something you leave up to your general mechanic.

I'm willing to help. Anyone else?

 

[BarryPr]

I'm sure the Fanatics don't mind helping you out :thumbs:

It's not something you leave up to your general mechanic.

I'm willing to help. Anyone else?

AWESOME!! :rollsmile: :ty:

 

[RAArmstrong]

I'm sure the Fanatics don't mind helping you out :thumbs:

It's not something you leave up to your general mechanic.

I'm willing to help. Anyone else?

AWESOME!! :rollsmile: :ty:

I'm in

 

[BarryPr]

Hi bud

The software I have was done by MASPerformance, which used to be owned by a friend of mine who has since sold the business.

I contacted Jaques from masperformance.co.za for the remap and he will be happy to help. He reckons I will be looking at R2500-R3000 for the job. This will include:

Economy Remap
EGR Removal
DPF Removal
DSG Remap

They will send someone to me I do not have to travel there. I reckon this is great!

---

I'm sure the Fanatics don't mind helping you out :thumbs:

It's not something you leave up to your general mechanic.

I'm willing to help. Anyone else?

AWESOME!! :rollsmile: :ty:

I'm in

SUPER! Thank you.

 

[ChefDJ]

I contacted Jaques from masperformance.co.za for the remap and he will be happy to help. He reckons I will be looking at R2500-R3000 for the job. This will include:

Economy Remap
EGR Removal
DPF Removal
DSG Remap

They will send someone to me I do not have to travel there. I reckon this is great!

:slow:


They ripped me off... The bastards.

 

[DieselFan]

Hi bud

The software I have was done by MASPerformance, which used to be owned by a friend of mine who has since sold the business.

I contacted Jaques from masperformance.co.za for the remap and he will be happy to help. He reckons I will be looking at R2500-R3000 for the job. This will include:

Economy Remap
EGR Removal
DPF Removal
DSG Remap

They will send someone to me I do not have to travel there. I reckon this is great!

---

I'm sure the Fanatics don't mind helping you out :thumbs:

It's not something you leave up to your general mechanic.

I'm willing to help. Anyone else?

AWESOME!! :rollsmile: :ty:

I'm in

SUPER! Thank you.

---

How are they going to remove the dpf... especially if they are going to you...

who writes the software for the car?

 

[BarryPr]

How are they going to remove the dpf... especially if they are going to you...

who writes the software for the car?

I have no idea. As I said what I know about cars is very dangerous. He said it comes from the UK.

That is all I know.

 

[ChefDJ]

The map comes from the UK, yes. Their petrol maps I'm not too sure about but the diesel maps are brilliant.

 

[DieselFan]

What he probably means by remove dpf is turn it off in the software. So if you remove it you won't get a code.. which I don't think you'll get anyway.

 

[ChefDJ]

What he probably means by remove dpf is turn it off in the software. So if you remove it you won't get a code.. which I don't think you'll get anyway.

There's no error. Mine is disabled. However I haven't had the software map for disabling it.

 

[ChefDJ]

I want to say a special thanks to Arbee for helping me organise my new numberplates and going through the trouble of fetching them before I meet him this weekend.

:ty:

Rep to you.

 

[ChefDJ]

Slight update.

Firstly, on Friday I had the exhaust rattle seen to. A simple strut was welded nearby the tips and so the extra stability has now solved the rattling problem.

Then, my new number plates arrived on Saturday. Picked them up from Arbee on Saturday and fitted them that evening. Fitted them with proper Velcro brand velcro lining. That stuff sticks tight...

:rollsmile:

---

:idea:

Next up:








http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DL82&mospid=47545&btnr=54_0195&hg=54&fg=05

 

[herr bmw]

sunroof:fencelook:

 

[ChefDJ]

sunroof:fencelook:

:rollsmile:

 

[Ralf*]

sunroof:fencelook:

:rollsmile:

but I thought you already had one :fencelook:

 

[Gizmo]

Velcro plates...so last season! Rare earth magnets is the best. A couple on the plate and a couple on the inside of the bumper cover to attract the plate. Cops will give you a lot of grief if they see velcro on you bumper.