E39 BMW530i repairs

[sclass]

Wsup everyone,

learnt alot of valuable lessons getting the car back on the road, the biggest one being SHOP AROUND!! I would also advise checking the dealer just to get a feel of the prices, and also in sum cases you are only saving a couple of hundred when not opting for dealer parts. I'm my case this is what I found;

*Tie-rod ends R1250 (dealer), +/- R1000 (non-genuine,2nd hand)

*Bumper (Cover,beadings,reinforcer) R14500 (dealer)
C.R Auto - cover R2300 (facelift)
Bemows - cover R1200, reinforcer R1200, beadings R900

*Water pump (dealer) R1100, +/- 800 (elsewhere)
*Control arm (x1) R2400 @dealer
*Fender (left) R3000
*Headlamp unit R5500 @dealer, R2300 (2nd hand)
*Fuel filter R1000 @dealer
*Spark plugs (x6) R450 @dealer
*Air filter R170 @dealer
*Oil filter n/a
*Fog lights n/a
*Xenons n/a but personally I'd avoid the cheap stuff!

Rob Green (stage 1) Exhaust, unichip, airfilter - R14,000 if car is non-cat R17,000 with cat...Is it fair to pay someone R3,000 for cat removal?Has anyone done a conversion like this, and are the gains worth it? They're claiming a 15% power hike plus drop in fuel consumption...

I'll be filling in those n/a as I continue to make enquires, it's been quite an eye-opener! I think though that on a car like this, cheaper isn't always better. Hindsight is 20/20 vision, I really messed up with the tie-rod ends, should've gone to the 'stealers'...

Would be interested to hear some of your experiences, shock stories, and such. As for me I've learnt that you should cut out 'middlemen' as much as possible; you know, those guys who know a guy, who know a guy? RUBBISH! If they can't give you someone's contacts and address DON'T BOTHER!
Thanks to Zaleonardz for putting me on to Bemows, I forget the name of the chap you put me onto (Carlo) C.R Auto.

Updates (possibly pictures) soon, cheers!

 

[P1000]

Good to hear you got it sorted, looking forward to the pics.


Sadly cat removal will do most of the power increase alone (maybe you'll get 10%). The way modern cars are mapped, you don't gain much with a remap on a N/A car. Turbo cars is a different story. On the other hand decat should cost you R500 at noiseboys and they do a really good job(friend did his ML55 there, after he tried Hi-Q who fitted nice 57mm pipes to his 63mm exhaust). But just be warned, your car will sound different, slightly louder (and smell different too from outside).

 

[zaleonardz]

Also try

Spaar on Spares 011 435 1220 - Speak to Jonny - Leonard sent you
Gizmo can also source you spares, and help you with fitting original Xenon lights to your car

 

[clutchplate]

HAHAHA !! RGM charges R 17,000 for exhaust,unichip and a filter ? and 14K if cats are removed ?
RGM is a fk'ing criminal !! and I say that with confidence ..

you can have this exact same thing done at noiseboys for under 8K.

and if I can HIGHLY suggest it, DO NOT put an aftermarket filter in your car, all it does is make your oil dirtier quicker and make your engine parts wear more. stick with the stock OEM paper filter ! its just really not a worthy mod at all.

for 17K you can take your heads of, bore the cylinders bigger and fit bigger pistons, and get a REAL power increase, might even squeze a port&polish in there...
..

 

[P1000]

If you port and polish, change cams or change engine capacity, you will require a remap, as you will have changed your engine's volumetric efficiency, and it is very unlikely that your fuelling will still be correct.

 

[clutchplate]

well pointed out.. so unichip will be neccesary in anycase

 

[Gizmo]

PM me for parts and xenons, will save you alot of money.
I have done 4 E39's with OEM xenon upgrades, old and new styles.

 

[sclass]

Thanks guys!

P1000 & Clutchplate@ Guess RGM not an option! For that much money I think I'd be better off selling the 530i and getting a 540i. I actually know a guy who'd part with his for R90k...I checked out the Noise Boys website, they have fitment centres all over. I think they have one in Nelspruit too, much more convenient for me, but I'll probably end up using one of the Pretoria centres.
You say the decat will change the sound? For better or worse? If it's a more visceral sound that can't be bad can it? I don't understand the change in smell though...

Gizmo, will PM you now now...Zaleonardz, will check them out

Later!

 

[P1000]

The cat changes the way the exhaust fumes smell. It will smell like a car without a cat, that's it (some ECU's might let the car run richer esp before reaching operating temps and you will have a slight petrol smell, if you smoke you'll never notice it...) . Exhaust note will be slightly less damped and more aggressive, but only slightly so. You will be able to hear the lovely straight six howl more defined and clearly. Some people like it, some not, I prefer the stealth approach...

 

[sclass]

Thanks P1000, Decat it is!

 

[sclass]

I've just been advised to replace the front wheel bearings (on the accident damaged side). He made it seem like it should be done as a rule of thumb, and then also added that they should be replaced in pairs (front left/right). I haven't driven the car yet though.

Replace with need or by default? What do you guys think?

 

[zaleonardz]

Well, I donno so much about wheel bearings maybe, maybe not.

However, I wiould take it for wheel alignment to a proper shop, they will inspect all of the drive components, and let you know if there is anything that needs done, including wheel bearings.

 

[sclass]

Thanks, that'll be the next order of business.

 

[sclass]

Here are some photos of the car when I got it. I'll post some more as the car morphs into what it's supposed to be!

IMG]http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz303/Quan_Chi/E39%20BMW%20530i/Photo0051.jpg[/IMG]

IMG]http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz303/Quan_Chi/E39%20BMW%20530i/Photo0014.jpg[/IMG]

IMG]http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz303/Quan_Chi/E39%20BMW%20530i/Photo0011.jpg[/IMG]

 

[P1000]

Man, if I were in your shoes, I would not be able to sleep until that car is fixed. Gonna be a real beauty! Hope you get her fixed up real quick.

Did any airbags deploy? If a side airbag went off, it'll be airbag + door panel which is R20+ alone and head airbag will also require the whole headliner replaced at R11k... Is the fog lamps n/a from the dealers?

 

[sclass]

Wsup P1000,

Thank you, it is a lovely car, hopefully in time I'll get it back to 100% spotlessness! Will depend on my wallet...

The only damage is what you see, no airbags deployed. Interior is spotless. Started it up yesterday, engine revs smoothly, but the oil service indicator lit up. I'm hoping thats because the car's been stationery since January. Either way I'll do a fluid change.

Will keep y'all updated!

Cheers!

 

[P1000]

Good news about the airbags!

Oil service indicator is linked to fuel only, so you have a fixed amount of petrol between services. On my 530d it is 1245l, will most likely be different for yours. Search on the internet for the service indicator reset procedure, its quite simple and all you need is the key and the button on the speedo... (Of course only once you have done the service) Oh, it will also tell you how many litres ago was the last service due up to -999l (which was what mine said, but it hasn't been reset in ~170kkm).

 

[sclass]

Oh good, I'll google that! When are you posting your pics?

 

[P1000]

Pics are coming as soon as we get some decent weather again...

 

[zaleonardz]

Ya, this weather sucks.

I have been wanting to take pics of my E34 for ages now, just cant get any sun, its annoying now...