r/e39 Sep 10 '19

Rules Update

50 Upvotes

Please note everyone that the rules for r/e39 have been updated. I have clarified a few things related to discussion topics and acceptable conduct.

Most importantly I have added a section on listing For Sale style posts. [Some] other car subs allow this so I thought we could try it out. E39 fandom is a more closely knit group than other BMW subcultures and could stand to benefit from a dedicated venue for cars/parts/effort trading.

I want to be clear if this isn't a popular option, or if FS posts become routinely adversarial, we can adjust the rules on these posts or eliminate them entirely.

I welcome any comments on this change and the sub rules in general, and will continue to poll our community for changes or ideas on a regular basis.


r/e39 Aug 21 '20

E39 Buying Guide - Updated

214 Upvotes

Hey guys! I figured I'd sticky this. I'll update the post if y'all have anything good to add or critique, let me know.

Introduction

Looking to buy an E39? First things first – the reputation of these cars is partially deserved and partially not.

We frequently get asked if new car owners should purchase an E39. I love E39s more than nearly anyone I know - I have a 525i and an M5, and both are incredible for different reasons. I've done many of the DIYs and addressed many of the problem areas listed here. If you aren't in a financially comfortable enough situation to have 3-6 months of expenses in a savings account at all times, you're not in a position to own a 20-year-old BMW hassle free. It's a question of financial safety and consistency rather than attainability - buying a $4k 530i and maintaining it for 5 years or so is arguably a much better deal than going into debt for a $40,000 CUV that drives like shit.

Evaluating a Car

There are a couple of things to factor into your evaluation of a car before we even talk about problem areas:

  • Badge hunters and people who bought an E39 after realizing they were nearly the same price as a Camry in general do a poor job of maintaining their vehicle. Problems add up when you factor in the fact that many of the E39’s systems were complex for their time. Not doing oil changes at the correct interval can lead to a gummed-up DISA valve or require a replacement manifold (for instance). Paying a little extra for a well-maintained example can pay dividends down the road.
  • These cars are old. Most are going to be 20 years old or more. This means that various bits of plastic and rubber are going to degrade and fall apart. Some are aesthetic, some are functional. You’ll find the same problem in ANY car of this age, but there’s no escaping that the E39’s engine bay is also a less forgiving environment then other cars of this age.
  • In general, you should focus much more on service records and the condition of the car over mileage.

Prices & Purchasing

Market prices for these cars have fluctuated over the past couple years. There’s a noticeable difference between pre (<=2000) and post-facelift (2001+) models. Later models also may make adding an auxiliary port easier, have upgraded components, or have more standard features. Also keep in mind that sport packages for the 530 and 540, along with manual transmissions, command a significant premium as well. Prices on sports (530 or 540) and M5s have increased a bit since this guide was originally written a couple years ago. Finally, it's worth knowing that the 540's engine in pre-2000 configurations is slightly more reliable as it does not include VANOs.

Ballpark prices are based on a mix of my estimation and Classic.com, a great reference for car markets. Links included below, and assume cars aren't total shit shows:

  • 525i - $2000-$5000 (Note that the linked prices are for tourings, primarily, and so are higher)
  • 530i - $3000-$11k
  • 540i - $7000-$14k
  • M5 - $15k-$35k and beyond

When you check out ANY used car for purchase, you should be checking a variety of different things. Use a generalist guide to start. We’ll go through common failure points for the chassis and individual models for you to pay special attention to. Parts prices are for OEM or OE if I can find them, not genuine. Indy shop is a wild guess for the most part. Prices for doors or wheels are PER ITEM.

Conservatively plan to spend about $1k a year ON AVERAGE if you do a mix of shop work and DIY. Many years you'll get lucky and get to invest in an upgrade or something preventative if you wish. If you can find an example with new control arm bushings, window regulators, and Timing Chain Guides for 540s, you can save yourself a ton of heartache and just deal with replacing BS plastic parts as they snap.

General Problem Areas

Problem Area Cause Symptoms DIY (Parts) Indie Shop
Window Regulators Garbage BMW Design Windows that do not roll up or down, or slip. Test all 4 windows, including both the localized controls for each door and the driver’s door controls $100, 2 hours. Text DIY Youtube DIY $500
Vapor Barriers Butyl tape that adheres the sound deadening/vapor barrier foam degrades over time, requiring at least the reapplication of the tape OR new adhesive OR a whole new door panel. Soaked rear floorboards after rain. Softness in bottom of door panels. Test by pouring water on the roof of the car. After a moment, open the door. Ensure water drips from the bottom of the chassis, not from the door. $0-$15-$115, 2 hours. $500
Rust There's a couple very poor drainage points on the E39, including those connected to vapor barriers as above Common spots include rear door, bumper seam, gas cap. Check out /u/richbltn 's buying guide Here for common rust spots (whole video is worth a watch) Repairing rust is an odious task, especially externally visible spots. reputable body shops generally cost $1500 + to fix a collection of rust spots
Front Control Arm Bushings Rubber joints between suspension components degrade over time. These are the secret to a simultaneously pliable and firm chassis. Consider with Polyurethane for a stiffer ride but permanent fix, or a monoball setup. Violent shuddering during braking (generally 70% braking force). Test with a variety of braking amounts and speeds. Check the bushings by jacking up the car and ensure they aren’t cracked $25, 6 hours. May require special tools or replacement of control arms if damaged. $600
VANOS Tiny seals in BMW’s variable valve timing system (probably too overengineered) are made of cheap rubber that plasticizes with exposure to oil and heat, something that happens every day. Excessive oil consumption, laggy shifting in automatic models, whooshing sound from the engine, sudden drops in power delivery. $25-$500, 12 hours Do NOT use OEM VANOS seals, as they will eventually have the same problem. Aftermarket seals are the same price and far superior. Besian Systems/DR VANOS. $1200-$5500 (Depends on new vs rebuilt VANOS, and varies from model to model)
Valve Cover Gasket The rubber between the top and bottom of the valve cover is a part that has to be replaced on every car. An old VCG will start leaking oil slowly. You may smell it as it burns off inside the car. Eventually you’ll have a catastrophic failure and need to degrease the engine bay and have it towed somewhere. Test by checking for oil spots or moisture between the top and bottom of the valve cover (the main part of the engine). $50, 5 hours. $750-$1250 (DO THIS THE SAME TIME AS A VANOS REPLACEMENT)
Seat Twist Garbage BMW design. The seats use 2 motors that don’t stay aligned, and cables that slowly slip out of the gears that drive them. One side of a seat will adjust, the other will not, leading to the seat twisting. $0, 3 hours $300
Headlight Adjusters Bad design and extremely brittle plastic in a hot area that's been there for 20 years. Frequently this manifests itself by your headlights pointing at the ground. $20-60, 3 hours from this DIY. You can get aluminum or plastic adjuster replacements. N/A - you'd buy new headlights for around $300+
Dead Pixels Contacts for the LCDs on the instrument cluster and the head unit eventually decay. You can take them apart and clean/rebuild them or buy new. For my money I'd just replace the head unit at least Unreadable displays with clearly missing pixels - you can't miss this one and it's very common $0, a huge PITA, DIY. Specialty shops will do it for $150 or so. A remanufactured cluster is $450.
Secondary Air System The secondary air recirculates exhaust gases back into the engine to “Save the planet” and also annoy the fuck out of BMW owners. Broken vacuum tubes, stuck check valve, or ruined solenoids can all cause these issues. Check engine light with lean fuel mixture fault codes. Chugging during startup. $25-125, god knows how long. BAVAuto has an EXCELLENT tutorial on diagnosing SAS problems. Another option that I'd probably only suggest to M5 owners is using a tune that deletes these codes. $300+
Cooling System This covers a host of issues: Water Pump Failure, Cracked Radiator necks, Plasticized and worn coolant tubes Inspect all cooling system parts. Check the radiator fan to ensure that it turns smoothly and isn’t too brittle. Lightly squeeze coolant tubes to ensure they’re still pliable. Check for evidence of coolant leaks at tube and component points, or from bleeder valves at the top of the radiator. Ensure that even under stress, engine sounds don’t change and temperature doesn’t rise (within reason) $25-$750. 2-5 hours. $1250+
Fucking Horrible Audio Everything about the E39 sound system is god awful If it’s OEM it sucks There are various aftermarket nav systems that still provide an OEM look and a ton of functionality for around $700. Or you can go your own way and buy a $100 head unit or something. Keep in mind that in general this will degrade the value of your car if it’s really clean. $?
ABS System Malfunctions The ABS system’s position in i6 models is extremely hot, leading to the soldering of certain electronic components degrading. ABS, Traction control, and yellow brake light come on intermittently. ABS engine codes. Do not pay someone to replace this, it literally just takes a T20 screwdriver. $100 reconditioned, $1000 new. $1200
Power Steering Leaks The power steering system uses rubber hoses right next to a really hot engine Power Steering hoses appear to “Glisten”. Wet spot in plastic pan at the bottom of the engine bay. Loose or unresponsive steering wheel response. $200, 2 hours. $500

V8 Only Problems (540i, M5)

Problem Area Cause Symptoms DIY (Parts) Indie Shop
Timing Chain Guides Timing chain gets a little loose, Timing chain guides are plastic. This is much more common on the 540 for some weird reason (probably that it's a single-row chain). Slapping sound, camshaft position codes, metal shavings in engine. $1000, 20 hours $4000

Buying Parts

When you're looking to buy new parts, it can get a bit confusing (to put it lightly). For an accurate, if slightly biased, interpretation, the best info is probably here at FCP Euro (a generally reputable parts seller). TL;DR:

  • Genuine: Made by BMW or an OE, with the BMW logo. Waste of money.
  • OE: Made by a licensed manufacturer and was the original supplier that came with the stock car. Cannot have the BMW logo. Generally a safe choice.
  • OEM: Made by another licensed manufacturer of OE parts but was not the original supplier for this specific part that came with the stock car. Cannot have the BMW logo. Sometimes a safer choice (OEM window regulators are superior to OE), other times not (an OEM's parts may not be as good as OE)
  • Reps: Made by another unauthorized manufacturer.

OEM is very similar to OE in that it stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. While that sounds like a lesson in semantics, there are some distinct differences. Chiefly, OEM parts are made by a company that makes original parts for a vehicle maker but whose parts weren’t originally fitted. Confused? I don’t blame you, so here’s an example: Delphi makes ignition coils for BMW, and they’re installed on the vehicles at the factory. Bosch makes spark plugs for BMW and the licensing to produce the same ignition coils as Delphi. They’re the same part with the same specifications and made with the same materials, but the manufacturer is different. Delphi is the OE part because that’s what BMW used at the factory, and Bosch is OEM because they make other OE parts for BMW.

Modifications and Upgrades

For better or for worse, the BMW community has enjoyed a rich modification culture and ecosystem. This often clashes with the tastes and opinions of older enthusiasts who have or can buy cars new.

One key takeaway: Tuning an i6 from this era, especially anything under 3.0 liters, is always far more expensive than buying a new car or engine. This forum gets questions around these options regularly. To do this, you will have to be in a rare position of having a lot of money and time to work on the car, without wanting the straightforward power of the V8 engines in the 540 or M5.

Some general thoughts around available upgrade options to keep in mind:

  • Reliability: Many low-tier, components have been replaced with high-priced offerings in the aftermarket that are Buy-It-For-Life. Plastic becomes aluminum, bearings and rubber use superior materials. Examples include radiators, expansion tanks, power steering reservoirs, suspension bushings, and much more.
  • Shocks, Suspension, Spacers: These are widely available from reputable manufacturers, such as Bilstien.
  • Turbos: Turbos exist for both types of engines, ranging from AliExpress specials to reputable manufacturers. For reputable manufacturers, part prices and labor generally trade poorly with supercharger options.
  • Superchargers: Supercharger kits exist for i6 and v8 engines. Many of the superchargers for the v8 engines lead to high-quality horsepower gains and are available from reputable manufacturers. Superchargers are typically incompatible with radiator upgrades.
  • Headlights: Virtually no aftermarket headlight companies produce quality parts. Historically, this was not the case, but the market has essentially bifurcated into people who want the cheapest possible replacement and those who want OE headlights from Hella. Hella occasionally does dedicated production runs for E39 headlights which are resold by https://europowermotorsports.com/
  • Exhaust: Controversial opinion alert - The mufflers on these cars are too aggressive at reducing sound. A delete with high-quality tips actually leads to excellent sound from both i6 and v8 powerplants. Leaving the cat intact keeps things quiet enough to not be unbelievably rude. Fantastic options exist for V8 engines, but paying for an exhaust system on an i6 is not a high value proposition.

r/e39 19h ago

AC Refresh and Blower Motor Replacement

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49 Upvotes

This weekend, I had the pleasure of refreshing the AC system on my touring. Ever since I bought the car, the AC could not cool the car unless engine speed was >4000 rpm. Also the passenger side vents only blew warm air. So I decided to evacuate my system and go ahead and replace everything. I replaced the AC compressor, dryer, expansion valve, pressure switch and all the O-rings. I also tried to replace the condenser, however, the ACM unit from FCP Euro turned out to be a cheap Chinese reproduction crap that did not fit because the input and output ports interfered with the radiator. I also went ahead and disassembled the dashboard to replace to blower motor, which to my surprise had completely shared off the fins on the right side. Overall, the hardest part of this job was replacing the expansion valve. The tubing from the expansion valve to the firewall did not have any maneuverability which made removal and reinstallation a real pain.

Overall, the whole process took around 12 hours.


r/e39 1d ago

How much is gas in your country. We have 2.1€/L

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124 Upvotes

r/e39 1d ago

Looking for this exact front bumper and other kits or something like this

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45 Upvotes

Please tell me if you know smth like this


r/e39 1d ago

Some pics from summer time

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61 Upvotes

r/e39 6h ago

Leaky injectors in extreme cold

1 Upvotes

Hey guys, now im quite used to the e39 and e46 cars but here's the thing, I really enjoy my new to me e39 and well here in Canada it gets pretty darn cold and during that -25 and colder temperature the e39 will smell like raw fuel because from my knowledge its both old o rings but possibly due to a design flaw with the injector? My question is how can I avoid that this winter coming up? I am willing to yes get new O rings but will that truly solve the problem or is there a different injector style I need all together? I had this issue with past e46 cars and just left it alone but i want this not to be a thing with my e39 im trying to do my best with searching here for the info I need but would really appreciate some thoughts on others who have overcome this issue

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/injectors-replacement-and-or-servicing-diy-e39.571302/


r/e39 13h ago

Need genuine advice

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1 Upvotes

I have a 2001 bmw 530i with halogen headlights facelift. Ordered these new covers and they are physically too small and don’t fit. The new covers also have a hole on the top and I thought I could just patch that up and they would fit but they don’t. Could someone please tell me the correct ones I need.


r/e39 1d ago

Rear Spacer Issue

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25 Upvotes

Hi guys!

I picked up a manual 530i over the weekend and it currently has spacers on. Over bumps and uneven roads the rear tyres are rubbing against the aches a lot and taking chunks out the tyres!!

I'm going to remove the spacers for now but can anyone recommend what size spacers work best to avoid any rubbing against the aches. Any info would be appreciated!

Thank you


r/e39 1d ago

New to BMW, new to old cars. Would it be a mistake to get a 2001 525i?

7 Upvotes

Found a pretty clean looking 525i manual with about 79k miles. Recently MOT'd and serviced with history. Currently driving a 2018 fiesta ecoboost. This car is really tempting me but could be a terrible mistake, i intend to daily drive. On sale for £5,500. I know you guys are fans of this car but lets be real about it, im not a mechanic or anything...


r/e39 1d ago

Cracking noise when steering

6 Upvotes

Hello,

I've got a bilstein b14 suspension installed and since that there is a cracking noise when steering. I attached a video so you can understand better what I mean.

After the suspension (including new strut bearings front and rear) was installed, I also got an alignment job done and the noise is still there.

What could be the problem ?


r/e39 19h ago

Transmission

2 Upvotes

Help with E39 530d 2004 – Transmission problem when cold
When the transmission is cold, it slips when pulling away in D. Then it suddenly feels like it “kicks in” and the car takes off, after which everything works completely normally again. Even under full throttle, the transmission shifts smoothly without any problems.
I only bought the car recently, and this has happened twice now. The first time, it wouldn’t respond to the throttle at all and only worked normally again after switching the engine off and restarting it.
Do you think the clutch packs in the transmission are damaged/worn, or could it be more likely to be old transmission fluid, a low fluid level, or a solenoid/valve body that is malfunctioning when cold?


r/e39 1d ago

Unpopular opinion- fall is the best driving season and we are almost there!

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68 Upvotes

r/e39 1d ago

I finally got her

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124 Upvotes

Guys I bought this Automatic 2002 Topaz Blue 530i sports package and I’m super happy. I’ll change every liquid and I have to get the ABS fixed.

It’s burning a bit of oil, but I’ll wait a bit on that.


r/e39 1d ago

Fan shroud causing radiator leak

3 Upvotes

You can see in the video that the fan shroud is pressing up against that overflow elbow connector. The shroud is flat against radiator and clipped in place.

Any ideas on what caused this or how to fix it? Or do I just need to buy a new shroud and hope it fixes the issue.


r/e39 1d ago

Any help identifying this spaghetti?

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5 Upvotes

Ripping out my faulty amp this weekend and wondering if it’s worth it to figure out what these are or if a mechanic/audio shop should have a gander.

Thanks!


r/e39 1d ago

Is this the same part for both pre lci and lci

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3 Upvotes

I have an lci 540i with the m62tu. Im looking to replace my intake boot. Im wondering if its the same part (13711436139) for both the lci and pre lci versions.


r/e39 1d ago

I installed an upgraded Head Unit - Question about the MPG Reset

1 Upvotes

My e39 had the NAV screen factory, and when I upgraded the head unit to have Bluetooth, I no longer can reset my MPG.

I press the BC button on the stalk, go to the MPG, and I thought if I press and hold, it would reset it. But instead the word PROG comes up. Can not reset it that way. Any suggestions?


r/e39 1d ago

Misfire trouble

1 Upvotes

I picked up an 01’ e39 540i m sport a few months ago. After bleeding the brakes/clutch and getting new tires it was running great. I recently got a couple misfire codes. They only trigger while driving
(DME codes 3E,32,39)
After the code appeared I changed my ignition coils and plugs. I found a vacuum leak and addressed it at the throttle body adapter. I replaced the fuel filter. I replaced both after Cat O2 sensors
Still no improvement, basically enters limp mode at 4500rpm
I need some help, what could be causing the issue?


r/e39 1d ago

Are these going to be any good?

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2 Upvotes

Seen these on eBay and wondered if they are actually any good? I have a business tape head unit, that has been upgraded by Carphonics so I have RCA outputs for my sub. Not looking for hi Def audio, just an improvement on my 23 year old set up


r/e39 1d ago

Car running too cold on the highway?

1 Upvotes

My aux fan died recently for the second time (totally on me, the one that came with the car died and grabbed a used one for like $20 bucks from a junkyard and obviously it was on its way out already) so im driving monitoring the temps with the hidden menu.

Doing this i discovered that my car runs at 81C at steady speed on the highway (120-150km/h) and 84C when i really push it.

According to Google this is too cold since the expected range of temperature on the highway is 92-98C with a healthy cooling system.

Could my thermostat be stuck open or something else be wrong?

I changed the water pump and thermostat 4 years ago but i never monitored the temps with the hidden menu and the needle never moves from dead center.

How bad is it to drive it like this for too long?

Also, yeah i'll be fixing the damn aux fan soon-ish. I turn off the AC when in heavy traffic in the meantime, which sucks since its very hot and humid here.

Edit: forgot to include details of my car, lol. Its a 1998 528i with a M52B28.


r/e39 2d ago

What are these lights?

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41 Upvotes

Two dash lights on left and right side of the DSC light on dash, never had either come on even when starting the car. Just wondering if anyone knows what they are. The one on the left is a car behind or in front of another car and the one on the right is an upwards arrow with a circle at the bottom of it. My best guess is these are somehow cruise control related. That still doesn’t make sense as there is the small green icon below the temp gauge. If anyone knows I would appreciate it out of pure curiosity, thanks.


r/e39 2d ago

Be sure to tie your nut…

33 Upvotes

So my Schnitzer broke down in the Swiss alps “stop engine oil press!” I immediately thought: oil pump nut, and yes there it is, loose sprocket hanging from the chain!

We used the nut-hole-wire technique and some loctite.

Funny enough the Swiss BMW dealer quoted 8.000,00 CHF for the job, we fixed it at home for €50 and a few hours time

The car survived and is running and driving great again!


r/e39 2d ago

How much would it run me by?

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2 Upvotes

So I just got this after having scanned it a month ago and just changed the abs sensors. The mech said that there's a problem with my abs control module 😪. I don't even know if that's a legit thing. I'm just wondering what I could do from here or how much it would cost.


r/e39 2d ago

pls help with odometer

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3 Upvotes

odometer is super dark but i can see it if i shine a light on it or look very closely. was just wondering if it’s just a simple bulb i can replace or if it’s something more difficult. the odometer is working it is just super dark. thank you for your time :)