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Nov 13, 2019 12:46:18 GMT
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You can get the box serviced no problem. Its the torque the autobox cant handle. it was marginal for the car when it was factory standard let alone mapped. I went through 2 boxes in mine. Usually torque converter failure that causes it. The Boxes really are curse word..still prefer it to a manual Can you buy an updated torque converter to help? It's staying standard while I tidy it up for now. |
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  First repair. The switch was missing entirely. Found a new one online for 3 quid - colour match is off a bit but it's better than nothing! |
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First drive this morning (commute to work).
Thoughts: very 'solid', chunky feeling car. Lovely weight to the steering and even the pedal has a reassuring stiffness to it. It's more than quick enough when the pedal is prodded and nice and quiet when cruising. I like it! I reset the mpg computer and I'll report back after a few days. Hoping for some encouraging figures!
First issue though : nav screen went black with the occasional flicker of a line. When I turned ignition off and on it worked again but then not the next time. Once, 'BMW' flashed up on it for a moment. I think I can control the heater and stereo without it but it's just a bit of a shame. When it was on it was grey and a bit 'BBC computer' I'm not sure if that was just daytime mode but I'm sure I've seen it dark. There appeared to be no Nav option either, even though it's got nav. Linked? Should I just forget about it and stop worrying? 2 and a half years in an LS400 has made me forget e what normal old cars are like - constantly googling issues and symptoms 😂
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Nov 14, 2019 17:24:12 GMT
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From memory I got a long term average of 43mpg (a lot of driving in London and then motorway - M4 mostly - I used cruise control alot too. I found it didn't lose concentration, like the bloke behind the wheel did when he was away with the fairies thinking about things!
It could just be a poor connection (the blank screen) - could be the data cable/ribbon thing at the back has gone brittle. Might be worth investigating.
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Nov 14, 2019 20:38:08 GMT
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From memory I got a long term average of 43mpg (a lot of driving in London and then motorway - M4 mostly - I used cruise control alot too. I found it didn't lose concentration, like the bloke behind the wheel did when he was away with the fairies thinking about things! It could just be a poor connection (the blank screen) - could be the data cable/ribbon thing at the back has gone brittle. Might be worth investigating. Cheers mate - awesome MPG. On the drive home it seemed to stop and was fine so perhaps it's something to do with the fact it's been sat with a flat battery for a while and it's just settling into daily use again? Fingers crossed |
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Battenberg
Part of things
Time for Cake....
Posts: 745
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Nov 14, 2019 21:58:40 GMT
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I had a L322 Range Rover with the same infotainment/satnav setup and had similar problems with the screen going black, it was mainly due to damp and the pins in one of the control modules corroding and breaking of on the multitude of connectors between the various Ecu modules.
An easy fix with a soldering iron to solder wires to the back of the pin connectors and then use bullet pins to effectively bridge the gap!!
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Current Fleet:
1968 Wolseley 1000
2022 BMW 430xd MHT Coupe
2007 L200 Animal - Dog walking transport
1998 318is Coupe
2007 Mini Cooper Supercharged
1989 BMW 530 - in storage
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Nov 14, 2019 22:51:39 GMT
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nice job cleaning it up...looks great...nice interior too...same shift lever as my 07!
JP
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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Nov 15, 2019 23:51:41 GMT
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Having now commuted in the E39 a couple of days, I've started to become aware of the nav screen symptoms:
When it's cold, the screen doesn't turn on - it's backlit and it flickers every now and then.
The radio works fine the whole time.
After 5-10 minutes, the BMW logo comes on and - for a split second - another station is heard. Then it goes back to the one I was listening to. It's literally 1/10 of a second that I hear another station.
The screen will stay on for 10-20 seconds and turn off again.
It basically does this until it's warmed up and then it'll stay on for the rest of the journey.
Do these symptoms ring any bells?
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Bme e39 owners groups on facebook are a great source of info and parts...The BM54 amp or traffic master is a culprit of a lot of the issues with these units. I never had one with the factory NAV. If you look at xtrons.com you can get a replacement android headunit that looks completely factory. Great bits of gear. You will need an adaptor cable. I think a guy on e39 owners uk (Simon Garland) who is a bang on bloke had all the gubbins for sale from an original factory nav car for a very reasonable price.
You will also like on the cold mornings that the car has a factory auxiliary heater which means you don't need the engine running to provide heat in the cabin...amazing when you are parked up. It lives in the passenger side wheel arch. If the temp outside is below 4 or 5 degrees (you will need to fix your sensor) press max and it will come on (if it is working)
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Nov 17, 2019 16:59:28 GMT
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Bme e39 owners groups on facebook are a great source of info and parts...The BM54 amp or traffic master is a culprit of a lot of the issues with these units. I never had one with the factory NAV. If you look at xtrons.com you can get a replacement android headunit that looks completely factory. Great bits of gear. You will need an adaptor cable. I think a guy on e39 owners uk (Simon Garland) who is a bang on bloke had all the gubbins for sale from an original factory nav car for a very reasonable price. You will also like on the cold mornings that the car has a factory auxiliary heater which means you don't need the engine running to provide heat in the cabin...amazing when you are parked up. It lives in the passenger side wheel arch. If the temp outside is below 4 or 5 degrees (you will need to fix your sensor) press max and it will come on (if it is working) Both interesting points! Had a look at those screens - they look great. I presume the buttons on the side don't do anything once you fit one? It seems that the more I use the car, the better the screen is behaving. Also - auxiliary heater sounds very interesting... Found a setting in the menu with timers and have set one for the morning. I haven't fitted my sensor yet but the car thinks it's minus 40 so should work? Will it potentially heat the cabin up at the time I set or am I getting the wrong end of the stick? Can't think what else the timer would be for? |
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Nov 17, 2019 19:18:24 GMT
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fab cars, although my jacking point was rotten for about a foot along the sill. the underside has trim that looks like pressings and is plastic rivited on, I'd whip it off and check/ underseal it all. Gearboxes love oil changes, done mine twice now, not too difficult, but you ideally need a ramp and a pump. Cold ATF is hard to pump manually too  |
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Well that timer didn't do anything; turns out it's auxiliary ventilation rather than heating but a simple plug in and recode should allow that option.. If my auxiliary heater is actually working. I don't think it is as I don't have heat before it's warned up, and even when it's warm on the gauge the heaters are disappointing. They are warm, but I like it mega toasty. Could it be the outside temp sensor thinking it's - 40? Or should that default to working?
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Nov 19, 2019 22:36:51 GMT
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probably the coolant not bled properly, the one way that gets it to work is:
heater set to full, ignition on 2 clicks, but not running, open bleed nipple in top hose, overfill the header tank until it comes out the bleed nipple, nip it up tight.
Suck the coolant back out the header tank [old bike pump if desperate] until you have the right level. should get the heat on. Otherwise if no fans or heat the hedgehog resistor might be fubared
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Last Edit: Nov 19, 2019 22:37:22 GMT by legend
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Nov 24, 2019 14:20:15 GMT
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Nice. Very smart in black. I've had an E60 530d and an E34 530i before, but I've just bought my first E39 (530i Sport). I have to say, the E39 feels like the best of the three. By a mile!  |
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Last Edit: Nov 24, 2019 14:26:02 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Nov 24, 2019 22:01:36 GMT
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Well I'm really enjoying this old thing so far. The heated seats are fantastic - better than the Lexus actually. The heater is also fantastic but I've realised it takes about 10-15 mins to get properly warm so I need to investigate that. Seems good on fuel, too - I've had it idling a fair bit because of the ice recently and I've also towed my wife's car a fair distance and it's current sitting at 31mpg average! I've managed to fix the rear dvd screens for the little ones - just need to get some IR headphones I think. Hoping they just pair up no problem.  The AM signal isn't great and I'm not sure why. The sat nav unit seems to be malfunctioning - it either shows a very basic grey screen (which is apparently default mode running from the TV module) or is just black and seems to be attempting again and again to start up. So that needs investigating! I still need to fit my external temp sensor - I was gonna do it this weekend but out e46's alternator went on Friday so that was my job today! Visiting my stricken LS400 to retrieve my ice scraper   The list: New boot lid. New driver's wing. Paintless dent repairs. Nav screen fix. Valet inside. Refit loose seat back. New mat set. Upgrade weak speakers? Gloss Black kidney grills? Matching front tints Fresh plates and LED plate lights |
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Nov 25, 2019 19:15:22 GMT
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probably the coolant not bled properly, the one way that gets it to work is: heater set to full, ignition on 2 clicks, but not running, open bleed nipple in top hose, overfill the header tank until it comes out the bleed nipple, nip it up tight. Suck the coolant back out the header tank [old bike pump if desperate] until you have the right level. should get the heat on. Otherwise if no fans or heat the hedgehog resistor might be fubared It actually gets lovely and warm it transpires - it just takes a while! |
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Nov 25, 2019 21:08:10 GMT
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replacing the thermostat is a fan and rad out job, and you might as well do the belts and tensioners at the same time, rad comes out really easily, you just need a really long 32mm spanner to get the fan off first, if going to all that bother it'd be worth checking that the fan is kicking in properly when hot otherwise you need to replace the thermo fan clutch thingy at the same time |
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A successful half hour's tinkering. It's no longer -40 degrees everywhere I go!  I'm not sure what this will change in terms of the way the car works? I think it was automatically defrosting the rear screen and mirrors which I presume won't happen now unless it's cold enough. Anything else anyone knows of? Fuelling differently at all? |
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Absolutely loved/cherished my E39, still one the best car's I've EVER owned. Mine was a 525D M-Sport Avus Edition...  |
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Last Edit: Dec 8, 2019 20:09:21 GMT by s200rey
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Dec 19, 2019 20:09:58 GMT
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Glad to see you are getting on well with the 530d! looks a great example.
Regarding the aux heater, you do have the timer options etc because you have the fancy computer screen so can set all that. the likelihood is that the webasto burner unit that lives behind the NS front arch liner has knackered electrics in it. It is a terrible place for them to live but they are readily available from the e53 x5 where they live higher up.
Also your heating not coming up to temp quickly...does the car get up to normal operating temperature or does it always stay below half? I couldnt get my heaters to work well as the thermostats jam open on these. There is a very easy 10 min fix where you don't have to go near the main thermostat that will see you with toasty hot cabin and normal running temp and improved mpg.
Also checking..have you blanked off the swirl flaps on the inlet manifold on this car? its one of the first things I would do.
The xtrons head unit was ace..all the side buttons work as per the original but you wont get the trip computer on the screen.
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Last Edit: Dec 19, 2019 20:10:58 GMT by grahamk
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