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2003 E39 530i Touring

gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 16, 2021 20:40:47 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I have been after a BMW E38 735i for years and when the time came that I could afford one I thought about it and decided it wasn't ideal for my family of 7 and 2 dogs. So I looked for the next best thing. An E39 touring. Room for the dogs and the kids can all go in the Mrs's Toyota Estima. I went for the 530i as the M54b30 engine is an absolute peach and alot easier to maintain than the v8s. Plus I want to tick the v8 box with a 740i sport as my next car, so probably about 8years away, when the values are ridiculous. I missed out on a few cars and then went to view this one. It wasn't the best and needed tidying but it seemed rust free, with just a chip on the outer sill, and small bubblings of rust on the bonnet and tailgate It drives lovely with no rattles or shakes and the temp gauge is bang in the middle. The osf door comes across a different shade in pictures but not so much in real life. The front bumper was damaged so I've ordered a new M Style M5 bumper, along with grills and new front fogs. I'll throw it in my local friendly classic car restorers for the paintwork and full mop and detailing and see how it comes up. Let the ordering commence. The gearbox service history was uncertain so that was first on the list. It's covered 153k but shifts smoothly and kicks down quickly. First item on the list was a gearbox service. Febi filter and cheap oil this time. The parts cost pennies so I plan to do a change 2 more times before I go expensive oil While that was draining I did the diff oil Followed by pollen filters and plugs. No signs of leak on the rocker cover or around the plugs. It has got an oil leak so I washed it all off, didn't do the oil change yet as I have a few bits to strip on the inlet side first. New fuel filter and a pair of drive belts while I was there too
	Last Edit: Apr 16, 2021 21:07:17 GMT by gte86

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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 16, 2021 20:42:37 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Next the car came home so I could do bits once the kids are in bed. First on the list interior lights. Lots of leds ordered Puddle lights before And after
	Last Edit: Apr 16, 2021 20:44:22 GMT by gte86

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ballbagbagins RR Helper Posts: 1,534 Club RR Member Number: 164	2003 E39 530i Touring ballbagbagins @ballbagbagins Club Retro Rides Member 164
	Apr 16, 2021 20:47:43 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	That diff oil is not meant to be service item. It's so much darker than new oil.


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 16, 2021 20:57:15 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Reverse light and number plate lights next Then the all important angel eyes Then up on stands for a quick coat of paint on the brakes. This was mainly done in the dark, as you can tell. I've since cleaned the discs and the drive and they look kinda OK. I'll get another coat on when it's back on the ramp at work Changed the centre caps for black bmw badges and fitted 15mm spacers all round while I was there. Not touching suspension until winter so that'll do for now The aim of this car is preventative maintenance so I pulled off the rear door cars to make sure the seals are intact. The previous said he said sealed on before but you gotta check these things. All good with just a small gap at the top Rear lights next. The inner lights are always awful and have some cracks on them. I'm toying with tinting the lights so I thought I would try clean them up. 600 grit, 800 grit. 1200 grit and then some polishing bought them back to life a bit They do need replacing in the long run but I'm gonna look into wrapping them and seeing how the rear end looks. Finally I had the kids with the grandparents so I could do a good wash and clay bar. Couldn't find my wheel cleaner so I'll get them off individually and do them inside and out another time


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 16, 2021 21:05:12 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Waiting on parts now. I have one broken headlight adjuster so I've got a kit to change both sides and I'll polish them while they are out. I've got new aftermarket arch liners for when the bumper is off. Then the big jobs start. I've ordered . . . . Full X8R vanos rebuild kit FEBI CCV kit Water pump, Thermostat and top hose Castrol 5w30 LL and mahle filter Inlet and rocker gaskets Oil filter housing gaskets and vacuum hoses The plan is to pull it all apart and replace the bits while it's off the road, hopefully giving me a few years head start on the running costs. I will do a full coolant flush and another brake fluid flush while it's on the ramp. I flushed 3 litres of brake fluid out already but its still not as clear as I would like. This isn't a big money build, I'm hoping I can do as much before it's in daily use as possible to limit breakdowns and unexpected bills. It's got new brakes all round and the suspension actually looks OK. Slight rust on the inner sill but I'll look at that over winter. I'm hoping to drive for 6 months or so now and then pull apart for a suspension and brake line overhaul over winter.


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 16, 2021 21:12:17 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Lots of the pics are in the wrong order 😕


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 16, 2021 21:13:41 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Apr 16, 2021 20:47:43 GMT ballbagbagins said: That diff oil is not meant to be service item. It's so much darker than new oil. The gearbox is 'sealed for life' too but fresh oil works wonders


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ballbagbagins RR Helper Posts: 1,534 Club RR Member Number: 164	2003 E39 530i Touring ballbagbagins @ballbagbagins Club Retro Rides Member 164
	Apr 16, 2021 21:23:32 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Agreed. My e46 touring auto was much smoother after a gearbox service. It took I think 6 litres to fill, not cheap but noticeable. I also felt an improvement after changing the pas fluid.


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 16, 2021 21:30:53 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I got the febi filter and 5 litres of oil for something ridiculous like 35 quid. I had a litre of oil on my toolbox anyway so plan on throwing that oil in for now and then change it again after a few miles. Work let me use the ramp in my own time and I have access all hours so I feel a few night shifts coming on.


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 16, 2021 21:34:55 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	And the towbar is coming off for now. Once Covid has relaxed I'm going to sit a trailer test so I can take dad's hot rod and Model A to shows and hoping to get as many as possible to the Gathering


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jjeffries Part of things Posts: 779	2003 E39 530i Touring jjeffries @jjeffries
	Apr 16, 2021 23:52:00 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Excellent car. I worked at a BMW dealer (in the US) when these were new and ran a wagon/estate/Touring as our road-service vehicle. To my mind the e39 was an end-of-era car; many BMW car-making things just got silly after. I will be following your progress. Thanks and best of luck to you. John


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 17, 2021 7:06:43 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Lots of parts. Ive got a green air filter in there too. Just waiting for some gaskets from autodoc and the vanos kit from x8r and I can get stuck in. Think I'm going to do the Disa repair kit from x8r as well but that will have to wait. Had an email this morning to say the bumper is arriving Tuesday


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 19, 2021 19:44:29 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Vanos kit has arrived. Hoping to get the oil filter housing gasket and vanos gasket delivered by the wkend so I can have some late nights at work throwing it all together


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PistolPete Part of things Posts: 398	2003 E39 530i Touring PistolPete @pistolpete123
	Apr 20, 2021 9:26:11 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Watching with interest, I think we’re both on the same path with maintenances etc. Where did you source your wheel arch liners from?


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legend Posted a lot Posts: 1,052	2003 E39 530i Touring legend @legend
	Apr 20, 2021 11:06:52 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	looking great. I've changed the box oil 3x in 80k miles on mine, it's just got carplan dexron 3+ in it now and seems fine. I'd do the power steering hoses and bottle too as the parts are cheap and they always leak. And if you are pulling the rad to do the belts/ water pump, it'd be worth a once over of the condenser, trans cooler and O rings. I did all the rear arms recently, but there still seems to be some movement, so it'll need investigating soon oh and a new thermostat housing is often required


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 20, 2021 13:32:27 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Apr 20, 2021 9:26:11 GMT PistolPete said: Watching with interest, I think we’re both on the same path with maintenances etc. Where did you source your wheel arch liners from? I went for some ebay ones from Latvia. They are quite shiny so if they fit OK I might try to flat them back and dull them. I'll let you know my thoughts on them.


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 20, 2021 13:35:21 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Apr 20, 2021 11:06:52 GMT legend said: looking great. I've changed the box oil 3x in 80k miles on mine, it's just got carplan dexron 3+ in it now and seems fine. I'd do the power steering hoses and bottle too as the parts are cheap and they always leak. And if you are pulling the rad to do the belts/ water pump, it'd be worth a once over of the condenser, trans cooler and O rings. I did all the rear arms recently, but there still seems to be some movement, so it'll need investigating soon oh and a new thermostat housing is often required I'm falling into a worm hole of buying parts already. I'll get a bottle and pas hose as mine as wet. I have had the car over a month and haven't even driven it yet. I hope I like it when it's done ha


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 20, 2021 13:36:39 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I've got some bits I need to sell from the garage soon so I'm going to look for a rear subframe from a breaker. I've decided it would be easier to have that and replace parts onto it and then swap the whole lot and do brake lines at the same time. I'm a glutton for punishment it seems


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legend Posted a lot Posts: 1,052	2003 E39 530i Touring legend @legend
	Apr 20, 2021 14:05:36 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	good plan, it's an absolute doing the arms in situ, the camber bolts are always solid. Might be worth scouting around for an LSD if you have the diff off the you can weld up the jacking points and have room to do the brake lines am I helping....I absolutely love mine, but it needs the front jacking point doing now, always something


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gte86 Part of things Posts: 611	2003 E39 530i Touring gte86 @gte86
	Apr 20, 2021 14:36:37 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Apr 20, 2021 14:05:36 GMT legend said: good plan, it's an absolute doing the arms in situ, the camber bolts are always solid. Might be worth scouting around for an LSD if you have the diff off the you can weld up the jacking points and have room to do the brake lines am I helping....I absolutely love mine, but it needs the front jacking point doing now, always something Not helping in the slightest. This car is gonna get expensive with all the parts I'm changing 'while I'm there'


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