Rosc0's e39 ownership thread.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Mine too. Spent a few extra gbp to get them from a UK seller

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220905628114? ... 1497.l2649

Got these LED side lights too:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300781323025? ... 1497.l2649

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Brian:

I'm going to have to take the lights out to replace the sidelight lamps, aren't I?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Or does the whole sidelight lamp unit come out of the cluster.

[Brianmoooore]

Sidelight bulb holder comes out by twisting anticlockwise, the same as an E30. It's right at the top, so should be removable in seconds.
My E39 actually has E34 sidelights in it, which are identical at the business end, but have a long extension tube at the back. The reason for this is that my E39 came with aftermarket chav angel eye headlamps fitted, which went straight in the bin. Ebay provided a couple of replacements, but they came without bulb holders, so a couple of E34 ones were pressed into service with E34 plugs spliced to the E39 loom.
About a month later, I threw out the boxes the headlamps came in and found all the missing bulb holders under the packaging........

[Rosc0PColtrane]

lolololololol!!!! Kept it simple!! Think the hodlers are like £12 from the stealer??

Thanks Brian, thought that might be the case. Though every thread on the interwebz is for those awful angel eye efforts.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Reading the Chingrish instructions for my new HID upgrades, they're telling me to put a 20A fuse in there. Surprised at this, is it necessary? What fuse is the lighting on anyway?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Link to distructions......

http://www.oinhi.com/Driver/HIDAutoXeno ... Manual.doc

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Think I've figured it out. There's an extra connector on this set and the instructions are to be ignored.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Fitted the LED side lights. Work great.

Fitted the HIDs, work great. Though I now notice when sides only are on, the indicators come on but dim. No issue with function and fun on dipped. I guess there's a change in a resistance value somewhere??

[Rosc0PColtrane]

New lights kick ass!!!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Though does anyone have any ideas about the resistance thing??

[Brianmoooore]

Fitted the LED side lights. Though I now notice when sides only are on, the indicators come on but dim.

I think you'll find this is part of the E39's 'clever' electrics! If the car detects a blown sidelight, it powers up the nearby indicator bulb at part brightness as a temporary substitute. Your LED sidelamps are presumably upsetting things.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

That's what I thought. They match the colour of the HIDs beautifully. I wonder if there's a way to emulate the correct resistance, or if it's a case of keeping the old bulbs for MOT time.

[Brianmoooore]

I wonder if there's a way to emulate the correct resistance, or if it's a case of keeping the old bulbs for MOT time.

There's a way to do it, that involves adding high wattage resistors or additional small bulbs in parallel with the sidelamp LEDs.
It'll be a matter of experimenting and using the highest resistance or lowest wattage bulbs that cure the problem.
The resistance of a OE 5W bulb when it's on is around 29 ohms, so I'd try something like 39 ohms 5W as a first try.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Bang it in series?

[Brianmoooore]

Bang it in series?

No, connect it in parallel. One end of the resistor to the supply wire to the sidelight, and the other to the brown wire or body.
They will get quite hot, so a bit of thought is needed in mounting them.
I've no idea what the tolerance limits are of the cars 'brain', before it decides a bulb has failed, so some experimentation may be required. Aim for the highest resistance that will work reliably, as this will generate the least heat.

[daimlerman]

Or just re-fit the correct sidelight bulb....

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Bang it in series?

No, connect it in parallel. One end of the resistor to the supply wire to the sidelight, and the other to the brown wire or body.
They will get quite hot, so a bit of thought is needed in mounting them.
I've no idea what the tolerance limits are of the cars 'brain', before it decides a bulb has failed, so some experimentation may be required. Aim for the highest resistance that will work reliably, as this will generate the least heat.

Thanks mate. Will have a play....

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Or just re-fit the correct sidelight bulb....

It's only an issue when the sidelights are on, when dipped are on, it's fine. The LEDs match the colour of the HIDs, so I wish to keep them. I'd rather not have pi55 yellow sides and cool dipped ta x

In other words, fokke off you smart alec koont

In fairness, I may just retain the original side lamps and stick them in at MOT time.

[Brianmoooore]

Can't see that it'll be an MOT test issue in any case. No law banning twin front sidelights each side.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Cool, thanks again.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Low rev hesitation, plugs and leads, or a sensor change?

[Kos]

Diagnostics first

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Lolwut?

[B7]

Low rev hesitation, plugs and leads, or a sensor change?

Doubt it'll be leads. It aint got none Nath! Seperate coil packs to each plugon these babies.

Kos is right. you can stab about in the dark on these old sheds for ages, best to go in once and come out with a good steer on whats needed.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Fair play, what should I expect to pay to have a diagnostic done?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Yo, I need some new wipers. Googling suggests Bosch Aerotwin aren't available for my 1998 car? Had it in my mind that some e39 owners were using them though?

[Kos]

Aero wipers require some modz to work. Normal Bosch will work just fine but I prefer rainex

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Fair enough. Will stick to originals then.

[Simon13]

at a guess possibly a MAF issue, does it do it at higher RPMS stutter like it doesn't want to go?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

at a guess possibly a MAF issue, does it do it at higher RPMS stutter like it doesn't want to go?

Generally below 2k revs, if driving the car off power. It's very slight but detectable.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Thanks for the thought though Si.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Does anyone elses floor mats keep catching on the clutch pedal?????

[Brianmoooore]

Missing turn-buckles, that hold the mats in place?

[Kos]

Nope, never. Must be body builders feet syndrome