B7's daily e39. And it's a goodbye to sport no2!

[pacerpete]

+1 for a late big spec 323/328 shooting break. The hard part will be finding a nice one

Alas like all once proud chariots they are now in the midst of their council chariot phase , I've even seen eastern european hod carriers smoking them (and in them ) !

Tak Tak Tak

[B7]

Can't believe it's been nearly 9 months since I've updated this!

MOT time again this year and I was expecting the worse. Booked it into Vines in Crawley for earlier today (thanks Barry) and despite another 8k on the clock, a fairly clean bill of health was reported. Just a few advisaries.

Both rear brake flexibles showing some signs of deterioration
Front brakes discs showing wear
OS front tyre has split in side wall but not to cords

and

OIL LEAK!!!! Which I knew about. But not to the extent I saw when invited by Mr. Sheward to look while on the ramp. Jesus, the entire underside is wet. And no, it's not as I thought (oil separator) it is indeed the oil filter housing seal failed. So Barry has orded the parts for later in the week (Grand total of £11 inc. of an oil filter ) and has offered to deliver to my door later in the week.

Cheers Barry for the effort mate. As always appreciated.

What shocked me was that they found no signs of play in the front end. I was convinced it has a bush or a joint gone somewhere. We knew the struts were passed their best but it appears thats what the issue is. Can't fail it as they are gas and show no signs of leakage. Also we think the top mounts are wobbly as well. Having said that, it rings true with the fact it brakes perfectly from any speed and doesn't tramline. It just feels loose and rattley?

So a pair of struts and top mounts will be secured and fitted ASAP. We'll see how it drives then.

Today has kinda restored my faith in the car TBH. I was expected a big list of suspension parts plus the oil leak; so to come away with a few minor advisories and a ticket? RESULT!!!!

I'll photo the stripdown as many on here have M54's in some form or another and accoring to Barry, he's seen a few weepy housings.

[DanThe]

Check the thread I did about M54 oil filter housings trev, few pics in there, id be interested to see which housing yours is and exactly where its leaking from

[darkchild]

MOT time again this year and I was expecting the worse.

I know what you mean - I always feel more pessimistic about my E46 than E30 come MOT time! Sounds a good result though.

[B7]

Check the thread I did about M54 oil filter housings trev, few pics in there, id be interested to see which housing yours is and exactly where its leaking from

Which forum was it in? Other BMW chat or even better, got a pointer to that thread Daniel?

[DanThe]

Was using my phone earlier and couldn't be arsed to link it

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... hlight=oil

[B7]

Was using my phone earlier and couldn't be arsed to link it

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... hlight=oil

Cheers dan.

No issues with oil lights on it but I will photo it for you once it's off for reference .

[B7]

Busy day today! Decided that i'd get up earkly and sort this f*cking oil leak once and for all. My drive was becoming a mess and as promised, barry had secured the parts. Plus with the weather being dry and all that.

This is what we were looking at. It's a fair bit of work just to change a cheap gasket.

Heres a shot and you can see how wet the side of the block was.


By b7tmw at 2011-09-24

and the general area to strip out


By b7tmw at 2011-09-24

Heres the housing stuck fast to the block despite all bolts removed. took a pry bar to gemmy it off the block!


By b7tmw at 2011-09-24

to find the gasket had completely failed. It was rock hard and in bits. Heres the new one compared to the remains of the old.


By b7tmw at 2011-09-24


By b7tmw at 2011-09-24

Heres the shot Dan was looking for. No wear on this one Dan!


By b7tmw at 2011-09-24

New gasket in place


By b7tmw at 2011-09-24

A quick clean of the side of the block (later on when it was jacked up the underside was jet washed off and it was wringing wet!


By b7tmw at 2011-09-24

and after reassembly, the jobs a goodun. taking my time it was finished by 10am.

So I tore both front struts out, replaced them with an Mtech matched pair, new Lemforder top mounts, new spring cup rubbers and bump stops. No photos I'm afraid but I wish I could photo how well it drives. Light and day compared to as it was. The old shocks were TRULY f*cked out of their brains and the top mounts had more play than an early learning centre!!!! I've done the figures and all from BMW it's about £630 worth of components. £250 each strut etc. etc. I got the top mounts for just over 40 notes, the struts for a little over the ton and then the final rubbers etc. from BMW at £37. All in? £188! BARGAIN!

So over all, a very productive day!

[Dezzy]

Nice work Trev!

No better feeling than a job well do is there?!

[Ranchero]

My brother's got one of these. Not a bad motor except for the peeling faux wood trim. We drove it to Switzerland and back weekend before last, without a hitch. It's a bit hesitant from cold though. Any idea what that might be?

[Simon13]

So is this staying for a while longer then Trev with all this recent spannering? Might aswell crack on and rack the milege up!

[DanThe]

What milage are you up to now Trevor?

[B7]

115k Dan. It's just about due an insp now. so thats next on the list.

I think it's got to stay Si really.

[Simon13]

well its hardly a hardship keeping it and having to drive that everyday is it!

[B7]

well its hardly a hardship keeping it and having to drive that everyday is it!

Getting a bit old now mate for a daily.

[B7]

Okay? So i get all the above work out the way and the next morning????

Inspection light! But then, I knew it was coming up so Hey ho!

Booked into vines BMW tomorrow for full inspection 1 courtesy of the Bazla! Cheers mate and see you about 1.30pm. I can log on upstairs and get some work out the way while it's done.

[pacerpete]

well its hardly a hardship keeping it and having to drive that everyday is it!

Getting a bit old now mate for a daily.

Never mind old, Potter and Kos are owners !

[B7]

well its hardly a hardship keeping it and having to drive that everyday is it!

Getting a bit old now mate for a daily.

Never mind old, Potter and Kos are owners !

Now now.... Play nicely

[pacerpete]

Getting a bit old now mate for a daily.

Never mind old, Potter and Kos are owners !

Now now.... Play nicely

Was it Oscar Wilde who famously said ? " Any club which will have Potter and Kos as members is one I do not want to be in "

[bss325i]

Never mind old, Potter and Kos are owners !

Now now.... Play nicely

Was it Oscar Wilde who famously said ? " Any club which will have Potter and Kos as members is one I do not want to be in "

Ouch!

[pacerpete]

Now now.... Play nicely

Was it Oscar Wilde who famously said ? " Any club which will have Potter and Kos as members is one I do not want to be in "

Ouch!

I'm sure they say the same about Trev ! I am pretty vertain I have heard Kos hating on Trevs velours !

[Kos]

such a bitch pete

when you going to grow up and buy your self a 550...... and i'm not talking about an e60

[Andyboy]

I followed an E60 550i M Sport up the M1 the other night in the Insignia - a 2.0 cdtcdti which is not shy. Pulled alongside in the middle lane and gave the owner the 'nail the fukker' signal - which he did.

By Christ, they go well - cit absolutely strode away from the Vaux whose 'go' in 4th gear at motorway pace is not to be sniffed at. Never mind the M5, these are fast enough, have a proper gearbox and can do sensible mpg. Best of all, no bugger wants them so will not be dear to buy. A manual one would be particularly hard to sell, but what a weapon.

[B7]

Was it Oscar Wilde who famously said ? " Any club which will have Potter and Kos as members is one I do not want to be in "

Ouch!

I'm sure they say the same about Trev ! I am pretty vertain I have heard Kos hating on Trevs velours !

The cars original Pete. You know that matters.

Full insp 1 carried out today at vines. That should be another 6-7k sorted before it's next oil change.

Apart from the rear brake flexibles which I need to do and a brake fluid change.

[bss325i]

I followed an E60 550i M Sport up the M1 the other night in the Insignia - a 2.0 cdtcdti which is not shy. Pulled alongside in the middle lane and gave the owner the 'nail the fukker' signal - which he did.

By Christ, they go well - cit absolutely strode away from the Vaux whose 'go' in 4th gear at motorway pace is not to be sniffed at. Never mind the M5, these are fast enough, have a proper gearbox and can do sensible mpg. Best of all, no bugger wants them so will not be dear to buy. A manual one would be particularly hard to sell, but what a weapon.

Have has the pleasure of a few 550i's now including one manual and i have to say i much prefer them to E60 M5's.

The best E60 for me though is the Alpina B5, we get a few of them in at Vines and they are just epic!

[Andyboy]

[Dezzy]

Very good sir.

[E30BeemerLad]

Outstanding

[B7]

Thats excellent and I totally concurr. I lost all sight of the mileage, trip and outside temp today

Looks like a trip to southampton then!

[B7]

Well after 3 years and a bit, it's finally time to say good bye to the old girl. It's been mixed feelings over the time it's been with me but overall it's been a great car. Recent work has been the pixels on the dash were fixed by Rudi in Southampton in Dec, an insp service at Vines and it needed yet another PDC sensor to sell it. And thats been about it of late.

Back in march, Barry rocked up in the black 530i sport and asked if I was interested. We did a deal, agreed very fair price and that car (an 02 car with more options than i've seen on one) is now my new daily driver. And has been since the end of March. I insured it and then went on holiday for 3 weeks. When I came back I then went down with an injured foot and a certain tech 2 sport took up time until a week ago when I was finally well enough to get the silver car clean and on the market.

It still looks a stunning car and after a weekend of titivation I put it on the market on Monday night. Instantly I recieved 2 leads, one guy in Leeds and the other in Bristol. To cut a long story short, Mr Bristol rocked up last night, liked what he saw and has put a deposit on it.

F*CK! Makes me think it was possible too cheap!!!

So this afternoon we say goodbye and I can now start titivating the black car which needs some work on the front bumper and a machine polish (STEVE P?????).

Heres the final shots of the old girl and I'll be starting a new thread on the black car.


By b7tmw at 2012-06-02


By b7tmw at 2012-06-02


By b7tmw at 2012-06-02


By b7tmw at 2012-06-02


By b7tmw at 2012-06-02



Bye Bye old girl!

[capri_rob]

Still want one of these.

Black one looks

[Kos]

I seriously doubt you could get a better daily than an e39 530i sport

Decent performance, decent MPG, decent running costs ( if you buy one with good service history ), ride and handle well. They all come with a decent spec, they look good and even make vermin like me look like an executive

I'm still loving mine 18 months into e39 ownership and touch wood it's been problem free bar a cam sensor

[DanThe]

What milage have you racked up in this during ownership Trev? Average mpg?

[pacerpete]

the only good E39 is a sold one !

[bigwinn]

Trev what is the black one?