Oakey's new steed!

[oakey]

Picked it up yesterday! Chuffed to bits with it tbh. Everything seems to work Aok. Apart from the handbrake doesn't hold on my very steep drive. That's why it's tucked behind the house in the pictures as its the flattest bit of the driveway.
Sorry the pictures are a bit lame

[E30BeemerLad]

Apart from being an E39, what is it?

[Jon_Bmw]

Engine??!!!?

Handbrake was shot on mine when I got it. The system works the same as an e30, with the same adjustment procedure. My rear 'inner' handbrake drums were all scored, so I had to replace both shoes and discs.

Looks an Auto?

[E30BeemerLad]

aah, a 540, you executive

[oakey]

Would I buy anything less than a 540i guys!? Honestly

Tis manual Jon

Good news that the handbrake, thanks, is the same as the e30's. It definitely needs new pads on the rear so I'll take the discs off and have a look.

[Jon_Bmw]

Excellent. One of the first off the line as well. I assumed it was a 540i due to the wheels, steering wheel and sports? seats.

I thought it was manual at first, then I deluded myself into thinking that the length of the shifter ment it had to be an auto.

[Andyboy]

A very, very top tip;

There's a heater hose that runs from the back of the engine to the heater unit - spend £13 ASAP and fit a new one. They fail due to stress and the new one is a revised item with an extra kink. When these hoses let go, they dump a lot of coolant very quickly. The part number is 64218391013

[Jon_Bmw]

Do all ages of 540is need that hose Andy?

I best order one.

[Simon13]

yours will be the same Jon i think its more an M62 thing than M60's

[oakey]

Cheers Andy. I'll get that sorted then
Is it easily visible from above to see if it has been recently replaced etc?

[oakey]

I thought it was manual at first, then I deluded myself into thinking that the length of the shifter ment it had to be an auto.

Ye. Not a fan of the shifter tbh. An e36M3 shifter is supposed to be a good upgrade.

[Zizzle]

Last pics very romantic...

[oakey]

[320ise]

i think an e39 will be my next motor in 540i rightness!

[TheHeap]

I've been looking at these and i'm thinking they're a steal t £3500 usually for a Y plate

[E30BeemerLad]

Nice

Is that exhaust standard? Looks like an oil burner type pipe with the downturn?

[BMJG]

standard exhaust as my 535 has the same. should be 6 speed manual as well as my mate has a R reg one 286bhp they go well

[oakey]

I've been looking at these and i'm thinking they're a steal t £3500 usually for a Y plate

Not many manual cars about though

Nice

Is that exhaust standard? Looks like an oil burner type pipe with the downturn?

Ye. Standard exhaust. It has another rear silencer with no exit which is also strange. Must be to keep it all quiet

[Jon_Bmw]

Has it got Xenons?

I am thinking about having the spare back box 'lopped' off mine. If I eventually go ahead with it, i'll let you know if it makes a difference...to sound levels.

You should have a look at the centre silencer. It looks bad, but alledgedly keeps the torque up. People always lose out when they remove it.

How are you getting on with it?

[BMJG]

i'm with you going to get other odd box cut off as the sport only has one big box there and a straight out exit not down turned

[Jon_Bmw]

My touring is straight exit, but has the extra box!

[bmwsport]

Very nice! I have noticed the prices of E39's and E46's are getting very tempting recently, 330i Sport 2-door in black or that nice dark blue colour - YES PLEASE! Even the 330d has an excellent engine, if i needed an executive daily that would be my choice.

[Blitz]

Very nice. That exhaust look a bit too low.

[oakey]

Has it got Xenons?

I am thinking about having the spare back box 'lopped' off mine. If I eventually go ahead with it, i'll let you know if it makes a difference...to sound levels.

You should have a look at the centre silencer. It looks bad, but alledgedly keeps the torque up. People always lose out when they remove it.

How are you getting on with it?

Ant said that 'lopping' off the second rear box would make it sound better with more growl. I would like a nice stainless rear box but I don't really want to spend much money on this one. Need to treat the tech1 to a few bits as I haven't done anything to it in ages.

I noticed the dodgy V-shaped centre box when it was on the ramp at A-tech. It needs 2 ball joints at the rear and thrust bushes at the front and a shift knuckle. It was nice and cheap though so I was expecting to spend a few more £££'s to make it good. It's a really tidy old thing for it's age which is a bonus.

I'm enjoying it tbh. Glad I bought it rather than another e30

[Morat]

Nice

Is that exhaust standard? Looks like an oil burner type pipe with the downturn?

I'm with beemerlad on this, mine had a straight pipe, single exit.

[Jhonno]

Nice

Is that exhaust standard? Looks like an oil burner type pipe with the downturn?

I'm with beemerlad on this, mine had a straight pipe, single exit.

All 540i's I've seen had the same tailpipe Dave's does..

[Morat]

Weird, all the E39s I've seen with those have been diseasals. Mine was a 2000/W if it makes a difference.

[Jon_Bmw]

The fact it is a touring makes it straight I think and Visa versa.

[Morat]

ahhhhhhhh that would make sense. I only bother checking out the tourings anyway!

[Jon_Bmw]

Then to complicate it the sports and probably anything facelifted got a straight exit pipe that are backslash rather than inwardly rolled(as per early tourings) IIRC.

[oakey]

The exhaust will be one of the only things I'll mod on this. I miss the rumble that my e34 540i made. That lovely old beast will be up for sale soon if anyone's interested.
It would never have had a straight pipe on there as there is no bumper cutout.

I'd love to splash out on a Mtech kit and facelift lighting etc but then it would no longer be a cheap runaround

[oi_oi_savaloy]

I've just bought my boss's 52 plated 530d touring. Absolutely epic car. Utterly brilliant apart from the crap seats.

Now just need to work out how to start tuning it......

I wanted a 540i but with the mileage I do it made sense to go for the Heavy oiler....

[mrLEE30]

currently looking at buying a 540 myself!!! the trade will be my cab which i hardly use

good find fella

[oi_oi_savaloy]

They are great cars - mine's done over 100k miles but the interior is still fresh and everything works.

Incidentally - if there are pixels missing on the dash and radio - it's a bit of a hassle to fix (the solders dry out behind the dash) but there is a fellow in Southampton that'll fix it for £80 apparently - all the info you could possibly need is on www.bmw5.co.uk .

And there's a buying guide on pistonheads in BMW General at the moment too. Front page or 2nd I think - recent anyway.

[BMracing]

Nice find there, a clean manual in a good colour. Wouldn't mind it myself!

From memory I think the pre-facelift v8's did all have that downturned tail pipe, facelifts were straight.

Enjoy the v8 while you still can!