Gabe79

$60 is cheap. Armstrong in Red Beach asked for $75 from me to cut my key. EDIT: Mine is the HU58 blade, with the notch in the middle and 4 cuts needed. Not the HU92, flat double-side circular cut.

Remove Power steering reservoir, and both hoses on the way to the oil filter housing gasket, which I hope to actually get to someday... Today I found out I need a 19mm spanner, as the damn shallow socket I have doesn't fit. When I finally replace the damn gasket, I'll work backwards replacing all parts removed with new ones... to dream...

Dunno eh. Yes, you could end up spending a lot to get it going.If you are ready to drop $5-6k in issues, why not drop $230 up front to find out what those issues might be? It is a good price assuming a few very large caveats don't apply. Get the inspection and find out about those caveats. Then buy happily, or walk away happily.

Those prices are killer.

I haven't touched the fan at all, yet! I did manage to break my alternator positive cable. I didn't realize how tightly on the bolt was and it snapped the positive cable. I still can't separate the bolt from the nut. Will see if I can get a vice, or vice grips to do it.

Got it out easy with pliers and a rubber mallet. Thank you all.

Those look like wheels from an e60 M5. Like this one:

Thank you for the words of encouragement (I think! ) Working at night was actually quite ok. My bottleneck ended up being that the baby monitor ran out of battery! I'll make sure to plug it in tonight and have at it. 10pm-2am is prime free time for me.

The space behind where that bolt goes is quite tight, and not helping, the space in front is quite tight because of the fan. I might just suck it up and remove the fan too. In for a penny, in for a pound and all that... I don't think it's the weight, although I did read about using a prybar to gently dislodge it. I'll try that today, kid-wife-willing.

Working on my alternator to get to the oil filter housing gasket. Bottom bolt removed no problem, but top bolt is now spinning in place, having been extracted probably 2 inches now. Is this a case of WD40 and prayer? Seems so simple, but it won't budge either in or out, while at the same time being loose enough I can spin it with my fingers. Ideas? Suggestions?

Ugh. Spent forever futzing with the airbox to remove it en route to the oil filter housing to replace that gasket. Just as I realize I am short one T50 socket for the pulley, my son's kindy calls and I have to dash off to pick him up. This immediately after I remove the upper radiator hose and spill coolant everywhere. Sick kid and car is sitting there all mucked up. Ugh. I might try and finish removing the alternator and housing tonight, clean and refit tomorrow. Wish me luck either way.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-temperature-sensor-o-ring-091158010 Lifetime warranty and the shipping will be peanuts...

Do you have fold-down seats perchance?

I sort of assumed every major manufacturer would have a realoem equivalent. Is that not the case? I didn't mean to seem smug. I had seen the kids in baby city, for example, but I'd still need the bracket that goes under the parcel shelf, and I found a nice set of 3 on ebay and got that... All 3 sets, bracket, tether, bolts, washers, everything, for ~$60USD.

I bought the BMW parts. They fit perfectly. The bottom left diagram here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=DT62-EUR-09-2001-E39-BMW-530i&diagId=72_0214

Not sure those would fit. If it'd fit, I'd be keen. RealOEM lists the muffler itself as being 530i specific for whatever reason. This is an area of cars I know nothing about! http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?id=DT62-EUR-09-2001-E39-BMW-530i&mg=18&sg=20&diagId=18_0441&q=18107504980&series=E39

Not that much.? My fallback is to get a generic quieter muffler installed this week. At around $350 for a new one, all in. I just had this fantasy someone would have their stock muffler laying around after having had it replaced with something loud themselves.

My car has a loud-as-anything flowmaster the previous owner thought it'd be a good idea to install. I don't mind it, but my wife sure does. Anyone out there have a spare rear muffler for an e39 530i? Maybe someone who wanted a louder car sound? I only need the rear muffler, not the whole exhaust system.

No question there. The world would be a poorer place without our two.

Kids are so much effort eh.

Added child seat tethers and child restraint seat belts in the rear. Good god, removing the rear parcel shelf is a pain in the ass. I have a sunshade in the rear that makes it even more of a pain in the ass!

Replaced both tail light seals and both rear anti-roll bar end links. One of each failed, but both are cheap... I am a bit OCD.

Vehicle information VIN WBABN52040JU73945 Type code BN52 Type 330CI (EUR) E series E46 (2) Series 3 Type COUPE Steering RL Doors 2 Engine M54 Displacement 3.00 Power 170 Drive HECK Transmission AUT Colour TOPASBLAU METALLIC (364) Upholstery STOFF LASER/ANTHRAZIT (G7AT) Prod.date 2001-11-13 Vehicle options S204 Drive layout, export S205 Automatic transmission S226 Sports suspension settings S313 Fold-in outside mirror S338 M Sports package II S354 Green windscreen, green shade band S403 Glass roof, electrical S423 Floor mats, velours S428 Warning triangle and first aid kit S431 Interior mirror with automatic-dip S441 Smoker package S459 Seat adjuster, electric, with memory S481 Sports seat S522 Xenon Light S534 Automatic air conditioning Vehicle options S548 Kilometer-calibrated speedometer S650 CD player S661 Radio BMW Business (C43) S674 Hi-Fi System Harman Kardon S692 Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus S710 M sports steering wheel, multifunction S716 Aerodynamics package S760 High gloss shadow line S772 Interior moldings Alu Black Cube S775 Headlining anthracite S785 White direction indicator lights S788 BMW LA wheel, Individual L807 NATIONAL VERSION JAPAN S823 Hot-climate version S845 Acoustic belt warning Vehicle options S875 Infrared remote control S925 Dummy-SALAPA S992 Control of number-plate attachment Vehicle options S473 Armrest front S520 Fog lights S550 On-board computer S832 Battery in luggage compartment S853 Language version English

318 E30 manual advertised on Facebook right now, in the Nz BMW & AUDI Buy/Sell/Trade for $5k in Pukekohe. There is no way you import one cheaper.

That is very nice indeed.