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Another problem needing solving with this conversion is oil level measurement - the N54 never came with a physical dipstick, relying instead on checking the oil level via the oil level sensor. While it is possible to use a scan tool to measure the oil level, I'd prefer to have a quick and easy way of doing this on the go, leading me down the next rabbit hole - designing an in-cluster display to show the oil level (and any other interesting information, such as exact vehicle speed, oil/coolant temperature, etc). The design is based on an off-the-shelf SPI display, paired with a custom (own design) circuit board using a PIC32MK with a single CAN channel: 3D print a housing for the screen out of ABS (don't worry, this cluster isn't the actual cluster I'll be using in the vehicle, just a testing one): Test fitting and adjusting positioning with the cluster face loosely fitted:

Got everything assembled and bled after getting the correct retaining springs ... have ordered some retrofit pins also which take a R clip instead of having to be smashed in. Hopefully they arrive soon and ahead of (re)certification. Got out for a drive to bed everything in, feels pretty good ... would like a firmer initial pedal so will likely do the M3 master cylinder swap at some point.

Who wants black on black?!? Boring. I have the best M5 in NZ! Oxford green with Nappa Heritage/caramel leather. I might consider offers around $70k.... wait, no thanks.😀 (Is mine the only with this colour combo in NZ?)

It was contemplated but would be less "oe-like" - either having to modify the sump, or using parts from the BMW Motorsport catalogue that replace the oil level sensor, which then has a flow-on effect on the DME. Adding the screen was more in line with modern BMW and opens up additional opportunities. The DME does have the oil height in millimetres, which can be correlated to the oil level in litres. This isn't sent out over CAN, however - a simplified oil level overview is sent (and typically consumed by the instrument cluster in a factory vehicle).

I was probably one of those delivering the rental car to your door in the early 2000's. I had a mini motorbike I would throw in the boot. Deliver the car then ride my motorbike to pick up another. Was a sweet gig. At night I would bring cars down to central London from Milton Keys at a very very rapid pace. We had a couple of RS6's as VIP delivered within 30min specials.

The one they call "Track limited" is fully catless. Unlikely to be caught tbh.

Very f**ken impressive!

I found my iPod Classic, and the E53 already has a Parrot hands-free wired in and working! Peak naughties!

To be honest, they are expensive but not crazy expensive to buy brand new. ~210USD+shipping for both from schmiedmann. Other than getting them off a wrecked car which might be hard to find, I'd just pony up for genuine ones.

It’s a June 2000 production car that has been owned by a member of the NZ E39 M5 Facebook group’s father. It’s actually Oxford green 2, and is a pre LCI car ( a fair chunk of NZ cars were pre LCI) so has the older steering wheel and sat nav screen. 1/4 in Oxford in NZ ( known of) and the other 3 have caramel leather. The asking price is kind of commensurate of dealership prices in recent times. I think we can all remember how a cheap one a few years was around low $20’s and a minter was $40-$45. Sadly, those days are gone.

Congratulations mate, my wife has a Mitsubishi Outlander that was the designated family car, but with two kids I could see us both needing something capable of safely getting a kid / the kids around in if the other person is using that. I didn't want an X3, but then I drove one and was pleasantly surprised. Only decided against it because it would have been a squeeze for the dog in the boot. If it's got the service history then don't be put off by the mileage, particularly on the diesel. M57 is proven if serviced, fuel economy is great and plenty of torque if you need to tow something. It's achilees heel is the swirl flaps (if your intake manifold has them) but they're straightforward to blank. Previous owner had spent a bit on the suspension, brakes, tyres etc and was great to deal with so I trusted my gut on the higher mileage. There were quite a few on TradeMe, in your neck of the woods, when I was looking. Just avoid the 5-Speed Transmission (pre-facelift), they always sh*t themselves!