hqstu

These people in Manukau also do this, did my M5 cluster a few years ago. Auto Electrician | Thecircuitspecialist | Auckland

Yes, this car is on our e39 M5 register. Typical erroneous dealer listing. It is not the very last of the 6 speed manuals for NZ (actually mine is lol) and it isn't at the low point of its future value, that was back in 2015-17. But I suppose you could argue they could only go up (hopefully) from here, well they arguably have been up, but eased back a bit.... Different spec with the basic comfort seats and chrome trim.

Just the one spare for the two cars... yeah not great news. Hopefully someone might "own" the problem...

Schmiedmann has the most randomly useless shipping calculator IMHO. One can add two items to cart and get a stupid shipping price, delete 1 item and the shipping actually goes up !! I have 0 trust in it, and I've never been emailed to adjust shipping.. and when I have them on about it - the response is less than helpful...

Just installed B4's all round on the e83 X3, it's doing a fair few km atm so will be interesting to see how they go/last... I'm hoping they should be good for a longtime...

Couple of shots of the engine tidy up, the headlights also got a tidy up, including removing the blingy aftermarket halo's, polishing the lens, sorting some wiring, and also new foglights have gone in. I have got new covers for the headlights but I was originally sent two of the same side, so will replace them when I repair and paint front bumper over summer.

Well it's been quite a while so time for a bit of an update... M5 - driving it when I can and trying to get from A to B as "efficiently" as I can whilst doing so... 540 - going really well. Just done a couple of good trips including the BMW Car Club run to Whangamomona. What a blast. Just recently I've painted the instrument needles again. A PO had painted them red, so I just re-did them in red again, would prefer the white but needle changing is a nightmare, and cluster even worse... Also put on a new steering column leather cover (that was a mission) and a new cluster surround. Got it all back together to discover a backlight bulb had blown.... out it all comes... Still, it all looks great now. I've also decided to fully paint the 540 early next year so preparing for that, new rear MSII shocks whilst the interior is apart as well, rear parcel tray needs a re-cover. 740 - I've done a major gasket etc replacement on the engine and the oil leak has reduced considerably, it was the valve covers mainly, no surprises there. The engine was a real RTV special, why don't people just renew... But it appears there is still a minor weep suspecting the top oil pan gasket. I had thought originally rear main seal... However I happened to scan the transmission one day and a code for slipping lockup clutch is up on the torque converter. So I'm going to get my spare msport TC refurbed and sometime in the next few months I'm thinking an upper gasket, RMS, and TC changeout is coming up... I haven't really noticed any symptoms driving it, but now I know the code is there, my mind is playing silly buggers with me... Other items I've changed on the 740 are the rear door rear rubber trims, transmission mounts, trans fluid and filter (code was up before this), fuel filler hose, centre console rear controls, and a new LCD screen for the Bordmonitor. Being a newer screen it is compatible with polarized sunglasses so that is a great improvement, as well as generally looking heaps better. Will be looking to do a bit of paint on the 740 myself over Summer if I can find the time...

I've had a weak battery bring up Trans Failsafe on a 5HP19 in the past. so fingers crossed... I'm getting a lockup clutch slipping code on the 740 5HP24 but no real symptoms I can detect as yet. I will get my spare torque convertor rebuilt I think... it's sitting with the spare trans under the bench... what every '24 owner should have... 😁

@Eagle ?

That's standard. Can scroll other info or have it blank. With a little more effort on simple cosmetics they could ask that sort of money, but the louder vanos noise could get expensive...

I'm pleased it's going well for you Taylor, albeit a few coils and a RLS... great photos. Keen to keep updated, and yes there is always something... but I think you've started from an OK base 😎 Cheers.

Changed the title of this thread to be more reflective of what goes on in the shed... Been a bit busy with life etc, attended the Holden Nationals with a mates car I've been helping restore, then a brief visit to Australia, followed up by a BMW Car Club South Island road trip in the M5 which was just fantastic, cruising down and up the country with @hunter and 20 or so other owners. The 740 msport has been the focus otherwise. Bought a large chunk of a 735i msport part out with the same interior, and set about swapping out seats, parcel shelf, under dash trim etc etc to significantly lift the interior (sold the now second full msport interior seats / doorcards for a massive $1.50 on the open market...), replacement steering wheel I had in stock, wiring loom tidy. Also decided to replace the 4 shocks with genuine BMW msport like for like. It was the larger jar of vaseline... Also have done some suspension arms, ball joints, engine mounts, sway bar links and bushes, tie rods, brakes tidy up. A wider insert for the boot to accommodate the "BMW711" plates which have just gone on. The radio was playing up so I scored another C23 Oceania module which a member in our e39 M5 group was offloading. All sorted now and a bluetooth module is on the way to replace the CD changer. Ripped out all the old Nav gear as well. A bit of paint work went on before it got too cold, mirrors, top of passengers door. Next summer there will be more to come... But up next is the rear main seal oil leak fix, which means transmission out. There will be a bit of other "while you are in there" preventive stuff like driveshaft bits and cleaning. Not to forget a few engine gaskets and fluid changes. A power steer hose was leaking so a home fix was enacted saving a few hundred dollars for a new pipe/hose. Still lots to do but coming along nicely....

I'd say drink your beer now so it's not wasted... but let me know when you've found it...

Just sold for a bit more than I was prepared to pay, $50 actually :), but sets a good market benchmark for something of this quality. Relatively low KM with very good history, NZ new, Le Mans Blue Individual. 2002 BMW 540i M-Sport | Trade Me Motors