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Took the car to Final Touch today to spruce up the paint work. The polish is exceptional and they've done a really good job with the stone chips on the bonnet. There were a few key scratches on the driver's door which I'd hoped would come out better than they did but I suppose you get what you pay for and I didn't pay for a repaint. Anyway, pretty happy with the exterior of the car now - you wouldn't know it was 16 years old! Just got to ditch the eye lashes that it came with and replace with eye lids (lower) which don't look 'stuck on' and improve the front end IMO - like this one: Then onto the interior and, of course, dealing with any/all the mechanical issues that crop up along the way.

Good idea. Will try that first as it seems only to be partially blocked. Can't see any rear drains on mine. Are there different types of sun roof an an E39 or am I just blind?

Now to find someone with an air gun!

Weird. The heavens opened early this morning but when I checked the car it was dry. Sun roof drains aren't visibly blocked and when I pour a bit of water in they both drain. There's a steady drip rather than a flow so maybe they're partially blocked? Might explain why it only leaked in a biblical storm and not in normal wet weather. I guess blasting some compressed air down there would do the trick. Any better solutions gratefully received.

My thoughts exactly. I pulled out the pillar earlier and couldn't see the source of the leak but wasn't sure if easing out the ceiling was a good idea... Will take another look tomorrow.Car has got a sunroof so I guess that's the most likely culprit - seems blocked drains are a common problem.

Passenger side windscreen pillar. Hasn't happened before but suddenly started leaking and dripping inside the car during today's downpour. Door seal seems fine and no water there and nothing on the roof that could be causing it. Windscreen seal? Anyone had this issue before? Weird that it hasn't leaked prior to now if the windscreen seal is faulty.

Got the fuel injectors cleaned today (at Edgell Automotive, North Shore) and replaced the seals. Holy sh*t, what a difference! Acceleration way more responsive but I reckon at least a 2L/100kms improvement on fuel consumption. Hoping it will sort the cold start/rough idle issue but might have to wait 'til next winter to be sure (and no doubt by then there will be a host of other issues! hah)

I agree that the previous batch (E60, E90, etc) were seriously off the boil but I think the new ones are looking pretty good - especially the rear view. The bonnet and front end are still pretty fugly - somebody told me that's to do with pedestrian safety but that sounds like balls to me - as you say, Astons, Audis, etc don't seem to have any problems making safe, attractive hoods. They haven't eclipsed the looks of the E39 and E46 though - so I guess you are right!

What I can see looks good... I might just be able to afford one by the time I don't need room for kids and their crap anymore. @apex How is this not a good looking? Though admit the back looks a lot better than the front.

Got a new one from Gavin at Euro Italia. Guess if they replace the b*ggered one I can keep it as a spare in case any more go! Fingers crossed it was just an unlucky dud and the rest are all sweet.

Good point, Josh. Once your technology's in the market, someone will find a way to replicate it, hack it, mod it, etc. There's always likely to be a blackmarket for that kind of stuff but why make it difficult for genuine operators who just want to service cars for their clients. I certainly wouldn't want to change mechanic just because I bought a new car - and in fact that would influence my decision to buy. If he told me the car in question wouldn't share enough info for him to service it adequately, I'd look for a different car.

So an auto repair shop needs to be able to understand all new technology in brand new cars or they're not worth their salt? How do they do this without some kind of training or information? That seems a bit over the top to me, mate. Even BMW's own repair shops have to be given some instructions on how to repair the new technology (and how it works) - shouldn't that information be available to everyone... Some people even like to repair their cars themselves. Isn't that fair trade? Nobody's asking them to share the product technology (how to build it) before it's released. In my experience organisations that share their IP tend to be more successful than those that jealously guard it.

I've actually had them refurbished since taking those pics. Polished lip, hyper silver centers and black bolts. The looks mint. Thought about black but I reckon it looks a bit too much on a black car - a little bit boy racer-ish - and I'm way too old for that! haha

Hmmnn. Feel a bit of an idiot. Turns out that one of the brand new ignition coils that I put in just a few months ago has failed. Guess I should have checked more thoroughly but I just assumed they'd be okay as they were new. Not happy, as I'm now worried that the other five I bought might be sh*te as well. Got them new from the US so will be looking for a refund. Will let you know how I get on. Fortunately, they were relatively cheap... you get what you pay for, I suppose.

Very cool.

Mechanical repairs are going to put this project on hold. Bummer.

Revenge for what? I've been nothing but kind to my E39! What will it do if I'm ever unkind to it!! haha

So she's in the shop. The vibration came on today and big loss of power... This time it didn't go away - running on only 5 cylinders. It's got brand new ignition coils so shouldn't be those. Took it to my mechanic for scanning and hopefully sorting but too late in the day to do anything, so she'll be holidaying there over the weekend while I drive around in a courtesy one of these... Choice

Good luck. Get it checked by a mechanic!

Looks pretty tidy but I'd be surprised if the rust spots are 'the only bad point' on a 21 year old car. Nice colour and interior though, would look mint with a bit of TLC. When I was looking I just asked each seller if I could take it to my mechanic as a condition of sale. I'd strongly recommend doing the same. Cosmetic stuff's no biggie and you'll no doubt enjoy, like the rest of us, the constant minor repairs but you want to make sure there's nothing too expensive looming.

Something silly is the first place I start, otherwise my mechanic thinks I'm a dullard when I bring it in! So yes, checked all the obvious.

Scanned it the first time it happened - when I found the broken o-ring on the dipstick - and n faults, but will get it scanned again.A mate suggested to me it might be a failing fuel pump. Does that sound likely?

Nice work. I've gone through similar with my 528i over the last six months gradually eradicating all oil leaks. Mine sprung from oil filter housing, rocker cover gasket, oil sensor seal and a little o-ring around the dipstick I only noticed the other day. It's a bloody relief to find them all and it'll make it heaps easier to find the next one when it starts!! On to the next infuriating problem.

It's a 528i with an M52 engine. Every now and again (rarely) the car starts shuddering with an unpleasant knocking sound. It's only happened two or three times and the circumstances have all been different - though the car's always been warm when it's happened so it's not a cold start issue. Has been at a variety of speeds from virtual standstill (when it sounds worse) up to about 60kms where it's present but not overwhelming. Doesn't seem to lose power, at least not significantly, when the shudder starts up. It happened recently and I found the o-ring around the dipstick had split and was leaking oil - I thought that might be the problem - but it happened again today. Other than that the engine's mint - I've done heaps of stuff on it in the last few months to get it up to scratch. As it happens rarely I figure that it's unlikely to be a vacuum leak which would cause it to happen all the time. Replaced all the ignition coils so it can't be that and all the hoses are in good nick as far as I can tell. I wondered whether vanos or injector seals might be failing but figured it would be more likely to happen when cold rather than running temp. Any ideas?

Thanks Sam. Interesting, the Cinnamon dye in the second thread looks way more orange than the swatch I've got. Guess it's the way it photographs.