speedyg

So after a bit of googling, it appears that the E39 touring sports don't come with staggered rims, only the sedans. They apparently will fit fine on a touring but no one seems too sure on why the tourings don't have the staggered setup. Any ideas?

Does everyone with an E39 sport have staggered rims? The reason I ask is that my sedan does have staggered rims and the Touring I have just bought does not. I think I will pinch the wider rears from the sedan before I sell it. I also have to decide whether to keep the conti sports on the touring or swap to bridgestone re001's on the front. Both sets are near new <2000kms. Which is the better tyre?

Funnily enough I saw one of these today just outside Christchurch but in LHD in a silvery champagne kind of colour, looked sweet.

All fixed and back together, I charged battery via under bonnet cables, took 20hrs+ until the charged light came on the charger. Car started 1st time and ran smooth, no hiccup from new vanos seals. I was a little worried when the rev counter, trip meter etc didn't work, but it all started working the 3rd time I started it up. I haven't driven the car too far yet, so can't comment on the vanos fix yet. Does anyone know how much water the cooling system holds? I only managed to get 6 litres into it, I thought it was about 10L?

Just been reading about the e39's having a Calcium battery. I have only got a cheap Arlec charger, so I am guessing that won't do the job?

Got a flat battery in my E39 530i touring Question: To charge the battery, do I trickle charge it by hooking up the charger under the bonnet on the + on the inlet manifold and the - on the rh strut tower as per the Haynes manual, or do I disconnect and remove the battery? Thanks

Vanos seals done, cooling system all but back together, just the fan and shroud to go, I have left these off for now while I fill and bleed the cooling system so I can raise the expansion tank. Turned the ignition on to set heater to hot and also make the small electric waterpump run and in 5 minutes the battery was flat! (The car hasn't run for 3+ weeks) Stink one, was hoping to get it going tonight. Question: To charge the battery, do I trickle charge it by hooking up the charger under the bonnet on the + on the inlet manifold and the - on the rh strut tower as per the Haynes manual, or do I disconnect and remove the battery?

I see mine, yay

A good how to here, actually looks ok with the carbon fibre look..... Interior trim diy

There is a small 00 in a long box and a small 99 in a long box written on the back. Not the usual circular date stamp. Its' the only number apart from the part number I can see on it. The car is 2001 so I guess it might be a 99/00 part. I think I will replace it to be safe.

I have now removed everything, all the cooling parts are stamped 2010, except the water pump 2001! it is absolutely stuffed no bearings left in it, knackered. It's a shame whoever replaced nearly everything in 2010 didn't bother to undo 4 nuts and do the waterpump! Should the fan clutch have a date stamped on it? If it's 2010 I won't replace it.

Success, got the fan clutch off. If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger spanner and hammer!

I started pulling the cooling system apart tonight, it looks like most things have been replaced in 2010, eg radiator, hoses, belts, expansion tank, so that'a a bonus. I am struggling to get the fan clutch nut off (yes I realise it's left hand thread) I have tried wedging a screwdriver in between the 32mm nut and the pulley nuts as described here.... http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/199986 but still no luck, gave it a few sharp blows on the spanner with the hammer but it is stuck fast. So sprayed crc all over it and try again tomorrow I guess. Any other tips? The waterpump bearing is destroyed as the pulley is on quite an angle to the engine, I found what looks like roller bearing pieces on the tray under the engine.

Anyone have one of these?

So it looks like I will be doing cooling system and vanos. Well at least I hadn't sold the other car yet! Thanks for all the replies

Thanks, how do you get these?

Not sure which trans I have, the sedan is 2000 530i motorsport vin WBADT62030CE60342, the touring 2001 530i vin WBADS62050GL80548. Also how do I check to see all the options fited to each car? ie Build sheet

So I have just bought a 530i touring, received it on Friday, looks in great cond. 3rd time driving it I pull up to the lights and hear rumble rumble pop, I wasn't sure if it was my car or the trailer pulling up next to us, lights go green and I ease away and rattly sound coming from engine, then check coolant light comes on, quick u turn park and turn off. Probably had the car running for about 30 seconds from first noise. A trail of coolant is following the car and still leaking out when I hop out. It appears that the water pump bearing has failed and blown the seal at the same time. The fan is on a angle to the radiator also.(no contact though) Stink one. So it looks like I have some work to do. Option 1 Replace Waterpump, thermostat and belt Option 2 Replace Waterpump, thermostat, belt, expansion tank, tensioner, fan clutch, hoses and radiator. and any other bits I come in contact with. $$$ It looks fairly straight forward to fix, anything to look out for? On a side note, the Touring feels a fair bit slower off the mark than my M530i sedan, lacking low down grunt, I realise it is a bit heavier but noticable? Maybe it has been driven around town too much in Akl. Any thoughts or opinions welcome.

Not mine, but the factory ones fit perfectly and are strong. on Trademe

Go to the homepage and click on plate builder

Hi, I am after a stereo cover for my E39 in woodtrim I am swapping out the interior into another car and am missing this panel to put back in. See photo. remember wanted in woodtrim only. Thanks for looking

Hi, you have pm.

Yeah looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. The previous owner paid $16k for it in Dec last year.

Don't get me started! I've got to sell my 530i sedan before I do anything. I will first swap the silver interior trim from sedan into wagon I think.

Thanks guys, I ended up getting it for $12500. Hope it's all ok, I swore I'd never buy a BMW without getting it checked, but fingers crossed.