awake

Update on the valve stem seals on the 550. Job now done and the car is running sweet! After shopping around and getting estimates for the work, I selected SD European in Horotiu (just north of Hamilton) do the work. The bill matched their estimate so no surprises and included replacing spark plugs plus all the other gaskets and seals etc. Compared with BM Workshop in Botany I just saved myself $2,000! Couldn't be happier with SD European and will definitely use them for all future work. Great to deal with, friendly and helpful and competitively priced. What more could you ask for? Stoked!

Yeah the guys who quoted me said they do the job with the engine in, they use some special tool using compressed air to push the valve up and then another to compress the spring so they can work on it in situ. While they were describing this to me they pointed out an X5 in the workshop that they were doing the same job on. Said they need the car for 4 days....

My '07 550 (100,000 km NZ new) has just been diagnosed with leaking valve stem seals. Plus it looks like oil is leaking out of every other engine orifice so it needs attention as the oil is spilling on to rubber hoses etc. I have been given a price to do all the seals at $5,200 to fix this. Has anyone else had this issue and had it fixed? What was the cost and who did it for you? I am trying to see if I can find a better price to have this work done. This quote BTW is NOT from a BMW franchise dealer....

Sorry for the ignorance but who or what is Pelican? I also need rear window rubbers....

Thanks. You're right about the BMW genuine part not being too shabby a price. I looked on e-bay and the genuine article is $US140, which I thought was great until I had to add in $US130 for the freight!!!!!!!!! Ends up it will cost the same as a new one here. Cheers

Anyone know where I can get a roof rack for my E39 540i? Apart from the BMW dealer that is, who wants $420 for a set.

Wheels are 17" M5 knock offs, but the wheels aren't the problem because the vibration was there when I had 18s on and my mechanic tried the car with standard 16" genuine BM wheels and in every case the vibration remained.

Thanks for your thoughts guys, I'm booked in to see Dean @ Motorscience tomorrow. Hold on to your $2. Will keep you posted! :thumb:

Thanks for the ideas, I've had the car in at Marshall Tyres in Newmarket who are supposed to be the best in the business for balancing and alignment but no inprovement. Bugger!

Cheers for that

My E39 540i has this annoying vibration through the whole car at 50kmh. I can feel it in the wheel, through my feet and through the seat. Seems to go after I speed up but round town when you're stuck behind a lawful driver I'm shaking my arse off. Anyone else had this? My mechanic can't pinpoint it. Thinks it may be engine mounts or drive shaft or both! I don't want to start replacing expensive parts until I know what the hell it is. Failing an answer here, any recommendations for a talented mechanic with the experience to properly diagnose this problem?

Anyone got a good recommendation for tyres for an E39 540i. Last set were Toyo and they are crap (noisey and vibrate). I am looking at a set of Dunlop SP Sport 2000E tyres 235/45 X 17 and would like to know if anyone has had experience with these tyres on this or similar car. Interested in information on noise level, grip and mileage.