adro 1084 Report post Posted January 1, 2019 (edited) 214,600 km Installed OEM Lemforder end links today along with OEM ARB bushings. Road tested and while the front does feel better, I still have the clonk...I'm starting to wonder if it's the shock or the spring binding...Will book it in with Auto38 when he's back from Holiday. Edited January 2, 2019 by adro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BozzaFC 300 Report post Posted January 3, 2019 @adro was kind enough to show me around and let me have a spin in his 540i today - awesome car! Absolutely beautiful to drive and has a menacing exhaust note to match Cheers! 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
str8_6 275 Report post Posted January 3, 2019 We need an e39 photo shoot 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted January 3, 2019 Yes we do! @str8_6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted January 14, 2019 Booked the 540i into Wellington European to inspect the suspension and see if they could diagnose the steering clonk. They have done WOFs for me in the past and they have a courtesy car which when you have a small baby makes it alot easier to drop the car off. Visually they couldn't find anything showing wear and suggested/educated guess to replace the center drag link at a cost of $750 (part only). I have ordered the drag link off FCP along with new tie rods coming in at $410 NZD inc postage (probably going to get a call from customs wanting some money in a few days time). Also I have noticed now I have the shimmy back at 80km..This seems to have come back since I did the swaybar endlinks and I thought it was because I didn't torque the lug nuts down enough but it kind of comes and goes and today I noticed it feels like it settles if you stay at that speed for a while and it's not as violent as it was before I did the control arms...I'm guessing/hoping the noise and the vibration are related to the drag link...will wait and see. On a positive note I got around to inspecting the drivers seat to see why it was clicking under load and it turns out the back left mounting bolt was loose. So the seat click has gone! I'm now wondering if the mpar vibration is more suspension than balance related. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BreakMyWindow 1878 Report post Posted January 14, 2019 4 minutes ago, adro said: Booked the 540i into Wellington European to inspect the suspension and see if they could diagnose the steering clonk. They have done WOFs for me in the past and they have a courtesy car which when you have a small baby makes it alot easier to drop the car off. Visually they couldn't find anything showing wear and suggested/educated guess to replace the center drag link at a cost of $750 (part only). I have ordered the drag link off FCP along with new tie rods coming in at $410 NZD inc postage (probably going to get a call from customs wanting some money in a few days time). Also I have noticed now I have the shimmy back at 80km..This seems to have come back since I did the swaybar endlinks and I thought it was because I didn't torque the lug nuts down enough but it kind of comes and goes and today I noticed it feels like it settles if you stay at that speed for a while and it's not as violent as it was before I did the control arms...I'm guessing/hoping the noise and the vibration are related to the drag link...will wait and see. On a positive note I got around to inspecting the drivers seat to see why it was clicking under load and it turns out the back left mounting bolt was loose. So the seat click has gone! I'm now wondering if the mpar vibration is more suspension than balance related. FCP euro have the RHD drag links available ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted January 14, 2019 1 hour ago, BreakMyWindow said: FCP euro have the RHD drag links available ? Snap, I didn’t check this.? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
str8_6 275 Report post Posted January 14, 2019 Nah, the MPars are damaged... you should gift them to me ?? 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rusteee 52 Report post Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) Car is looking mint! Always loved that colour. Get a few K's in during the holidays? Be a bit odd if it is the centre drag link is knackered, I used genuine Lemforder drag link, tie rods and pitman arm when all the other suspension parts were done. Drag link alone cost me around $800. Be keen to see what it looks like when it comes off. Edited January 14, 2019 by rusteee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted January 14, 2019 4 hours ago, str8_6 said: Nah, the MPars are damaged... you should gift them to me ?? Haha yeah, I’ll straight swap you for your style 65’s ? 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted January 17, 2019 (edited) 215,000 km. I was able to get in touch with FCP before they shipped it out and canceled the order...probably saved me $120 in postage alone. Thanks @BreakMyWindow ..I gotta stop being lazy and keep cross referencing realOEM. After messaging with Martin and Russell I think I'm just going to live with the clonk for abit longer...hopefully it gets worse making it abit more obvious to what it is. In other news, gave it a clean this morning. Edited January 18, 2019 by adro 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted February 25, 2019 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3570 Report post Posted February 25, 2019 damn this looks so clean in the photos. the lines and proportions of the E39 never ceases to amaze me. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted March 26, 2019 (edited) 216849 km Has been in with Jon at Auto38. New TRW center drag link (ebay UK) $600 landed incl customs. New Febi idler arm bushing $74.75 Car feels significantly better....shimmy at 80km/h is CURED as is the shimmy under braking. Car feels so much more responsive and the steering feels tight, best it's ever felt under my ownership. I still have a click going on but I can live with that with the shimmy gone. Finally a mechanic who is enthusiastic about their workmanship and knows the car inside out. Jon diagnosed 5mm play in the idler arm and also found the clicking to be coming from the boots on the draglink. A way more precise diagnoses than the previous crowd I took it too. Edited March 27, 2019 by adro 6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1679 Report post Posted March 27, 2019 Done a few idler arms in E34 and E32's and other cars with boxes so not uncommon. May someone did an incorrect installation on the previous stuff. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
str8_6 275 Report post Posted March 27, 2019 I absolutely recommend Jon for anything e39 (and many other models to be honest). He was able to sort so many little issues with my old M5 when others just didn’t have the experience or want to diagnose. Glad you got rid of the shimmy! 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BozzaFC 300 Report post Posted March 28, 2019 Great result! Can't recommend Jon enough 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 (edited) 217XXX km the saga continues... Second hand steering box from @BM WORLD installed by Jon at Auto38. R/H strut orientated correctly wheel alignment Stilling pinging/clunking when front suspension is loaded up, coming from the RH side either when on the brakes or turning from left to right. Saw it's younger, beefier sibling too @Olaf Edited April 9, 2019 by adro 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BreakMyWindow 1878 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 You’re persistent! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 41 minutes ago, BreakMyWindow said: You’re persistent! The car is so close to being in tip top shape, it's driving so smooth... Things still to do. Get rid of this clunk noise Re-spray Bonnet Door seals - they are well worn, not letting moisture in but look tatty Exterior window front and back window seals Celis rear tails. The pair I got off trade me are corroded and don't work...surprise surprise ? ) New floor mats - would freshen up the interior Facelift tri spoke multi function steering wheel 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1286 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 top mount , sway bar link , thrust arm and control arms ball joints , all those things can make clunks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 2 hours ago, BM WORLD said: top mount , sway bar link , thrust arm and control arms ball joints , all those things can make clunks Cheers mate, next step is to strip down the r/h side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted April 28, 2019 (edited) 217,500km CLUNK ELIMINATED turned out the engine mounts weren't torqued correctly....opps, my bad. The mounts were new.....guessing maybe they weren't fully loaded when i torqued them.....either way they are torqued now...they were out by about half a turn. The car is driving amazing..I am loving it. Gotta laugh at how much stuff I've replaced trying to solve the noise, not to mention the two shops i took it to who also didn't pick it up. Jon was on the right track though thinking it was an installation error as opposed to a failed part...expensive lesson in DIY'ing, don't think the car is worse off for it though. We celebrated with an oil and filter change ? Edited April 28, 2019 by adro 7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1679 Report post Posted April 28, 2019 Haha nuts and bolts are usually the first thing you check, guess everyone was trusting in your engine mount replacement skills . I had a weird front end clunk when loading\turning and it was loose subframe bolts. Least no one will have to touch the front end for awhile. Good stuff that HPR5 though, i got a 20L for $157 @ Repco on sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1084 Report post Posted April 28, 2019 7 minutes ago, Eagle said: Haha nuts and bolts are usually the first thing you check, guess everyone was trusting in your engine mount replacement skills . I had a weird front end clunk when loading\turning and it was loose subframe bolts. Least no one will have to touch the front end for awhile. Good stuff that HPR5 though, i got a 20L for $157 @ Repco on sale. haha yeah, school of hard knocks and all that. ? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
