Finally retired my 540 (long)

[scottBayArea]

Had the 97 540i for about 6 years. Been through the wars with her, brought her back from the dead after an accident, kept her road worthy, running like a top and not too long ago she was paid off. Gave her a new suspension, Bilsteins/H&R, engine just purrs.

But as the list of things kept growing and my time available kept shrinking she was slipping slowly into a state where it was time to make a decision. I had gathered pieces and parts in my garage getting ready for her total make-over and a couple of weeks ago I sat drinking a beer in my garage alternating my gaze towards the pile of parts and my 97 sitting in the driveway. She still had that stance but as I mentally worked through the things I new she needed to get 100% back I made a decision. Perhaps it was time to move on.

So I started looking around through the various online places getting a feel for the market and availability, making notes, making calls and going to check things out. Its been several weeks now but today I pulled the trigger. 2000 540i, Koni's/H&R, Dinan intake/exhaust, rebuilt suspension with oversized sway bars, Dark grey with black inside without a rip or tear, M front bumper and angel eyes. Only 98k miles but it has been cared for, that is obvious. Everything works great and the guy who sold it to me is a lover of E39s too....

So I salute my 97 for the many years of fun. I will soon put it up on craiglist as a driveaway parts or project car for a couple grand to see what happens. She is a good car but it was time for me to move on.

So now I will start another to do list with the new ride (which is totally sweet)...onward and upward....Scott
87 535is (never should have sold that car)
86 635CSI (ditto above)
00 528i (GFs car but might as well be mine)
97 540i
- upgraded to 100% new sports suspension
- H&R + Bilsteins
- 18" M parallels
- Long [Oops!] to-do list :)

[Bmw540san]

non vanos for a newer M62TU with Vanos. I drove both and I like the brute force of non Vanos engine vs. smoother but more complicated M62TU. Obviously, this is just IMO, so good luck with your new one.



1998 BMW 540i 6 speed
Arctic silver, M sport suspension (euro delivery), prod. date 05/98, non VANOS
Staggered 18" style 32 OEM wheels
3.15 open differential
Remus exhaust
AFE CAI with improved heat shield
Z3 shifter
VDO oil pressure and temperature gauges in place of headlight/fog switches
Powder coated valve covers-satin black
CDV delete
Debadged
AEA DRL module (aftermarket daytime running lights)

1997 BMW 528iA
Alpine white, premium package, prod. date 04/97, single VANOS
Staggered 17" style 32 OEM wheels
Debadged
AEA DRL module
Custom made sun blinds for rear seating area

2000 Nissan Frontier Desert Runner, AKA "The Work Horse"

Garage aids:
Direct Lift Pro Park 8
Campbell Hausfeld 28 gallon oil lubricated air compressor
Newair ACP-1400H portable air conditioner and heater
Auto Enginuity scan tool with BMW enhanced option
Actron 9135 scan tool-for quick readouts

[larrychew]

My brother had an older Volvo and Mercedes E-260 that were bought new. He kept them very well maintained.

He enjoys the working on the cars and saving money but ended up getting a new Honda Civic and new Infiniti G35 a few years ago as replacements. He now has a lot of spare time on the weekends for riding his bike and his family by not having to work on the cars! He could have the shop do the work but he's the kind of guy that doesn't want to pay someone when he's capable to doing the work himself.

[Whorse]

My way of thinking is, I already repaired/replaced most of the car and to get rid of it now and start over with another BMW would be stupid to me. When i repaired the fire damaged i said to myself this is gonna be another car i keep till I die or it gets wrecked. (knock on wood)
The only cars I would consider buying would be e28's e30's e34's and e39's I don't think they ever made another real BMW since the e39.
Im preparing for a sh*tload of work on the e39 in the next couple of weeks.
Pile of parts on deck:
All the parts to do a valley pan
all intake gaskets/seals
CCV
various coolant hoses and new fan shroud
tons of new plastic parts
belly pan and corner plastics behind the bumper (temp sensor location)
front wheel wells
angel eye hids
And thats all just off the top of my head

BTW what happen to your e39 that your gonna part it out?
How bad?


Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life) aka 1BADETA/Christine
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

[Eurodavid]

or I6s provided torque throughout the rpm range, thus in actuality providing more power to the rear wheels in the range? I thought it had nothing to do with making things "smoother?"

Am I wrong in this assumption?

Eurodavid

[scottBayArea]

There was just no way I was going to get anything but an E39, call me stupid or whatever but there is something about these cars that is in my blood. Why, I can't even begin to define. I fell in love with BMWs many years ago, like a virus it has disrupted my life, emptied my wallet, and robbed many a weekend. But it is my hobby, my distraction from work. I curse, I complain, I swear never again but when the problem(s) dijour get fixed and I hit the road with the growling purr and on-the-rails handling I just smile.

No, there wasn't going to be a Honda, Lexus, or any other car, it was going to be an E39. There are many more reasons against it than for, but there are few pleasures for this single father of 3 now that my kids are mostly out on their own and the obsession/sickness that is these cars is one of them....Don't ask why because I can't explain it.

My 97.....has new bilsteins/H&R, all suspension parts are new, 2001 sunroof, new MAF, waterpump, radiator, Magnaflow cats, O2 sensors, injecctor seals, etc. Needs body work but I have all the pieces ready to go in my garage short the front bumper. I worked the suspension first and the plan was to do body work and then interior. So if anyone has need of any of that stuff let me know. If you are a member of this board and share a love of these cars I'll donate what you want on the condition you drive her away and when you are done retire her in the salvage yard of your choice....

Scott
87 535is (never should have sold that car)
86 635CSI (ditto above)
00 528i (GFs car but might as well be mine)
97 540i
- upgraded to 100% new sports suspension
- H&R + Bilsteins
- 18" M parallels
- Now retired...
2000 540i
-Konis/H&R
-Dinan Intake/exhaust
-M front bumper
-Angel Eyes
-Just starting my list....

[JimLev]

"Drive It Like You Stole It, A Sickness for Quickness"
The Bottle Rocket "King of Spray" 2 Stage Nitrous Oxide
Dare to be different and stand out among the crowd of me-to-cars!
No guts, no glory! Tire smoke, not traction control!
Zionsville all aluminum radiator to replace the 3 leak prone Nissens Radiators!

NOS Progressive 2 Stage Controller with port injection
Snow's Performance Methanol/Water Injection
Dinan downloads, VAC Under Drive Pulleys
Dinan Carbon Fiber CAI
Dinan Front Strut Bar
Electric Cooling Fan w/PWM controller
NGK Iridium Plugs
DDE Enhanced Angel Eyes, Smoked Lenses
Koni FSD's/H&R Springs, BAV Brass Caliper Bushings
Eisenmann Race Exhaust (from H8-Rain's car)
///M5 3.15 LSD
///M5 Sway Bars, Front & Rear
Energy Suspension Polyurethane Sway Bar Bushings
///M5 Gauge Cluster Rings ///M5 Lip Spoiler
///M5 Mirrors and Switches
Leather Z weighted shift knob (thanks H8-Rain)
Rogue “Octane” Short Shift kit w/WSR
Rogue Tranny Mounts
StopTech Brake Lines Front & Rear
Axxis Deluxe Plus pads Front & Rear
Staggered M Parallel 66, Xenons
Modified CDV, UGDO
Euro Storage Tray (thanks Zombywolf)
Redline in Diff and Tranny
Passport 8500 X50, Escort ZR3 Laser Jammer
G-Tech/Competition Pro Data Logger
Auto Enginuity OBD-II Scan Tool
25% Tint, X-Pel, LoJack
PIAA Driving Lights
35W Xenon backup bulbs
BMW CCA Member Boston Chapter

[Craig in Canada]

...my dad's 1999 540i without VANOS seemed way quicker than his current 2002 540i with VANOS. His 1999 was also problem-free while his 2002 has had every issue documented here (except alternator - touch wood) and then some. He should have kept the 1999, IMO.

The 2002 was different enough that he kept taking it back to the dealer and they have always said that nothing is wrong. Post-warranty we've been all over it too and have never found anything magic to fix. There are plenty of situations where my lightly Dinan-ed 528i (stick) moves about as quick as his stock 540iA. Low RPM stuff from stopped or slow, uphill corner exits give a clear advantage to the 540 - the torque profile is clearly different. Winding out 40-70mph like a rural passing move or a freeway entrance doesn't feel all that different between the cars but the 540 probably retains the edge (but it should have a huge edge with almost 2L more displacement). Go figure....

If my dad's is "typical", then I would also value a pre-VANOS. If my dad's is non-typical then no one has ever been able to figure out what the problem is. No codes, no consumption, no noises (other than VANOS knock), good fuel economy, great emissions performance and ever since changing the AT fluid/filter no weird behavior of any sort.
*shrug*

[Bmw540san]

That's exactly what I meant. IMO and few others, non vanos is kind a vague on at the lower rpms but than it almost explodes between 3-5k rpm.



1998 BMW 540i 6 speed
Arctic silver, M sport suspension (euro delivery), prod. date 05/98, non VANOS
Staggered 18" style 32 OEM wheels
3.15 open differential
Remus exhaust
AFE CAI with improved heat shield
Z3 shifter
VDO oil pressure and temperature gauges in place of headlight/fog switches
Powder coated valve covers-satin black
CDV delete
Debadged
AEA DRL module (aftermarket daytime running lights)

1997 BMW 528iA
Alpine white, premium package, prod. date 04/97, single VANOS
Staggered 17" style 32 OEM wheels
Debadged
AEA DRL module
Custom made sun blinds for rear seating area

2000 Nissan Frontier Desert Runner, AKA "The Work Horse"

Garage aids:
Direct Lift Pro Park 8
Campbell Hausfeld 28 gallon oil lubricated air compressor
Newair ACP-1400H portable air conditioner and heater
Auto Enginuity scan tool with BMW enhanced option
Actron 9135 scan tool-for quick readouts