FAO Fox: Buying a E39 530i Sport

Tesla said:
Glad it was worth the journey. Did you further negotiate the price with the discovery of the brake issues?

My negotiating skills were abysmal on the day but its not like my ST220 was issue free and the seller showed no interest in looking it over whatsoever. All he did was start it up for 2 seconds. That was it. :eek:

How much are those calipers? Is that an exchange part?

The calipers are here (£127.20 inc VAT):
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/B...90abe0461b60a5149d3eeda970230ad12fb631&000048

BMW will supply and fit rear discs and pads for £249

Seems like a good deal. But I want to get the brake lines cleaned up as well. Not sure whether I should get them done before or after I get the pads and discs done at BMW? Or would it be more cost effective to get everything done at an independent?
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My old man's 320D:
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maccapacca said:
Look forward to seeing the photos.

Re the auto box I find it nicer to drive around town by knocking it over to S then knocking it back to D for everything else
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I find D likes to get the car into 5th gear far too quickly, can be a pain getting up to speed in a 50 zone, quick dab of the throttle will get the car to change down and makes it a bit easier.
 
Looks nice and the last 3 letters of the reg are the same as my 530i.

That caliper includes a £42 surcharge. I'm fairly sure what that means is you then take your broken one back and hand it to them and they refund the £42.

I'm afraid I don't know what make of brake components BMW fit but Pagid are a recognised brand for braking components. I've always done brakes myself so not sure what an indpendant would charge. I can't imagine it working out dearer than BMW though.
 
BMW fit honeywell pads on the front I believe, there is a sub brand from honeywell but I can't remember the name.
 
Heads up there is a leather dash top on eBay.
I've never seen one in RHD before. Unfortunately it's blue but could be dyed or painted I'd imagine? Would be a lovely little mod.
 
Pretty sure some leather specialist person would be able to make it look like brand new and black. There is a sub forum on bmw5 sponsored by some such person.
 
Well just got the MOT done on my 530i SE. It needed two rear anti-roll links, two rear pads and the hand brake shoes cleaning. £175 inc the MOT - well happy with that. :)
 
Tesla said:
Pretty sure some leather specialist person would be able to make it look like brand new and black. There is a sub forum on bmw5 sponsored by some such person.
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I would have snapped that up instantly as the upper dash is now all I need to acheive the 'complete leather' option. Dont care what colour it is - it can be dyed. What put me off is the stitching isn't the same as the OEM leather dash, so maybe it's aftermarket or perhaps was done like that for Alpina? Not sure but I'm resisting it for now. It didn't sell, not sure if relisted. Is nice though and certainly a bargain at that price, but I warn you - buying rare leather E39 bits is a disease. One piece is all it takes. I'm suffering seriously badly and can't be stopped!! :)
 
I have a few odd jobs that need doing,
Diff seals
Rear discs pads
Knocking when creeping in neutral and waggling the gearstick (MT) from the rear of the car.
New bushes.

Got seals from the dealer, discs and pads from mister auto, brembo discs, ferodo pads and a sensor (£90) and a complete set of powerflex bushes for my car.

Found a mechanic in a village who can fit the parts for <£100 :D
 
How many and what are the different types (shapes) of seat available for the e39?

I know comfort (bog-standard?) and sport. What are contour? Are there others? M5?

Do the rear benches differ?
 
Tesla said:
How many and what are the different types (shapes) of seat available for the e39?
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Standard, Comfort and Sport on the regular E39. Standard and Nappa leather types available.

On the M5 there was the standard M5 interior and the Heritage M5 interior.


I know comfort (bog-standard?) and sport. What are contour? Are there others? M5?
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Contour seats are the top end Sport seats from the E38. They fit the E39.

Do the rear benches differ?
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Only the M5 rear benches differ.
 
Liampope said:
I would have snapped that up instantly as the upper dash is now all I need to acheive the 'complete leather' option. Dont care what colour it is - it can be dyed. What put me off is the stitching isn't the same as the OEM leather dash, so maybe it's aftermarket or perhaps was done like that for Alpina? Not sure but I'm resisting it for now. It didn't sell, not sure if relisted. Is nice though and certainly a bargain at that price, but I warn you - buying rare leather E39 bits is a disease. One piece is all it takes. I'm suffering seriously badly and can't be stopped!! :)
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I was dead chuffed with my console. He offered for sale along with a collection of worthless bits for £150. It didn't sell, I offered him £50 for just the console and got it :D
 
You have...

Bog standard seats (electric or manual)
Comfort seats - bog standard bases but with extra back rest articulation, thick comfy headrests and lumbar support (electric only)
Sport seats - sporty bolsters and extendable thigh support (electric or manual)
M5 sport seats - special design sport seat just for the M5 with lumbar support (electric only)
Recaros - ultra rare Alpina option - look a bit like E60 M5 seats
Contours - E38 7 series only option but they fit in the E39. Combines all features of sport and comfort seats in one awesome seat (I badly want some of these and there's a set on Ebay right now - if only I didn't live in Norway grrrrr!!)
Active seats - an option for comfort seats that alternately lifts and lowers your left and right arse cheeks - ooh er. Only offered on comfort seats but the bits can actually be retrofitted to the sport/contour base if you're game.

Rear benches are all pretty much the same, only the paneling stitching design is different for M5s. Come in fixed or split/folding (pretty rare option for saloon but all tourings are folding). The folding seats are actually flatter and less sculpted/bulky than non folding seats so that they fold down properly.

EDIT: Ah beaten to it - although I did add a little more info :) Here's a pic of the Alpina Recaros...
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[TW]Fox;23168279 said:
I was dead chuffed with my console. He offered for sale along with a collection of worthless bits for £150. It didn't sell, I offered him £50 for just the console and got it :D
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Woah 50 for the leather console - that's awesome. I paid 130 for my first one complete with a brick phone in it, but I thought I did pretty well paying only 80 for the second one with a non-phone flat arm rest. Got my Caramel one for free though - well sorta :)
 
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