1st Step in updating my e39 5 - Angel eye time :-)

Pinter75 · 3 Aug 2006 at 10:26

Howdy,

My 1997 e39 BMW 540i is showing her age, and in need of a face lift.

My front headlamps are so badly pitted that you can hardly see the bulbs! Plus I have horrible orange indicators.

So a few calls and this lot lands on my doorstep this morning!

Hella OEM Angel eye upgrade kit, with adapter harness.

De-tangoed clear side repeaters.

All for an amazing £319 all in inc delivery! If you have a BMW pop over to http://www.motormec.co.uk really really good guys.

Now after weeks of hot clear weather, I order some bits for the car and it starts raining! When it clears I'll go and fit them and post some pics

Now where did I see that sport bumper...

Pinter75 · 3 Aug 2006 at 10:30

Yup they were standard from 2000 or 2001 I think.

Pinter75 · 3 Aug 2006 at 11:45

You do need Sport bumpers though becuase IMHO facelift lights just look wrong with prefacelift bumpers.

Yup totally agree, I am locating a local painter who can paint it for me.

Pinter75 · 3 Aug 2006 at 12:03

Morba said:
angel eyes are chav :/

Yeah on anything other than an e39. They are OEM and in the 2005/06 accessories catalogue from BMW. Fact they are available from BMW as an upgrade for pre 2000 cars, makes them legit.

I saw an e36 with chrome angel eyes - it was nasty!

Same goes for lexus lights on anything non-lexus.

Pinter75 · 3 Aug 2006 at 12:07

Noxis said:
I dont think my e46 comes with Xenons - how much do they cost and are they easy to fit? And do I need to declare them to insurance company?

With a xenon upgrade you will need to fit, ignitors and ballast boxes. Plus it may need to be "plumbed" into your 12v feeds.

These are not xenons, they are halogen. It comes with instructions for both, and on the face of it - it is a pop out, pop in affair - with 4 screws. (ohh err).

Pinter75 · 3 Aug 2006 at 12:09

[TW]Fox said:
Where did you get that brochure? I need one of those :/

Pop into your local friendly BMW dealer. Go straight to the parts store and they should be in there. Lost of mmmmnnnnn toys and bolt on bits in them...

Come to think of it they were in the showroom and the service desk.

Pinter75 · 3 Aug 2006 at 12:10

Morba said:
nothing wrong with e36 with angel eyes!!!

It is when they are all chromed - No problem with the proper black backed ones.

Pinter75 · 3 Aug 2006 at 12:21

[TW]Fox said:
If only I could get over my irrational fear of old stuff, I too could have a £2.5k 1996 540i + £5.5k in the bank to fix it/run it instead of an £8k 2000-2001 528/530 Sport

Your car is going to look so amazing for the money. When its done, it WILL look like near on £20k's worth. Considering what you spent, thats brilliant.

its 1997 BTW

Ta

To avaid paranioa setting it, I had to checked out by BMW, and my local specialist.

The only thing on the BMW check sheet was a broken bulb in the instrument cluster (I did that anyway) - low washer fluid and a slight play in the bottom steering bush (was on the MOT advisory). More good news was the old engine oil was still brown and quite clear after 6000 miles. The oil flushing fuild came out clear too

Not like my e36 with less miles - who's oil was always black, and the flushing fluid was always a dark brown

I got a full oil service flush/filter/oil and new brake pads up front for £91 too

A maintenace check at BMW is only £50 all in. Plus I got this too...

Pinter75 · 4 Aug 2006 at 00:44

Ok, they are all fitted (pics will follow later). I had to bend my AC filler tube to get them to fit. It was an easy job, with only 6 screws on each side

Now should I get some clear headlamp protectors? The old ones plastic cover was so badly pitted, they constantly looked dirty. I am wondering if the protectors will look "wierd". Considering I have £300 worth of shiney new stuff up front, I would hate for them to look crap after a while.

Pinter75 · 4 Aug 2006 at 01:12

Now I need to source a reasonable deal on a sport front bumper (not bothering with any back mods - yet).

Running costs so far (exc any mechanical stuff)

Car: £2500
Lights: £319
M5 Spoiler (pattern): £45
Alloys: £660

Total: £3524

Less the cash that my old car went for - £750

Total: £2774

I still may be able to get all this done for less that they guy advertised it for initially (£3995)

I have seen some sport bumpers with fogs for circa £650 inc VAT for oem, or pattern exc fogs for £280. Fogs run at about £120 a pair (jeez) - making that a total of £448 inc VAT.

Either way I will have to "prepare" the new bumper with the metal reinforment from my existing one.

Plus I have to get it painted, and fitted, As it is not something I can do on the street. Hopefully fitting will be cool, as my loacal BMW guy has a lift and stuff.

Either way, it is gonna be a fair bit of work and expense.

Installing an M5 bumper process.

One last thing I need to decide on, should I get my black rubbing strips colour coded. Makes sense if the guy spraying my bumper can spray them at the same time. That will bring it upto 2001 body mods.