a few e39 questions, common modifications etc

Soldato
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hi folks i'll be the proud owner of a e39 530i sport in a few days, imola red with 18" m parallells.

As seen below :D

loc5IMO309.jpg


loc5IMO306.jpg


loc5IMO307.jpg


plans for the moment are that im getting it properly detailed next weekend and having the alloys refurbed next month to fix up the kerb rash. also its been fitted with new set of federal ss595, they are about £90 a corner.

how bad are these, this is the tyretest review:

tyretest review

should i look to change them before the winter?

coupla questions - are there any common modifications that would improve the looks? im assuming as its a facelift car most of the common ones are already accounted for but just wondering?

also it has a phone fitted in the arm rest, im assuming this things isnt going to be compatible with my 3g sim, is it just a paper weight these days? or can i mod it to work with a newer phone, if not anyway i can take it out and have the armrest normal?

cheers
 
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Wow, i hate red cars, but that looks great! I dont think ive ever seen a sport E39 in that red :cool:
 
Great looking car :D

No mod potential really it's virtually perfect as it is. Might consider some new mirrors but, to be honest, I'd leave it.
 
thanks guys, i expect you are right re mods fox was just checking, only mod ill do is remove that silly old phone!

thanks for the nice comments

other nice surprise is that my insurance has decreased from my e46 323ci from about £700 (1000 euro) to £400

defies belief but i dont mind!
 
Cyrus said:
other nice surprise is that my insurance has decreased from my e46 323ci from about £700 (1000 euro) to £400

defies belief but i dont mind!

I found the same with the e46 coupe's, my 330CI is £880 to insure vs £650 for the same policy on a 330I/530I! Madness.
 
Keep the tyres. I have some non mainstream ones on the 330 and they grip way beyond what i'd dare to drive it like, and i drive fast.

The best idea i guess would be to try them, if they feel ok to you then leave them. I bet they will be fine, they are huge, bet you cant make them lose grip unless you absolutely thrash the nuts off it.
 
Fantastic, I love Imola Red :D

Those wheels are the best you can put on an e39 - get some Michelin Pilot Sport 2's to go on them :)
 
what are they a corner, will probably leave the federals on for the summer, drip grip should be fine. even tho they are federals (shudders) they are the best ones they do and seemed to score well in the test linked

generally imo non oem wheels on a bmw for the lose

altho id make an exception for BBS LMs!
 
Well I wouldn't want no-name crap anywhere near a £15,000 BMW but it's entirely your choice. And whilst PS2 might be the tyre of choice amongst E46 owners, most E39 owners on the forum.bmw5.co.uk forums chose Eagle F1.

But I've no idea how the new model rates.

Whats with the old bloke gearbox though :eek:
 
LOL i wouldnt have picked an auto but my dads e60 and mums e46 both have autos and ive gotten used to them, as 12mths will be the longest ill keep the car hopefully ill be able to reintegrate myself into 'proper' manual society :p

rest assured the stick shall solely reside in sport mode :D
 
Red would'nt be my first choice, certainly not on a 7 seires as it does not suit the car, I've seen a few red e39's that look wrong to my eyes.

That car however looks great! :cool: Nice buy! :)
 
just come across this thread and wow thats some machine :D
however in my experience those SS595 tyres are dangerous, had a 35 profile on my mondeo v6 3 years back and did a track day with them and they heated up internally soo much that the tyrewall had decided to de-laminate :eek:
not trying to put you off m8, just something that happened to me when i was using them :)
 
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