1997 540i/A: High mileage ballin' on a budget.

[rampelsauce]

I might want those headlights sooner than later.  I have a factory xenon car, so install should be a breeze.  I'll email or text you about them soon.

[rampelsauce]

Found the bad actor. Replaced my brake light switch, and now my brake lights aren't always on! Pretty easy removal/installation. The only warning left is a 'Check front foglamp' which should go pretty quick.

[jockhater2]

I'd personally be nervous about grabbing a bimmer with 257k on it. Especially one with VANOS. How cheap did you get it for?

[CMart]

Any interest in the suspension from my 1998?

[rampelsauce]

jockhater2 said:

I'd personally be nervous about grabbing a bimmer with 257k on it. Especially one with VANOS. How cheap did you get it for?

The M62B44 in my car is NON VANOS.  Small victory.  Lets just say it was cheaper than dirt.

CMart said:

Any interest in the suspension from my 1998?

What do you have?

[CMart]

Stock stuff, but a lot fresher than 257k.

[rampelsauce]

CMart said:

Stock stuff, but a lot fresher than 257k.

Oh, didn't I just buy some stuff from you? Haha. I might have some other stuff I do want to buy, but I'm getting my suspension overhaul stuff brand new.

[CMart]

Yeah. Just figured I'd offer it to someone on the forum since people have been asking on Craiglist. Understandable though.

[jockhater2]

rampelsauce said:

The M62B44 in my car is NON VANOS.  Small victory.  Lets just say it was cheaper than dirt.

What do you have?

Really? They made a 4.4 V8 non VANOS? That surprises me big time. Well. When head gaskets need to be done. That cuts down labor/time by half.

[rampelsauce]

In 1998 they switched from the M62B44 to the M62TUB44.  The technical update was VANOS. 

[jockhater2]

rampelsauce said:

In 1998 they switched from the M62B44 to the M62TUB44.  The technical update was VANOS. 

Screen Shot 2014-12-09 at 2.41.52 PM.png

So you are right before the cut off year.

My brother in law has a 540i. I believe his is a 99. But he is also a BMW mechanic. So I am sure he is prepared for that long job.

[rampelsauce]

I lucked out.  The service that was performed on this car was outstanding.  Everything is so clean.  The only real precautionary stuff I'm going to do now are fluid changes, filter changes, and general maintainence.  The engine is quiet.  No chain noise when cold or warm.  It's unbelieveable.  If the engine does shit the bed, I plan on keeping the chassis regarless.  It's in such good shape it would be a shame to scrap it/sell it.  The previous owner was a scholar and a gentleman for keeping up on maintainance as well as he did.  The headlights aren't even cloudy!

Will post some high quality pictures soon.

[jockhater2]

rampelsauce said:

I lucked out.  The service that was performed on this car was outstanding.  Everything is so clean.  The only real precautionary stuff I'm going to do now are fluid changes, filter changes, and general maintainence.  The engine is quiet.  No chain noise when cold or warm.  It's unbelieveable.  If the engine does shit the bed, I plan on keeping the chassis regarless.  It's in such good shape it would be a shame to scrap it/sell it.  The previous owner was a scholar and a gentleman for keeping up on maintainance as well as he did.  The headlights aren't even cloudy!

Will post some high quality pictures soon.

You know someone would buy that motor broken too. E39s are sexy. Definitely one of BMWs best lookers

[rampelsauce]

A couple things I've noticed after driving for an extended period of time:

-Throttle surges a bit, not sure if transmission or what.  Not too terrible but something I would like to address.  Planning on a trans flush sooner than later.

-The humming.  I thought this may be an ASC issue, but now I'm not sure.  I'm going to take my car to Rawsomotion and see what Jake thinks.  Its a sound and vibration similar to crossing a metal grate bridge.  Like driving on a rumble strip, but much less intense. 

-Oil light flickers.  After driving for a long period of time, the oil light starts to flicker a bit at idle. 

-Tires are noisy as fuck.  Seriously, someone sell me some certified pre-owned 16's.

Other than that, car still feels great.  I'm really enjoying my heated seats/steering wheel.

[CMart]

Buy those 16s that are on my car. Tires are brand new.

[B C]

Lemon law that ****

[rampelsauce]

Snap said:

Lemon law that ****

I'm gonna sue the pants off TJ.  He'll go from Wasn'tM3 to Wasn'tEscortZX2 when I'm done with him.

[REKIII]

The e39 get noisy when the guibo and/or the drive shaft center bearing gets worn.  Both replaceable (center bearing much less easily)  Rear wheel bearing will also cause weird vibrational humming.

[jc43089]

Do these still have the oil pump bolt falling out issues? A guy at work just got a 93 740iL and we need to check it because its common for the oil pump bolts to drop out until self destruction happens. Once the pump gets loose oil pressure is lost. If you haven't changed the oil yet it could be the wrong viscosity too.

Sent from my potato phone

[rampelsauce]

I don't know about the bolts. Might not be a bad idea to check this out when I flush my trans.

As for guibo/csb, I don't think it's that. The sound occurs occasionally, and I can go a whole day without it making noises. I need to really get under this thing and do some investigating.