<![CDATA[The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log]]>I’ve had this car for a while now so figured it’s time for a thread to show I actually worked on a car this winter! Picked this car up on a whim almost 2 years ago with no real plans but I’ve decided it’s a keeper now mainly because I’m parting my winter beater 530i and I’ve done enough maintenance now that it’s not worth selling it. These 530i’s are nice drivers but worthless for resale and I’m way past the $1500 I paid for the car now. 

Back story. It’s a California car brought over 2.5ish years ago. Body is still very solid, just some minor surface rust  on the pinch rails and some bubbles starting on the doors from outdoor storage. The car had been sitting for 6+ months over winter when I bought it from a guy who inherited it from his brother. Older guy so he was just over driving manuals and bought a newer car. It had roughly 140k on it when I picked it in July 2016.

The E34 Oreo! Ben had recently acquired his 2nd 540i/6 and my two 530i/5's

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The worst rust on the body is the peeling paint on the gas door and the odd scrap on the bumper will get fixed too. 

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Sometime in the spring of 2017 the clutch went out. Had the symptoms of a bad slave cylinder but for the life of me we couldn't get it to bleed. Ended up replacing the master too with no luck and then warrantying them again. Took it to a service shop and they blew out the slave. Replaced the slave, took it to another service shop and they blew out the master. Thank goodness for FCP Euro's lifetime warranty! Anyways after chasing that for a few months on and off I just took some time away from working on it as I didn't "need" the car and was sick of dumping money into it and getting nowhere. I finally found motivation when my shop mate bought a lift this past fall. 

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I decided to pull the trans to see what the issue was thinking maybe the throwout bearing was shot. To my surprise the clutch disc had zero friction surface left! This is no burnout machine and the car had driven perfectly fine before it went out. There wasn't any chunks or excessive dust in the bell housing either 😕

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Of course the dual mass flywheel was fucked too but luckily a BMWCCA member had one NIB along with a clutch kit and other NIB e34 goodies he sold me for a heck of a deal. So now every component of the clutch system has been replaced and it drives just like it did before haha. 

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Being a BMW though, they perpetually break. Drove the car for 1 night and then the starter went out. Amazon came through with a brand new Bosch starter for $90, no core! The started job isn't too bad for how nestled up it is underneath the exhaust mani and above the steering idler. 

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I think I got week of driving out of it before coolant started disappearing. Common symptom of the valley pan gasket. The radiator had a weird sag too it too, I assume it froze at some point and expanded. Also had some lightly used cooling system parts from my other 530i so I just decided to overhaul everything at once. 

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Had the same issue redoing the intake manifold gaskets too while I had that off the motor. The torx head bolts just strip so I ended up swapping the late M60B40 intake on that had recently refreshed gaskets. I've put almost 2,000 miles on since the cooling system was wrapped up in November 2017 and now the suspension is giving in. The passenger rear strut is blown out. Not sure if I'm going to go the coilover route or just standard strut/spring combo yet. I won't be commuting anymore for work so the car will be a garage queen until Summer and I'll take care of the suspension then.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/5199/the-little-v8-that-could-530i-daily-logRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 04:52:21 GMTSat, 03 Mar 2018 00:06:22 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Sat, 15 May 2021 17:08:12 GMT]]>Time to get summers on this pig. Anybody have suggestions or a hook up for the fox valley area? I have some used 16" tires I'll need mounted, think I'm gonna put them on 16" E38 style 5's.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/109816https://wibimmers.com/post/109816Sat, 15 May 2021 17:08:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Fri, 18 Dec 2020 23:07:43 GMT]]>I like the color!

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So I've had this back on the road for 3 weeks tomorrow! I had pulled it out of storage to rearrange some things and noticed there was some slight brake pressure. Before I drove it home I installed the new 540i rear calipers with centric blanks and akebono pads. Still didn't bleed well though so I took it to the new sub division by me and locked the brakes up a few times to activate ABS. Worked great but I'm still gonna do another round of bleeding as I feel it could be better yet.

Other than that, after a few Italian tune ups the valve tick went away. Of course there's a laundry list of to do but it's been a blast ripping around. Objectivly this is a horrible car but it's more fun around town then the 540i.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/108460https://wibimmers.com/post/108460Fri, 18 Dec 2020 18:41:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Sun, 19 Apr 2020 15:12:17 GMT]]>After some spring cleaning in the storage unit yesterday, I finally have a workspace so to speak. Pulled drivers rear brakes off and the e-brake expanding lock just falls out and is mangled 😕. It bound up some how just moving the car around storage and on/off the trailer so that needs a replacement. They are $50 new from the dealer so I'm gonna make a trip to Gibson's finally to get some quality used parts along with some adjuster screws as I probably threw out the old ones thinking the brake hardware kit would come with replacements which the Febi kit doesn't.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/105045https://wibimmers.com/post/105045Sun, 19 Apr 2020 15:12:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 13 Jan 2020 20:01:22 GMT]]>The mild winter weather got me motivation to order parts from @patsbimmer1 last week and now winter weather has kicked back in since delivery 🙄. Ordered 540i rear calipers with brackets this time, ECS SS braided lines as the FCP kit I bought doesn't include the hoses for the rear calipers??. Also got both idler pulleys and a new V belt just in case as nobody stocks these locally. Yes this is all simple stuff as long as I can presumably get the ABS pump bled once the parts are on. The bigger task is really getting the car out from the middle of my storage unit. 

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/103443https://wibimmers.com/post/103443Mon, 13 Jan 2020 20:01:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Tue, 18 Jun 2019 23:45:43 GMT]]>

patsbimmer1 said:

Take it to a gravel parking lot and slam the brakes about 15 to 20 to activate abs.  You have now completed an abs bleed.

I forgot about this trick. Luckily there is plenty of gravel driveway next door.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/100205https://wibimmers.com/post/100205Tue, 18 Jun 2019 23:45:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Tue, 18 Jun 2019 01:46:44 GMT]]>Take it to a gravel parking lot and slam the brakes about 15 to 20 to activate abs.  You have now completed an abs bleed.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/100180https://wibimmers.com/post/100180Tue, 18 Jun 2019 01:46:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 17 Jun 2019 18:03:46 GMT]]>i've used that style bleeder attached to the brake fluid res on my e34 and it worked fine.

thinking about how a MC works, wouldn't it be hard for it to fail in a way that would block fluid flow? i suppose the ports could get blocked by chucks of the seal if it was falling apart, but that would result in a rock hard pedal, as the cylinder would be trying to push the fluid out, but it would be just compressing it. the normal mode of failure is bad (leaking) seals causing the opposite problem of no pressure.

i'd think the ABS unit would be more suspect. I've read online about procedures to hot wire the unit to actuate the gates, or possible to tap the unit to try and unstick the gates, but I can't find any to reference at the moment.

B C said:

Don't rule out the proportioning valve

i dont believe the e34 has a valve. the abs unit controls proportioning.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/100169https://wibimmers.com/post/100169Mon, 17 Jun 2019 18:03:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 17 Jun 2019 15:18:53 GMT]]>Motive power bleeder. I’ve only used it on this car so far and never had any luck with it even before these current issues though.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/100166https://wibimmers.com/post/100166Mon, 17 Jun 2019 15:18:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:48:31 GMT]]>What style bleeder are you using?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/100164https://wibimmers.com/post/100164Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:48:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 17 Jun 2019 09:59:19 GMT]]>Don't rule out the proportioning valve

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/100158https://wibimmers.com/post/100158Mon, 17 Jun 2019 09:59:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 17 Jun 2019 02:43:02 GMT]]>I have pics to upload soon but quick update just to remind myself. Replubmbed all the rear brake lines and still can't get fluid to the rear. Front brakes won't bleed either so Master Cylinder is shot or ABS pump clogged? From what I've read it seems that the MC is bad. Brake Peddle is firm after a few pumps but no fluid moving past ABS. Power bleeder holds steady pressure as well without pushing any fluid either.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/100157https://wibimmers.com/post/100157Mon, 17 Jun 2019 02:43:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Tue, 26 Mar 2019 00:01:17 GMT]]>Thanks for reminding me to order a replacement adapter for my bleeder.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/98376https://wibimmers.com/post/98376Tue, 26 Mar 2019 00:01:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:54:20 GMT]]>

patsbimmer1 said:

I see what you did there...

Almost went unseen. 👀

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/98368https://wibimmers.com/post/98368Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:54:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:32:05 GMT]]>

Jdesign said:

The vacuum bleeders that use an air compressor kind of suck

I see what you did there...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/98367https://wibimmers.com/post/98367Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:32:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Sun, 24 Mar 2019 15:52:40 GMT]]>Any progress is good!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/98352https://wibimmers.com/post/98352Sun, 24 Mar 2019 15:52:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Sun, 24 Mar 2019 15:37:57 GMT]]>Found the motivation to work on this! As suspected, the rear rubber soft lines had swollen. All the brake fittings had shrunk to 10.5mm so I spent the afternoon cutting out all the lines from the drivers wheel well union back. Tedious but doable with the rear end still on the car. I'll have pics of the new lines next weekend when I finish it up.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/98351https://wibimmers.com/post/98351Sun, 24 Mar 2019 15:37:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Tue, 13 Nov 2018 14:57:44 GMT]]>

YoungCR said:

Do you have a air powered brake bleeder? Somebody broke my Motive power bleeder and debating if I wanna fix it or upgrade to something that hooks up to compressed air.

I do not. But I can tell you I have used various types of bleeders. The vacuum bleeders that use an air compressor kind of suck, I have use 3 different types/brands and you end up manually bleeding anyways.

Positive pressure bleeders like the Schwaben or Motive (shown below) are the best. I would suggest the Schwaben as its really high quality, and has the metal reservoir caps

Image result for schwaben brake bleederImage result for motive bleeder

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/95827https://wibimmers.com/post/95827Tue, 13 Nov 2018 14:57:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Tue, 13 Nov 2018 05:10:37 GMT]]>

Jdesign said:

Sounds like a giant PIA. Let me know if you need an extra set of hands in there! 

Do you have a air powered brake bleeder? Somebody broke my Motive power bleeder and debating if I wanna fix it or upgrade to something that hooks up to compressed air.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/95824https://wibimmers.com/post/95824Tue, 13 Nov 2018 05:10:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Mon, 12 Nov 2018 23:50:09 GMT]]>Sounds like a giant PIA. Let me know if you need an extra set of hands in there!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/95817https://wibimmers.com/post/95817Mon, 12 Nov 2018 23:50:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Sat, 10 Nov 2018 14:12:26 GMT]]>So this didn't end up making it to the wedding either! I ended up replacing the whole dip stick with a used one and changed the oil, and replaced the belt deflection pulley.

Fired her up for a test drive around the block and the brakes felt soft. Started the process of bleeding the brakes. Rear passenger was fine, but no fluid from the rear driver. Took the caliper off to swap with a spare thinking it was seized and noticed no fluid coming out of the rubber line. Nothing changed with the new caliper either and now I couldn't get fluid from the RR side either. Fronts bleed out basically what was in the caliper themselves. So now I have a completely disfunctional brake system as I ripped the parking brakes out think that those were hanging up but in reality the soft lines were swollen. Possibly a crushed line too?

I'm assuming the worst at this point that it will need all new lines and I'll replace the master cylinder as a precaution. I have SS braided lines to replace stock soft sections already and still need to source 540i rear calipers brackets if I don't find the pair I should have in my stash 😡

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/95775https://wibimmers.com/post/95775Sat, 10 Nov 2018 14:12:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Sun, 02 Sep 2018 23:48:16 GMT]]>thanks for the bump 👍 Forgot to update this a while back but before the last cruise up to RA I had done 1/2 of a 540i brake swap. Thought the rear calipers were going to come with brackets but they didn't. Didn't realize this until I was putting the rear brakes on and I couldn't find the 540i brake cores I had. The rear brakes were ok yet so I put those back on and just ran the new fronts for the cruise. The powerstop front calipers made quite a difference but the peddle pressure wasn't consistent in all types of driving. Gonna perform a full flush once I get the brackets and complete the swap. 

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Car has been sitting for at least a month now because the dip stick broke off when I went to change the oil. The parts engine had already been moved to my new storage unit and I haven't had time since to go over and pick that par 😦 Also the plastic drive pulleys are eating the belt now so those need replacement. Gonna order parts tonight for this, its likely gonna be my get away car for the wedding unless I get the E28 in shape.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/94250https://wibimmers.com/post/94250Sun, 02 Sep 2018 23:48:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Fri, 31 Aug 2018 16:49:53 GMT]]>...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/94238https://wibimmers.com/post/94238Fri, 31 Aug 2018 16:49:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The little V8 that could: 530i Daily Log on Tue, 06 Mar 2018 00:47:06 GMT]]>

straight6pwr said:

you've had all the classic e34 crap. nickel and dimers, for sure. what will come next: some of the 100 steering arm joints will go. door lock cylinders will all fail. and sagging headliner. PS leaks. window motors/regulator. rusty door corners.

love it in white!

did you notice a power band shift with the 4.0 intake? to me, it pulls a bit better up in the higher revs like an i6.

Thanks guys! Yeah the power steering is leaking but surprisingly this car steers like new still, only a matter of time like the rest of those issues haha. Yes I did notice the small power shift, it gives the exhaust note a little more grunt too. Eventually I'll find a early intake like you and install that with rebuilt injectors.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/88999https://wibimmers.com/post/88999Tue, 06 Mar 2018 00:47:06 GMT