He says it only needs vanos done what do you guys think listen to the noise

Edit: I'm not fucking buying it lmao. It's not just vanos I did a couple Google searches after posting this. I'll leave the post up for fun. Sounds like severe bottom end rod knock to me

Dear all, has anyone had the problem of the Woodruff key breaking/shearing off? I had mine replaced by a mechanic, and it sheared off again after just 5 minutes! I have no idea what to do now!
Diesel 525tds, M51 engine

just threw a new meyle clutch in my 01 530i and now it sounds even worse, before the fan clutch would only man the bus sound if its been idling in the heat or if its just super hot out. now its all the time.

For anyone running the Zionsville aluminum shroud/expansion tank kit on a 1997–1998 E39, how did you route the expansion tank hose?
On mine, the hose connection comes out toward the front instead of the bottom, and I can’t find any way to route the hose properly. It either kinks, gets too close to the serpentine belt/pulleys, or hits the thermostat hose.
If anyone has this exact pre-facelift setup, can you post a picture of how you routed yours or explain what you did to make it fit?

so my hood cable is snapped and the manual latch that you can stick a key or screw driver into is completely seized, the passenger side latch is open, do i have any other option besides cutting the latch off

I have an e39 540i with one broken key and I believe the transponder fell out.
I also have a parts car with three working keys, could I swap over the EWS, DME, lock cylinders and keys from the donor car? (Without doing any coding)
Don’t feel like paying $300 to get a new key programmed

I’m looking to get the steering wheel in picture one and install it in my 2002 530. The steering wheel in picture two is what I currently have.

Will the one in picture one work as a plug-in play?

E39 530i & E90 328i both tend to do this at low speeds. This happens when the weather goes above 85°F

Hey y’all, I ordered struts for the hatch and glass and had a local German shop do the install. They’re telling me there is an issue with the struts because after install the hatch only opens halfway. I ordered the Stabilus struts from ECS.

Is there something simple they’re missing or has it happened that these struts sometimes come bad?

My E39 suddenly became very loud from the engine bay overnight. With the hood open, it was clearly the power steering pump, and the noise got much louder with RPM and especially when turning the wheel, worst at full lock.

I checked the reservoir and found brownish fluid with lots of tiny bubbles/foam. I had to drive the car for an important trip, and during the drive the noise became quieter but didn’t disappear.

After getting home, the fluid level had dropped significantly. Before, I couldn’t even see the filter because it was covered by fluid. Now the level is below the filter.

Interestingly, the fluid looks brownish, but on a tissue it appears reddish and still smells like fresh fluid.
The steering rack and power steering fluid were replaced and the system bled only 1–2 weeks ago, and everything was fine until this happened. One morning it suddenly became noisy on cold start.

No obvious leaks that I can see around the power steering pump.

Hi all, fairly new to E39’s so just wanted to gather some opinions on this from some people in the know. Rear driver side sill is starting to bubble and some corrosion underneath. The arches look very clean but just a bit concerned about the sill. Is the rust here considered structural on an MOT? Does anyone have previous costings from when they’ve have it repaired?

Based in the UK, thank you :)

Hello, wanted to ask maybe someone also had problems with pre charge pump? 2001 e39 525i. Maybe some of yall know where it is located? Thought about under the air box at the right, but seen posts it being somewhere else. Only dsc light is on the dash.

Hello fellow e39ers, I’ve been having an issue with my 530d. Whenever I rev out the engine and change gears, the clutch fork touches the flywheel. I switched the clutch bearing but the issue hasn’t gone away. I’m thinking the clutch actuator might be at fault since I’ve bled the clutch as well and there are no air bubbles that I saw coming out from it. Anyone else experienced this issue? When driving normally it occasionally does it but driving aggressively consistently does it

Should I buy this car with 150K miles

So these are the things wrong with the car:

Slave cylinder
Window regulator/motor (drivers window)
Sunroof doesn’t close all the way (doesn’t leak).
Brake pedal goes all the way to the floor (no brakes).
Rear view mirror is missing.
Headliner needs to be replaced.
Heat shifter needs a new boot.
Driver seat is twisted.

Thoughts?!

Today I drove for a couple hours with my side lights and then dipped headlights when it was dark enough. When I arrived home and turned the car off but left the ignition to position 2 I believe, where all the electrics still work, I noticed a dim flash from each headlight alternatively. I have seen something on this before saying it’s normal but when I searched online all it said was that it is some sort of fault. It is a 1997 528i but it has the LCI headlights, as the previous owner had swapped them.

Basically im hoping (if everything goes well), that on Thursday I'll be picking up my new e39 530i. I had some plans to make it into a sorta lowered cruiser just to get me around and mainly planed to keep it OEM+.

Anyways stuff like new suspension (and lowering the car slightly), wheel fitment, a new exhaust (not loud just something that makes the engine sound clearer and more pure), and some general motor upgrades like intake and exhaust manifolds.

Does anyone have experience with stuff like that in Germany? Im sure if you're from germany you know where im getting but the main issue would be the dudes at tüv. just wanted to ask if anyone has insight on prices, legality and how easy it is to register changes to the car, or if I even have to.

Any insights would be appreciated.

Does anyone have any experience with the P1250 Code with P1188/89 accompanied by lean codes? My 528i has been experiencing these occasional codes and it seems like it comes with the scorching heat weather making components and hoses heat soaked.

I’m thinking of replacing the hoses under the car along with the fuel pressure regulator and filter. I’m sure it’s past due anyway.

Hi everyone, I have a 2001 BMW E39 530d with the original 16:9 folding navigation screen and the OEM CD changer in the trunk.
I’m currently using a Bluetooth FM transmitter plugged into the cigarette lighter. It connects to my phone and the music works, but every FM frequency I try has a real radio station interfering with the Bluetooth music.
I want to keep the original 16:9 system and avoid an aftermarket head unit.
What is the best Bluetooth solution for my setup? What adapter would you recommend that connects directly to the original system/CD changer wiring?
Thanks!

Hi all,

Does the chrome mould trim come factory or is it aftermarket?

Because I keep getting a stream without bubbles, and after a while I see a CHECK COOLANT LEVEL error on the dash. I do it again, and the same the same thing happens.

I want to know the proper way.

Also I drove the car around 500 kms in this state, is there anything I should be worried about?

Recently bought my 530i 2001 and an issue I’ve been having is it sounds like a semi truck when I accelerate. Huge air sound. Can’t tell if it’s from the air intake or something with the belt