5 Series (E39)

[rangerover]

Was this the KH - 1xxx car that was up for sale in Dehiwala? If so, it seemed to be in good nick. For some reason, it runs the pre facelift alloys.

Yes as mentioned by VVTi, better change your GB oil at 50k or even before since the car is running with oil more than a decade old.

[rangerover]

Congrats on your purchase! With beemers the general understanding is that its better to run these cars than keep them for occasional use. 23k over six years is quite low. check the history of all the fluid changes i.e brakes, power steering, diff,coolant etc and if it has not been changed recently attend to these. Also coolent hoses & pipes, P/S hoses & radiator hoses tend to deteriorate. If budget permits you can do some preventive maintenance on these.

BMW calls the ATF a lifetime fluid & its very likely it has never been changed in the car. There are two schools of thought on changing the ATF. Just go on until the GB fails or change the oil at regular intervals like any other automatic car. BMW themselves have gone back on the 'lifetime' stance and recommend a change every 8 years or around 100k (Not 100% sure on the stated mileage). if you plan to change the ATF please remember its a specialists job and you need to know what you are doing. Lot of material on the web about how to re-fill properly etc.. DO NOT use regular ATF oil like MOBIL or your GB will go kaput.

Generally its a very solid car and will give you immense driving pleasure. Finding a replacement would be very tough once you get used to her! Please post some pictures when you have the time.

Have you changes your GB oil?

[NEW BEEMER FIVE MEMBER]

Thanks VVTi. Will check out the GB Matter within a month. Running thin after the buy and the rear mirror replacement. And sorry about posting my post twice. New no :-)

To VWvortex, all this fluid stiff wouldn't they check and replace during the normal service which the company asked me to come around April? the last service was done last year April and when the meter was at 43K. Now it's 46k. AMA planning anyway to do do a regular service in March. I do around 1500km per month. So hope the mileage would be ok.

Yes it's that car Range rover. It was used like a baba. Got a good deal and recommendation from one of my good friends. when cycled the repair history from company, no GB oil has been changed. What would be the cost like?

Thanks guys for all your comments and advise. Yes I enjoy the drive every minute and more than that the attention you get when you are in it. Wonder why I didnt check beemers before. Almost bought a Jag before bought this one. But no regrets.

Oh one more thing, on and off the engine light indicator lights up, and after a while it goes off for few days. Think this indicates that I need to get a service done I suppose. I have at least five more bars from seven for the next service. Can someone let me know on this?

Cheers gentlemen.

[VVTi]

If the engine light is coming on intermittently, you better get it checked ASAP. From a loose fuel cap to a sensor failure, unless you connect the scanner, you will not know.

Also the ZF oil is about 6500 per litre, need some 5-6 litre for a service, plus filter charges.

A vehicle that has not run that much for this long is not necessarily a good deal IMHO as they tend to start giving age related issues rather than mileage related issues.

[rangerover]

Gearbox oil would cost about 6000 + taxes per liter at the agents as VVTi mentioned

If i were you i would change all the fluids, coolant, power steering atf and brake oil just for a peace of mind.

My advise is to get the engine light checked ASAP. The service indicator would show the service requirement, not generally the engine light. Don't procrastinate engine light related issues!! It will come back and bite you in the back!

Edited February 26, 2012 by rangerover

[Bugatti]

Also, If you can dish out some bucks.. check and change to cooling system hoses.. rubber becomes brittle over time if the car hasn't run much. You can save quite a bit on having the car taken on a flat bed.. (if you know what I mean) This happened to me twice, before I changed all the hoses..

Once in awhile, give it a Italian Tune up..

[VVTi]

I had to replace the Brake Booster also due to the rubber weakening. Prestige quoted 115K+VAT, Milroy 75K.

One weak point is the FSU (Final Stage Unit) in the AC blower. 14K at Milroys. Without it, the AC blower plays hell.

[VWvortex]

Have you changes your GB oil?

Not yet mate. Still couldn't get myself the additional 8litres for the 2nd drain & fill.

[VWvortex]

Also the ZF lifeguard5 oil costs 42-45 Ringgit per litre (USD 16) if you can source from Malaysia. Should be around the same price in Singapore as well

[rangerover]

It was around SGD 24 per liter in singapore for Lifeguard 6. Agents quoted 4,000 LKR + VAT.

[The Don]

I had to replace the Brake Booster also due to the rubber weakening. Prestige quoted 115K+VAT, Milroy 75K.

One weak point is the FSU (Final Stage Unit) in the AC blower. 14K at Milroys. Without it, the AC blower plays hell.

VVTi, when you say the AC blower plays hell, what was the problem you experienced? Was it a case of the blower seemingly activated when the car was off draining the battery because I knew a 2001 E39 which developed a problem like that. The dealership replaced the climate control, control unit but the problem remained.

[VVTi]

@Don, when the FSU goes blower sometimes sticks to one speed, High or Low, or its on all the time or it does not come on at all. Normally first and cheapest point of checking is the FSU as the older cars had a FSU whose heat sink was not all that good for SL Conditions. The new one I got had a larger heat sink than the one I replaced. So far so good. Changing the Climate Control unit should be the last option once all others are checked.

Agents normally start from the largest and most expensive option...

Edited February 27, 2012 by VVTi

[VVTi]

It was around SGD 24 per liter in singapore for Lifeguard 6. Agents quoted 4,000 LKR + VAT.

But how to carry in excess of 8 litres that you will need for a proper flush? Isn't there a rule against bringing oils?

[The Don]

@Don, when the FSU goes blower sometimes sticks to one speed, High or Low, or its on all the time or it does not come on at all. Normally first and cheapest point of checking is the FSU as the older cars had a FSU whose heat sink was not all that good for SL Conditions. The new one I got had a larger heat sink than the one I replaced. So far so good. Changing the Climate Control unit should be the last option once all others are checked.

Agents normally start from the largest and most expensive option...

Yes, this particular issue cost in excess of £2500 and still wasn't rectified properly as the battery still had a tendency to run flat (nothing to do with the battery or the alternator, that would have been too easy). It is was a 525 sport auto, 2001 car, first owner and full BMW service history (this happened in 2006 after running into a partially flooded road during heavy rain due to a drain failure. My old bosses car and he was a proper petrol head).

[VVTi]

That sounds like a shorted out main bus. The battery is in the rear right hand side in the boot inside a small recess. If water gets in, there is a whole bunch of fuse boxes and connectors. If water got in then there could be many reason wand many little short circuits. Few months ago after getting a small accident repair done at Millie's I had the stereo playing up on me. When I checked the CD changer and the Amp I found that water has gotten in and the water vapour has gotten in to the system and was shortening out. Took a whole day of drying in the sun, contact cleaner and hot air gun to get it all working properly.

[The Don]

That sounds like a shorted out main bus. The battery is in the rear right hand side in the boot inside a small recess. If water gets in, there is a whole bunch of fuse boxes and connectors. If water got in then there could be many reason wand many little short circuits. Few months ago after getting a small accident repair done at Millie's I had the stereo playing up on me. When I checked the CD changer and the Amp I found that water has gotten in and the water vapour has gotten in to the system and was shortening out. Took a whole day of drying in the sun, contact cleaner and hot air gun to get it all working properly.

Well surprisingly two main dealers did not diagnose the problem. Simply kept changing things. But what you said sounds plausible.

[rangerover]

But how to carry in excess of 8 litres that you will need for a proper flush? Isn't there a rule against bringing oils?

I need to check if the rule just applies to commercial quantities. But really not worth the hassle. Better to get it done at the agents. Need to do some research as to whether the BMW ATF is re-branded ZF lifeguard oil or not.

[VWvortex]

I used parcel post for 8 litres from KL and goods were in colombo before me. No idea if we have restrictions in place , but I had no issue

[VWvortex]

Well surprisingly two main dealers did not diagnose the problem. Simply kept changing things. But what you said sounds plausible.

no surprise at all. This is the stealers speciality

[Bugatti]

I need to check if the rule just applies to commercial quantities. But really not worth the hassle. Better to get it done at the agents. Need to do some research as to whether the BMW ATF is re-branded ZF lifeguard oil or not.

From what I know, BMW uses ZF re-branded.. ZF has it's own branded oil in 1 ltr and 4.5 ltr cans. Almost bought it the last time in BKK. Next time for sure.

[NEW BEEMER FIVE MEMBER]

yeah guys, i did take the car yesterday to Milroy (the road is not bad at all, thanks to our Mervin Uncle). i was overwhelmed by the shere size of the garage. man thats not a garage, but a yard. bigger than the company i think.

anyway i had replace the radiator (cos of a slight hairline crack) after Milroy became a Killroy after reving (i guess a good 6-7RPM). then he replaced a hose which needed replacement. had to buy two knobs to the key (the previous owner has basically eaten the rubber) so all in all thanks to the credit card, paid out LKR 55K. but i thought these were necessary replacements due to age like some one said.

the engine light stopped lighting up till today mornning. so will take the car again maybe on Saturday assuming whatever is wrong, will hold till then.

anyway went to Milroy yesterady as i had small issue on the petrol cap ot being opened. Milroy pulled some plastic wire from the boot (near the battery) and now it works. but paid up for a radiator, hose, key knobs and a good half day of my time.

so i guess when you have something and not using it basically is a crime. especially a beemer and some one down the food chain gets the opportunity to be bitten off.

[rangerover]

1.anyway i had replace the radiator (cos of a slight hairline crack) after Milroy became a Killroy after reving (i guess a good 6-7RPM). then he replaced a hose which needed replacement.

2. the engine light stopped lighting up till today mornning. so will take the car again maybe on Saturday assuming whatever is wrong, will hold till then.

1. So what u r saying? milroy revving the car to 6 - 7k is what caused you hair line crack?

2. Dude. You are begging to learn things the hard way!!

[VVTi]

1. So what u r saying? milroy revving the car to 6 - 7k is what caused you hair line crack?

2. Dude. You are begging to learn things the hard way!!

I would rather the radiator failing at the garage than in midday school traffic. The fact that the car was driven sedately and very little would not have taxed the cooling system much. But now once it starts being used a bit you might need to be prepared for some more surprises. All radiator hoses should be replaced ideally and the collant flushed. I would do the brake fluids also and the steering fluids.

About the engine check light, drive at your own risk.

Key Fob buttons are $4 on Ebay.

Edited February 29, 2012 by VVTi

[NEW BEEMER FIVE MEMBER]

yo range rover, Killroy revwed and the radiator craked.

VVTi, yes man, agree with you on the radiator going bunks at Garage than in traffic. none of the radiator hoses were replaced as they were all good. the key knobs were replced and bugger charged 4K. no worries on that one.

looking at what you guys saying i might have to be ready to accept a good bill at the next service i presume.

still i couldnt play the bloody DVD. it doesnt read any of the DVDs i put in. someone told me that BMW palyers doesnt recognize pirated stuff. oh man.

then there is this ASC button which Milroy said is made for Snow countries and wouldnt do any good in here. didnt understand what he said. also there is a Voice command button on the steering wheel, yet to be used, which i dont have a clue of how to get it working.

does any of you drive a similar model? E39?

[VVTi]

Well, a good radiator shouldn't have cracked revved or not. Seems to me you are ready to put the blame on Milroy over the radiator cracking.

No, BMW stereos will not play pirated stuff.

ASC will come in handy, trust me...

And I think I mentioned it before, I own a E39 523i manual.

But can I ask you if you bought this because you wanted a E39 or because you thought you will give it a go and the price was right?