BarryM

Planning on a full refresh of the rear brakes as I haven’t touched them in the 7 years I’ve owned the car........is this everything I need: New discs New pads New brake shoes New handbrake bowden cables Is there an overhaul kit for the drums for things like the springs? I also have braided hoses to fit ( as well as the 2 small hoses in the engine bay). It's looking to be quite an expensive job!

Been thinking about re-connecting mine after 7 years but maybe I won’t bother

Well the fitter claimed to have 25 years experience and said the spacers weren't necessary as he fits a foam strip along the bottom of the windscreen and after a short discussion I knew there was no point on insisting he followed the BMW guide so I decided it best to leave him to it. To be fair to him he did come back and tell me there was a dry spot between the replacement screen and frame which might not have been sealing completely. He did also say he'd measured the top edge compared to the roof line as that can cause wind noise and that bit is in the guide so fingers crossed. Apparently the next step would be to replace the screen with a different brand but I'm really hoping this has worked - I've now bought 2 genuine BMW windscreen seals instead of using the Autoglass generic seal as well!

I had Autoglass along 2 weeks ago to fit a new screen and although it looks fine I’m getting wind noise so they’re due back to re-fit it today. I bought the little rubber spacers BMW mention in the installation PDF RichrdP posted but first time round the fitter told me they weren’t needed and I didn’t produce the PDF as I thought it would piss him off being told how to do his job! Today I’m inclined to give the fitter the PDF and spacers as I’m complaining about the previous work but has anyone else insisted on the spacers being fitted?

On holiday in Wales and managed to put 67.85 litres in the car, computer said I had 21 miles left and was starting to panic!

I've found the biggest issue is getting a decent connection with the FAKRA connection on mine. I did have an inner window aerial that worked pretty well but after reading GERs M5 thread he went with one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BARNEC8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 which uses a signal from the rear screen OEM aerial. I have it wired in now and the signal is pretty good although as I say the connectors are cheap and nasty and if you wiggle the FAKRA connector the signal varies. I wish I could find where to buy a decent connector but the only options seem to be cheap junk on eBay & Amazon

Hi, Can I have cost of the following items please (individual costs please) - Vin ends GF13151: 3 x Rubber buffer - 51311925433 1 x windshield cover - 51318159784 1 x covering left - 51718193201 1 x covering right - 51718193202 thanks Barry

Steering box arrived, seller hadn't bothered to block the hose points so it was covered in a combination of old and fresh oil! Does anyone happen to know what the PN is for the plug, looking on RealOEM it might be 61131392246 but that just doesn't look right to me

Hi, Can I have cost for these 2 parts please: Roof molding left PN. 51138195561 Roof molding right PN. 51138195562 thnaks Barry

There’s no adjustment for the inner handle so I’d suggest you pop the door card and see what’s wrong

I had my windscreen replaced yesterday and my cowl has one small split about 5mm long that couldn’t be seen until it was removed, it’s also a little discoloured like a lot of the black plastic and under normal circumstances I’d be replacing it but after your trials & tribulations I’m thinking mine will do!

Not sure if anyone really knows what production date the butyl changed to permanent but possibly sometime during late 2001 as that seems to be a date when the last E39 model changes were made. I bought a spare set of xenons with broken adjusters that were meant to be from 2001 but when I found the date stamp on the back they were manufactured in 2003........so not bakeable, my original h/lights are from 2001 so should be! I bought 2 differents sets of adjusters: these are useful if any of the plastic wheels on the back are damaged: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-BMW-E-39-Angel-Eyes-Headlight-Adjusters-NEW-2-Cogs-Life-warranty/223473766039?hash=item3408130e97:g:WicAAOSwT6pV1gp~ and I've bought these which I intend to fit in my bakeable 2001 lights when I upgrade them to bi-xenon: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E39-5-Series-restyling-AngelEye-Headlight-Headlamp-Adjuster-Mounting-Bracket/264275115578?hash=item3d88063e3a:g:ktMAAOSwFnxac2ac&frcectupt=true Fitting the replacements into the sealed lights is doable but a challenge, I'm sure you've read a few threads on it by now and there are loads of adjusters on ebay so mine are just 2 links

Sorry, I wasn't really very clear with my answer, although I do use INPA for general checks you actually need to use a combination of PA Soft (to correct the VIN info in the LCM or the mileage will appear wrong and you'll get the tamper dot on your cluster) and NCS Expert to change the coding for hot & cold checks. If you're really thinking about it I'll find a link to a post with full details.

I use INPA and agreed it’s not as simple as PA Soft, I’m down near Portsmouth so might be able to help if you’re localish

Getting an LCM IV is a better solution IMHO - I did this and coding isn’t that tricky either.