What did you do to your E39 today ?

[eleanorsskipper 88]

Hi guys ‘n’ gals,

 

got the style 66’s on now, so I can see what’s lurking behind them! Aargh. Small discs and dirt!!

what are your learned suggestions for making it all pretty back there. Disc size, Calliper type & colour etc. 

[The Spooner 80]

8 minutes ago, Huff said:

DIY  Insp 1 due - it's all easy stuff.

 

Change the fluids (TBH I used National for the oil and filter change - it was branded, correct spec stuff, excellent service* and at  £70 why struggle? I'll do that again in 5-6k miles time, whatever the lights say..)

Tyres, pads, discs - all good, appropriate lube to the other things, easy; rad and coolant changed ~3weeks ago as previously listed - that was a complete success, no top up or re-bleed required in 800 miles(!)  - very happy with that. Dropped into the office today to clear the tumbleweeds , and pick up the pack of intake air and cabin filters I'd erroneously had posted there - which took all of 3mins to fit.

 

Done. Very happy; running like a sewing machine.

 

Oh - and  total oil top-up required in last 11K miles : under 250ml. I can't quite believe that, esp after the Alpina B10 3.3 that (while very healthy) used nearly 40x that rate... the gallon of Castrol Edge I've spare is going to last me a decade; and that's a good thing.

 

*Brislington , Bristol.

Jealous of your lack of oil consumption haha 

 

Also makes me chuckle how easy E39 cabin filters are to do compared to an E34!

[Ray112 140]

23 minutes ago, eleanorsskipper said:

Hi guys ‘n’ gals,

 

got the style 66’s on now, so I can see what’s lurking behind them! Aargh. Small discs and dirt!!

what are your learned suggestions for making it all pretty back there. Disc size, Calliper type & colour etc. 

No cheap upgrades for rear, 298mm discs on all models from 520i to 540i. On front your cheapest option is 324mm brakes, smaller ones are 296mm, but to be fair I never had overheating/ brake fade problems even with 296mm brakes. 324mm are found on all V8 models (at least facelift) and 530i(some late 530d models as well). But of course double check sizes before buying. You need discs calipers with carriers and pads. All bolt on without any modifications.

There are M5 brakes of course, but expect to see big price, unfortunately feedback about them is nowhere near as good. 

 

By the way, I just had a look at your profile, and if you are driving 540i, there's already biggest brake setup on it then. 

Edited June 10 by Ray112

[domin8or 25]

Pic1. After I refurbed wheels, Pic2. Better pic of calipers (match the BMW blue in badges)  Pic.3 wheels now on (again after I refurbed them), prefer these as same size tyre back & front,and on 15mm spacers sit great Pic4.

[eleanorsskipper 88]

12 minutes ago, Ray112 said:

No cheap upgrades for rear, 298mm discs on all models from 520i to 540i. On front your cheapest option is 324mm brakes, smaller ones are 296mm, but to be fair I never had overheating/ brake fade problems even with 296mm brakes. 324mm are found on all V8 models (at least facelift) and 530i(some late 530d models as well). But of course double check sizes before buying. You need discs calipers with carriers and pads. All bolt on without any modifications.

There are M5 brakes of course, but expect to see big price, unfortunately feedback about them is nowhere near as good. 

 

By the way, I just had a look at your profile, and if you are driving 540i, there's already biggest brake setup on it then. 

I’ve noticed no problems either, but drilled & fluted discs would still look awful nice!

[Ray112 140]

1 minute ago, eleanorsskipper said:

I’ve noticed no problems either, but drilled & fluted discs would still look awful nice!

Careful with drilled discs, they are more prone to cracks. And expect to see more brake dust from drilled, dimpled or grooved discs compared to flat ones. Yes, they look more sport(ish), I was thinking myself about getting them on, but decided to stay with standard ones. Fitted mintex and so far I'm happy with them.

[ttelracs 27]

@domin8or do you mind me asking you what products you used and how you did it as I need to refurb on my wheels too.

[d_a_n1979 2,615]

1 hour ago, eleanorsskipper said:

Hi guys ‘n’ gals,

 

got the style 66’s on now, so I can see what’s lurking behind them! Aargh. Small discs and dirt!!

what are your learned suggestions for making it all pretty back there. Disc size, Calliper type & colour etc. 

 

As Ray's already said

 

Either 530i-540i and 530D front brakes (calipers, 324mm discs etc) or M5 calipers and larger 345mm discs and pads

 

Stick with decent blank discs (EBC, Brembo, OEM, Textar or look into C hook or grooved discs (Mtec, ATE, Brembo) and maybe more aggressive pads (EBC Redstuff or Yellowstuff are superb; Ferodo DS2500s are excellent but pricey, ATE ceramic pads are good too but can be quite dusty)

 

Thats more than sufficient for a road going car; decent braking from cold and great 'bite' from the off; plus the grooves/C hooks help to keep the pad faces free from glazing cause by high speed braking etc

 

Just stay away from drilled discs; they do like to crack around the holes!

[domin8or 25]

28 minutes ago, ttelracs said:

@domin8or do you mind me asking you what products you used and how you did it as I need to refurb on my wheels too.

[ttelracs 27]

1 minute ago, domin8or said:

Thank You.

 

[Huff 34]

Dan has said it all on brakes - I'd add, beware slotted (grooved) discs - they hum like a MF and don't add anything to braking power, nor dissipation on hard use IME. Did that a decade or more ago, waste of time & money.

 

Sounds simple/silly, but my preference would be good OEM 540 plain front discs and pads - Pagid are good, ime , adding to those mentioned - and change & bleed the brake fluid throughout the system.

 

If you manage to run out the far side of that, you're going waaay too fast on road. It's all Alpina used on anything short of the V8S; and it just works -really well.

 

 

[d_a_n1979 2,615]

9 hours ago, Huff said:

Dan has said it all on brakes - I'd add, beware slotted (grooved) discs - they hum like a MF and don't add anything to braking power, nor dissipation on hard use IME. Did that a decade or more ago, waste of time & money.

 

Sounds simple/silly, but my preference would be good OEM 540 plain front discs and pads - Pagid are good, ime , adding to those mentioned - and change & bleed the brake fluid throughout the system.

 

If you manage to run out the far side of that, you're going waaay too fast on road. It's all Alpina used on anything short of the V8S; and it just works -really well.

 

 

 

I don't find they hum at all apart from very hard braking and even then, it's only for a few seconds.

 

The groove designs have changed over the years; the Mtec ones are some of the quietest I've used; their C hook discs are also very good and they do aid with the cooling and help to keep the pad faces clean. My pal uses the grooved discs with Ferodo DS3000 pads in his ATR on track days and really rates them; cheap enough to replace as well when necessary (not that you'd need to do it for a road going car really)

 

Tarox ones can be bad though, experienced those myself and never again and found they can be 'juttery' too, if that's a word; a between of juddering and stuttering, more so when coming to a stop; it's like the grooves catch the pads too much!

 

Whole heartedly agree the fluid, something I forgot to mention; I've done this on every E39 I've owned and my E38 before those; Motul DOT5.1 fluid, FULL flush and refill/bleed and it's made a massive improvement, that and using braided lines such as HEL

[Ray112 140]

Just to add on top: don't mix dot5.1 and dot5. They are two absolutely different brake fluids, which can't be mixed. It's ok to mix/switch over from dot4 to dot5.1 and vise versa. Dot4, dot5.1 are both glycol based, while dot5 is sylicon based. This information might save some trouble for someone who didn't know about this.

[sinner 95]

16 hours ago, d_a_n1979 said:

 

Either 530i-540i and 530D front brakes (calipers, 324mm discs etc) or M5 calipers and larger 345mm discs and pads

 

That's not quite true @d_a_n1979 the front M5 calipers are functionally (there is an M logo...) identical to the 530i/d and 540. All you need to change are the caliper carriers, which are not expensive, and provided you don't fit floating rotors, 345 mm disc options are not too much more than standard. 

The M5 rear brakes do require a lot of parts, so this gets expensive. Saloon is easier than touring because of the back plate orientation.

I've been through almost all OEM options for the E39, bar the E31 calipers.

Standard 324 mm discs with good pads, fluid, and braided lines was a great economic upgrade. M5 brakes are a further improvement still, but harder to justify.

For anyone interested, @TheEnd has a really good write up of brake tech: https://www.endtuning.com/brakes/

Edited June 11 by sinner

[d_a_n1979 2,615]

55 minutes ago, sinner said:

That's not quite true @d_a_n1979 the front M5 calipers are functionally (there is an M logo...) identical to the 530i/d and 540. All you need to change is the caliper carriers, which are not expensive, and provided you don't fit floating rotors, 345 mm disc options are not too much more than standard. 

The M5 rear brakes do require a lot of parts, so this gets expensive. Saloon is easier than touring because of the back plate orientation.

I've been through almost all OEM options for the E39, bar the E31 calipers.

Standard 324 mm discs with good pads, fluid, and braided lines was a great economic upgrade. M5 brakes are a further improvement still, but harder to justify.

For anyone interested, @TheEnd has a really good write up of brake tech: https://www.endtuning.com/brakes/

 

Ah; hadn't realised they were the same caliper too; thought they and the discs were that bit bigger!

 

Makes a lot of sense to not bother with them then, unless, like you said, the whole kit is being sold and it's a simple swap-over... 

 

IMO the 324mm brakes are more than sufficient to stop the E39, as a normal road going car; even with high speed stops on the motorway etc...

[Marc_86 136]

Also to consider...wheel size.

 

Anyone running poverty spec 16" like me cant fix M5 brakes as dont clear the inside of the wheel.

 

324's on 16" look awesome as they pretty much fill all the inner wheel.

[Pzero 103]

A good scrub up today ready to go into an auto gearbox specialist near me who I've not used before. After replacing that split transmission oil cooler a few months back, no idea how much juice I lost before I fixed it, and to my knowledge the box oil nor filter haven't been changed changed before, so time for a freshen up. This place comes highly recommended, but is it just me who worries like the old cartoon expectant father pacing up and down outside the delivery room when handing the car over to a mechanic you've not used before!

 

As much as I like to do my own wrenching, free time and getting the car sufficiently up in the air on my sloping driveway to drop the gearbox sump is not really an option. 

[eleanorsskipper 88]

Had mine done locally by a highly reputable garage. G/box drain, flush, filter renew and refill cost £160. Think it was well worth it.

They told me that it really needed doing too. The beast has done about 180k!

 

I worry about mine too. You are not alone!

Robert

Edited June 15 by eleanorsskipper

[sharkfan 1,568]

Just used it for a bit of work; chainsaw, cement, few bits of timber, handyman toolbox, bodge-it bag, Makita toolbox and other bits and pieces. I'm sure my cars previous owners haven't used it as van but needs as needs must so it is a very useful chariot for carting, carrying or towing anything I need to.

[Pzero 103]

21 minutes ago, eleanorsskipper said:

Had mine done locally by a highly reputable garage. G/box drain, flush, filter renew and refill cost £160. Think it was well worth it.

They told me that it really needed doing too. The beast has done about 180k!

 

I worry about mine too. You are not alone!

Robert

Yeah that's about the price they've quoted me. Mine's a spring chicken in comparison, turned 111111 a few days ago. Would have taken a picture of such an occasion but was doing 70mph at the time!

[Ray112 140]

1 hour ago, sharkfan said:

Just used it for a bit of work; chainsaw, cement, few bits of timber, handyman toolbox, bodge-it bag, Makita toolbox and other bits and pieces. I'm sure my cars previous owners haven't used it as van but needs as needs must so it is a very useful chariot for carting, carrying or towing anything I need to.

Self leveling suspension is just perfect on touring. Even fully loaded they handle like dream and front end isn't pointing into sky like with heavy load and springs.

[chicaneuk 261]

MOT for the E39 saloon today and she sailed through.. compliments from the garage too. Helps that she's only done 750 miles since last year though

[falcodub 90]

MOT day for me too. 

530d now on 213500 miles and less rust than my M5 passed with a few things to address

 

Front wheel bearings

CV boot and subframe bushes amongst a few other things but nothing too scary. 

 

How hard are front wheel bearings to do?

Anyone got the touring subframe tool to rent out?

[eleanorsskipper 88]

Well well well. there’s someone in here scrapping a 540i touring!!!

Guess that makes the beast 1/15!

hope this is true. She’s to get more t&c real soon!

[Ray112 140]

1 hour ago, falcodub said:

MOT day for me too. 

530d now on 213500 miles and less rust than my M5 passed with a few things to address

 

Front wheel bearings

CV boot and subframe bushes amongst a few other things but nothing too scary. 

 

How hard are front wheel bearings to do?

Anyone got the touring subframe tool to rent out?

Front bearings are quite easy, did mine (one side first time) in about 2 hours on driveway. About subframe bushings, there's few suggestions how to get them out and back in without tool.