I must also say that this is the most troublesome car that I have ever owned.  Just look at my lovely list which still is not yet complete.  I wish I could just go back to my old trusted japanese steeds which don't bloody let you down as much as these german sausages.  However when these cars are working perfectly they are like chariots of fire flying along the expressways.

 

BMW 530i Sport Auto

Maintenance Work - Purchased 05^th April 2005

Mobil 1 Oil                                                                                                    £47.00

Oil service and ventilation system                                             £217.00

Anti roll bar link arms front-pair                                                                   £30.00

Installation                                                                                 £25.00

NSF wheel bearing                                                                                        £61.00

Installation                                                                                 £60.00

OSF lower track control arm                                                                      £54.00

Installation                                                                                  £25.00

OSF upper track control arm                                                                       £51.18

             NSF lower track control arm                                                                       £51.28

Installation                                                                                £90.00

Wheel alignment                                                                       £98.00

Suspension top mounts-front pair                                                                 £29.09

Installation                                                                                  £80.00

Ball Joints rear-pair                                                                                        

Parts and installation                                                                                   £180.00

Wheel alignment                                                                                             £50.00

Microfilter pair replacement                                                                         £26.43

Fuel filter

Parts and installation                                               £53.00

Front brake discs-pair                                                                                   £84.60

Front brake pads-pair                                                                                    £32.00

Installation                                                                               £40.00

Suspension top mounts

Parts and Installation                                                £130.00

Wheel alignment                                                                                             £76.00

Window tinting                                                                                  £250.00

Communication system antenna and base                                                    £20.79

Brake fluid change                                                                                          £60.02

Radiator

Parts and installation                                                                                     £167.48

Total Costs                                                                             £2088.87

Remaining Maintenance to be done

Front struts pair                                                                                              £298.00

Front springs                                                                                                   £130.00

Rear springs pair                                                                                             £146.00

Fitting                                                                                                             £100.00

Sub Total                                                                                                    £774.00          

NSF rear view mirror                                                                                    £25.00

Splash guards, NSF and OSF                                                                      £100.00

Sub Total                                                                                                     £125.00

Edited by zayd55

I own a 523 i se, ive had it for two years now and bought it on 117000 miles. It has noe done 133000 and my only repairs to this car are.

1, lower suspension bearing

2, Ignition switch

3, rear silencer guard clips

4, new drinks holders in the back

5, and 3 new driver door levers!!

6, break fluid sensor

7, passenger airbag sensor (Not repaired).

I think that is OK when the BMW gives me so much back, like comfort power and that nice engine sound. So big up the E39 and im looking at another as i speak!!!

 

Do you know how much the airbag mat costs to replace, i beleve you have to take the seat to bits?? Or you can have it coded out....

Sorry add the front disc to my list as well...

That does help, got leather too, so same situation.

Do you know if the airbag system is inactive if its just the passenger sensor throwing a wobbler..i wud assume it is. Rediculous safety system dont you think?, however i had enough of looking at that silly light on the dash.

 

Could say! the same as all of ye!!! trouble trouble trouble

have a 525tds,reconditioned engine,sensors,pixels gone,links,tie rods,the lists just goes on and on!!! great fun to drive,but cost an arm and a leg!!

Car delivered back from dealers (Syntner in Leicester) this afternoon. Drives like a completely differenct car, now silent and smooth again like it was when I got. Glad for the BMW warranty.

    Problems listed were rectified, and others, as follws:
1. Monor rumble from steering wheel - another damn Dunlop was buckled, they also topped the power steering fluid up. Fluid made it feel much better, and I'm getting a second hand set of Turbines with Continental tyres on tomorrow.
2. ABS and ASC light illuminated on dash & gearbox fault - caused by faulty OSR wheel speed sensor...I really couldn't believe a wheel speed sensor affects so much!
3. Slight ticking from engine - BMW topped the oil up, now sounds much better. Ticking from exhaust end - dent in CAT heat shield - bent straight by dealer,  now sorted.

Car came back polished, and valeted inside and out. Car looks and feels the business again...now I know why I bought one with full history and extended warranty

Faith almost restored in BMW E39's, see if it gets even better when new tyres fitted tomorrow. Only other niggle now is a minor clunking from suspension over bumpy ground. Only really noticeable when one wheel hits a bump at a time, so gonna be ARB bushes.

Martin

martin528 wrote: Car delivered back from dealers (Syntner in Leicester) this afternoon. Drives like a completely differenct car, now silent and smooth again like it was when I got. Glad for the BMW warranty.     Problems listed were rectified, and others, as follws: 1. Monor rumble from steering wheel - another damn Dunlop was buckled, they also topped the power steering fluid up. Fluid made it feel much better, and I'm getting a second hand set of Turbines with Continental tyres on tomorrow. 2. ABS and ASC light illuminated on dash & gearbox fault - caused by faulty OSR wheel speed sensor...I really couldn't believe a wheel speed sensor affects so much! 3. Slight ticking from engine - BMW topped the oil up, now sounds much better. Ticking from exhaust end - dent in CAT heat shield - bent straight by dealer,  now sorted. Car came back polished, and valeted inside and out. Car looks and feels the business again...now I know why I bought one with full history and extended warranty Faith almost restored in BMW E39's, see if it gets even better when new tyres fitted tomorrow. Only other niggle now is a minor clunking from suspension over bumpy ground. Only really noticeable when one wheel hits a bump at a time, so gonna be ARB bushes. Martin

That knocking sound you are hearing when going over speed humps or bumps in the road is most probably your suspension top mounts.  They are mounted at the top of your struts and sit on bearings which when worn also can cause your steering to "creak".  The mounts are not too expensive and fitting should cost you about £100.00 at a decent Indy.

 

OK i'll join in aswell :-)

Only had my '99 528 (FSH and 87000 miles) for six months and so far ...

4 new decent tyres as the old cheapo's were shaking the wheels.

New front pads and discs (wear and tear)

Pixels starting to die (expected this to happen)

Intermittent on the wipers not working

Rain sensor not working

PDC failed, just one long beep now?

Engine stalls for no apparant reason while cold?

Severe shaking under braking at 60mph + (maybe the cheap discs on the front)

But despite all the above, it's still a great car! Every time I get in I love the luxury dash and the way the car effortlessly drives.

I love the way at 50mph, you plant the loud pedal in 3rd and the car tries to rip up the tarmac as it heads towards 100.

I love the way when people see you get out of the car they think 'flash bastard' even though it's probably worth less than their Ford :-)

I did think of selling and going back to a jap car, I had her up for sale and had loads of viewings but I ended up putting the buyers off and 'selling' the car to myself again :-) The interiors of jap cars are no match for these (and also E34's im afraid) and they feel so flimsy!

I probably wouldn't have bought one of these new if I had the money but they are a hell of a bargain and a lot of car for the money when they sell at £5-7000 secondhand!

Long live the E39 :-)

martin528 wrote: 3. It has a judder / vibration from the suspension at certain bands of speed...Dunlop SP2000s buckled and split, with 7mm tread left on! Changed them, but ride still suffering..may be balancing still, reading other threads.

Well imagine my surprise to find the following this morning on the off side rear. I have NEVER had so many tyres on a car. BMW say theres nothing wrong with the rear and that the neg camber on m tech suspension can wear the inner edges. But this is dangerous. I was loaded up touching up to 100mph on boxing day with my Daughter and wife in the car. This is a Dunlop SP2000 that I reckon has done barely 12k.

I'm off to buy 2 tyres now and they ain't gonna be Dunlops!

Trevor

Edited by whitey

Well I would say the ASC is on more than off, but yes my driving style could be classed as "tyre hungry"

All I could get this afternoon were 2 Avon ZZ3's which I managed to blag for £170 all in. Considering they wanted £130 + fitting for 1 dunlop i didn't think it was too bad. Only time will tell if the Avons are any good though.

I also swapped out my damaged rear N/S rim due to my ice incident (see http://www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=25202&a mp;PN=1 for details) and I have to say that all vibrations seemed to have ceased. There were there before the accident but the damaged rim made it worse. I have the old rim in the garage and if you lay it on a flat surface, it's like a see saw it's so bent

Just the thermostat, front thrust arm bush and a valet and she's ready to go.