r/e39

Lots of you requested photos once everything was done and installed. Here you go!

Incredible, unbelievable work by @stitchcraft.nc using @hydesleather Nappa Cinnamon which has now turned into the only USA based (worldwide, too? @bimmerstats might need to help us) Alpine White over cinnamon E39 M5. Buttery soft, new lower driver seat foam, and all the trims and boots done. Even the side plastic and rear seat pocket and shell were wrapped. The stitching is phenomenal and nearly perfect. The car looks and drives and feels better than new but is 26 years old. #e39m5 #e39m5ownersgroup #alpinewhiteclub

Recently got the Style 37 wheels on my 540i 6 speed, and I think they look mint! What do you guys think?

It used to be on OEM Style 42s, but since those had welds and the barrels were in rough shape, I decided to just get new ones, albeit non-oem (the roads here are unforgiving for OEM wheels).

Hello guys. I’m a frequent visitor of this subreddit but can’t get access to my main account.
I drive a BMW E39 525i touring automatic from 2003 with 371.000km.

Since I bought the car, when I hit the gas pedal almost fully or kickdown on the highway, I can smell burnt oil in the cabin. Then when I proceed to rev it high multiple times, the smell decreases.
Previous owner stated that the ccv system has been redone and pointed out a leak at the half moons of the valve cover gasket. So knowing this I first changed the valve cover gasket for an elring set including grommets.
The problem persisted. I first wanted to refresh other components of the car not related because the car drove like a charm and only smelled bad when I drove it hard on the highway. Note this doesn’t happen in the city.

I use Rowe Synth RS 5w40 by the way and oil consumption is around 1L/850km.

So tonight I hit the freeway to get some facts straight. I constantly drove it hard in 4th gear, above 4000rpm for 25 minutes, accelerating sometimes as well. I noticed that the first time I entered the freeway and revved hard, the smell in the cabin was very noticeable. After about 20 seconds, the smell disappeared and almost never came back when I kept revving hard multiple times. The smell would only VERY lightly come back when I turned around at an intersection and entered the highway again at full speed, continuously revving high.

And I just know when I drive the car hard the first time tomorrow again, it will smell bad in the cabin.
I don’t see or feel leaks at the valve cover gasket, or it must be very subtle..
Maybe the CCV has gone again?
Valve stem seals a likely suspect? Does the stink die after a while with this problem?

After the 25 minutes of driving, I parked at a gas station and set down the camera behind my exhaust. I notice that when smoothly revving the first time to 4000rpm, nothing comes from the exhaust. Then when I get off the gas pedal and quickly hit it to 4000rpm, a white cloud comes out. (Video included.)

It doesn’t look blue but condensation shouldn’t be possible with this hot weather and me driving it hard like that.

Any advice on where to look would be appreciated!

I did it. I bought my first BMW E39.

It is a 1998 528i manual and its fantastic drive.

Friday I drove it 150km home and yesterday it was maintenance time.

I noticed that a few spark plugs were very oily and the vanos made a few noises. So then I installed spark plugs from NGK and made an oil change.

Also it got a new air filter and cabin air filters:)

Now the car feels more powerful and after a long drive with revs up to 6000rpm, vanos rattle is gone.

Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done, the door at the back left no longer opens from the inside and the driver's door window lifter also creaks. The sun roller blind at the back also falls down because there is no more hook to hang on the right and the fabric hangs a bit from the columns.

Anyways, I never drove a car that feels so relaxing and everytime I drive it, it makes me smile.

I do have a question I bought an aftermarket front and rear M bummper for my E39 , and my question is how can I make a propper break and alternator air vent? Because right now it just hanging around whitout any propper fixing and the alternator vent is Will not gonna have any air flow, I do have a 3d printer soo i can print also Custom part's for this maybe somebody have an STL file for it (I do not search anything right now).

I just curious how you guys would made that ,and maybe I could copy it or get any inspiration

Or my 540i. Or my 525d. I think i need therapy. Pls send help.

Currently on the stock M suspension II which rides literally perfect but I also think it would look super sick with an inch of lowering. Any advice on the most comfy lowered set up? I know any lowering will make it ride worse but which will ride the least bad for street purposes?

i have a e39 530i with m54b30tu engine and was wondering what the best quality to price vanos kits are out there as i plan on doing mine soon. ive heard about dr vanos and another german sounding website but one was kinda pricey and the other looked a lil sketch lol. what rebuild/refresh kits do yall suggest/brands you know of?

530i Touring Manual. Never been so comfortable on a drive home!

I was changing out the xenon bulb on my 2001 M5 and noticed that the connector looks burnt, can i change out the cable or do i have to change the entire xenon control unit.

Hello everyone, is it possible to find headers in the US for under $3k that will actually fit? Chinese ones tried and failed already…

Any suggestions on how to fix this, and what it would cost ?