New guy here.

[StorminNorm]

Got it in mid May. My first BMW. 1995 540i 6 speed. My mechanic said it has the sports suspension. 100,000 miles. Rims are different from others thought to be BBS cause the lip isnt prominent.

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/8259/19qn1.jpg

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/9043/22ms.jpg

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/2364/30bd.jpg

After I bought it, I replaced the clutch, engine mount, radiator hoses, the dreaded recline repair, Mobil 1, need to replace the drivers sides window regulator. Water pump was replaced in March 05 just before I bought it.

Weird thing happened. Parked the car facing downhill on my driveway Saturday and did not drive it at all. Everyday, I looked at the car as I drove in and didnt see any problems. I hadnt driven it cause of the seat recline issue.

Today, as I drove up, I noticed a puddle of coolant under the right front bumper. Car still hadnt been driven since Saturday. Temps here in So Cal have been in the high 90s and 100s. So I start it up and it indicated "Coolant Level Low." I drive around the block and then turn off car and restart. No more "Coolant Level Low" indicator. But I could smell coolant.

Later I took it for a longer drive - 30 minutes in traffic and in freeway. Got home and parked it upward in the driway. No drips, leaks but still slight coolant smell from likely the burn off from whatever was leaking.

Why would there be a leak when the car is facing down the hill in 100 degree weather and not be driven for 4 days?

[liquidtiger720]

I was about to buy that car...

Bring it to the norcal 5er meet!

[uscharalph]

That seat is pretty easy to repair. Do a search on Seat Twist.

[digitaldragon03]

Welcome to the club.

[Shaun]

Got it in mid May. My first BMW. 1995 540i 6 speed. My mechanic said it has the sports suspension. 100,000 miles. Rims are different from others thought to be BBS cause the lip isnt prominent.

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/8259/19qn1.jpg

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/9043/22ms.jpg

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/2364/30bd.jpg

After I bought it, I replaced the clutch, engine mount, radiator hoses, the dreaded recline repair, Mobil 1, need to replace the drivers sides window regulator. Water pump was replaced in March 05 just before I bought it.

Weird thing happened. Parked the car facing downhill on my driveway Saturday and did not drive it at all. Everyday, I looked at the car as I drove in and didnt see any problems. I hadnt driven it cause of the seat recline issue.

Today, as I drove up, I noticed a puddle of coolant under the right front bumper. Car still hadnt been driven since Saturday. Temps here in So Cal have been in the high 90s and 100s. So I start it up and it indicated "Coolant Level Low." I drive around the block and then turn off car and restart. No more "Coolant Level Low" indicator. But I could smell coolant.

Later I took it for a longer drive - 30 minutes in traffic and in freeway. Got home and parked it upward in the driway. No drips, leaks but still slight coolant smell from likely the burn off from whatever was leaking.

Why would there be a leak when the car is facing down the hill in 100 degree weather and not be driven for 4 days?


First off; Welcome to bimmer.info and the 540i 6 speed club :D

Your wheels, from what I can see, look like BMW Style 5's.

The coolant leak: Check the plastic around the neck of the radiator where the hoses clamp down. The neck on my radiator was cracked, and reclamping a hose down finished it off (broke a large chunk of the neck off completely), and it leaked randomly after that.

[Paul in NZ]

sweeeett,cosmos black????

[EonPeon]

Hi,

I had coolant leak coming from the front left of my my car this week. Just a few drops at first,then a few days later a small, 10" puddle of coolant.

I took it straight to my mechanic who told me I had got the car literally there in the nick of time!

Apparently, a large part of the construction of the radiator is plastic, which eventually goes brittle over time. Mine had cracked and so was leaking, but had I continued to drive it like that, there was a good chance that one hard bump on the road could have sheared that section off.

Changes in temperature can also cause the brittle plastic to flex and crack, which may explain why your car leaked all of a sudden without even being driven.

DON'T HANG AROUND WITH COOLANT LEAK!

Get your car checked ASAP! It's much, much cheaper and quicker to replace a radiator (mine cost AU$500 fitted!) than it is to get a recon engine (AU$15000 approx - what I paid for the car!).

[pundit]

Looks very nice. Almost makes me want to change my opinion of wide grilles.... well almost! :D

[brodee]

Very nice car. That is exactly what I wanted to get, black on black 540i/6. Post up some more pics when you get them.

[mattyb]

hi ya.very nice wheels.

[zuzuk212]

As Shaun said ... I had the neck on mine break twice :( Took some PVC pipe , cut to fit and glued to the inside so that it would prevent the fracturing of the plastic again from the hose clamp.
I know that it is more restrictive but it was a quicker fix ... where I was at the time would have problems spelling BMW.

Anywho, check the plastic parts.
Ken

[1995 525i]

Got it in mid May. My first BMW. 1995 540i 6 speed. My mechanic said it has the sports suspension. 100,000 miles. Rims are different from others thought to be BBS cause the lip isnt prominent.

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/8259/19qn1.jpg

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/9043/22ms.jpg

http://img17.echo.cx/img17/2364/30bd.jpg

After I bought it, I replaced the clutch, engine mount, radiator hoses, the dreaded recline repair, Mobil 1, need to replace the drivers sides window regulator. Water pump was replaced in March 05 just before I bought it.

Weird thing happened. Parked the car facing downhill on my driveway Saturday and did not drive it at all. Everyday, I looked at the car as I drove in and didnt see any problems. I hadnt driven it cause of the seat recline issue.

Today, as I drove up, I noticed a puddle of coolant under the right front bumper. Car still hadnt been driven since Saturday. Temps here in So Cal have been in the high 90s and 100s. So I start it up and it indicated "Coolant Level Low." I drive around the block and then turn off car and restart. No more "Coolant Level Low" indicator. But I could smell coolant.

Later I took it for a longer drive - 30 minutes in traffic and in freeway. Got home and parked it upward in the driway. No drips, leaks but still slight coolant smell from likely the burn off from whatever was leaking.

Why would there be a leak when the car is facing down the hill in 100 degree weather and not be driven for 4 days?


Welcome to BimmerInfo and the wonderful world of the E34. I have a 525 so I can't help you with your 540 questions but I can say that your car is very nice and I would give my right toe for your rims. Stick around, this forum is very helpful.

Good luck with your beama. :p

Michael

[StorminNorm]

I was about to buy that car...

Bring it to the norcal 5er meet!


The seller told me someone was going to buy it the next morning so I flew up from So Cal to pick it up.

[StorminNorm]

That seat is pretty easy to repair. Do a search on Seat Twist.


I did it yesterday but didnt align it right. In fact, this is how I found this site.

Now it leans to much on the right. I need to get a 5/16 wrench to do it again - much easier once you've done it. I might as well shorten the right side cable while I am there.

[StorminNorm]

The coolant leak: Check the plastic around the neck of the radiator where the hoses clamp down. The neck on my radiator was cracked, and reclamping a hose down finished it off (broke a large chunk of the neck off completely), and it leaked randomly after that.

This may well be the case considering I am used to metal radiator necks. My previous project was a 68 Camaro.

[StorminNorm]

sweeeett,cosmos black????


According to the dealer and paint code - Tuxedo Black.

[StorminNorm]

Hi,

I had coolant leak coming from the front left of my my car this week. Just a few drops at first,then a few days later a small, 10" puddle of coolant.

I took it straight to my mechanic who told me I had got the car literally there in the nick of time!

Apparently, a large part of the construction of the radiator is plastic, which eventually goes brittle over time. Mine had cracked and so was leaking, but had I continued to drive it like that, there was a good chance that one hard bump on the road could have sheared that section off.

Changes in temperature can also cause the brittle plastic to flex and crack, which may explain why your car leaked all of a sudden without even being driven.

DON'T HANG AROUND WITH COOLANT LEAK!

Get your car checked ASAP! It's much, much cheaper and quicker to replace a radiator (mine cost AU$500 fitted!) than it is to get a recon engine (AU$15000 approx - what I paid for the car!).

I have a feeling my radiator is fairly new - looks brand new so maybe its the neck - we will see.

[StorminNorm]

hi ya.very nice wheels.


Pictures are better than up close as they are curb rashed to hell. I was going to pay $650 to have them restored. Maybe worth the price as the only other ones I see that are a bargain for 17s are the ones with the thicker lip. These make them look larger than 17s.

They are ACT brand wheels - one of the center cap stickers came off and the cap says "ACT".

[Kalevera]

5/16 wrench?

Brother, this isn't a GM :D All you need is an 8mm spanner.


best, whit

[liquidtiger720]

The seller told me someone was going to buy it the next morning so I flew up from So Cal to pick it up.
Well no, I wasnt that close to buying it...I got as far as, making the $$ calulations and decided it was not worth it for an 18 year old to spend 10k on a car..not to mention the extra gas + maintnence that would have been involved.

Have fun with the car! :D

[StorminNorm]

Well no, I wasnt that close to buying it...I got as far as, making the $$ calulations and decided it was not worth it for an 18 year old to spend 10k on a car..not to mention the extra gas + maintnence that would have been involved.

Have fun with the car! :D


I just needed a daily driver that wouldnt put me to sleep.

[StorminNorm]

5/16 wrench?

Brother, this isn't a GM :D All you need is an 8mm spanner.


best, whit


Dont understand all that metric crap!

[brodee]

Dont understand all that metric crap!

At least it's not like my Harley and half metric, half SAE

[StorminNorm]

That seat has more electronics than my 68 Camaro.

[brodee]

Hey Norm, post up some pics of that camaro. I'm an old chevy guy too, sold my '65 Malibu SS, but still have my '68 stepside.

[StorminNorm]

Hey Norm, post up some pics of that camaro. I'm an old chevy guy too, sold my '65 Malibu SS, but still have my '68 stepside.


Dont know if these are any good but I cant see them at work.

http://www.imageshack.us/files1/229.jpg
http://www.imageshack.us/files1/230.jpg
http://www.imageshack.us/files1/231.jpg