My new 2 me 540i/6, pics and comments

[brosher]

Flew down to North Carolina on Saturday and picked up the car. Negotiated price over the phone so it was pretty much take it or fly home. The paint was no where near as nice as he described it. Lots of scuffs and marks. All panels have original vin stickers on them but I think there may be paint work on the rear passenger quarter. It got a good exterior wash, wax and rinse today so it is starting to look much better.

The good is he had lots of receipts for recent work done. New cooling system, new clutch, new tires, new coilpacks among other stuff. Bought from the second owner, original owner had it for 9 years and was always serviced at BMW. 124,000 on nikasil. :D

I've already started work on fixing a few little probs:
pending:
-drivers power seat is intermittant. I think there is a short in the leg rest extension switch.
-shift knob broken and comes right off when you pull up
-passenger seat has twist problem, my gf thought it was a "feature"
-odometer bulbs burnt out
-heater core will need to be replaced

fixed:
-brake light message even though all lights lit up (fixed by putting proper watt bulb in 3rd brake light)
-one touch not working (should be called one "tap", i was pushing too long)
-radio code found and entered, we be jammin

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3792/pict0186smhj2.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6286/pict0188smji4.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9219/pict0190smts7.jpg

[brosher]

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6194/pict0191smoc7.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9246/pict0193smyz8.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4919/pict0194smjv9.jpg

Interior is pretty clean, minimal wear on the sport seats. Were arm rests standard cause mine has none?

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/986/pict0197smip4.jpg

[brosher]

Here are some shots of the bad areas on the passenger side lowers. Looks like some tar or something has been on there forever. Paint is also peeling in some spots. :-\

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8269/pict0198smzu1.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5447/pict0199smkr4.jpg

[Macv]

P.O.G. (Paint, Oil, Grease) will take that all off instantly. It's not something you can get at the store but something to that effect might work. Make sure to rinse rinse rinse and wax afterwords, as POG will turn your paintjob dull if not cleaned off. VERY nice 540/6. Im envious.

[saj3n]

It doesn't look too bad. How much was the finaly price?

P.S. I'd do a leakdown test, just to be certain on the nikasil. Mine had 140,000, when the nikasil issue finally killed it. :( Had to replace with Alusil... Just my opinion.

[Evan]

sweet ride... enjoy!

[Wyn]

Ultimate sleeper.

[632 Regal]

Nikasil dont just die...Nice ride dude! Most that ugly will wash off with a solvent type cleaner.

]
It doesn't look too bad. How much was the finaly price?

P.S. I'd do a leakdown test, just to be certain on the nikasil. Mine had 140,000, when the nikasil issue finally killed it. :( Had to replace with Alusil... Just my opinion.

[Eric Clark]

It doesn't look too bad. How much was the finaly price?

I'm curious about the price as well. I just picked one up with similar milage and nikasil but I am flying out Saturday to pick mine up.

[brosher]

Thanks for the tips, I'll get that crap off but may end up having to repaint the lowers on that side anyways. The front lip looks pretty hurting too. The pictures are very flattering. It looks real nice from 5ft, but up close in the sun you can tell definitley was not a garage queen. I want to learn how to use a buffer but need to beg my friend for lessons. For now a coat of zymol has done pretty good.

[brosher]

Add heater core to the list. Turned on the heat and it has that sweet coolant smell. At least I dont need heat for a few months.

[Eric Clark]

Add heater core to the list. Turned on the heat and it has that sweet coolant smell. At least I dont need heat for a few months.
Now thats a fun repair. I talked my guy down on the price because I thought the one I bought might need it. The nice thing about 540i/6 is they are easy to justify spending money on. Care to share what you got it for?

[bbig119]

gonna call to order the parts for a new heater core for mine this week. Summer is flying by too quick, I'll be more likely to get the job done sooner if the parts are staring at my in the face. I've put the job off since buying the car in late April.

[SharkmanBMW]

Add heater core to the list. Turned on the heat and it has that sweet coolant smell. At least I dont need heat for a few months.

My 540 did that for years!

I like the smell:p and it was very faint... it never progressed so I left it alone.

[DABIMR]

Very nice!! Got mine about 2 months ago!!.. And yes, mine also has the rare "Nurburgring optional seat twist" -- "Holds the passenger in place during high speed cornering".:D

I just decided to get a new cable rather than "shorten" it, it's only about $6 from the stealership.. Now to find time to do it..

Edited.. :D

[brosher]

Lol. Seat twist is only on passenger side. Driver is stuck facing perfectly forward.

Glad to see I'm not the only one with stinky heat. I could prob live with the smell, but fear of coolant dumping in the interior will make me do it.

[Eric Clark]

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/productx.aspx?sid=gacxpvyblt04ax455k4zbue0&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1012442@540I&year=1995&cid=24@AC%20%26%20Heat%20-%20Climate%20Control&gid=6864@Heater%20Core

Thats the best price I see for one. Its a bitch of a repair. You do not need the extra washers and the metal hoses. Tost them in the trash and use the one installed on your car. Removing them and installing new will give you a 4 hour headach. If you don't beleve me ask JT540i. We won't make the mistake again.

[bbig119]

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/productx.aspx?sid=gacxpvyblt04ax455k4zbue0&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1012442@540I&year=1995&cid=24@AC%20%26%20Heat%20-%20Climate%20Control&gid=6864@Heater%20Core

Thats the best price I see for one. Its a bitch of a repair. You do not need the extra washers and the metal hoses. Tost them in the trash and use the one installed on your car. Removing them and installing new will give you a 4 hour headach. If you don't beleve me ask JT540i. We won't make the mistake again.


Isn't it possible that the linkages leading to the core are the cause of the leak and not the core itself? I've approached this repair with the idea that its better to be safe and replace the whole lot rather than just the core and find out that something else was the problem. So please elaborate, or atleast tell me that its almost always the core that goes bad and not the other connections.

[Eric Clark]

Isn't it possible that the linkages leading to the core are the cause of the leak and not the core itself? I've approached this repair with the idea that its better to be safe and replace the whole lot rather than just the core and find out that something else was the problem. So please elaborate, or atleast tell me that its almost always the core that goes bad and not the other connections.


The pipes going to the core are aluminum. The core has plastic in it which would most likly be the source of the leak. Early on in the E34/E32 production these pipes were plastic which is why they include new metal pipes. It should be fairly easy to inspect the pipes. Remove the panels under the dash and you should be able to see 3 pipes. My guess would be if the pipes are leaking you would see a coolant leak. If the leak is in the core you will burn the coolant and smell it.

I did the repair last fall so I may be a bit off on some of the points but the next core I do I will leave the pipes where they are if they are metal.

[bbig119]

The pipes going to the core are aluminum. The core has plastic in it which would most likly be the source of the leak. Early on in the E34/E32 production these pipes were plastic which is why they include new metal pipes. It should be fairly easy to inspect the pipes. Remove the panels under the dash and you should be able to see 3 pipes. My guess would be if the pipes are leaking you would see a coolant leak. If the leak is in the core you will burn the coolant and smell it.

I did the repair last fall so I may be a bit off on some of the points but the next core I do I will leave the pipes where they are if they are metal.

Thanks...I've just ordered the core and a new blower microswitch b/c my A/C doesn't blow constant at anything other than setting 4. Now I just need to bribe a friend to help me with the heater core replacement.

[Eric Clark]

Thanks...I've just ordered the core and a new blower microswitch b/c my A/C doesn't blow constant at anything other than setting 4. Now I just need to bribe a friend to help me with the heater core replacement.


If you are in the DC area I'd be happy to help. While you are in there it is a great time to change all of the light bulbs.

[OreoGaborio]

duuuuude, ****in niiiiiice.

[saj3n]

Nikasil dont just die...Nice ride dude! Most that ugly will wash off with a solvent type cleaner.

]

I'm Sure. Previous owner most likely didn't take care of it, and shop I picked it up from, doctored it up enough so that I wouldn't feel the effects until it was too late... :(