540i repair advice

[compmore]

got a quote today from bee-ems in sydney for work they say is needed on my 94 model
Labour Parts
replace tailshaft coupling $227.70 261.80
replace brake booster 277.20 2230.00
Maybe able to resleeve for $1100 parts
replace engine mounts 148.50 430.70
replace steering draglink& tierod ends 118.80 531.00
replace castor arm bushes 247.50 292.00
replace rocker cover gaskets 594.00 135.30
replace a/c belt 89.10 59.35

total with wheel align $5,699.10

Can't really Do it myself so appreciate if you could give us some feedback on above.Will also get some parts prices from beastmaster who were about half price last time

thanks

geoff

[Paul in NZ]

BMA auto parts in the US will be much much cheaper than that but you better check that Bee ems would be happy with that.
The rocker cover gaskets and A/c belt would prolly be a DIY,I wouldnt attempt the other stuff either.Some of the other Aussies here get there parts from BMA.All the stuff sounds normal

[BillionPa]

$430 in engine mounts!?!?!??!
$600 for gasket replacement labor!?!!??!

[The Bigfella]

Yep - couldn't agree more. I got quoted US$7.10 for a part by BMA today - and Aus$40 (call it US$30) from BMW Aust. I went the Aus route, only because my latest shipment had just left BMA and this part was a special order part. Delays have been minimal - even for the special order piston rings that had to be made in Germany, sent to USA then here.

The thing that swung me was a throttle position switch that my (then) Indy sourced via BM Aus - for $501 - same thing available for $50 at BMA. I hat rip offs.

I'd do all those jobs myself except maybe the steering.

[compmore]

bee-ems are happy for customer to supply parts as last time they were 1/3 of Australian price so will get some online prices.

wasn't sure if the labour was fair particuarly replace rocker cover gasgets as at say $80 per hour thats 7.5 hours work. they say it's a very fiddily time consuming job

anyone ever done??

geoff

[shogun]

They must be sleeping while working. 7.5 hours?
Man, that is abt. a full work day!

[compmore]

yeah i know they charging nearly a full days work.For the labour cost of A$594
could nearly take a week off work and attempt myself as have done much more than rocker cover gaskets on previous cars and bikes

thats why i'm asking if anyone has done it before because don't want to take it on if it's a real hassle as they say or special tools are needed

rgds,

geoff

[genphreak]

BeeEms are pretty good usually, the parts one simply can't buy locally though. You should get prices form the US primarily, if you are short on time call Euopean Car Parts (ASV) in Villawood. I just buy frm BMA, they know what thye are doing and ship fast- always respond and do the right thing.

I beleive that the head gaskets take a lot of effort and time- but I have never worked on an M60/62 engine. :) Nick

[Ross]

7 1/2 hours would about cover exchanging the motor. Go elsewhere or DIY.

[markus]

jesus christ $1100 for a master cylinder? talk about crooks.

[DanDombrowski]

Why do they need to replace the brake booster?

Depending on your level of skill, I would think the AC belt, valve cover gaskets would be easy to do yourself and have the rest done.

The tailshaft coupling (guibo) is pretty important. I would replace that and the thrust arm bushings first, then decide if you really need to do the rest if you dont have the $$. Its an awfully expensive list.

[zman-95-540i]

Valve cover gaskets are pretty straightforward. I paid to have my engine mounts replaced since it seemed like a major PIA to access. Labor for me was $300US.

Good luck.

[dennyg]

I had any indy replace engine and transmission mounts front brake rotors rear brake lines...total was 450 parts and labor. I think they have you by the short hairs. I don't think you need to go to "specialists" Find a good indy that charges 45 bucks an hour and knock off the easier stuff there. Maybe Aus. in general has higher labor rates and my perspective is biased but I bought my car for the same price you were quoted.....good luck

[rob101]

I don't buy anything domestically before i check with BMA. this is why take an example i saved a friend of a friend $500 on 2 items for his 928 a headlight relay and a indicator stalk. which came to about $400 vs. 1k from porsche.
I can't believe BMW wants $150 for a RHD microfilter!

[yy101]

Turns out my engine mounts were rooted. I sourced a pair from BMA for 28 bucks each plus a top radiator hose for 8 dollars more. My indy fitted it all, plus they also fixed my rear electric windows (the brush on the electric motor was jammed due to lack of use hehe, simply push down button and hit it with hand and it starts again!!!) for a total of $126.50 AUD.

Nathan and Milton Coombs from Coombs Mechanical in Gladstone are legends. Knowing a good indy makes all the difference. Dealerships are the last resort.

:D :D :D

[yy101]

Turns out my engine mounts were rooted. I sourced a pair from BMA for 28 bucks each plus a top radiator hose for 8 dollars more. My indy fitted it all, plus they also fixed my rear electric windows (the brush on the electric motor was jammed due to lack of use hehe, simply push down button and hit it with hand and it starts again!!!) for a total of $126.50 AUD.

Nathan and Milton Coombs from Coombs Mechanical in Gladstone are legends. Knowing a good indy makes all the difference. Dealerships are the last resort.

:D :D :D

[yy101]

I don't buy anything domestically before i check with BMA. this is why take an example i saved a friend of a friend $500 on 2 items for his 928 a headlight relay and a indicator stalk. which came to about $400 vs. 1k from porsche.
I can't believe BMW wants $150 for a RHD microfilter!

Turns out my engine mounts were rooted. I sourced a pair from BMA for 28 bucks each plus a top radiator hose for 8 dollars more. My indy fitted it all, plus they also fixed my rear electric windows (the brush on the electric motor was jammed due to lack of use hehe, simply push down button and hit it with hand and it starts again!!!) for a total of $126.50 AUD.

Nathan and Milton Coombs from Coombs Mechanical in Gladstone are legends. Knowing a good indy makes all the difference. Dealerships are the last resort.

:D :D :D

[compmore]

the 1100 is for resleeving mine.new they want $2200.i'm gonna get prices on the
engine mounts and tailshaft coupling

for the $594 labour on the rocker cover gaskets I'll try diy


geoff

[genphreak]

the 1100 is for resleeving mine.new they want $2200.i'm gonna get prices on the
engine mounts and tailshaft coupling

for the $594 labour on the rocker cover gaskets I'll try diy
geoff There is a pipe inside the M60 manifold which typically leaks. I was assuming it was that- Search for Regal632s posts on the matter. I was assuming they were pulling that too! If not it sounds like highway robbery.

$1100 for resleeving a master cylinder seems rich too. I'd buy a new one (or even second hand one from the US) and plumb that in before spending that much. At least you'd have a spare then too. Just beware to use Super Dot 4 (not Dot 4) and a pressure bleeder else it'll never feel the same with a few bubbles in the system.

What are the symptoms of the problem, btw?

When I say they are pretty good, that's the feedback I've heard from good people over the years. I've never been there. I'd say they'd have to do good work and the prices won't be cheap (this is Australia) so I never expected them to be bad.

:) Nick

[BigKriss]

I missed this thread but what eventually happened?

[mattyb]

The engine mounts are easy and about $40 a piece. as for the brake booster thats the real oem or BMW price as BMW worthingtons tried to stitch me on this some time ago, never needed it though. I have used bee emms before and have to say they are good people who do the right thing and help when needed. Bottom line with 540 or any BM is start learning to do it yourself other wise this will be the case each time something is needed doing.

[compmore]

had bee ems do the tailshaft coupler and gearbox mounts.then had a second opinon from crawfords who said steering, brake cylinder and engine mounts were ok so left them

had them do the rocker gaskets and plugs just did o2 sensors myself

still have an engine oil leak,wheel sensor,and sometmes rough idle when cold
to resolve but slowly working thru it

geoff

[yaofeng]

The engine mounts are easy and about $40 a piece. as for the brake booster thats the real oem or BMW price as BMW worthingtons tried to stitch me on this some time ago, never needed it though. I have used bee emms before and have to say they are good people who do the right thing and help when needed. Bottom line with 540 or any BM is start learning to do it yourself other wise this will be the case each time something is needed doing.

The M60 driver side engine mount IS NOT EASY to do.

[BigKriss]

YES IT EASY!!!! I have done it with mattyb and if it was hard for you then let me help next time. Mattyb did a great write up on this with pics some time ago. what was the hard bit??? you obviously did it the hard way and didnt get any advice first

[mattyb]

yep thats right matey, easy as piss. Yao what was the bit u had trouble with?

[yaofeng]

yep thats right matey, easy as piss. Yao what was the bit u had trouble with?

It is easy because you guys are driving on the wrong side of the road. Where we drive on the RIGHT side of the road the driver side mount is hidden behind the alternator and under the oil hoses to and from the oil filter housing and a few pieces of power steering hoses.

I don't think I have big hands. But there is no way to stick my hand with a ratchet and a 17 mm socket to reach in to the mount to turn the nut without loosening both the oil filter housing and the alternator.

Either you have tiny hands or your definition of easy is different. In any case I'd apprreciate a link of your instructions.

Also you can tell me how long it takes to do the mount on the V8 on the driver side. I mean driver side on cars being driven on the right side of the road, not the wrong side.

[genphreak]

Either you have tiny hands or your definition of easy is different. In any case I'd apprreciate a link of your instructions.

Also you can tell me how long it takes to do the mount on the V8 on the driver side. I mean driver side on cars being driven on the right side of the road, not the wrong side. No, you just have to sacrific (fabricate a stubby version) of a 17mm spanner like Matty's - have a look for his write-up on the issue.

[mattyb]

Hi Yao,

i can appreciate your situation; i thought that when u answered compmores thread u may have been in Australia and I think i confused you with yy101. any how I was not able to get socket in there either but i have this cut down and shimmied 17mm open ended and also a 17mm ring spanner also shimmied and cut down on the outer ring. The turns I was able to get were minimal but were enough to crack it, i also had a large bar/ pipe that I could slide in to get the 2 or 3 mm movement each time. I will try to find the link for you and send asap when I do. Are you handy with adapting tools?

Regards

mattyb

[yaofeng]

Hi Yao,

i can appreciate your situation; i thought that when u answered compmores thread u may have been in Australia and I think i confused you with yy101. any how I was not able to get socket in there either but i have this cut down and shimmied 17mm open ended and also a 17mm ring spanner also shimmied and cut down on the outer ring. The turns I was able to get were minimal but were enough to crack it, i also had a large bar/ pipe that I could slide in to get the 2 or 3 mm movement each time. I will try to find the link for you and send asap when I do. Are you handy with adapting tools?

Regards

mattyb

And you described it like a walk in the park after doing what you did. Yeah.. it is very, very easy.

If what you did is what you described in your post, there is no need to send the link because you are not doing anything significantly different from what I did. The bottom line is, it is not easy.

You guys are masters of understatement.

[mattyb]

well then I still dont get the hard bit. It took half an hour. it was easy unless your in a wheel chair maybe. how hard is it to do a quick mod to a tool? very sorry for offering to help. If u you do make one of those tools sharpen the end of it stick it where it fits mate!!!!! if that happens to be too hard ill come to the states and sort it for you. by the way do you have trouble with shoe laces?

regards

mattyb

[yaofeng]

well then I still dont get the hard bit. It took half an hour. it was easy unless your in a wheel chair maybe. how hard is it to do a quick mod to a tool? very sorry for offering to help. If u you do make one of those tools sharpen the end of it stick it where it fits mate!!!!! if that happens to be too hard ill come to the states and sort it for you. by the way do you have trouble with shoe laces?

regards

mattyb

Yes. I do have problem tying my shoe laces in my wheel chair. I also converted the 540 to a 6 speed by removing the drive train also in my wheel chair.

[mattyb]

well if you can do that why is it so hard to do the mounts? you obviously must have some considerable skill and a level of mechanical / engineering competence.

[yaofeng]

well if you can do that why is it so hard to do the mounts? you obviously must have some considerable skill and a level of mechanical / engineering competence.

I have a feeling we are talking apples and oranges, even on the same M60 V8.

Let me get this straight, sitting in the car, which side (right or left) is the following component attached to your engine:

oil filter housing,
alternator,
power steering pump,
brake booster,
brake booster linkage,
ABS unit,
the steering box,
power steering reservoir,
all of the hoses for power steering and between the oil filter housing and the engine.

These are all on the left side for M60's sold in the US.

[yaofeng]

I have a feeling we are talking apples and oranges, even on the same M60 V8.

Let me get this straight, sitting in the car, which side (right or left) is the following component attached to your engine:

oil filter housing,
alternator,
power steering pump,
brake booster,
brake booster linkage,
ABS unit,
the steering box,
power steering reservoir,
all of the hoses for power steering and between the oil filter housing and the engine.

These are all on the left side for M60's sold in the US.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/405142

Geting no answers from you Aussies on this pissing contest about how easy or hard to do the V8 driver side engine mount, I found out why. It is easy because your right hand drive V8's do not have the brake vacuum booster on the left side of the engine.

Next time you Aussies say again how easy it is to do the left side engine mount, please qualify it with where the steering wheel is located so you do not mislead people. This is just to set the record straight.