E39 M5

[Coog]

I’ve a cair o port for it when it gets out. Three filtered fans circulates the air round the car and will hopefully keep it good.

 

[svensktoppen]

Yes, saw that, it will do the job nicely

Anyway, we've gone a bit off topic again

 

[EF Ian]

I like the fact that air still circulates through my car port a little as it’s not completely boxed in but enough to protect it from the elements.

Its my understanding that car ports with at least 1 open end are actually better for cars that are put away wet and definitely better for daily drivers.

I’ve a cair o port for it when it gets out. Three filtered fans circulates the air round the car and will hopefully keep it good.

My airchambers have been great. I've had wet walls and surfaces in the garage when we get large fast temperature increases after long cold spells, condensation on everything in the garage with a cold hard surface. But inside the chambers my car were still completely dry.

 

[DJMCA]

Its my understanding that car ports with at least 1 open end are actually better for cars that are put away wet and definitely better for daily drivers.

Same as a garage - either cold and well ventilated or heated and sealed

 

[Coog]

The air chambers can only circulate air as good as it can get outside. If it’s moist it'll still blow moist air over the car. The M5 went into a heated dry internal garage every evening but would never have been washed or rinsed beforehand. It was a daily driver.

 

[jessy]

Great to see it's staying in the family. Certainly helped out us when you got cracked by the patio table and a spirited run to the hospital was called for

 

[Coog]

First set of jobs off the list and I didn't lift a finger. With it being worth a few quid and me knowing nothing about BMW I decided to throw it into a BMW Specialist to have them cast an expert eye over the car and sort everything.

Was advised to get the rod bearings replaced. Q much soul searching as I know this is a major operation and that these can go for a lot further than 150k miles without needing them done and I've known the car from new. It only had quality oil and was always properly warmed up. Never thrashed round a circuit or put round a cone, etc. At the same time if they ever do go it's a serious expense and not one I could walk away from given the sentimentality element.

In the end, given the money that's about to go into bodywork I decided to go ahead.

So, for anyone searching this is what 151k mile OEM rod bearings look like on a properly maintained & cared for E39 M5

Yep.

So if you're on the fence, get them done. Fortunately not through to the copper but some wear points can be felt with a finger nail.

Also had a huge list of niggles done, new arms, sensors changed, etc. Fairly significant amount of work all being told but now, mechanically speaking anyway, I have the car close to what I want.

One or two smaller jobs I can tackle myself but otherwise we're good to go. Well apart from the MOT which is about due ffs.

The specialist was very complimentary about the car; the way it drove and felt, right down to the way the gear change felt and how fresh the steering wheel was. I guess we've always known it from new and that's the way it's always been but apparently there's a lot of bagged out ones out there and they all don't wear the miles as well.

 

[cauld1]

Yep, rod bearings on BMW M engines are one of the very, very rare things am that actually are an issue and aren't just internet forum bull.

 

[Coog]

Had a full & frank chat about chains, double vanos, etc, etc and as you say rod bearings are the only thing I was told to sort ASAP.

And I know this sounds mental but I think I would have been a bit disappointed if they came out like new

 

[lennyd]

Had a full & frank chat about chains, double vanos, etc, etc and as you say rod bearings are the only thing I was told to sort ASAP.

And I know this sounds mental but I think I would have been a bit disappointed if they came out like new

Yip I'd be the same. At least you know that money wouldn't have been better spent else where

 

[Jbridges522]

Nothing better than money well spent!

 

[hannakournikova]

I can just imagine your Da’s face when you sent him those bearing pics …

 

[svensktoppen]

"Sold as seen"

Good job you caught it. Welcome to the world of old cars

 

[Nazor]

Absolutely love these. Great story behind it too @Coog… I’m going to assume you’re familiar with M539 Restorations on YouTube??

 

[Coog]

Not really, no. Have heard about them and should probably check them out.

Saw one video of a place in England seems to specialise in welding them. Got about 10 minutes of them lifting handfuls of the inner sills and chassis legs out of a ‘good’ one and just thought nope.

 

[Nazor]

Definitely recommend his channel Coog as he is obviously into the model but he does a lot of other BMW content. Very detailed etc. I think you’ll get something out of it

 

[FM155]

You honestly never know what's in there on some of them but every old car isn't the same. Hope you get the bodywork sorted without any drama now that you've got the oily bits sorted.

 

[Dan]

M539 is hands down my favourite channel on YouTube. I feel like I could easily tackle rod bearings on an S65 (I couldn’t ). Worth a binge

 

[Nazor]

M539 is hands down my favourite channel on YouTube. I feel like I could easily tackle rod bearings on an S65 (I couldn’t ). Worth a binge

He does make it look manageable and then you realise … no.

 

[Coog]

Simpleton jobs left for me to do. Need to do the transmission fluids but just can't get the time at the minute. Did want to get the fan clutch sorted before driving it further. The clutch had locked up and I've seen the fan explode at redline before and make an absolute mess. A very easy job with the right tool.

Please excuse the state of the engine bay. She's had a lot of surgery recently and its absolutely pigging!

Next up, MOT

 

[FM155]

Frig me, that's a lovely colour. Pity eventuri don't do a carbon plenum for the E39 the same as the E92 M3, something like this should be all about the noise as much as anything else.

 

[Woodcutter]

Simpleton jobs left for me to do. Need to do the transmission fluids but just can't get the time at the minute. Did want to get the fan clutch sorted before driving it further. The clutch had locked up and I've seen the fan explode at redline before and make an absolute mess. A very easy job with the right tool.

Please excuse the state of the engine bay. She's had a lot of surgery recently and its absolutely pigging!

View attachment 424416

View attachment 424415

Next up, MOT

View attachment 424414

GOAT M5.

 

[Chris tii]

Please excuse the state of the engine bay. She's had a lot of surgery recently and it’s absolutely pigging!

Trust me, no one was looking at that engine bay and thinking, “wow look at the dust.”

That M5 is stunning Craig, it has to be the best family road trip car ever. If I had one, I would book a French Euro Camp holiday and take the family over on the ferry. I want one so bad!

 

[Boydie]

Trust me, no one was looking at that engine bay and thinking, “wow look at the dust.”

 

[Steve750]

Frig me, that's a lovely colour. Pity eventuri don't do a carbon plenum for the E39 the same as the E92 M3, something like this should be all about the noise as much as anything else.

They do make them. Along with carbon intakes