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What did you do to your E39 today?


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1 hour ago, Sharkfan said:

I had leaks on my V8 PAS system - it was from the two hose connections on the bottom of the reservoir. My Indy says its common and said to take off the BMW squeeze-type hose clips and replace them with jubilee clips - job done and no more leaks.

You are right.  Those are the two pipes in the picture I posted.  You are right about the clips.  I changed them first and reduced the leak.  At the end of the day though, the pipes are over 20 years ago and typically a bit past it if original to the car. Not expensive and maybe worth changing anyway. 

Edited by Dbcrd
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  • 3 weeks later...

As it’s a rolling resto I’ve used rattle cans to cover my work as a temp fix till I’ve got every panel rust free, it will get a full respray eventually but the cans have done me proud tbh, the fade out thinners works a treat for blending the clear coat into the old.

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I was going to take up the services of a great forum member here to do my lights for me but things have happened unfortuneately and I don't have the cash to pay someone else to do it.

Happened to come across these on eBay and after a little chat with the seller came up with a price too good not to buy them.

lights2.thumb.jpg.ec448d88765ca4ba7aa6f6e164da0a91.jpg

lenses1.thumb.jpg.25a97a38c703ad97b7f2f1d5085d6795.jpg

Being the DJ Auto lenses, as far as I'm aware these are 'the' ones to have and they no longer make them, so I'm very happy indeed.

Just need to sort out buying the retrofitlabs kit and then the fun will begin.

Hopeing my lights are bakeable as it's a January 2002 car and I believe the swap to epoxy was later in that year.

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3 hours ago, Starbuck88 said:

I was going to take up the services of a great forum member here to do my lights for me but things have happened unfortuneately and I don't have the cash to pay someone else to do it.

Happened to come across these on eBay and after a little chat with the seller came up with a price too good not to buy them.

lights2.thumb.jpg.ec448d88765ca4ba7aa6f6e164da0a91.jpg

lenses1.thumb.jpg.25a97a38c703ad97b7f2f1d5085d6795.jpg

Being the DJ Auto lenses, as far as I'm aware these are 'the' ones to have and they no longer make them, so I'm very happy indeed.

Just need to sort out buying the retrofitlabs kit and then the fun will begin.

Hopeing my lights are bakeable as it's a January 2002 car and I believe the swap to epoxy was later in that year.

Interesting.  I have a set of DJ Auto lenses in the loft.  I tried to bake some late 2002 lenses to fit them and failed.  Then I tried to cut the old lenses off and destroyed the lights.  Ended up buying new lights on a very good deal.  Hope you have better luck as your lights are earlier.

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Had bootlid open warning and one of the lights didn't work, nor did the boot release...time to sort the wiring from the body to the boot lid. Pulled out the conduit and as I had bought a repair kit, I cut down the length of the rubber tube to expose all the wiring and make it easier to pull the whole lot out the car to dispose of.

20240222_171058.thumb.jpg.99ca4673af96909d9a56ca0cb08b9478.jpg

bought a repair kit that came with a new rubber conduit and wires.

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Cut all wires back to 'good' locations and then used this  and a multimeter to join them all back up.

wiring.thumb.jpg.b2b6c7b93d6de49443b758b63cb96342.jpg

All sorted, hopefully will last another 20 years!

Edited by Starbuck88
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21 minutes ago, Stevecvo said:

How did you make the joints?

the kit came preassembled with crimp on connectors, from what I've read apparently this is the best way to do this as if you soldered the bare wires it's quite rigid and could crack. Thats just what I've read though.

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Marvelled at the E39’s ability to fix itself. Since I’ve had the car it’s had a very occasional snag if the radio/CD sound turning off after about 25 seconds which has been easily cured by turning the ignition off then back on.

Yesterday it escalated this nonsense by having no sound and no options to switch through the modes whatsoever - this morning it all works perfectly well again.

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It was fine again today. It has needed an ABS controller and an LCM in the last couple of years and now I have some dead pixels on the widescreen but overall it's doing pretty well for an out-in-all-weathers daily driver of 23 years vintage and over 170k miles.

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I’d be interested in that although at the moment it doesn’t really affect me as it’s a single line low in the right of the screen, and I also have a spare from when I experimented with a widescreen in my E38.

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Yeh, its not a big issue in my life either but from the Z4 i learned a few things about them and have an idea as to a cheap fix rather than a new unit.

For fun i'd like to get the TV working too.

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AAAARRGGH.

Just when I was about to post about how good a well-sorted E39 still is, the feckin' thing has decided to play up.

Basically engine rev surges whilst the gearbox doesn't engage, then a thump when it does. It doesn't do it when cold but has developed it over a couple of long runs recently.

I'm thinking a full or partial rebuild as it is on 178k miles after a gearbox service just over 30k miles ago.

The three places I am considering are;

Stephens Engineering in Ware as they have Alpina gearbox rebuild experience, or

CCM in Ewhurst, or BTEAutomotive in Bordon, as ZF UK lists them as approved ZF Pro Tech specialists with full access to ZF help for parts and knowledge.

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12 minutes ago, Sharkfan said:

AAAARRGGH.

Just when I was about to post about how good a well-sorted E39 still is, the feckin' thing has decided to play up.

Basically engine rev surges whilst the gearbox doesn't engage, then a thump when it does. It doesn't do it when cold but has developed it over a couple of long runs recently.

I'm thinking a full or partial rebuild as it is on 178k miles after a gearbox service just over 30k miles ago.

The three places I am considering are;

Stephens Engineering in Ware as they have Alpina gearbox rebuild experience, or

CCM in Ewhurst, or BTEAutomotive in Bordon, as ZF UK lists them as approved ZF Pro Tech specialists with full access to ZF help for parts and knowledge.

I'd consider another service & transgo pressure regulator valve. Worth a try considering the cost of a full rebuild. I have done the valve on some 5HP19s and all have made a massive difference in how quickly and smoothly D and R are engaged. I know yours is the 5HP24 but you should get similar results.

 

You'll probably have to order the regulator valve in from the US though

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1 minute ago, Sharkfan said:

Yeah that's the one. If ebay won't ship there are US sites you can get it from, not cheap but cheaper than rebuilding the whole thing!

 

You can read up more about it on other forums, https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-xj8-xjr-x308-27/5hp24-easy-fix-transgo-5hp-24-google-page-ranking-kit-146100/

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5 hours ago, 4aceman said:

Yeah that's the one. If ebay won't ship there are US sites you can get it from, not cheap but cheaper than rebuilding the whole thing!

 

You can read up more about it on other forums, https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-xj8-xjr-x308-27/5hp24-easy-fix-transgo-5hp-24-google-page-ranking-kit-146100/

Ordered from ebay after a quick chat with my Indy who agrees that with my symptoms its well worth trying rather than going straight to a c£3600 rebuild

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
On 07/03/2024 at 20:30, Sharkfan said:

Ordered from ebay after a quick chat with my Indy who agrees that with my symptoms its well worth trying rather than going straight to a c£3600 rebuild

I've seen some threads on Bimmerforums about using that solution too so might be worth a search, fingers crossed!

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Recently had the crankshaft position sensor (pulse generator in BM speke) replaced, instant starting again & restoration of full performance from my '98 523i.

PITA job according to the garage, something to do with the routing of the harness under the inlet manifold.

Both insurance renewal & MOT due next month, always a degree of apprehension around then 😕

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3 minutes ago, norseman said:

Recently had the crankshaft position sensor (pulse generator in BM speke) replaced, instant starting again & restoration of full performance from my '98 523i.

PITA job according to the garage, something to do with the routing of the harness under the inlet manifold.

Both insurance renewal & MOT due next month, always a degree of apprehension around then 😕

Yes the crank (I think) is a bit fiddly but not impossible. Not sure I’d describe it a PITA I think they’re over egging it there.
 

If I recall taking the oil filter cap off makes some room which helps. Long time since I’ve done one mind was on my 523i too!

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8 hours ago, duncan-uk said:

Yes the crank (I think) is a bit fiddly but not impossible. Not sure I’d describe it a PITA I think they’re over egging it there.
 

If I recall taking the oil filter cap off makes some room which helps. Long time since I’ve done one mind was on my 523i too!

Could have over-egged, but my local garage has never ripped me off so I'll take their comment in good faith.

I ordered a CPS from NGK & I guess it was around an hour's labour .. total £97 so I'm happy 😉

nb.  had to be careful with the part # for a '98, as in Sept. of that year many component numbers change.

Edited by norseman
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An a hours probably right - what i meant was yes its a bit fiddly but i've done far worse jobs. Its one of those where the physical job is very simple its just hampered by access.

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