BMW e39 540i M Sport

[StephenMcC]

I recognize the location of those photos from his channel on YouTube (PacificCoastAuto)

He does pretty good reviews!

I'd keep the JDM bootlid, also the thing on the dash looks like a toll pass scanner, pretty standard in Japan.

 

[Chris tii]

I recognize the location of those photos from his channel on YouTube (PacificCoastAuto)

He does pretty good reviews!

I'd keep the JDM bootlid, also the thing on the dash looks like a toll pass scanner, pretty standard in Japan.

Well spotted! Definately the same place. Pacific Coast Auto must be JDMauctionwatch's agent in Japan!
You can actually see my car slightly in a video he added a couple of days ago.

Also, if you look at the photos of my car you can see the same skyline and Merc Coupe in the background.

 

[Chris tii]

We have an update on the 540i.

Its on a ship called the EUPHRATES HIGHWAY. Its due into Dublin on the 21st of June.

Having googled the ship I can track exactly where it is in the world. I also wanted to see what it looked like. Its a beast!

 

[Chris tii]

Picked the car up from Dublin Port on Friday morning. Paddy for JDMauctionwatch couldn't make it until the afternoon so it was just me and my dad collecting it on our own. We were able to borrow dealer plates from a friend so I drove it back.
Had to visit a shipping company to get the right forms, then we were off to terminal 7 to collect the car. After we pulled in, the grumpy security guard stuck his head in the car window and said, "I hope your not planning on getting out of this car without high-vis vests". There was literally no one else there, in a massive, practically empty car park. I could even see the 540i sitting there waiting for me! So back out we went, off to the closest petrol station to buy a couple of high-vis vests.
Back to the terminal. Once we got to the car, it really did look like a car that had been in a ship for 2 months. It was very dusty and had a flat tyre and a dead battery. And of course, I forgot the air pump and battery booster which I literally left at the door the night before so I wouldn't forget them! And then we couldn't find the lock nut (I have found it since) to change the flat. Luckily a very nice tow truck driver who was also there, lent us an air pump. And after finding out we were there for the 5 series, the previously grumpy security guard was now my best mate. He lent us his jump leads out of his car. Turns out he used to have a 530i e39 and loved them. He was more than happy to help us get it going. He recommended a tyre shop nearby to get the puncture fixed, before we made the long drive home.
So off to the tyre shop, the guys where very helpful. They couldn't take the wheel off without the locknut so they jacked the car up and drenched the wheel in soapy water, they couldn't find any leaks so we were good to go. They didn't charge us for their time but we gave them some euros for a couple of pints to say thanks.
Finally we were through the tunnel and on the road home. First impressions were good. The car sounded great, and felt very quick even though I wasn't pushing it in the slightest. The check engine light was on, so I wanted to take it easy. The air-con was ice cold, everything seemed to be working. No creaks or rattles.
We decided not to take it home, instead I drove it straight to Car Clinique, a BMW specialist in Hillsborough. I've never been there before and Reece had no idea we were coming. Though he was more than happy to take the car for a service and MOT. He's also going to take the instrument cluster out for me to be sent off to get the pixel cluster replaced as theres hardly any pixels left.
While it was there, we both had a good look around the car. It seemed to be in amazing condition.

So next up is an MOT and then to send away the forms to have it registered.

I'm away on holiday for 2 weeks on the 30th, so its likely I'll just leave it at Car Clinique to get sorted for when I get back.

Oh and I've since found out that the Japanese 540's came with a different, quicker, 3.15 ratio diff. No need for autobahn speeds in Japan so they got a diff for acceleration! How cools that!

 

[dave b]

Great read so far Chris keep the updates coming.
What sort of price would a comparable UK car have been?

 

[Chris tii]

Great read so far Chris keep the updates coming.
What sort of price would a comparable UK car have been?

The prices seem to be all over the place because the condition of the cars are so varied. Though I think if this was a UK car in this condition and mileage it would of cost at least £2k more. Plus, I’ve found the whole experience so far, good fun, or at least a bit different.

 

[Lappintyre]

Great story. Loving that Macan too!!

 

[K55]

Lovely, think I spotted this sitting in the port. Always interesting to see what's lurking in there amongst the new stuff.

 

[Chris tii]

Just a quick update. There is no update!

The car is still at Car Clinique. He’s had it for over 2 months. And the car still hasn’t had its MOT so therefore I haven’t sent any forms away to have it registered! At this rate the car will be ready to drive by Christmas. I’m getting pretty pissed off.
Reese at Car Clinique did finally have the car ready for Mot over 2 weeks ago but then he took the Japanese toll road reader out of the car, and now it won’t even turn over.
And he hasn’t figured out what’s wrong with it yet because he’s too busy with other cars. He’s just left it there.
Just by chance, my wee brother is travelling Europe with his mates so I’ve been using his Fiesta as my daily driver. Though he’s back next week.

 

[Lyons]

@suckindiesel

I’m sure it’s killing you not having it. Will be worth the wait though! Would you consider taking it elsewhere?

 

[Neil_M]

@suckindiesel

I’m sure it’s killing you not having it. Will be worth the wait though! Would you consider taking it elsewhere?

@Chris tii I'd do just as Lyons said and take it elsewhere. Piss taken.

 

[schoolboy]

Sounds like he wants you to take it elsewhere or did you agree to no rush on it?

 

[Chris tii]

@suckindiesel

I’m sure it’s killing you not having it. Will be worth the wait though! Would you consider taking it elsewhere?

@Chris tii I'd do just as Lyons said and take it elsewhere. Piss taken.

Sounds like he wants you to take it elsewhere or did you agree to no rush on it?

I can’t take it somewhere else. The car won’t start and it it’s got no number plates. So I would have to rent a car transporter! I think he knows I ain’t going elsewhere so he can take his time. I went to see him on Monday, I drove to Hillsborough (50 minutes) because he wouldn’t answer his phone or reply to my messages. He promised he would “try” and spend time on it this week. But that obviously didn’t happen.
He knows it’s my daily, and I need it back ASAP.
And he came so highly recommended?

 

[Chris tii]

On a more productive note, I bought a sweet set of BBS 744/745 18s from a bloke in Ballymoney. Probably not a good idea to buy a set of wheels for a car you don’t even have number plates for yet!
The only picture I took is the one I sent to my brother when I pretended I put new wheels on his Fiesta. He actually believed me for a while.

 

[Rallyfreaks]

Just read this whole thread, so cool, fair play to you for taking the plunge. Love E39s - 540i is such an autobahnstormer.
Bit gutted for you to get half way round the world only to be let down by somebody 'local'..... hope you get sorted soon.

 

[Chris tii]

Just read this whole thread, so cool, fair play to you for taking the plunge. Love E39s - 540i is such an autobahnstormer.
Bit gutted for you to get half way round the world only to be let down by somebody 'local'..... hope you get sorted soon.

Cheers dude! Yeah it sucks it’s taking so long. I think it was on the ship less time!

 

[Antoin]

For the sake of 50 or 60 quid I'd hire a transporter and get it shifted back home.

 

[Chris tii]

For the sake of 50 or 60 quid I'd hire a transporter and get it shifted back home.

Yeah your probably right. I’ll go up and see him again Monday for a chat and decide then.

 

[Antoin]

Yeah your probably right. I’ll go up and see him again Monday for a chat and decide then.

It may as well sit at your house. You could even attempt to start fault finding it yourself as it doesn't sound like the current mechanic is overly enthusiastic about it.

Good luck with it as it looks a nice clean example

 

[Rallyfreaks]

I

Yeah your probably right. I’ll go up and see him again Monday for a chat and decide then.

If you do decide to take it elsewhere I have access to jeep and car transporter just outside Hillsborough, so could prob help you out, although if that's the BMW expert I'm thinking of, it's prob in right place, just give him a gee up.

 

[Chris tii]

I

If you do decide to take it elsewhere I have access to jeep and car transporter just outside Hillsborough, so could prob help you out, although if that's the BMW expert I'm thinking of, it's prob in right place, just give him a gee up.

Thanks. Appreciate the offer. I’m going to be frank with him on Monday and ask him if he just wants me to lift it and take it elsewhere. Hopefully that will gee him up enough to get it going.

 

[suckindiesel]

@suckindiesel

I’m saying very little except take it elsewhere, you’ll be led a merry dance there.

 

[Richy]

Well that was a horrendous update

Countries coming down with BMW specialists, give Fred (@southsky sunrise ) a bell and get it away to someone else.

 

[AMG]

I’m saying very little except take it elsewhere, you’ll be led a merry dance there.

If its the same place he seems to be obsessed with fitting new brakes to everything that goes through the door too!

 

[rupertfinch]

Sorry to read your woes.
I hate JDM square plates on nearly everything. I could never understand why the owners never bought a new plate surround or bumper or whatever!

In the case of your BMW the square recess is epic and sets it apart. Keep.

Good luck with getting it on the road!