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45 minute read
Bluebee E39 (DIYs with lots of photographs)
Compliments of Bluebee @ www.bimmerfest.com
2-10-2011
Hi,
I'm Bluebee. I live in California. My goal is always to search, ask, listen, and then add value to every thread I can.
I feel most (but not all) questions have already been asked ... so ... what I strive to do is collect and summarize existing responses.
In each of the threads that I foster, I list all the relevant references; and for the best threads, I combine them into
- the VERY best of E39 Links
I've also tried to collect and summarize every single abbreviation used in the E39 forums for the past few years:
- BMW-specific E39 acronyms (list and definition)
I never did this newbie "intro" thing and by now I've been here a few years (so it's kind'a late for that).
A little about "me" ...
- I am intensely private, so for the longest time, I didn't even enable PMs (and I don't do "friend" requests either).
- I love helping people ... but some of them have to start helping themselves a little bit.
- I can't stand poor grammar or spelling or rudeness ... and I all-too-often call others out on that (some people think writing like a five-year old is OK).
- For those people, I have to remind them that sentences are like turn signals ... they're not for you ... they're for the other guy ... it's a courtesy to us to write in proper English.
- I try to post a relevant picture in at least half of my posts (which is tremendously expensive of my time); but I do that to ensure the point is well made.
- I "care" that people get their answers ... and I go to a lot of trouble to provide clickable links so that they can do so efficiently (again, this take tremendous time and energy).
But I'm not perfect by any means ...
I often ask "dumb" questions (simply because I'm ignorant); but I try to recover and add value that was previously unknown.
Examples of dumb questions that turned into very valuable threads might be:
- 2002 E39 ASC BRAKE ABS lights on => Diagnostic Procedure & Parts Location
- Can you show me on this pic where the headlight adjusters are?
- Do the four frame jack rubber blocks do anything?
- AAA is towing my car in 30 minutes (total electrical failure) (1) (2)
- What brake pads are recommended for street use on the E39?
- How to choose H7 high/low beam replacement bulbs?
etc.
I feel there should be a 1:1 ratio of repairs to DIYs for anyone here (although it's more like 1000:1 in reality).
For me, if I repair something, then I should write a DIY. My DIYs never skip a step (if I can help it); but they're totally specific to my make and model and year and options.
And, if someone asks ME a question, I should respond (and also report back on EVERY thread that I open what the final result is and was) ... and even update that thread afterward as new information arises. And, I strive to cross link with other threads, for easy one-click access (basically, if you hit one of my threads, it's cross linked to where else you need resources).
Here are some of my textual DIYs:
- Removal instructions for the alternator & drive belt system of a 2002 525i
- Removal instructions for the fan shroud of a 2002 525i
Unfortunately, I'm a klutz. So I make a LOT of mistakes. Sometimes I think I should write my DIYs not as what do to, but, as it turns out, what NOT to do!
- How not to do an E39 gravity feed oil change (1)
- How not to do an E39 vacuum extraction oil change (1)
- How not to repair the E39 leather seat stitching (1)
- How not to repair your E39trunk wiring loom (1) [ how to do it right (1) ]
- How not to remove the nipple from the E39 radiator (broken radiator nipple)
- How not to put your E39 fan clutch back on (crooked fan clutch nut)
- How not to bleed your E39 cooling system (broken bleeder screw)
- How not to replace your E39 thermostat (thermostat loom misplaced)
- How not to remove your E39 expansion tank (broken expansion tank nipple & cn90 repair)
etc.
My biggest problem, at this point, is how to organize my thousands of pictures I post so I can write better pictorial DIYs.
So, to start solving that problem ... I'm gonna put pictures of my E39 in various stages of repair in this thread ... and then reference those pictures below in the DIYs that I write.
Starting now,
Bluebee
Here are some pictures I'll be using in a DIY for how to repair the front driver side window regulator.
- What's the NEXT step for removing the door panel to diagnose broken window regulators
3-5-2011
The previous post above I've been daily updating finally (after two months) locked up. So it's back to a new post.
I'm getting more experience with this, so I'll try to improve the links by consolidating for common specific topics an attempt at predicting future questions that will be asked based on the answers (yeah, like Jeopardy) so that a single keyword-rich sentence answers "most" of the upcoming questions before they're even asked.
- All about DSC (1) & how to diagnose & fix the amber ABS DSC (or ASC) BRAKE trifecta (1) or the amber ABS DSC (or ASC) bifecta (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & what is the ABS control module testing pinout for the older E39s (1) & what is the logic of ABS diagnostics (1) (2) (3) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & how to test the brake pressure sensor (1) & how to autopsy & fix your Bosch ABS control module yourself for free (1) (2) (3) (1) (2) (3) (4) & what anomalies occur while the ABS control module is out of your vehicle for repair (1) (2) (3) & how to replace wheel speed sensors (1) (2) & why you want OEM wheel speed sensors (1) & what happens if you don't code your VIN into a new/salvage ABS control module (1)
- What is the right brand of BMW E39 FSU (aka FSR) to purchase (1) (2) when your interior heating & air conditioning HVAC/IHKA blower motor goes haywire (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to repair your own final stage resistor including an autopsy & wiring diagram schematic (1) (2) and why a bad final stage unit will cause the battery to drain overnight (1) (2) (3) & how to isolate and replace the E39 blower motor (1) (2) (3) (4) & how not to replace the FSU (1)
- What to look for when your KTMP (1) or coolant temperature gauge indicates overheating (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) & what to look for in a perfectly normal E39 cooling system (1) & a picture of every failed part in the cooling system (1) & various techniques to properly bleed (1) (2) (3) & refill (1) & what coolant to use (1) & what parts to replace (1) & what special tools to make or buy (1) & how to tell how old your cooling system is (1) (2) & how to test the cooling system auxiliary electrical fan (1) (2) & the infamous fuse 75 (1) & the aux fan relay (1) & how to diagnose lack of HVAC/IHKA heater core heat with cooling system (auxiliary pump) at idle (1) & a Behr radiator and Behr/Heat expansion tank autopsy (1) (2) & request for another Behr surge tank autopsy (1) & why new made-in-China Behr/Hella expansion tanks are DOA (1) & E39 Fan shroud removal DIY (Besian) (M54) & some of the better cooling system DIYs (cn90 1997-1998 M54TU) (cn90 V8) (aioros '99-03 M54) (Ågent99 '01 530i) (pelican 3-series) (bluebee M54B25) & tricks to replace the fan clutch nut (1) & lower-hose thermoswitch o-ring (1) & to non-destructively remove the heater hoses (1) or radiator nipple (1) or expansion tank nipple (1) (2) or Oetiker clamp (1) or misplaced thermostat wiring loom (1) or broken bleeder screw (1) & modifying the cooling system (pressure cap) (zero psi fluids) or Zionsville (BlackBMWs) (William) (ohmess) aluminum radiators & what happens if you drive one mile too far with an overheated BMW cooling system (1).
- What E39 street use brake pads (1) and rotors (1) and suppliers (1) (2) are most often recommended & how to do a complete four wheel brake job DIY (1) (2) (3) including the parking brake drum shoes (1) (2) (3) & exactly what lube/paste to use and not use (1) & where to lube (1) and not to lube (1) what tools (1) (2) and supplies (1) you'll need & what specifications you must know (1) including minimum specs for the brake shoes (1) (2) taking care to measure torque accurately (1) & how to crack friction material edge codes (1) & how far you can go once the brake wear sensor trips (1) (2) (3) (4) & how long do rotors last (1) & how to clear the check brake lining warning the right way (1) (2) and how to hardwire the sensor (1) (2) & how to diagnose brake-related vibration (1) (2) (3) & the truth about rotor "warp" (1) & how to rebuild the calipers (1) & how to measure runout (1) & should you just turn the rotors (1) & how to remove stuck rusted-on brake rotors (1) & how to remove a stuck 6mm brake rotor set screw (1) & how to replace the anti-rattle spring (1) (2) & what about unsightly rust (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how to bed (1) (2) & bleed or flush (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) your brakes & what brake & clutch hydraulic fluid to use (1) and how much it will cost if you do not DIY (1) (2) (3)
How to identify & fix an oil filter housing (OFH) leak (1) (2) (3) (4) & how to identify an oil pan gasket leak (1) & how to remove & replace the E39 V8 oil pan gasket (1) (2) or the E39 I6 oil pan gasket (1) & hints how to replace the rigid metalized I6 oil pan gasket without removing the subframe (1) & if you do remove the subframe, how to build your own hoist & engine-support tools (1) & how to fix broken or stripped oil drain pan plug bolt threads (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)
- Choosing the right BMW tire size (1) (2) & tyre circumference, diameter, offset, & clearance calculators (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & a torque conversion calculator (1) & how to logically choose tires by the numbers (1) (2) & where to buy your tires in the USA (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & tire plant codes (1) (2) (3) & tire safety (1) & recommended tire pressures (1) (2) (3) & the claimed benefits of nitrogen gas (1) (2) & tire terminology (1) (2) & wheel terminology (1) & BMW wheel specs (1) & BMW & replica wheelstyles (1) (2) (3) (4) & the difference between cast vs forged wheels (1) & where to find the wheel markings for proper match mounting (1) & the best products for cleaning wheels (1).
- How to identify all BMW computer-specific OBDII DTC diagnostic fault codes (1) & how to better understand the key EPA federal test procedure (FTP) concept of the BMW SES "drive cycle" (1) & how to diagnose a typical BMW E39 engine misfire (1) or a sporadic-temperature-change cold-engine intermittent misfire (1) obtaining the pending or diagnostic trouble code (DTC) using free or freeware scans (1) [except in California or Hawaii (1) (2)] or the cheapest ODII scanner in the world (1) (2) or a better overall scanner (1) or the best diagnostic tools (1) (2) (3)
- BMWfans phantom diagrams (1) & realoem nominal prices by part number (1) & EACTuning prices by part number (1) labor rates by zip code (1) (2) (3) where to find a good mechanic (1) (2) joining BMWCCA (1) (2) & finding a reputable BMW indy in your area (1) (2).
- The dozen BMW alignment specs (1) and which are adjustable on the E39 (1) & how to DIY caster, camber & toe at home (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) and how to make your own alignment tools (1) & the theory of alignment with (1) or without adding weight (1) (2) (3)
- How to do a complete overhaul of your E39 rear suspension (1) (2) (3) (4) or just the rear subframe axle bushings (1) (2) or the rear upper control arm (1) or the rear shocks (1) & springs (1) & cv boots (1) & M5 sway bars (1) (2) with special tools for rear ball joint removal (1) & where to buy a rear ball joint press (1) (2) & what tools to use for the rear alignment (1) & what are the BMW TIS alignment specs & procedures (1) & how to do a reduced negative camber (1) or normal rear wheel alignment (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) & alignment with (1) or without extra weight (1) (2) (3)
- Which is better, stock or aftermarket cold air intake (1) (2) & a home-made CAI (1) & the general consensus on the effectiveness of an aftermarket CAI versus the stock BMW CAI (1) (2) (3) (4) and of the K&N oiled air filter over the stock air filter (1) & how to reduce the risk of hydro lock (1) (2).
- CCV FAILS: crankcase ventilation valve diaphragm tears, freezes (1), &/or clogs (1), necessitating CCV replacement (M54,M54,M54, M54 observations) (M52,M52) (M52TU) (M62,M62) ('99 528i) ('98 528i); raising pressures, often causing the OFH oil filter housing to leak (1) (2) (3) (4); frequently blowing the VCG valve cover gasket (1); and sometimes the head gasket (1) (2); often causing vacuum leaks (1) (2) (3).
- DISA VALVE FLAP BREAKS: the DIfferenzierte SAuganlage ("Differential Air Intake") valve flap breaks (1), sometimes with parts sucked into the intake manifold (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) or the disa valve o-ring fails (1) (2) & where to get just the DISA valve o-ring (1) & how the DISA valve operates (1) (2) (3) & an example of how a broken DISA valve can ruin your engine (1) & how to test DISA operation (1) (2) or temporarily repair your DISA valve for free (1).
- What to do when both your automatic steering wheel tilt and manual & automatic driver seat control fails (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & related automatic steering wheeltilt details (1) (2) (3) & what to do if your steering wheel & key cylinder locks in place (1) & signs of a failing ignition switch (1) or ring antenna (1) & the BMW TIS for when the ignition switch spins but does not engage (1) & rebuilding a failed ignition switch (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) & how to test your BMW E39 DSC steering wheel sensors (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how to retrofit to a 3-spoke M-Sport steering wheel (1) (2) (3) (4) & heated steering wheel retrofits (1) & updating the life of an old steering wheel (1) & where to buy the BMW steering wheel roundel (1) (2) (3) (4) (5).
- How to fix the wet power steering reservoirs due to poor O-ring design (1) (2) & why you want to fix the power steering hose drip onto the alternator (1) (2) (3) & how to debug PSP power steering pump noise (1) (2) (3) or steering rack noise (1) & how to flush fix cloudy ATF fluid (1) (2) and what PS fluid to use (1) (2) & DIYs to replace power steering hoses (1) (2) (3) (4) (5).
- How to remove angel eye bulbs (1) (2) (3) how to retrofit halogen angeleye bulb to LEDs (1) (2) (3) (4) how to modify pre-facelift headlights to angel eyes (1) (2) (3) (4) & which stock angel-eye bulbs to buy (1) (2) and which stock H7 'halogen' bulbs to buy (1) (2) (3).
- How to buy E39 25" driver side & 22" passenger side windshield wiper blade refills (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) & the wiper arm (1) (2) & troubleshooting or replacing the wiper motor (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) or wiper switch (1) or wiper relay (1) or rain sensor (1) (2) & the automatic rain sensor retrofit (1) (2).
- How to repair & reset the sunroof (1) (2) (3) & how to fix sun roof rattles (1) & how to test & fix moonroof leaks (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) causing water on the front passenger carpet & how to remove the roof headliner (1)
- The main causes of vibration while highway driving (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5); while highway braking (1) (2) (3); and while slow speed braking on bumps (1) & TireRackvehicle vibration diagnosis chart (1) (jpg) with match mounting hints (1) & due to worn drive shaft, flex disc, center bearing, or "giunti Boschi", namely the giubo (pronounced sort of like jew'eebo)- but watch out, it's sometimes misspelled as "guibo" (1) (2) (3) (4) by those who haven't ever looked that up.
- What are 'all' options when your instrument cluster or MID pixels slowly die due to a press-fit pink electrical-connection tape lifting off its contacts over time (1) & how to remove the E39 instrument cluster (1) (2) & a summary of the BMW NA cluster-repair goodwill policy (1) & how to fix the MID pixels yourself (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & how to remove the MID (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) and how to test the MID (1)
- Combined tribal advice for people faced with a BMW engine replacement decision when the cooling system overheats the heads overheated or they suspect a blown head gasket or worse (1) (2) (3) & rear center cushion armrest
- The ultimate guide to BMW E39 sliding center console tilt storage front armrest modifications (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & rear center cushion armrest customizations (1) (2) (3) & the E39 rear ski-bag arm rest pass-through retrofit DIY (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
How to learn about (1) and set up your air conditioning (1) (2) & how to replace the activated charcoal cabin air filter (1) (2) & what cabin filter to buy (1) (2) & cn90's inexpensive cabin filter retrofit (1) (2) (3) & cabin air filter implications for stinky gym sock AC odors (1) (2) (3) (4) & how to refill your ac system for $20 (1) (2) (3) (4) & where to find your low pressure ac recharge port (1) & what refrigerant PAG oil to use (1) (1) & R134a conversion information (1) (2) how to measure AC temperature (1) & how to diagnose AC compressor knocking sounds (1) & Air conditioner compressor replacement DIY (1) or compressor rebuild (1) or ac hose rebuilding service (1) & ow to remove the IHKA air conditioning control panel to clean the circuit board (1) (2) (3) (4) with removal of MID, HVAC/IHKA, Business CD player (1), & dashboard trim (1) & how to remove the trim and bracket holding the MID & HVAC/IHKA panels (1) (2) or to replace the IHKA button (1) & how to check the IHKA sampling fan (1) & how to change OBC MID IHKA KTMP temperature from degrees Celcius to Fahrenheit (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to diagnose lack of HVAC/IHKA heater core heat with cooling system (auxiliary pump) at idle (1) & what is this thing (HVAC/IHKA solar sensor) in the middle of my dashboard by the windshield (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6).
- How to better understand the BMW drive cycle & when OBDII DTC fault codes set & clear themselves (1)
- Where to find E39 fuse boxes (1) (WDS) & how to find the front passenger seat undercarpet fuse panel (1)
- How to replace the V8 valve cover gasket (1) & for the I6 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & which VCG brand to buy (1) (2)
- When will "CHECK FILLER CAP" EVAP fault codes go away on their own (1)
- What can cause an SRS airbag light (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & what tools reset the fault (1) (2) (3) (4)
- What is the tolerance (i.e., accuracy) of our typical miles per gallon (MPG) calculations (1)
- Mass air flow sensor (MAF) and idle control valve (ICV) require periodic cleaning (1) (2) & buying a replacement MAF cheaper than the BMW MAF (RangeRover MAF) (VWMAF) (Hyundai MAF)
- How to understand the BMW E39 EWS alarm drive-away protection system (1) (2) & troubleshoot the alarm & hood switch (1) (2) (3) (4) or replace the siren (1) or disable the unlock chirp (1) (2)
- How to replace your trunk shock absorber struts (1)
- What is this thing (HVAC/IHKA solar sensor) in the middle of my dashboard by the windshield (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
- Grammar with respect to the x-words such as backward, forward, anyway, toward, etc. (1) (2)
- How to physically remove the headlights (1) & how to twist out the headlight bulbs (1) (2) (3) including HIDs (1)
- How to find out if your BMW E39 is involved in a recall (1) (2) (3) (4)
- How to open the trunk manually when you have a dead 12v car battery (1) (2)
- What is the metal for the E39 short block, cylinder liners, & camshaft head (1)
- How to replace the M54 dual temperature sensor (DTS, aka double temperature switch) in the M54 (1) (2) (3) (4) & how to make your own short DTS removal tool out of a 22mm or 7/8" box wrench (1)
- How to make your own DIY double temperature sensor (DTS) removal tool (1)
- How to make your own VANOS tools (1) & socket tools (1)
- How to test the cooling system auxiliary electrical fan (1) (2) & the infamous fuse 75 (1) & the aux fan relay (1)
- BMW service/maintenance schedule (1) & checklists I, II, and III (1) (2) & tips for newbies for what maintenance to initially perform (1) (2) and typical 150K mile maintenance issues (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & inspections (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & check/replace all fluids (1)
- Experimental results removing the fuel filler cap (aka gas cap) on the BMW E39 with resulting OBDII DTC fault and drive cycle reset (1) (2)
- How to test your BMW E39 DSC steering wheel sensors (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
- How to make your own ball joint replacement tool (1) & what balljoint tools to use (1) (2) (3) & where to buy a front wishbone (1) or rear ball joint press (1) (2)
- How to make your own engine hoist and engine support (1) when removing the subframe or I6 oil pan
- Typical 150K mile maintenance issues (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) checklists (1) inspections (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & check/replace all fluids (1) & samples of the last six months of user repair expenses (1)
- Replacing the M54 head gasket (1) & 540i cylinder head (1) & M54 cam shaft (1)
- Front (engine) strut tower bar (across the shock towers) DIY (1)
- Examples of how not to post on Bimmerfest garnering an award for the worst English grammar (1) (2)
- Where is the paint-code label location (1) (2) and part number of the BMW touchup paint (1) & how to apply touch-up paint (1) & how to spot a painted BMW (1) (2) (3)
- How to DIY replace the activated charcoal cabin air filter (1) (2) & what cabin filter to buy (1) (2) & cn90's inexpensive cabin filter retrofit (1) (2) (3) & cabin air filterimplications for stinky air conditioning (1) (2)
- How to DIY replace the engine air filter (1) & a DIY for a K&N retrofit (1) but read this about the flaws in the K & N method before deciding on any engine filter retrofit (1) (2).
- How not to remove the mass air flow sensor (MAF) spring clip (1)
- How not to remove the large radiator hose connector spring clips (1)
- Why does BMW mold "Use Castrol" on the oil filler cap (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & what is the definitive list of BMW-approved motor oils (1)
- Which extended power-train warranties are useful for an E39 (1) (2) and whether or not a replacement-part lifetime warranty make sense (1)
- What is the difference between a bimmer and a beemer and, um, yeah, a beamer (1)
- BMW diamond key initializing (1) (2), opening, charging, recoding, & battery replacement (1) of the new-style diamond key (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & converting the old-style 1996-2000 "square" key to a diamond key (1) & how to replace the rubber key pads in the old style keys (1) (2)
- V8 VALLEY PAN GASKETS LEAK: poorly designed V8 valley pan gaskets that leak coolant (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
- How to select the best BMW E39 carpet, cargo, trunk, & floor mats at the best price (1)
- Did they really convert a BMW to a pickup truck or ute? (1) (2)
- How to add hands-free OEM ULF/TCU bluetooth or Parrot or cellphone pairing to your E39 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & Hualigan (1) & what to do with an existing BMW 540i mobile telephone (1)
- Front & rear door vapor barrier improper adhesive used allowing rain water to wet the carpet (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) & what adhesives (1) & sizes for the adhesive (1)
- Oxygen sensor DIYs (540 M62) (525 M54) & locations (1) & O2 sensor tools you can make at home (1) or borrow for free (1) & all about 02 sensors (1) & eliminating the rear o2 sensors (1)
- Why we should use descriptive titles instead of single word or ubiquitous multi-word subject lines (1)
How NOT to DIY:
- How not to repair your E39, by cn90 (1)
- How not to do an E39 gravity feed oil change (1)
- How not to do an E39 vacuum extraction oil change (1)
- How not to repair the E39 leather seat stitching (1)
- How not to remove the mass air flow sensor (MAF) spring clip (1)
- How not to remove the large radiator hose connector spring clips (1)
- How not to repair your E39 trunk wiring loom (1) [ how to do it right (1) ]
- How not to remove the nipple from the E39 radiator (broken radiator nipple)
- How not to put your E39 fan clutch back on (crooked fan clutch nut)
- How not to bleed your E39 cooling system (1) (broken bleeder screw)
- How not to replace your E39 thermostat (thermostat loom misplaced)
- How not to remove your E39 expansion tank (broken expansion tank nipple & cn90 repair)
- How not to replace your battery (1) (2) (3)
- How not to install rain sensors on the windshield glass (1)
- How not to remove the E39 MID (1) (2)
- How NOT to change the E39 battery (1) (2) (3)
- How not to install rain sensors on windshield glass (1)
- How not to replace your FSU/FSR (1)
Notable PDFs:
- All about DSC and the score of ABS DIY related sens/ors from MaxVQ including steering angle, brake pressure sensor, and wheel speed sensors (pdf)
- All the BMW E39 engine technical information you want to know about the M52 engine (pdf) and the M54 engine (pdf) & the M62 engine (pdf)
- BMW approved motor oils (pdf)
- BMW TIS alignment specs and procedures for the E36, E38, & E39 (pdf).
- BMW torque values (pdf) & M62 engine-specific torque values (pdf) & a conversion calculator for foot-pound/newton-meters (1)
WIP:
- Bluebee (WIP ... work in progress) stash of pictures for DIY threads (1)
From a five-second /keyword(F3) in the VERY best of E39 Links:
3-23-2011
The previous post above I've been daily updating finally (after two months) locked up. So it's back to a new post.
I'm getting more experience with this, so I'll try to improve the links by consolidating for common specific topics an attempt at predicting future questions that will be asked based on the answers (yeah, like Jeopardy) so that a single keyword-rich sentence answers "most" of the upcoming questions before they're even asked.
- All about DSC (1-pdf) (2-pdf) & comparisons to ASC+T (1) & how to diagnose & fix the amber ABS DSC (or ASC) BRAKE trifecta (1) or the amber ABS DSC (or ASC) bifecta (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) or just the DSC light (1) & what is the ABS control module testing pinout for the older E39s (1) & what is the logic of ABS diagnostics (1) (2) (3) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & how to test the brake pressure sensor (1) & how to autopsy & fix your Bosch ABS control module yourself for free (1) (2) (3) (1) (2) (3) (4) & what anomalies occur while the ABS control module is out of your vehicle for repair (1) (2) (3) & how to replace wheel speed sensors (1) (2) & why you want OEM wheel speed sensors (1) & what happens if you don't code your VIN into a new/salvage ABS control module (1) & how to test your E39 DSC steering wheel sensors (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how to turn off DSC traction control (1) (2).
- What is the right brand of BMW E39 FSU (aka FSR) to purchase (1) (2) when your interior heating & air conditioning HVAC/IHKA blower motor goes haywire (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to repair your own final stage resistor including an autopsy & wiring diagram schematic (1) (2) and why a bad final stage unit will cause the battery to drain overnight (1) (2) (3) & how to isolate and replace the E39 blower motor (1) (2) (3) (4) & how not to replace the FSU (1)
- What to look for when your KTMP (1) or coolant temperature gauge indicates overheating (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) & what to look for in a perfectly normal E39 cooling system (1) & a picture of every failed part in the cooling system (1) & various techniques to properly bleed (1) (2) (3) & refill (1) & what coolant to use (1) & what parts to replace (1) & what special tools to make or buy (1) & how to tell how old your cooling system is (1) (2) & how to test the cooling system auxiliary electrical fan (1) (2) & the infamous fuse 75 (1) & the aux fan relay (1) & how to diagnose lack of HVAC/IHKA heater core heat with cooling system (auxiliary pump) at idle (1) & a Behr radiator and Behr/Heat expansion tank autopsy (1) (2) & request for another Behr surge tank autopsy (1) & why new made-in-China Behr/Hella expansion tanks are DOA (1) & E39 Fan shroud removal DIY (Besian) (M54) & some of the better cooling system DIYs (cn90 1997-1998 M54TU) (cn90 V8) (aioros '99-03 M54) (Ågent99 '01 530i) (pelican 3-series) (bluebee M54B25) & tricks to replace the fan clutch nut (1) & lower-hose thermoswitch o-ring (1) & to non-destructively remove the heater hoses (1) or radiator nipple (1) or expansion tank nipple (1) (2) or Oetiker clamp (1) or misplaced thermostat wiring loom (1) or broken bleeder screw (1) & modifying the cooling system (pressure cap) (zero psi fluids) or Zionsville (BlackBMWs) (William) (ohmess) aluminum radiators & what happens if you drive one mile too far with an overheated BMW cooling system (1).
- What E39 street use brake pads (1) and rotors (1) and suppliers (1) (2) are most often recommended & how to do a complete four wheel brake job DIY (1) (2) (3) including the parking brake drum shoes (1) (2) (3) & exactly what lube/paste to use and not use (1) & where to lube (1) and not to lube (1) what tools (1) (2) and supplies (1) you'll need & what specifications you must know (1) including minimum specs for the brake shoes (1) (2) taking care to measure torque accurately (1) & how to crack friction material edge codes (1) & how far you can go once the brake wear sensor trips (1) (2) (3) (4) & how long do rotors last (1) & how to clear the check brake lining warning the right way (1) (2) and how to hardwire the sensor (1) (2) & how to diagnose brake-related vibration (1) (2) (3) & the truth about rotor "warp" (1) & how to rebuild the calipers (1) & how to measure runout (1) & should you just turn the rotors (1) & how to remove stuck rusted-on brake rotors (1) & how to remove a stuck 6mm brake rotor set screw (1) & how to replace the anti-rattle spring (1) (2) & what about unsightly rust (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how to bed (1) (2) & bleed or flush (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) your brakes & what brake & clutch hydraulic fluid to use (1) and how much it will cost if you do not DIY (1) (2) (3)
How to identify & fix an oil filter housing (OFH) leak (1) (2) (3) (4) & how to identify an oil pan gasket leak (1) & how to remove & replace the E39 V8 oil pan gasket (1) (2) or the E39 I6 oil pan gasket (1) & hints how to replace the rigid metalized I6 oil pan gasket without removing the subframe (1) & if you do remove the subframe, how to build your own hoist & engine-support tools (1) & how to fix broken or stripped oil drain pan plug bolt threads (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)
- Choosing the right BMW tire size (1) (2) & tyre circumference, diameter, offset, & clearance calculators (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & a torque conversion calculator (1) & how to logically choose tires by the numbers (1) (2) & where to buy your tires in the USA (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & tire plant codes (1) (2) (3) & tire safety (1) & recommended tire pressures (1) (2) (3) & the claimed benefits of nitrogen gas (1) (2) & tire terminology (1) (2) & wheel terminology (1) & BMW wheel specs (1) & BMW & replica wheelstyles (1) (2) (3) (4) & the difference between cast vs forged wheels (1) & where to find the wheel markings for proper match mounting (1) & the best products for cleaning wheels (1).
- How to identify all BMW computer-specific OBDII DTC diagnostic fault codes (1) & how to better understand the key EPA federal test procedure (FTP) concept of the BMW SES "drive cycle" (1) & how to diagnose a typical BMW E39 engine misfire (1) or a sporadic-temperature-change cold-engine intermittent misfire (1) obtaining the pending or diagnostic trouble code (DTC) using free or freeware scans (1) [except in California or Hawaii (1) (2)] or the cheapest ODII scanner in the world (1) (2) or a better overall scanner (1) or the best diagnostic tools (1) (2) (3)
- BMWfans phantom diagrams (1) & realoem nominal prices by part number (1) & EACTuning prices by part number (1) labor rates by zip code (1) (2) (3) where to find a good mechanic (1) (2) joining BMWCCA (1) (2) & finding a reputable BMW indy in your area (1) (2) & the most often recommended parts suppliers (1)
- The dozen BMW alignment specs (1) and which are adjustable on the E39 (1) & how to DIY caster, camber & toe at home (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) and how to make your own alignment tools (1) & the theory of alignment with (1) or without adding weight (1) (2) (3)
- How to do a complete overhaul of your E39 rear suspension (1) (2) (3) (4) or just the rear subframe axle bushings (1) (2) or the rear upper control arm (1) or the rear shocks (1) & springs (1) & cv boots (1) & M5 sway bars (1) (2) with special tools for rear ball joint removal (1) & where to buy a rear ball joint press (1) (2) & what tools to use for the rear alignment (1) & what are the BMW TIS alignment specs & procedures (1) & how to do a reduced negative camber (1) or normal rear wheel alignment (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) & alignment with (1) or without extra weight (1) (2) (3)
- Which is better, stock or aftermarket cold air intake (1) (2) & a home-made CAI (1) & the general consensus on the effectiveness of an aftermarket CAI versus the stock BMW CAI (1) (2) (3) (4) and of the K&N oiled air filter over the stock air filter (1) & how to reduce the risk of hydro lock (1) (2).
- CCV FAILS: crankcase ventilation valve diaphragm tears, freezes (1), &/or clogs (1), necessitating CCV replacement (M54,M54,M54, M54 observations) (M52,M52) (M52TU) (M62,M62) ('99 528i) ('98 528i); raising pressures, often causing the OFH oil filter housing to leak (1) (2) (3) (4); frequently blowing the VCG valve cover gasket (1); and sometimes the head gasket (1) (2); often causing vacuum leaks (1) (2) (3).
- DISA VALVE FLAP BREAKS: the DIfferenzierte SAuganlage ("Differential Air Intake") valve flap breaks (1), sometimes with parts sucked into the intake manifold (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) or the disa valve o-ring fails (1) (2) & where to get just the DISA valve o-ring (1) & how the DISA valve operates (1) (2) (3) & an example of how a broken DISA valve can ruin your engine (1) & how to test DISA operation (1) (2) or temporarily repair your DISA valve for free (1).
- What to do when both your automatic steering wheel tilt and manual & automatic driver seat control fails (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & related automatic steering wheeltilt details (1) (2) (3) & what to do if your steering wheel & key cylinder locks in place (1) & signs of a failing ignition switch (1) or ring antenna (1) & the BMW TIS for when the ignition switch spins but does not engage (1) & rebuilding a failed ignition switch (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) & how to test your BMW E39 DSC steering wheel sensors (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how to retrofit to a 3-spoke M-Sport steering wheel (1) (2) (3) (4) & heated steering wheel retrofits (1) & updating the life of an old steering wheel (1) & where to buy the BMW steering wheel roundel (1) (2) (3) (4) (5).
- How to fix the wet power steering reservoirs due to poor O-ring design (1) (2) & why you want to fix the power steering hose drip onto the alternator (1) (2) (3) & how to debug PSP power steering pump noise (1) (2) (3) or steering rack noise (1) & how to flush fix cloudy ATF fluid (1) (2) and what PS fluid to use (1) (2) & DIYs to replace power steering hoses (1) (2) (3) (4) (5).
- How to remove angel eye bulbs (1) (2) (3) how to retrofit halogen angeleye bulb to LEDs (1) (2) (3) (4) how to modify pre-facelift headlights to angel eyes (1) (2) (3) (4) & which stock angel-eye bulbs to buy (1) (2) and which stock H7 'halogen' bulbs to buy (1) (2) (3).
- How to buy E39 25" driver side & 22" passenger side windshield wiper blade refills (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) & the wiper arm (1) (2) & troubleshooting or replacing the wiper motor (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) or wiper switch (1) or wiper relay (1) or rain sensor (1) (2) & the automatic rain sensor retrofit (1) (2).
- How to repair & reset the sunroof (1) (2) (3) & how to fix sun roof rattles (1) & how to test & fix moonroof leaks (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) causing water on the front passenger carpet & how to remove the roof headliner (1)
- The main causes of vibration while highway driving (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5); while highway braking (1) (2) (3); and while slow speed braking on bumps (1) & TireRackvehicle vibration diagnosis chart (1) (jpg) with match mounting hints (1) & due to worn drive shaft, flex disc, center bearing, or "giunti Boschi", namely the giubo (pronounced sort of like jew'eebo)- but watch out, it's sometimes misspelled as "guibo" (1) (2) (3) (4) by those who haven't ever looked that up.
- What are 'all' options when your instrument cluster or MID pixels slowly die due to a press-fit pink electrical-connection tape lifting off its contacts over time (1) & how to remove the E39 instrument cluster (1) (2) & a summary of the BMW NA cluster-repair goodwill policy (1) & how to fix the MID pixels yourself (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & how to remove the MID (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) and how to test the MID (1)
- Combined tribal advice for people faced with a BMW engine replacement decision when the cooling system overheats the heads overheated or they suspect a blown head gasket or worse (1) (2) (3) & rear center cushion armrest
- The ultimate guide to BMW E39 sliding center console tilt storage front armrest modifications (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & rear center cushion armrest customizations (1) (2) (3) & the E39 rear ski-bag arm rest pass-through retrofit DIY (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
How to learn about (1) and set up your air conditioning (1) (2) & how to replace the activated charcoal cabin air filter (1) (2) & what cabin filter to buy (1) (2) & cn90's inexpensive cabin filter retrofit (1) (2) (3) & cabin air filter implications for stinky gym sock AC odors (1) (2) (3) (4) & how to refill your A/C system for $20 (1) (2) (3) (4) & where to find your low pressure aircon recharge port (1) & what refrigerant PAG oil to use (1) (1) & R134a conversion information (1) (2) how to measure A C temperature (1) & how to diagnose A / C compressor knocking sounds (1) & air conditioner compressor replacement DIYs (1) or compressor rebuilds (1) or ac hose rebuilding services (1) & how to remove the IHKA air conditioning control panel to clean the circuit board (1) (2) (3) (4) with removal of MID, HVAC/IHKA, Business CD player (1), & dashboard trim (1) & how to remove the trim and bracket holding the MID & HVAC/IHKA panels (1) (2) or to replace the IHKA button (1) & how to check the IHKA sampling fan (1) & how to change OBC MID IHKA KTMP temperature from degrees Celcius to Fahrenheit (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to diagnose lack of HVAC/IHKA heater core heat with cooling system (auxiliary pump) at idle (1) & what is this thing (HVAC/IHKA solar sensor) in the middle of my dashboard by the windshield (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6).
- How to better understand the BMW drive cycle & when OBDII DTC fault codes set & clear themselves (1)
- Where to find E39 fuse boxes (1) (2) (WDS) & how to find the front passenger seat undercarpet fuse panel (1)
- How to replace the V8 valve cover gasket (1) & for the I6 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & which VCG brand to buy (1) (2)
- When will "CHECK FILLER CAP" EVAP fault codes go away on their own (1)
- What can cause an SRS airbag light (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & what tools reset the fault (1) (2) (3) (4)
- What is the tolerance (i.e., accuracy) of our typical miles per gallon (MPG) calculations (1)
- Mass air flow sensor (MAF) and idle control valve (ICV) require periodic cleaning (1) (2) & buying a replacement MAF cheaper than the BMW MAF (RangeRover MAF) (VWMAF) (Hyundai MAF)
- How to understand the BMW E39 EWS alarm drive-away protection system (1) (2) & troubleshoot the alarm & hood switch (1) (2) (3) (4) or replace the siren (1) or disable the unlock chirp (1) (2)
- How to replace your trunk shock absorber struts (1)
- What is this thing (HVAC/IHKA solar sensor) in the middle of my dashboard by the windshield (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
- Grammar with respect to the x-words such as backward, forward, anyway, toward, etc. (1) (2)
- How to physically remove the headlights (1) & how to twist out the headlight bulbs (1) (2) (3) including HIDs (1)
- How to find out if your BMW E39 is involved in a recall (1) (2) (3) (4)
- How to open the trunk manually when you have a dead 12v car battery (1) (2)
- What is the metal for the E39 short block, cylinder liners, & camshaft head (1)
- How to replace the M54 dual temperature sensor (DTS, aka double temperature switch) in the M54 (1) (2) (3) (4) & how to make your own short DTS removal tool out of a 22mm or 7/8" box wrench (1)
- How to make your own DIY double temperature sensor (DTS) removal tool (1)
- How to make your own VANOS tools (1) & socket tools (1)
- How to test the cooling system auxiliary electrical fan (1) (2) & the infamous fuse 75 (1) & the aux fan relay (1)
- BMW service/maintenance schedule (1) & checklists I, II, and III (1) (2) & tips for newbies for what maintenance to initially perform (1) (2) and typical 150K mile maintenance issues (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & inspections (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & check/replace all fluids (1)
- Experimental results removing the fuel filler cap (aka gas cap) on the BMW E39 with resulting OBDII DTC fault and drive cycle reset (1) (2)
- How to test your BMW E39 DSC steering wheel sensors (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
- How to make your own ball joint replacement tool (1) & what balljoint tools to use (1) (2) (3) & where to buy a front wishbone (1) or rear ball joint press (1) (2)
- How to make your own engine hoist and engine support (1) when removing the subframe or I6 oil pan
- Typical 150K mile maintenance issues (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) checklists (1) inspections (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & check/replace all fluids (1) & samples of the last six months of user repair expenses (1)
- Replacing the M54 head gasket (1) & 540i cylinder head (1) & M54 cam shaft (1)
- Front (engine) strut tower bar (across the shock towers) DIY (1)
- Examples of how not to post on Bimmerfest garnering an award for the worst English grammar (1) (2)
- Where is the paint-code label location (1) (2) and part number of the BMW touchup paint (1) & how to apply touch-up paint (1) & how to spot a painted BMW (1) (2) (3)
- How to DIY replace the activated charcoal cabin air filter (1) (2) & what cabin filter to buy (1) (2) & cn90's inexpensive cabin filter retrofit (1) (2) (3) & cabin air filterimplications for stinky air conditioning (1) (2)
- How to DIY replace the engine air filter (1) & a DIY for a K&N retrofit (1) but read this about the flaws in the K & N method before deciding on any engine filter retrofit (1) (2).
- How not to remove the mass air flow sensor (MAF) spring clip (1)
- How not to remove the large radiator hose connector spring clips (1)
- Why does BMW mold "Use Castrol" on the oil filler cap (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & what is the definitive list of BMW-approved motor oils (1)
- Which extended power-train warranties are useful for an E39 (1) (2) and whether or not a replacement-part lifetime warranty make sense (1)
- What is the difference between a bimmer and a beemer and, um, yeah, a beamer (1)
- BMW diamond key initializing (1) (2), opening, charging, recoding, & battery replacement (1) of the new-style diamond key (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & converting the old-style 1996-2000 "square" key to a diamond key (1) & how to replace the rubber key pads in the old style keys (1) (2)
- V8 VALLEY PAN GASKETS LEAK: poorly designed V8 valley pan gaskets that leak coolant (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
- How to select the best BMW E39 carpet, cargo, trunk, & floor mats at the best price (1)
- Did they really convert a BMW to a pickup truck or ute? (1) (2)
- How to add hands-free OEM ULF/TCU bluetooth or Parrot or cellphone pairing to your E39 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & Hualigan (1) & what to do with an existing BMW 540i mobile telephone (1)
- Front & rear door vapor barrier improper adhesive used allowing rain water to wet the carpet (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) & what adhesives (1) & sizes for the adhesive (1)
- Oxygen sensor DIYs (540 M62) (525 M54) & locations (1) & O2 sensor tools you can make at home (1) or borrow for free (1) & all about 02 sensors (1) & eliminating the rear o2 sensors (1)
- Why we should use descriptive titles instead of single word or ubiquitous multi-word subject lines (1)
Recommendations for the dozen fluids in your BMW E39:
- BMW E39 fluid summary printout for your glovebox (1)
- Fundamental BMW fluids decision-making religious camps (1) and algorithms specific to motor oil selection (1), coolant doctrine (1), & gasoline dogma (1)
- Manual transmission fluid (1) (2) & manual transmission fluid-change DIYs (1) (2) (3)
- Automatic transmission fluid (1) (2) (3) (4) & automatic transmission fluid & filter DIYs (1) (2) (3) (4) & torque values (1) & how to find the hidden E39 transmission fluidlevel dipstick (1) & why ATF gushes out of the fill hole (1) & ZF 5HP19 facts (1)
- Power steering fluid (1) (2) & power steering fluid flush DIYs (1) (2) (3) (4) & volumes (1)
- Coolant, for engine, automatic transmission, power steering, and AC evaporator cooling (1) & bleeding (1) (2) (3) or refilling DIYs (1)
- Brake & clutch hydraulic fluid (1) & brake-job fluids (1) how brake bleeding DIYs (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
- Engine lubrication, i.e., motor oil (1) (2) (3) & gravity oil change DIY (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & vacuum extraction DIY (1) (2) (3) & drill pump DIY (1)
- Air conditioner refrigerant & PAG oil (1) & how to refill your A/C system (1) (2) (3) (4)
- Rear differential hypoid gear oil (1) & differential fluid change DIYs (1) (2) (3)
- What battery (1) & what battery maintenance (1) & battery electrolyte (1) & battery replacement DIY (1) (2) (3) & how NOT to change the battery (1) (2) (3)
- Engine fuel, i.e., gasoline & octane (1) & "The Gasoline FAQ" & top-tier gas stations (1) & Techron additives (1) & how to clean your gas gauge sending unit (1)
- Windshield washer fluid (1)
- Intensive cleaning system fluid (1)
- Tire pressure, although not technically a fluid (1)
Others:
- Recommended E39 brake job "fluids" (1)
- Best product for cleaning wheels (1)
- Window glass cleaner fluids & cloths for the inside window & windshield glass (1)
- Interior cockpit & dashboard cleaners (1)
How NOT to DIY:
- How not to repair your E39, by cn90 (1)
- How not to do an E39 gravity feed oil change (1)
- How not to do an E39 vacuum extraction oil change (1)
- How not to repair the E39 leather seat stitching (1)
- How not to remove the mass air flow sensor (MAF) spring clip (1)
- How not to remove the large radiator hose connector spring clips (1)
- How not to repair your E39 trunk wiring loom (1) [ how to do it right (1) ]
- How not to remove the nipple from the E39 radiator (broken radiator nipple)
- How not to put your E39 fan clutch back on (crooked fan clutch nut)
- How not to bleed your E39 cooling system (1) (broken bleeder screw)
- How not to replace your E39 thermostat (thermostat loom misplaced)
- How not to remove your E39 expansion tank (broken expansion tank nipple & cn90 repair)
- How not to replace your battery (1) (2) (3)
- How not to install rain sensors on the windshield glass (1)
- How not to remove the E39 MID (1) (2)
- How NOT to change the E39 battery (1) (2) (3)
- How not to install rain sensors on windshield glass (1)
- How not to replace your FSU/FSR (1)
Notable PDFs:
- All about BMW DSC and the score of sensors innervating this traction control system (1-pdf) (2-pdf)
- All the BMW E39 engine technical information you want to know about the M52 engine (pdf) and the M54 engine (pdf) & the M62 engine (pdf)
- BMW approved motor oils (pdf)
- BMW TIS alignment specs and procedures for the E36, E38, & E39 (pdf).
- BMW torque values (pdf) & M62 engine-specific torque values (pdf) & a conversion calculator for foot-pound/newton-meters (1)
WIP:
- Bluebee (WIP ... work in progress) stash of pictures for DIY threads (1)
From a five-second /keyword(F3) in the VERY best of E39 Links:
BMW_30-PAGE_DSC_COMPONENTS.PDF
BMWCurrentListing_of_SyntheticOils.pdf
BMW_E36_E38_E39_Alignment_Specs_and_Procedures.pdf
BMW_torque_values_for_all_bolts_1997.pdf
BMW_ATF_ZF_Transmission_charts.pdf
BMW_Oils_Lubricants_Sealants_and_Thread_Lockers.pdf
4-22-2011
I'll let you in on a little secret.
ALL of the links I reference are in a single thread, called the 'bestlinks' thread, cleverly hidden at the top of the forum.
So, doing a quick /alternator rebuild(F3) in that thread, I come up with the following:
Rebuilt Alternator DIYs:
- - Aioros 1999 Valeo Alternator rebuild DIY (1) and quest for materials (1)
- - DIY for replacing the brushes in an (Audi) Valeo alternator (1)
- - Cn90 rebuild of 1998 Bosch Alternator for $30 (1) (2)
- - Bosch 120 amp rebuild DIY for a VW (1)
- - Cn90 explanation of why you want to rebuild your own alternator (1)
- - Cn90 explanation of where to get hard-to-get alternator rebuild parts (1)
- - How to determine exactly what alternator you have (1)
- - How to test a BMW E39 battery & alternator (1)
- - How to tell from the part number if the alternator is rebuilt "by" Bosch (1)
- - Bosch alternator bearing replacement from a 1997 MB S600 (1) & Range Rover (1)
- etc.
I should repeat, since I edit the bestlinks thread hundreds of times a month, rather than make a zillion posts to the bestlinks thread, this particular thread was just a temporary holding spot for the work in progress I was doing. At first it was in the off-topic area, but someone moved it into the E39 area. I consider this thread defunct as I found a different 'hiding' spot to put my work in progress set of links.
Good luck!
