Regarding the budget - one thing I could have made clearer was that the shipping quote was so high I reckoned I could fix the car for the same money. That’s basically the gist.
yeah now understand on budget target get yourself a slide hammer it will save you a lot of grief (tools never get included in the budget its the rule i use )
But if you had transported it you would have paid well over £2800 to get it where it is now and would have had a dreary video of it on the back of a truck to boot 😂 This way was much better! Had an E39, still want one now (but preferably an E39 M5 which are rarer and more expensive). Will take a good condition E39 528i Touring any day!
I mean, around £2000 (including purchase and work so far) for a car that, when bought, would NOT pass an MOT, but is now road legal for another 12 months, is a big, comfortable boat to drive in, and doesn't have any major structural defects, is not bad by any standards. Sure, the bill is going to go up to fix the rust spots and paint, but in the end I reckon it will be a really nice car for a family for quite a few more years. One question, if I may: are you going to deal with the "milky" mix in the tubing by washing the affected parts, or did all of them get replaced when you switched over the failed component and the tubing?
@@nanianmichaelsI think for a full sorted, freshly serviced and tested quality car like this that you know will be reliable, £2k is buttons really. Then there’s the fact that prices for these are rising, so if you can improve the cosmetics on a strict budget then he’s likely to do well out it.
Got to admit, I’m enjoying these videos more than MA and tavarish. There is something about taking an older car and giving it a new lease of life. Keep up the great work!
@@friguy4444Not normal everyday cars like a 528i touring that's for sure 😂 Freddy and Mat do high end sports cars and usually modify them, not save daily affordable drivers like these classics-to-be that's what I think he's getting at.
I loved Mat Armstrong’s stuff most up to the Murcielago…….it’s a bit like where does he go from here now??!! Not having a pop at Mat but, I think he’s lost some of that charm that the average man can relate do which Nino has…..almost endearment, the willing on of the underdog lol. Nino (not disrespect) is Small time with attainable cars and a total novice (same as Mat was) to which the average man can relate to imo. Alm these guys do great videos, just that MA has gotten so big now it’s not got the nitty gritty anymore which I enjoy. It’s a bit like Wheeler Dealers, love the show but I liked the early stuff best as it was cheap cars for small money, small budgets to repair which has gotten bigger, larger budgets and maybe less on the nitty gritty, intimate repairs. . . . IMO 👍🏻 whatever you think I hope they all carry on with their content
@@friguy4444 I think most others replying have covered this off. Ive watched Matt from his first video and there is something endearing about the daily struggles of car repair & maintenance thats relatable. Still watch them both however it’s become more commercialised. Just think the startup is what we all get passionate about. When you’ve achieved all you want there are only so many super cars you can watch. Does that make sense ?
@@lewis72 I've never driven the M5 but the big sixes are where it's at vs. the V8's cause of the steering rack instead of box. Still, this car no matter the shape or engine is an engineering peak.
I have a 1999 528iT with 269,000 miles as my daily driver. I also have a 2003 E39 530i with 140,000 miles. Truly amazing cars. I think they will easily last another ten years. Clean the engine and engine bay with a spray solvent. Despite what the factory says, 29/41 is not the best tire pressure. Set them all to 34psi - 35psi. The handling will improve and the tires will last much longer. No wonder you thought it handled like a boat. When set up correctly, it inspires confidence in the handling department. Check all components the cooling system for leaks and oil needs changing every six months. They are easy to maintain but slightly difficult to work (on). Change air filter annually and the two a/c cabin filters. Fix everything that needs attention.
Hey, thanks for the info, I have a 2002 auto 530i in decent condition, needs some work. I never cleaned the engine bay. It's not that bad, but what spray do you use?
10:45 usually that "milkshake" is just the oil sludge, when you dont let the oil come to temp on shorter runs over and over again it usually looks like that.
Exactly - my friend only drives 2 miles a day and her ridiculously ultra low-mileage Yaris has mayo under the filler cap and on the dipstick. It's serviced every year by Toyota and they've confirmed it's just short trips on a cold engine.
@@Clodhopping Can confirm. Ive owned both a Yaris and an Aygo that only ran like 5-10 miles a day. Full of this mayo/peanut butter. Are those the most luxurious rides with best comfort? Not a chance in hell. However Ive NEVER had cars so reliable and low cost of maintenance. 15 years of Toyota cost me less than 4 months of owning a Volvo
@@FluePeak My E39 520i used to go like that on short runs where normal temp was not reached, it's due to condensation mixing into the oil. Older Vauxhalls used to do it more than most because of their bad crankcase breather system, especially Astra G and H models, Corsas and Vectras in the UK.
That was really good - thoroughly enjoyed it and tbh, I think this channel stands out from the regulars because you're trying to keep perfectly decent cars running for the most part, simply by servicing them. These aren't cars that should be scrapped, these are cars that just haven't been maintained. I also like that you have kept the whole thing at an entirely sensible price point. Yeah it's great to see others doing 'cheap supercars' but they're never, ever cheap and we know the car's just going to sit languishing on a lift in the background for the next few years. Decent car choice, great challenge and as always, just the type of thing many of us would do!
Hey Brother i'm no mechanic but for the rounded bolts on the driveshaft a mechanic told me to treat every bolt that has slight rust on it, already like it is rounded- Heat it up, grease it with penetrating fluid and then start to tighten a bit 1/8 turn and only after that try to remove it. This has granted me in removing all bolts without stripping one. Cheers mate!
@@Andrei8pa3 You don't always have too, but often on old stuff some fool has partially rounded the head in the "undo direction" and your initially breaking the corrosion with the best possible purchase on the fastner.
Love watching your content and you remaining completely grounded and humble - just like the cars that you choose. No flashy super cars, and that to me is the attraction of this channel, these cars are within the reach of most peoples budgets.
You are not really over budget because if Copart had delivered you would still have to do all the work in the motor. Looks a nice car and someone will get plenty more miles out of it now. I love your honesty and you never move a car on without being sure everything's been fixed - even stuff that could be fixed as a bodge job - if you're not happy with it you won't pass it on to its new owner.
This, if you'd had the car delivered you'd have still needed to spend £1750 on sorting it (admitedly, not in a car park) and not had a novel bit of content to boot.
We've just bought an E39 525i Touring for £1000. It smoked a bit when cold, but wasn't headgasket either, even though it was white. Took a gamble on it being hard valve stem seals and put some Forte seal conditioner in the oil. Smoke stopped 😎 We have an E39 535i saloon we're working on, too.
I had a 2001 E39 530i Touring manual facelift model. It was an amazing car, great for long journeys. Lots of people fit bigger wheels, but I preferred the standard 16" wheels, as the taller tyre wall gave a better ride. I sold it a few years ago and miss it. I think the manuals are quite rare as most seem to be automatic.
Hero! Just because you're not trained as a mechanic does not mean you aren't one.....never had a formal lesson in my life apart from watching Dad do everything, and I've been spannering for over 50 years. Keep it up! p.s. yes, we all get ripped off .......£80 to trailer a dead Toyota less than a mile and that was "local rates".......
@@OwainPreece-ie6bb Not even arguably in my book. My 1999 E39 was the best car I ever owned period. Would take one in good nick right now if price was right
@ Unfortunately Ive never owned one, Ive driven a few though and they are 👌 I still daily an E46 touring which for me is golden era BMW (e39, e46, e38)
That’s what I was thinking as well. Not worth repairing all that rust. But you dont know if the new wreckers tailgate has rust underneath as well. Also I reckon the color is quite rare still.
A great thing about BMW's is that if you have an Alternator that isn't charging like it should then you don't have to replace the whole thing (Unless it's totally out to lunch which is very rare). There is an small part on the back of the Bosch units that can be replaced for a fraction of the cost and work. It's called The "Voltage Regulator" It's the part that holds the brushes for it as well as the electronics that tell it what to do. It's cheap compared to the whole unit by far and so much easier to replace on most cars. You should be able to get it for around $60 USD or even less if you can order it online.
Quality content as usual. Always look forward to your videos. Watching a while now and gone back and watched every video. Please keep it up and you will get the rewards you deserve. I dip in and out with all the other car channels out there and loose interest with alot of them as they change their formula too much however you content just gets better and better. Good luck and hope you and your family have a great Christmas.
I am sure you know this already but just in case you dont, if youre ever in a situation like this and your alternator is not charging the battery anymore you can grab a long extension or pry bar with a hammer and tap the alternator to bring it back to life. You can then spray some WD 40 on it. Lots of times the brushes get stuck. I have gotten months of life out of dying alternators using this method.
Well done these older cars are better than the crap they are building today. My daily driver is a 1965 Chrysler Valiant AP6 made in Australia 🇦🇺 like me. I love it no power steering no air conditioning but like I tell the kids that’s what the windows are for. We bought my teenage daughter a 2005 BMW 325i E90 and it’s a great little car. It’s red and she loves it. In 2005 before she was born it cost $70,000 Aussie dollars new. We paid $7500 in January this year 2024. Had to get an oil leak fixed and a radiator hose fixed while the oil leak was fixed the timing belt was easily accessible so we put in a new one. The car is great.
Yes. Legend. I've owned two E39's.. I miss them terribly even though one of them was a money pit! Shall enjoy this series :) I remember doing the CCV valve on the 523i and it was a hand shredding experience.. in hindsight I should have had the intake manifold off to do it. But genuinely these are great cars to work on.. really well put together. Vagueness on the road.. these cars are well known for being sensitive to failed control arm bushings. Will no doubt all need replacing front and rear. Its what makes these both fun projects but absolutely not economically viable.. as whilst they are super reliable and will keep going they will take ENDLESS amounts of maintenance to keep them in the best fettle. But man.. how good do they drive? My first E39 was a battered touring, albeit a touring. I miss it as i am going to have to enter this competition.
@@pallahammer8997 I genuinely stopped counting as it cost me thousands but these cars are so special it almost feels like it's your duty to keep it on the road!
Best video so far Nino mate. Been waiting patiently for a new one and this did not disappoint. Absolutely brilliant. Your filming and editing is also great. Looking forward to more buddy 👍🏻
As an E39 touring owner, this is wonderful to see. Mine is a facelift with a few boot lid issues too! But they are wonderful cars and well worth preserving
Another great demonstration of you learning on the go. Always love watching you achieve your goals and get things working. More please. Hope you and your family have a good week and a good Christmas. Marc from Australia 🇦🇺
I recently had the same problem with releasing a driveshaft - TH-cam was my friend, after breaking a bearing puller on it, I pulled out my impact drill with a pointed chisel and around 15 seconds later (with no damage) it released. Lesson learnt for me, if it doesn’t release with a few gentle taps, my impact drill will be making an appearance.
You did amazing, just remember the price you were quoted was just to deliver it in the condition it was in, and then you would still have to do all the repairs so you actually saved money. Keep up the grind your awesome 💪
THIS is a car worth absolutely restoring and I guarantee the most views on your channel. That "smoke" is just condensation from sitting for a while. Drive it for a while and it will clear up. Best of luck!
Nino, I struggled getting the driveshaft out when I had to replace one of the rear wheel bearings on my E36 318i I used a puller that bolted to the hub flange (cheap enough from Machine Mart). Vauxhall Corsa C cylinder head bolts (Z12XE engine) can be cut down and used as replacement bolts for the driveshaft.
I'm so excited. I've been doing overtime this week at work and I just got off shift and saw that you posted. I'm going to just absorb this entire vid right before bed. (commenting before watching, I'm sure it'll be amazing! Thanks for the upload kind sir!
At 18:22 you took off the DISA valve. Replace, or rebuild that asap. That will cause you severe headache, as it will drop down parts the engine, cause vacuum leaks, and will cause a rough idle when it goes bad (however I've seen it with Check Engine codes mostly with missfire data). And I might be mistaken but it looks like an M54.
Well l would recommend that you purchase a battery and jump pack then you will have both good items and l would get some screw drivers and ratchets and l would get a red triangle
**laughs in E39** this'll be good. There's a secret menu in the dash you can unlock that will tell you vital stats in real time, like coolant temp, Volts, real time RPM and so on. Press and hold right button on cluster until it says TEST No. 1. Push left button and it'll show last 6 digits of VIN. Add them up and go to TEST No. 19, enter that total, and it should be unlocked. TEST No. 7 has KTEMP (coolant temp), Ambient Temp, and RPM, TEST No. 9 shows Volts. Don't mess with the other menus.
Did the same thing today, bought a 1990 535i e34 with manual gearbox . Non starter, last MOT 15 years ago 😂 woke up at 3:15 in the morning and drove 225 miles one way to collect that piece of s… art 🫡
What a mental video! Love the concept too. You pretty much got the car sorted within budget, you only pushed the boat out to get the nice to haves tickled that took you over budget. Top vid, really enjoying the content. currently my favorite spanner spinning channel!
Love your channel, you show the real pain working with older cars, old cars with rust definitely make things difficult and question why we do it, the sense of achievement once everything is fix feels great knowing you kept an old car from the scrap yard, keep up the good work 😊
Love an e39/46. Depending on your plans, upgrade that disa valve flat as they're known for failing and totaling the engine. Kits on ebay etc. Hope you're raffling this one tbh!
I really enjoyed this one, nice blend of outdoor kerbside repairs and workshop work. The fact you repair without dreaded modifications, is nice to see. You smacking shite out of that axle had me wincing from the first blow. Nice work pal, wish you and your family all the best cheers.
Best video in a long while ❤. Absolutely in amazed the amount or work you put in the video without all the editing you have to do , and the understanding wife at home. Keep the videos coming well worth the money 😂
Best channel on TH-cam, Nino - forget predictable Car WOW, etc. This is something real life petrol-heads can all relate to. You are a top bloke. Keep up the great work. 👍
Really enjoyed this, both the collection and the work to get it MOT'D. It's great to see you dealing with all the issues we all face at home working on old cars. It's amazing how quickly it all adds up but great to see a car at the end of its life saved, this kind of old fashioned approach is far better for the environment than buying a new electric car from the other side of the planet.
As for the half shaft. After you loosen a bolt, turn it back in just snug, then go to the nest one. The last one will come out like the others. Removing all the others lets the flange splay out putting the last bolt in a bind. Same for removing an exhaust manifold. Loosen them all, snug them back up, and finally remove them all. And yes, I learned this the hard way.
Yeh really love these vids. Couldn't care less about cars in the sense that I'm not a car enthusiast - but love tinkering and have fixed my little city car a few times and it's so rewarding especially when mechanics often fob me off or forget to put screws back in !!
Did I misunderstand, shouldn't your comparison be between the Copart shipping quote and the cost of train, hotels, food and petrol? All of the parts would still have been needed back at your workshop to put the car right for an MOT. Loved the episode, as we don't have 'Vice Grip Garage' on this side of the pond - fixing and driving home what you've bought. Thanks, Rob.
My thoughts exactly. I wouldn’t include the train either as you had to get up there in the first place. I’d only include what it took to get the car, from point of pickup, back to your shop. Loving these videos!
@@18_rabbitmaybe this chap is visiting his mother in law who lives in Scotland 😊. The other factor to consider with this project is the weather, if it had been pouring down for a couple of days then what, he would have to buy a canopy to go over it maybe.
Yes, a good drive would probably have cleared up that smoking. Likely just condensation from multiple short trips by previous owner not allowing the engine to get to temperature.
WOW, you did a Vice Grip Garage. Got a car going miles away from home and drove it back. Well done, brilliant job. You forgot to show us the tailgate job finished, but that's small fry, I always find it amazing what you do manage to show. Filming and working on cars the same time all on your own is an added complication. You're doing an amazing job with your channel.
My one went to car heaven some time back. The Tourings are prone to the inner sills at the rear rotting out. The tailgate rust is easier to spot! Other than that, it was bombproof, apart from the rear subframe bushes that need replacing when the rear feels harsh. The rubber bushes are filled with oil and over time the rubber cracks and all the hydraulic damping fluid is lost. The rear suspension airbags also have a limited life, but are really easy and cheap to replace. Their electric air-compressor sits under the rear floor and needs periodic checking for water ingress. I found the gearbox change quality was improved filling with synthetic gear oil.
Love the channel and your personality. Get yourself a length of 1" diameter copper or brass bar to use as a drift and an induction heater for seized parts and bolts, It would have avoided damaging the driveshaft and hub.
@@NotEconomicallyViable but its not necessary for the british mot? The German TÜV would never let that pass. Im learning a lot at your channel, not only on the technical site :)
@ It’s a strange quirk of the system where if a component isn’t fitted then it can’t be tested… so they ignore it. If it was fitted and broken then it wouldn’t pass lol
That's a nice touring and a nice find. When using the battery starter pack it works much better by applying the leads to the battery itself. I tried to use it on the engine bay points and it never started, it did first time from the battery side.
Im here from the tasty classics inyerview and very good video mate! Nice work For hubs get yourself a hub puller with a slide hammer, brilliant tool. For welding nuts on just crank up the power, i assume that lovely R tech mig is around 130 amps? You just want power and heat so put the power up full then balance the wire speed socit sounds like frying bacon.
Hey Nico. While tightening the wheel bearing bolt, remember to place a jack stand or gearbox stand against the lower wishbone. While you where tightening the bolt some of the torque you applied decompressed the suspension, so therefore you cannot be sure it's tightened correctly. Love the stuff you do ! Cheers !
1st gear failure. This is an E39 problem and can (probably will) happen at around 130k miles. BMW fix is a new gearbox and don't even try to buy a new first gear as you won't get one. There is a gearbox workshop near Gatwick that will make an upgraded 1st gear and put it in for £1000 ( about 6 years ago - don't know how much now) and the guarantee is transferable. BTW - there is no warning of failure. It just happens.
Love those BMs. Look great. Go great. I'm at the beginning of the video and I predict you will get home without any problem whatsoever (after sorting original issues obviously..). Great video idea.
Regarding the budget - one thing I could have made clearer was that the shipping quote was so high I reckoned I could fix the car for the same money. That’s basically the gist.
yeah now understand on budget target get yourself a slide hammer it will save you a lot of grief (tools never get included in the budget its the rule i use )
But if you had transported it you would have paid well over £2800 to get it where it is now and would have had a dreary video of it on the back of a truck to boot 😂
This way was much better!
Had an E39, still want one now (but preferably an E39 M5 which are rarer and more expensive).
Will take a good condition E39 528i Touring any day!
@@trevorcalder550 Or a copper hammer.
I mean, around £2000 (including purchase and work so far) for a car that, when bought, would NOT pass an MOT, but is now road legal for another 12 months, is a big, comfortable boat to drive in, and doesn't have any major structural defects, is not bad by any standards. Sure, the bill is going to go up to fix the rust spots and paint, but in the end I reckon it will be a really nice car for a family for quite a few more years.
One question, if I may: are you going to deal with the "milky" mix in the tubing by washing the affected parts, or did all of them get replaced when you switched over the failed component and the tubing?
@@nanianmichaelsI think for a full sorted, freshly serviced and tested quality car like this that you know will be reliable, £2k is buttons really. Then there’s the fact that prices for these are rising, so if you can improve the cosmetics on a strict budget then he’s likely to do well out it.
Got to admit, I’m enjoying these videos more than MA and tavarish. There is something about taking an older car and giving it a new lease of life. Keep up the great work!
thats because he is doing random stuff that we would love to do on his own with only luck on his side. fantastic!
?? Well I'm glad you're enjoying this video but what EXACTLY do you think Matt and Freddy do?
@@friguy4444Not normal everyday cars like a 528i touring that's for sure 😂
Freddy and Mat do high end sports cars and usually modify them, not save daily affordable drivers like these classics-to-be that's what I think he's getting at.
I loved Mat Armstrong’s stuff most up to the Murcielago…….it’s a bit like where does he go from here now??!!
Not having a pop at Mat but, I think he’s lost some of that charm that the average man can relate do which Nino has…..almost endearment, the willing on of the underdog lol.
Nino (not disrespect) is Small time with attainable cars and a total novice (same as Mat was) to which the average man can relate to imo.
Alm these guys do great videos, just that MA has gotten so big now it’s not got the nitty gritty anymore which I enjoy.
It’s a bit like Wheeler Dealers, love the show but I liked the early stuff best as it was cheap cars for small money, small budgets to repair which has gotten bigger, larger budgets and maybe less on the nitty gritty, intimate repairs. . . . IMO 👍🏻 whatever you think I hope they all carry on with their content
@@friguy4444 I think most others replying have covered this off. Ive watched Matt from his first video and there is something endearing about the daily struggles of car repair & maintenance thats relatable. Still watch them both however it’s become more commercialised. Just think the startup is what we all get passionate about. When you’ve achieved all you want there are only so many super cars you can watch. Does that make sense ?
All E39's need to be saved, for starters. Big line 6 models even more. A touring? Even better. You're doing the lord's work here, mate.
Even the 520i model is epic IMO.
Pck of the bunch would be a manual 530i Sport.
I've got an M5.
The holy grail - its got a towbar !
E39 is peak BMW.
@@lewis72 I've never driven the M5 but the big sixes are where it's at vs. the V8's cause of the steering rack instead of box. Still, this car no matter the shape or engine is an engineering peak.
Yes they do and to be honest they’re very easy to work on
I have a 1999 528iT with 269,000 miles as my daily driver. I also have a 2003 E39 530i with 140,000 miles. Truly amazing cars. I think they will easily last another ten years. Clean the engine and engine bay with a spray solvent. Despite what the factory says, 29/41 is not the best tire pressure. Set them all to 34psi - 35psi. The handling will improve and the tires will last much longer. No wonder you thought it handled like a boat. When set up correctly, it inspires confidence in the handling department. Check all components the cooling system for leaks and oil needs changing every six months. They are easy to maintain but slightly difficult to work (on). Change air filter annually and the two a/c cabin filters. Fix everything that needs attention.
Hey, thanks for the info, I have a 2002 auto 530i in decent condition, needs some work. I never cleaned the engine bay. It's not that bad, but what spray do you use?
10:45 usually that "milkshake" is just the oil sludge, when you dont let the oil come to temp on shorter runs over and over again it usually looks like that.
Exactly - my friend only drives 2 miles a day and her ridiculously ultra low-mileage Yaris has mayo under the filler cap and on the dipstick. It's serviced every year by Toyota and they've confirmed it's just short trips on a cold engine.
Quite normal for cars with big plastic oil covers in cold weather due to condensation collecting. Crappy a class had it from new!
@@Clodhopping Can confirm. Ive owned both a Yaris and an Aygo that only ran like 5-10 miles a day. Full of this mayo/peanut butter.
Are those the most luxurious rides with best comfort? Not a chance in hell. However Ive NEVER had cars so reliable and low cost of maintenance. 15 years of Toyota cost me less than 4 months of owning a Volvo
@@FluePeak My E39 520i used to go like that on short runs where normal temp was not reached, it's due to condensation mixing into the oil. Older Vauxhalls used to do it more than most because of their bad crankcase breather system, especially Astra G and H models, Corsas and Vectras in the UK.
That was really good - thoroughly enjoyed it and tbh, I think this channel stands out from the regulars because you're trying to keep perfectly decent cars running for the most part, simply by servicing them. These aren't cars that should be scrapped, these are cars that just haven't been maintained. I also like that you have kept the whole thing at an entirely sensible price point. Yeah it's great to see others doing 'cheap supercars' but they're never, ever cheap and we know the car's just going to sit languishing on a lift in the background for the next few years.
Decent car choice, great challenge and as always, just the type of thing many of us would do!
Yep I agree - I’d rather see cars like this and a “non” expert mechanic figure his way through it because it’s relatable
Hey Brother i'm no mechanic but for the rounded bolts on the driveshaft a mechanic told me to treat every bolt that has slight rust on it, already like it is rounded- Heat it up, grease it with penetrating fluid and then start to tighten a bit 1/8 turn and only after that try to remove it. This has granted me in removing all bolts without stripping one.
Cheers mate!
Good advice thanks
Why do you have to tighten it 1/8 turn first before loosening it?
@@Andrei8pa3 You don't always have too, but often on old stuff some fool has partially rounded the head in the "undo direction" and your initially breaking the corrosion with the best possible purchase on the fastner.
Get some rounded bolt sockets too - Irwin bolt grip ones are good for the money
@@Andrei8pa3 need to try and tighten a bit just to break free the rust and to get the penetrating fluid trough the treads deeper.
finally an E39. this will be one to watch
Love watching your content and you remaining completely grounded and humble - just like the cars that you choose. No flashy super cars, and that to me is the attraction of this channel, these cars are within the reach of most peoples budgets.
You are not really over budget because if Copart had delivered you would still have to do all the work in the motor. Looks a nice car and someone will get plenty more miles out of it now. I love your honesty and you never move a car on without being sure everything's been fixed - even stuff that could be fixed as a bodge job - if you're not happy with it you won't pass it on to its new owner.
This, if you'd had the car delivered you'd have still needed to spend £1750 on sorting it (admitedly, not in a car park) and not had a novel bit of content to boot.
We've just bought an E39 525i Touring for £1000. It smoked a bit when cold, but wasn't headgasket either, even though it was white. Took a gamble on it being hard valve stem seals and put some Forte seal conditioner in the oil. Smoke stopped 😎 We have an E39 535i saloon we're working on, too.
@@ThemanshedUK Never forget the first time I replaced my E39 rear suspension bushes and realised how long the bolts are - blinking enormous! 🤭
Addictive viewing, this channel is my favourite currently, real word no BS stuff. Keep them coming Nino 👍👍👍👍
I had a 2001 E39 530i Touring manual facelift model. It was an amazing car, great for long journeys. Lots of people fit bigger wheels, but I preferred the standard 16" wheels, as the taller tyre wall gave a better ride. I sold it a few years ago and miss it. I think the manuals are quite rare as most seem to be automatic.
Yesssss finally an e39 on a channel I love, MORE E39 CONTENT PLEASEEEEEE
Hero! Just because you're not trained as a mechanic does not mean you aren't one.....never had a formal lesson in my life apart from watching Dad do everything, and I've been spannering for over 50 years. Keep it up! p.s. yes, we all get ripped off .......£80 to trailer a dead Toyota less than a mile and that was "local rates".......
This has Derek Bieri vibes all over. But. 250£ is a steal, the cat plus wheels are easily twice that already.
Ha only difference is he knows what he’s doing!
Fees will bring it up to roughly 450 but its still a deal
Get the cat off and replace with an after market ;) if yk old Hondas then you’ll know the drill
£250, not 250£
@ciararespect4296 who asked?
Thats a good looking wagon for sure. Manual wagons always deserve love. Hope it finds a good home!
Yeah there's just somethiing about a manual wagon. Kinda wish it was 6-speed because it could do with a tall gear when on the motorway
@@NotEconomicallyViable2700 rpm at 70?
@ Yeah that’s fine… if you’re doing 70
@@NotEconomicallyViable Not exactly low geared, you should get a diesel then! 😀
If this is the new theme, go get it, fix it on-site (flashback to your old videos) and get it home fix and flip, I love it!
Lovely car! E39 arguably the best generation of 5 series
@@OwainPreece-ie6bb Not even arguably in my book. My 1999 E39 was the best car I ever owned period. Would take one in good nick right now if price was right
@ Unfortunately Ive never owned one, Ive driven a few though and they are 👌 I still daily an E46 touring which for me is golden era BMW (e39, e46, e38)
Before spashing out in bodyshop, search for a full tailgate and if lucky, might even get one in colour.
That’s what I was thinking as well. Not worth repairing all that rust. But you dont know if the new wreckers tailgate has rust underneath as well. Also I reckon the color is quite rare still.
When you said “Newer cars aren’t where my hearts at” I was skeptical. Continue this please, love the E39’s.
E39 Last of the properly built BMW 👍
Apart from the one after that doesn't rust for fun.
That reg plate is alone worth the money, not a bad MOT fail list, another E39 saved
A great thing about BMW's is that if you have an Alternator that isn't charging like it should then you don't have to replace the whole thing (Unless it's totally out to lunch which is very rare). There is an small part on the back of the Bosch units that can be replaced for a fraction of the cost and work. It's called The "Voltage Regulator" It's the part that holds the brushes for it as well as the electronics that tell it what to do. It's cheap compared to the whole unit by far and so much easier to replace on most cars. You should be able to get it for around $60 USD or even less if you can order it online.
that sounds like it's worth rememberin!
The regulator and brushes can be replaced on pretty much every alternator, though it may not be cost effective on all of them.
Quality content as usual. Always look forward to your videos. Watching a while now and gone back and watched every video. Please keep it up and you will get the rewards you deserve. I dip in and out with all the other car channels out there and loose interest with alot of them as they change their formula too much however you content just gets better and better. Good luck and hope you and your family have a great Christmas.
I am sure you know this already but just in case you dont, if youre ever in a situation like this and your alternator is not charging the battery anymore you can grab a long extension or pry bar with a hammer and tap the alternator to bring it back to life. You can then spray some WD 40 on it. Lots of times the brushes get stuck. I have gotten months of life out of dying alternators using this method.
Well done these older cars are better than the crap they are building today. My daily driver is a 1965 Chrysler Valiant AP6 made in Australia 🇦🇺 like me. I love it no power steering no air conditioning but like I tell the kids that’s what the windows are for. We bought my teenage daughter a 2005 BMW 325i E90 and it’s a great little car. It’s red and she loves it. In 2005 before she was born it cost $70,000 Aussie dollars new. We paid $7500 in January this year 2024. Had to get an oil leak fixed and a radiator hose fixed while the oil leak was fixed the timing belt was easily accessible so we put in a new one. The car is great.
Yes. Legend. I've owned two E39's.. I miss them terribly even though one of them was a money pit! Shall enjoy this series :)
I remember doing the CCV valve on the 523i and it was a hand shredding experience.. in hindsight I should have had the intake manifold off to do it. But genuinely these are great cars to work on.. really well put together.
Vagueness on the road.. these cars are well known for being sensitive to failed control arm bushings. Will no doubt all need replacing front and rear. Its what makes these both fun projects but absolutely not economically viable.. as whilst they are super reliable and will keep going they will take ENDLESS amounts of maintenance to keep them in the best fettle.
But man.. how good do they drive? My first E39 was a battered touring, albeit a touring. I miss it as i am going to have to enter this competition.
They are all money pits but nonetheless fantastic cars.
@@pallahammer8997 I genuinely stopped counting as it cost me thousands but these cars are so special it almost feels like it's your duty to keep it on the road!
Can I suggest you only bid on cars at your local Copart .
Touch the tailgate in for now, try and source used tailgate if you going to daily it , something will come up
Straight 6 can’t beat em.
Decent set rims too
Best video so far Nino mate. Been waiting patiently for a new one and this did not disappoint. Absolutely brilliant. Your filming and editing is also great. Looking forward to more buddy 👍🏻
Hotel car park rebuild of a trailered non runner vehicle with no more than a pocket toolkit and a coffee. This is just ace. Bravo.
That guy is making a killing dropping folk off 100 yards away for £100 😂
Haha when you’re the only person available at such short notice you can charge what you like!
@@NotEconomicallyViablehe probably works for copart 🤔😆
Greedy as a pig , i wouldnt do that to a fellow man , i bet it was under 20 min away
Good business starter idea advertising close to busy Copart’s 5 a week would be a good start .
As an E39 touring owner, this is wonderful to see. Mine is a facelift with a few boot lid issues too! But they are wonderful cars and well worth preserving
Well done, that was a challenging fix in the car park with a real dose of jeopardy… and I love an E39!
Another great demonstration of you learning on the go. Always love watching you achieve your goals and get things working. More please. Hope you and your family have a good week and a good Christmas. Marc from Australia 🇦🇺
I recently had the same problem with releasing a driveshaft - TH-cam was my friend, after breaking a bearing puller on it, I pulled out my impact drill with a pointed chisel and around 15 seconds later (with no damage) it released.
Lesson learnt for me, if it doesn’t release with a few gentle taps, my impact drill will be making an appearance.
I firmly believe that you are living the dream with this channel.
You did amazing, just remember the price you were quoted was just to deliver it in the condition it was in, and then you would still have to do all the repairs so you actually saved money. Keep up the grind your awesome 💪
Loved this video - love the fact that youre jumping in and showing the frustrating parts that we all hate. More of this please 👍👍
THIS is a car worth absolutely restoring and I guarantee the most views on your channel. That "smoke" is just condensation from sitting for a while. Drive it for a while and it will clear up. Best of luck!
Nino, I struggled getting the driveshaft out when I had to replace one of the rear wheel bearings on my E36 318i I used a puller that bolted to the hub flange (cheap enough from Machine Mart). Vauxhall Corsa C cylinder head bolts (Z12XE engine) can be cut down and used as replacement bolts for the driveshaft.
Man, you just never find these e39 tourings driving on the roads In the uk.
How did you get rid of air bag light? Mine has same
Good vid chap
Improving all the time
I hope it’s working out for you and the fam
Absolutely loved this video, so entertaining and educational all in one go! I really look forward to your content, keep it coming!!
I'm so excited. I've been doing overtime this week at work and I just got off shift and saw that you posted. I'm going to just absorb this entire vid right before bed. (commenting before watching, I'm sure it'll be amazing! Thanks for the upload kind sir!
At 18:22 you took off the DISA valve. Replace, or rebuild that asap. That will cause you severe headache, as it will drop down parts the engine, cause vacuum leaks, and will cause a rough idle when it goes bad (however I've seen it with Check Engine codes mostly with missfire data).
And I might be mistaken but it looks like an M54.
You can go on forever, there's nothing attached to an M54 that doesn't need replacing. Get it sold and move on.
Well l would recommend that you purchase a battery and jump pack then you will have both good items and l would get some screw drivers and ratchets and l would get a red triangle
**laughs in E39** this'll be good.
There's a secret menu in the dash you can unlock that will tell you vital stats in real time, like coolant temp, Volts, real time RPM and so on. Press and hold right button on cluster until it says TEST No. 1. Push left button and it'll show last 6 digits of VIN. Add them up and go to TEST No. 19, enter that total, and it should be unlocked. TEST No. 7 has KTEMP (coolant temp), Ambient Temp, and RPM, TEST No. 9 shows Volts. Don't mess with the other menus.
Brilliant knowledge.
Nino this was one of your best videos ever! Thank you and well done man.
Appreciate that bud 🤝
Did the same thing today, bought a 1990 535i e34 with manual gearbox . Non starter, last MOT 15 years ago 😂 woke up at 3:15 in the morning and drove 225 miles one way to collect that piece of s… art 🫡
What a find! A 528i estate with manual! Great vid! This beast has many more miles left in it.
What a mental video! Love the concept too. You pretty much got the car sorted within budget, you only pushed the boat out to get the nice to haves tickled that took you over budget. Top vid, really enjoying the content. currently my favorite spanner spinning channel!
Love your channel, you show the real pain working with older cars, old cars with rust definitely make things difficult and question why we do it, the sense of achievement once everything is fix feels great knowing you kept an old car from the scrap yard, keep up the good work 😊
Great car to save. Wafting, practicality and cool factor make this a big win. Nice!
Love an e39/46. Depending on your plans, upgrade that disa valve flat as they're known for failing and totaling the engine. Kits on ebay etc. Hope you're raffling this one tbh!
Furthermore, doing that pcv valve at the side of the road without removing the inlet was seriously impressive. Horrific job to do
I really enjoyed this one, nice blend of outdoor kerbside repairs and workshop work. The fact you repair without dreaded modifications, is nice to see. You smacking shite out of that axle had me wincing from the first blow. Nice work pal, wish you and your family all the best cheers.
Loved this video,was on the edge of my seat,loved the fault finding,and what a result,well done another one saved.
Glad you enjoyed it 🤝
Fantastic video Nino! You have a great presentation style. Love videos where great cars are saved from the scrapyard.
Brilliant, new content and different to what others are doing - well done and keep it the quality entertainment
Best video in a long while ❤. Absolutely in amazed the amount or work you put in the video without all the editing you have to do , and the understanding wife at home. Keep the videos coming well worth the money 😂
Appreciate that bud 🤝 I find editing these harder than doing the work on the car!
Nothing better than watching NEV after an exhausting day. Keep the work up!
Used to have an E39 530i Brilliant car. Really enjoyed this even entered the comp. Excellent charity
Best channel on TH-cam, Nino - forget predictable Car WOW, etc. This is something real life petrol-heads can all relate to. You are a top bloke. Keep up the great work. 👍
52:28 always change catridge type oil filters before draining the oil
Cool tune by Sven Karlsson at 1.02:41. Another great old car saved!
Ah... there you are. Missed you fella. Great video, as ever!!
Nice to see one of the best looking BMWs back on the road with the right ammount of love given. GG dude
True spirit of Essex man in the best possible sense. Respect on doing all that.
Really enjoyed this, both the collection and the work to get it MOT'D. It's great to see you dealing with all the issues we all face at home working on old cars. It's amazing how quickly it all adds up but great to see a car at the end of its life saved, this kind of old fashioned approach is far better for the environment than buying a new electric car from the other side of the planet.
As for the half shaft. After you loosen a bolt, turn it back in just snug, then go to the nest one. The last one will come out like the others. Removing all the others lets the flange splay out putting the last bolt in a bind. Same for removing an exhaust manifold. Loosen them all, snug them back up, and finally remove them all. And yes, I learned this the hard way.
Love this era of BMW, especially a E39 Touring.
Enjoyable video 👍🏻
Yeh really love these vids. Couldn't care less about cars in the sense that I'm not a car enthusiast - but love tinkering and have fixed my little city car a few times and it's so rewarding especially when mechanics often fob me off or forget to put screws back in !!
Loved this video Nev, please keep them coming!
Great looking car. Changing those headlights made a massive difference
What happened to the land cruiser?
Just casually using it. Got a massive video planned for early next year - just collecting parts
Did I misunderstand, shouldn't your comparison be between the Copart shipping quote and the cost of train, hotels, food and petrol? All of the parts would still have been needed back at your workshop to put the car right for an MOT. Loved the episode, as we don't have 'Vice Grip Garage' on this side of the pond - fixing and driving home what you've bought. Thanks, Rob.
My thoughts exactly. I wouldn’t include the train either as you had to get up there in the first place. I’d only include what it took to get the car, from point of pickup, back to your shop. Loving these videos!
I'm glad that somebody made this point! 😃
@@andymoss no, bcuz if shipped, he'd not have had to go up to scottland himself!
@@18_rabbit Very true!
@@18_rabbitmaybe this chap is visiting his mother in law who lives in Scotland 😊. The other factor to consider with this project is the weather, if it had been pouring down for a couple of days then what, he would have to buy a canopy to go over it maybe.
I would have thrown the battery on and driven it back chancing the daylight and leaving the pcv valve as it was
It would never had made a 400 mile journey without a working alternator
Being on the back of an AA truck only makes so much content 😊
Yes, a good drive would probably have cleared up that smoking. Likely just condensation from multiple short trips by previous owner not allowing the engine to get to temperature.
Id have done the alternator and left the pcv until I’d got home.
I agree, swap the alty then the blast down the motorway would likely clear the ccv system
Probably my favourite video of yours to date. Thanks
WOW, you did a Vice Grip Garage. Got a car going miles away from home and drove it back. Well done, brilliant job. You forgot to show us the tailgate job finished, but that's small fry, I always find it amazing what you do manage to show. Filming and working on cars the same time all on your own is an added complication. You're doing an amazing job with your channel.
My one went to car heaven some time back. The Tourings are prone to the inner sills at the rear rotting out. The tailgate rust is easier to spot!
Other than that, it was bombproof, apart from the rear subframe bushes that need replacing when the rear feels harsh. The rubber bushes are filled with oil and over time the rubber cracks and all the hydraulic damping fluid is lost.
The rear suspension airbags also have a limited life, but are really easy and cheap to replace. Their electric air-compressor sits under the rear floor and needs periodic checking for water ingress.
I found the gearbox change quality was improved filling with synthetic gear oil.
Good suggestions - I really need to get onto those rear subframe bushings.
Another great vlog and it’s a beemer! A man after my heart.
The car came together real nice. 👍🏼
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Great work indeed and I am glad you got that bolt out 👍
What a Beautiful car I love E39 routings I also love my E46 but hope to get a nice E39 next
Cracking content mate enjoyed viewing! Thanks!!!
Brilliant as ever - keep up the excellent content.
Love watching all you guy's that save old cars, Geoff buys cars does the same, well done all of you
One of the best channels on yt 👏
Love the channel and your personality.
Get yourself a length of 1" diameter copper or brass bar to use as a drift and an induction heater for seized parts and bolts, It would have avoided damaging the driveshaft and hub.
I doth my cap! Love the fact you fixed it on a hotel car park. Love your work you are a legend!
Keep your phone on charge if it's got a usb port and don't forget get something to eat and drink
Isn't there a screen wiper missing in the back?
Yep - will get fixed, but the new wiper arm didn't turn up in time for me to film
@@NotEconomicallyViable but its not necessary for the british mot? The German TÜV would never let that pass. Im learning a lot at your channel, not only on the technical site :)
@ It’s a strange quirk of the system where if a component isn’t fitted then it can’t be tested… so they ignore it. If it was fitted and broken then it wouldn’t pass lol
That's a nice touring and a nice find. When using the battery starter pack it works much better by applying the leads to the battery itself. I tried to use it on the engine bay points and it never started, it did first time from the battery side.
Typical NEV style! Love it ❤
Im here from the tasty classics inyerview and very good video mate! Nice work
For hubs get yourself a hub puller with a slide hammer, brilliant tool. For welding nuts on just crank up the power, i assume that lovely R tech mig is around 130 amps? You just want power and heat so put the power up full then balance the wire speed socit sounds like frying bacon.
Hey Nico. While tightening the wheel bearing bolt, remember to place a jack stand or gearbox stand against the lower wishbone. While you where tightening the bolt some of the torque you applied decompressed the suspension, so therefore you cannot be sure it's tightened correctly. Love the stuff you do ! Cheers !
Good to know - I'll double check it
1st gear failure. This is an E39 problem and can (probably will) happen at around 130k miles. BMW fix is a new gearbox and don't even try to buy a new first gear as you won't get one. There is a gearbox workshop near Gatwick that will make an upgraded 1st gear and put it in for £1000 ( about 6 years ago - don't know how much now) and the guarantee is transferable. BTW - there is no warning of failure. It just happens.
The tow bar suggests the box may have had a hard life, depending upon what was towed and how often.
Love those BMs. Look great. Go great. I'm at the beginning of the video and I predict you will get home without any problem whatsoever (after sorting original issues obviously..). Great video idea.
Another brilliant video - love your positivity. Thanks Sue 😊
Glad you enjoyed it