Duchess : The long road to recovery

[d4ngerz0ne]

Start here if you haven't read it already --> http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/newforums/index.php?/topic/39167-duchess-genesis/

So, upon getting the car , it was then sent to our regular mechanic. The feedback on the car isn't great at all.

Let me list a few things that were replaced (Urgently needed attention):

• Engine Mounts
• Gearbox Mounts
• CV flex joint
• Front and rear brake system
• Sway Bar bushings
• Front and rear suspension assembly
• Steering rack assembly
• Power Steering Pump

In short, never have I ever seen such a long bill of repairs before .

When you think all the problems were solve , the Transmission fail safe warning comes on. however, it was cleared once the car was off and key left in postion 1 ? and it didn't return . I didn't have a benchmark then , but i realise the gearbox was very sluggish to change gears before the error came up.

Any who, not thinking much of the problem , I decided , with some of my friends to take a road trip up to Setiawan , to test a supposedly "rejuvenated" car .Boy was I wrong , Transmission fail safe light came on. and wouldn't clear. I was really hoping I'd be able to limp back with 3rd gear but the gearbox just decided to take a shit on itself. I could rev the engine high when in "D" but the car wouldn't move.

And that is the first night Duchess had a piggyback.

At that time, I was convinced the torque converter had failed but never got my answer , however it was severe enough to require another gearbox. I was informed by the mechanic that the previous GB had work done on it before, whether it was an overhaul or a rebuild, we will never know.

So , basically now, too deep to pull out. Don't get me wrong, I really love how the car handles and behaves ,but could have done with a lot less problems with the car.


Till another time.

 

[Herbert]

A car of more than 12 years would have the normal wear & tear for the items you have listed above. You may also be in for further surprise that beside these items, other items due for replacement such as water cooling system (hoses, radiator, expansion tank, water pump), intake system (MAF, crankcase ventilation/oil separator), fuel system (fuel filter, fuel pumps) and exhaust system (O2 sensors, catalytic converters).

As for your auto gearbox, if it has been rebuild, then it would assumed that it has been through an overhaul. Having said that, most chop shops when sending the gearbox for repair/overhaul would asked for the cheapest solution. Hence I am not surprise with the failure. I do have a spare 525i good working condition torque converter and if you wish, you could test it out.

e39 is a fantastic to drive and has been voted top many times during her fame days. However to completely enjoy her and for her to serve you well, you need to give her your tender loving care and of course $$$.

Cheers

 

[anakin]

Ouuchhhh!!!..

 

[d4ngerz0ne]

A car of more than 12 years would have the normal wear & tear for the items you have listed above. You may also be in for further surprise that beside these items, other items due for replacement such as water cooling system (hoses, radiator, expansion tank, water pump), intake system (MAF, crankcase ventilation/oil separator), fuel system (fuel filter, fuel pumps) and exhaust system (O2 sensors, catalytic converters).

As for your auto gearbox, if it has been rebuild, then it would assumed that it has been through an overhaul. Having said that, most chop shops when sending the gearbox for repair/overhaul would asked for the cheapest solution. Hence I am not surprise with the failure. I do have a spare 525i good working condition torque converter and if you wish, you could test it out.

e39 is a fantastic to drive and has been voted top many times during her fame days. However to completely enjoy her and for her to serve you well, you need to give her your tender loving care and of course $$$.

Cheers

yeah. I guess I was too optimistic when the car was bought, then again faults on me for not thoroughly inspecting the car prior. The fact that the car had no service history should have rang some alarm bells.

 

[d4ngerz0ne]

Ouuchhhh!!!..

Ouch indeed :stickyman: :bawling:

 

[Herbert]

Even if you had taken the car for thorough inspection prior to purchase, you would still have to replace the degraded and/or worn-out components as what I have mentioned earlier. Usually one is expected to spend about RM 10 k to 15 k to bring the car to an acceptable optimum condition and preferably all repairs to be done at one go. Otherwise one would be visiting the workshop on a very frequent basis.

yeah. I guess I was too optimistic when the car was bought, then again faults on me for not thoroughly inspecting the car prior. The fact that the car had no service history should have rang some alarm bells.

 

[anakin]

Feel for you bro...now the damaged has been done, as you said its too deep to pull out now...do you have any particular workshop to maintain your car?That will not taken you for a ride in term of overcharging?...if not, try Uncle wong aka BM Wong of USJ...he was doing autoboxes long before most of the so called "gearbox specialist "...

 

[d4ngerz0ne]

Even if you had taken the car for thorough inspection prior to purchase, you would still have to replace the degraded and/or worn-out components as what I have mentioned earlier. Usually one is expected to spend about RM 10 k to 15 k to bring the car to an acceptable optimum condition and preferably all repairs to be done at one go. Otherwise one would be visiting the workshop on a very frequent basis.

thats true. Then again, better to know whats wrong then going in, pardon the language, balls deep .

Feel for you bro...now the damaged has been done, as you said its too deep to pull out now...do you have any particular workshop to maintain your car?That will not taken you for a ride in term of overcharging?...if not, try Uncle wong aka BM Wong of USJ...he was doing autoboxes long before most of the so called "gearbox specialist "...

Thanks for the suggestion bro. Will give him a ring if anything GB related crops up.

 

[tckhor]

Dangerzone,
Has the long road to recovery been completed or nearly completed ? Interesting post although a not too happy one.
Let us know how challenging the journey was and we can learn from it. Thanks.

 

[d4ngerz0ne]

Dangerzone,
Has the long road to recovery been completed or nearly completed ? Interesting post although a not too happy one.
Let us know how challenging the journey was and we can learn from it. Thanks.

There's been a fair amount thats been done , and still some more to do! I've been lazy to update, uploading pictures isn't the most convenient i must say.

 

[BMW520]

I faced the same problem when i owned a 2003 e39 (M54B22) in 2008. The car is consider as "lemon" :banghead: . I spent around 20k on the first year maint... year after year, maint cost getting lesser & it serve me well until today. I still keep the car even she is 12 years old now. The only problem i'd now is engine oil consumption very high. Need to top up 1 liter of engine oil every 500km. I drive this car around less than 50km a week so i didn't care about it. It buy me more time to think of rebuild engine or engine conversion (2.5, 3.0, supercharge, turbocharge or M3?). Still looking around to see what is the least headache but with enough pleasure cum reasonable cost of conversion.

 

[moots]

A broken CCV is a known cause for high engine oil consumption.you may wanna check that out...

 

[tckhor]

BMW520,
Other than what Moot has said, other causes may be:
Valve stem seals
Piston rings

Check and eliminate the causes systematically.
Hope you can get your drive in good shape once again.

 

[e.dayanan]

Gentlemen,

Just tumpang thread here. I have the same oil consumption problem. Most articles I have read state that the maximum tolerance is 1L per 500 miles/800 km. I am using a M54B22 on Castrol 10W-40.

Not very happy with that answer though. Vixxx has done CCV repair but it's still there. I have been advised that valve seals could be the cause as well.

Wondering if I should take the plunge or just continue as is. Any opinions?

 

[BMW520]

A broken CCV is a known cause for high engine oil consumption.you may wanna check that out...

Thanks for advise..so far no error code on CCV

 

[BMW520]

BMW520,
Other than what Moot has said, other causes may be:
Valve stem seals
Piston rings

Check and eliminate the causes systematically.
Hope you can get your drive in good shape once again.

I plan to put in workshop n let them figure out. They mention could be the problem mention above too... thanks for sharing

 

[Providence2]

Hi dAngerZone. thanks for all your sharing. Just curious, what year and model was your car that you bought. I just recently bought a E39 525i m54 engine year 2001 and curious about what is or are expeccted.

 

[d4ngerz0ne]

Hi dAngerZone. thanks for all your sharing. Just curious, what year and model was your car that you bought. I just recently bought a E39 525i m54 engine year 2001 and curious about what is or are expeccted.

According to RealOEM , it's a 10/00 525i, i.e. manufactured in October of 2000 . The first few e39s to have the m54 put in.

Kinda depends on what condition you bought it in, and whether you manage to get a service history with it. You're gonna expect to put in another 15-20k to address all the wear-and-tear items e.g. control arms, bushings , mounts , suspension parts , tyres etc. . But after that , it's really been just the regular oil change. I've at least been lucky that my engine doesn't consume engine oil.

 

[Providence2]

Expected to spend. But the figures you mentioned kind of scary. So far spent about close to 4k RM. Car's condition is good. No major issues. My mechanic advices me to do a top overhaul as he suspected the water is seeping thru the gasket as I have to top up about a litre a week. The radiator n hoses just replaced. Engine tend to vibrate a little during start up only and after warmed up it's OK. That's what was also told by the mechanic. So for this I expect to spend close to 2k.
Any advice or input guys or ladies. ?

 

[Providence2]

According to RealOEM , it's a 10/00 525i, i.e. manufactured in October of 2000 . The first few e39s to have the m54 put in.

Kinda depends on what condition you bought it in, and whether you manage to get a service history with it. You're gonna expect to put in another 15-20k to address all the wear-and-tear items e.g. control arms, bushings , mounts , suspension parts , tyres etc. . But after that , it's really been just the regular oil change. I've at least been lucky that my engine doesn't consume engine oil.