Richard, would call Pelican and get a new one sent. Have them send a ticket for the busted one. I was a little disappointed with the way they packaged those things fearing what you unfortunately have to deal with.

No need for you to mess with something that cost you close to $300.

On my phone so I can't upload a picture, but I picked up a 2002 530i back in november. Had about 62k miles then, coming up on 74k now. Pretty much perfect commuter car. I love it. Plus it pulls pretty hard from 70mph and up.

I had a pinhole leak in the radiator, so I went ahead and replaced the entire cooling system as it is just a matter of time with these cars. So now it has cooling system, tires, and brakes all within 10k miles. It should br pretty solid for awhile now.

One the best looking sedans ever made

Here is the replacement for our e 39.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310926027.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310926064.jpg
Does not get as many style points as our old black sportwagen, but overall is a sweet little car. 5 spd manual, and awd. Still technically a sportwagen. We would basically park the e 39 for the winter as it was not great in the snow with the big tires/wheels, not horrible, but certainly not great.
This car is definatley more fun to drive, and should be more practical for us.
She did not like it as much at first , but it is growing on her.

I've got an orient blue '98, sport package with the light grey interior.

17" BBS, and I swapped in sport seats from a 2000. Sports seats were very rare in '98 on the 6 cylinder cars, apparently.

Bought it with 104K, currently at 170K and going to 200+.

Fastfredracing I like your 3 series, a little more compact. easier to fit in small parking stalls that seem to be every where nowadays. How is the fit in the interior,does it seemed cramped after the 5 series? Better MPG?
I really have come to like the headlight treatment:-)

Cheers Richard

I love mine, and m-pars are really nice :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310945354.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310947415.jpg

Loved my 2003 540i. Got it with every option including the M trim package. Even had a different rear differential that could light up tires whenever you wanted. Put it on Autotrader for what I thought was a fair price (basically what I bought if for one year ago) and it sold in one day. Own an E60 540i now, but still liked the size of the E39 until my kids got too big to sit in the back.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310947614.jpg

My E39 wasn't getting enough love...the secondary fan unit (FSU) finally went out yesterday on my commute home...one of the hottest days of the year (100 F) and the AC craps out. Spent an hour in traffic with the no AC. Hopefully Pelican shipping pulls out another surprise and I get my parts order tomorrow!

Nice! What differential? A real one (not the electric one)?

I want to report back to let it be known that the Plastic shroud on the back of the Alt was an easy switch out, but take a look at what I found under the shroud.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1311288622.jpg

This car had sucked leaves into the air cleaner, cabin air filter box and now this is what I found in the Alt. I'm wondering if some screens might a good idea for those who drive in fall season leaf debris.
It is great to have the 530 back on the road, this all started with the trans slipping which was corrected by changing the trans filter, cleaning the screen, changing the trans fluid, then the Alt replace. So all good to go now. Yahoo!!

Cheers Richard

here's ours, same as 89911's '03 540i M Sport. No recent pics so these are of the car when it was advertised at the local Nissan dealer. Love the car, just need to get the a/c to work when temps go above 110 here. Only way I would consider selling it is for an E39 M5...which is what I've always wanted anyway.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1311751245.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1311751254.jpg

There is a relay that often goes bad with these cars that you can upgrade and change yourself. I was not getting any fan speed with the ac until I replaced it. If you search with your model and problem on google will bring up a few posts. Love your car. I drove a couple of E39 M5 and like the 545. Seemed much more practical. I debadged mine, not sure if I like the Dinan emblem on the back, just seems kind of big?

Richard, I had a handful of leaves in my old alternator too. I suppose one could install a screen to prevent this. I was in a rush to get the car ready for a trip so I just left it stock.

Hopefully you replaced the serpentine belt while you did the alternator.


Rufblackbird: the secondary fan unit relay is what you need. I just ordered one from Pelican. $58 I believe. It's under the dash next tithe radio console.

I also have a 3 series wagon and I'm pretty happy with it. I was looking for a RWD manual wagon and there wasn't much out there to choose from. I pretty much decided to buy the first clean 528 or 325 I could find. I lucked up and found this one which has the sport package and every option other than leather seats, the vinyl shows zero wear with almost 150k on it.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/...e1116bf3_z.jpg
325iT by willtel, on Flickr

I do hope I can find a CTS-V wagon in a few years once they have depreciated out. 556hp with a 6-speed, yes please!

What kind of mileage are you guys seeing out of the tourings?

My trip computer currently shows 24.7mpg and an average speed of 32.4mph. I haven't reset it in months. I know for the manual 325 two rear end ratios were available and mine was ordered with the higher ratio.

Ugh so about the same as moms M, and nowhere near my corolla. I coins swing a bimmer if they got closer to 30

This is my daily, 01 Msport with 5 speed, 170k on the clock. Just had the front plate delete painted and added the lip spoiler. I too just lost my front fan, let the smoke out of it.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...4/DSCN6364.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...4/DSCN6358.jpg

thanks, will look into the fan relay...ac works great below 110 though! Normally, I would've debadged it, but knowing that one day this would be up for sale when it's time for an E39 M5 I kept the Dinan badge, as it does have a bunch of Dinan goodies put on by the previous owner. Hopefully that will differentiate it from the rest of the cars out there when it's time to sell ;)

souk - thanks, will look into it!