Fixing The DUMB & Complicated E39 BMW Cooling System & Bizarre Rolls-Royce AC & Ignition System!

[@LegitStreetCars]

Follow along the no reserve auctions on the E39 and Rolls-Royce! bit.ly/3LzSTZY Enter the $500 Mods and Miles giveaway! modsandmiles.com/legitstreetcars/ (Free to enter)

[@TheMrNike1996]

Great video as always! But i think you forgot to leave the link to the "good" tool mentioned in 04:27

[@GRosa250]

I never liked the Rolls Royce. I’m glad we never have to see it again

[@DoubleJThe]

Don't forget that you have to register before you can even search for auctions. Pass.

[@ericjenks9596]

@@DoubleJThe I was able to search without registering

[@DoubleJThe]

@@ericjenks9596 Maybe I gave up too early, was hoping the link would take me straight to the BMW auction, curious what it sells for

[@zollotech]

The more I see people work on BMW the less I want one. Such crazy engineering. The Rolls on the other hand I want, but have nowhere to put it.

[@zemongoose123]

Thought exactly the same thing

[@busterscrugs]

Get a 6cyl E39, they go wrong a lot less often, and when they do they're much easier to fix. Stay away from V8 BMWs lol.

[@beezy7412]

@@busterscrugs for real tho… like for some reason v8 beamers are inevitably terrible.. and don’t get me started on the v10s …. 🤦🏻‍♂️👀😒

[@heineaugustjensen9819]

Got a e39 523ia touring, amazing car to drive, own and fixing them can be done for pretty cheap with all the parted out cars

[@johnnychimpo7539]

@@beezy7412 e39 m5 and e92 m3 are two of the best cars ever made. Definitely two of the best cars made under $100,000. In assuming you’ve never sat in either, let alone driven them

[@ecatano]

Hey Alex, I think every one needs a Peter in their life, no pun inteded. He is a great mecanic!

[@htownblue11]

As a BMW owner, the saying goes “ you never replace just one part….” Hope the auctions fetch good money for you Alex.

[@charliel2967]

AP, you are the most talented of all. You deserve 1 million subs. I never miss a video. You don’t realize your impact on all of us. Really proud of your growth over the last few years. Keep up the great work and content!

[@16cliffedge]

did you quit heroin

[@davidfernandez3554]

3/4 of the way there!

[@charliel2967]

@@16cliffedge 19 years ago

[@WorkableWax]

It is kinda of nice to have two broken cars to go back and forth on, except when it’s the only two you own 😅

[@Broadpaw_Fox]

At 5:42 - you don't need the tool to reinstall the fan. They're self tightening while running, so all you need to do is spin them on by hand till they stop. I have 2 BMW's with these engines, and have had more in the past, and never once had an issue with simply hand tight installation of these fan clutches. This also makes removal easier, as it won't take as much force to crack it loose. 😉 **edited for spelling**

[@Ecozzy0123]

Did not expect that rolls to sound as good as it did.

[@brianw4brian]

Regular maintenance like the old valves on vw bugs etc gotta adjust them I think

[@MrTruthAddict]

It sounds like shit

[@Andreas_D-Greek]

The intake tube goes on the intake first, then as you lay the intake back down you can attach the engine side from the front. 18 years of owning an e39 you learn the "easier" way. I also run EVANS NPG 0psi coolant now. got tired of needing a tow home.

[@blattferenc9647]

Sometimes there is no better feeling ,than sitting in your BMW, turning up the music and waiting for the tow truck 😆

[@Andreas_D-Greek]

@@blattferenc9647 lol I have nightmares of smelling coolant then suddenly the "Trouble Ding" goes off and I wake up.

[@Andreas_D-Greek]

@@blattferenc9647 ::LOW COOLANT::

[@JoelKreider]

Compiling my parts list for replacing the water pump on my 540 right now. I tend to want to replace every hose and O-ring I have to disconnect, and with FCP’s lifetime replacement [reimbursement], it makes that decision Much easier. Andreas… did you find the switch to Evans a straightforward one? I’ve been considering it for years.

[@Andreas_D-Greek]

@@JoelKreider Yes, the switch to Evans was pretty straightforward. Just got to make sure you flush out the cooling system as much as possible. To do it the right way u have to crack open the engine block coolant drains and flush the heater core. If you google Evans coolant and e39 540 you should find a couple of write-ups I did on switching to Evans coolant and some oil/coolant temperature differences we found using Evans.

[@PirateMTH_ToddH]

As always, a great video. That cooling system on the BMW is odd. And the ignition wires on the RR is nuts. Relatively simple but nuts. Thanks for the content!

[@HectorMartinez-nk5hj]

Alex you're such a great guy, I really wish there was more mechanics like you. Recently took in my Audi to a lot of different mechanics because no one knows how to work on those type of cars. Spent thousands of dollars and still not running. I bet you would be able to fix that car for much less than what all mechanics have charged me and miss diagnosed.

[@JDARJISJ]

The test for a Rolls engine is can you stand a nickel on edge with it running. My stepdad worked on them when he lived in England back in the ‘70s and he always talked about how incredibly smooth those motors ran.

[@weedfreer]

same for the e-type Jag also

[@ernieleithes6545]

in the UK we used a 3 pence coin it had flats on the edge that was before Decimilisation.

[@weedfreer]

@@ernieleithes6545 I heard with the Jag that it was a £1 ccoin they used?

[@xIdenTiFi]

Living vicariously through Alex every day! Even though I'm younger than him lol. I wish one day to be able to do what you do and bring entertainment to an audience like this. Keep up the great work!

[@friguy4444]

Alex. As the very poor and not at all rich owner of a few BMW's I'll tell you the secret to removing the fan. Put the 1 inch (Or 32 mm or something like that) wrench on the nut. Get a hammer (Large) and whack that sicker (The handle of the wrench) with it. It will come lose right off and then just spin the fan with your hand the rest of the way off. Done. Counter clockwise of course LOL. Oh and just tighten it with the wrench to as much as it will until it just spins the pump. It won't come off as that's why it's a counter clockwise thread. It spins it onto the thread when running. Trust me I'm poor because of my BMW addiction.

[@martenfolkema807]

"Its an environmental channel.." But it is! Saving old cars and keeping them driving means less waste! Love the channel, love all the projects!

[@BrovarianMotorWorks]

I've owned quite a few BMW 4.4 motors and you don't have to take the intake off to handle the water pump you can legitimately slide those pipes back and you can feel around and slide them back into where they're supposed to be and still be good for years unless you just want to change the o-rings at the back of the pipe that's not a bad idea

[@DannysGarage]

As somebody that's worked on dozens of E39 540i's, it's always interesting to see how people work on them when they're not familiar with their quirks. I always just pull the intake, crank pulley, and fan shroud when doing a 540i water pump, I can get one swapped out in under 2 hours start to finish. Valley pan gasket is a good thing to check/replace while you're in there as well.

[@Bacon__SteezBurger]

Both cars have definitely been my favorites when it comes to the recent projects. That Rolls is just a gorgeous, classy, and timeless piece of automotive history, and deserves to be a frequent driver so hopefully the new owner will treat it to plenty of road time. It’s one of those cars that, if I won the lottery I’d 1000% be buying and dailying my dad around only allowing him to sit in the backseat like a true VIP😂 The BMW is probably the best, most incredible revival project I’ve seen. Not only is it a ridiculously rare spec, but the before and after with every single project was mind blowingly insane, and all collectively added up to the point that whoever is blessed enough with the means to buy it is going to have a hell of a car 😍🤤 Awesome projects man, and can’t wait to see where you’re at with the others, and what you post next with them 🙌🏼

[@sirremusrobinson1070]

You know there's a guy on KZbin, M539 Restorations, it be cool if you two got to know each other as he's constantly bringing BMWs back to life. And he's really good I gotta say. He's changing that coolant line all the time as that's a BMW thing, and it seems all their models have that.

[@toddsmelser5168]

I really appreciate these videos. In depth mechanic stuff on a car I will never own, but gives me confidence to tackle all the seemingly difficult jobs on my car or around the house. Thank you for all the time you spend teaching me new skills. Have an amazing day!

[@JadeStrawberry]

I think car folks have dreamed at least once of owning a Rolls. I loved my 2002 BMW 325Ci, but it didn't have the elegance and people staring everywhere you go aspect. Vintage Rolls Royces are truly a work of art.

[@alk3myst]

I had a wonderful 2006 M3 ZCP I purchased with 25k miles around 2013. Had a baby so needed a 4 door. Really wanted the E39 M5, but then in 2020 or so they were creeping up in price (nice examples were in the $60-80k range and may still needed work). I ended up in a 2016 CTS VSport and love it. Putting down enough power to break into 11's and nice 60-130 times. Plus everyone loves riding in the car. It's quiet inside, comfortable, and music sounds good.

[@davevq]

"So Alex...Supercharger?" Best line

[@totallybonkers]

It's about time to change the fluid and filter in my MB GLE, so I figured I would go back and re-watch your old "Lifetime Transmission Fluid Is A Scam" video just for nostalgia. I totally forgot how awesome the Synth track was on that video! Love your channel. Thanks for the great content 👍🏻

[@SonOfTamriel]

Beauty Covers, ugh. I hate those things but I understand why the industry went that way. I remember when my Dad bought a new Taurus SHO in 1993 and you'd take to a gas station and they'd want to check the oil. Pop the hood and they'd say 'wtf is that? or wow, that's a sweet engine' just because that engine was so damn beautiful to look at.

[@karolmalinowski9097]

Everytime someone mentions how complicated E39 cooling system is, I'd like to remind that N63 engine exist. In fact, I kept my E39 just because of how simple and nice to work with it is.

[@davidshort6537]

Hi Alex, Nice fix on the Rolls but still noisy with a non standard exhaust..Great job..keep it up

[@weedfreer]

exactly! It sounds like an American Dragster! it should be quiet and inoffensive...to go with the smooth suspension. Also, when you stab the accelerator, it shouldnt just light up the tyres, it should gently 'whisk you away' on a column of air like like the winds of 'le Mistral' all the way up to top speed so as not to cause your passengers to spill their tea...or, fine single malt whisky 👍

[@davidshort6537]

@@weedfreer Like a graceful swan not a yappy dog...silent and serene turns more heads

[@weedfreer]

@@davidshort6537 yep...that was their mantra after all

[@FishFind3000]

5:15 I’ve seen a short wrench that you put on the nut and use the air hammer to break it free without damaging anything

[@steved7057]

Not a rolls guy but I do a lot of AC working for a heavy equipment OEM and those pressures look pretty good. They are pretty dependent on the ambient temperature but under 20 on the low side and 160-220 on the high side is the average

[@jonliu9953]

Another good video. I still remember you had under 100k subscribers. You are one of the very few KZbinrs that I follow closely and watch every video. Keep it up man!

[@davidg4026]

If you by ANY used BMW (especially e39 vintage) the FIRST thing you must do is replace the entire cooling system--which includes; water pump, rad, expansion tank, thermostat, hoses, and fan clutch (brittle fan plastic will explode like a grenade and do lots of damage!). Even if everything looks fine, it won't stay that way for very long!

[@mattrooke3210]

I was a BMW mechanic worked on E30,E32,E34, to loosen the viscous fan nut including the high mileage older stuff, 32mm spanner and a heavy hammer to hit the spanner, worked 100% of the time. Remember Left hand tread and don’t hit the car only the spanner.

[@Fernan2010]

I died when you asked Peter what the snap was... and he just turn around with a big ass smile and a broken tool! LMAO

[@LegitStreetCars]

Which car would you rather have?

[@jcollins1305]

Very interesting walkthrough for a non mechanically inclined person such as myself. Thanks for a great video!

[@baitse7676]

I believe that's a York compressor for the A/C. Not sure about M62, but the N62 requires disconnecting the oil level sender wire in order to move the wiring harness out of the way. It may be a bigger pain than even this!

[@markklein437]

I did all the repairs on my cars when I was younger. I’m 74 now and watching your video makes me glad I don’t need to do repairs on my vehicles ant longer. These old bones and joints are simply not up to the task.

[@andrewnajarian5994]

Hey Alex, I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure those injector connectors come off by just squeezing those clips inward. They look the same as my old E30 and that’s how they worked. You can obliviously remove them also but it’s more work and you have to keep track of them then.

[@marilynmain7375]

how much did the E39 eventually go for you two living the dream keep the vids coming

[@chrisoakey9841]

you need to make your own water pump fan spanner. my friend buys the s..ty kmart spanner for grinding/ bending to individual car needs. he labels them and puts them in his specialty pile. $2 sometimes works better than the $300 factory version. and he keeps his good tools for verything else.

[@rotax636nut5]

I find it very satisfying to watch you work Alex, thanks

[@fransb8543]

I agree with you, chains and guides must have been done before. Probably the vanos as well, since at this age they're bound to make a clacking noise at idle.

[@Z32andCG6]

I can say enough hoe much I appreciate you doing proper and thorough work on these cars before they're listed. There's another prominent youtuber that seems like a nice guy but kicks his cars out the door often without doing the easy deferred maintenance.

[@wernerdanler2742]

When I was a kid our mechanic, Don Bett, had an old Lincoln 2 door, from the 40s. it had aircon in the trunk with vents on the hat shelf behind the back seat. but it had clear plastic tubes that came up along the roof so the air would blow to the front. it also had a power antena. they had some great innovations on cars back then. I also remember seeing a MarkII with electric door latches.

[@rpmrallysport7071]

you make it so tempting - your killing me alex - love both of these

[@benjischneider4617]

I just did this same job to my 540i manual. Those injector cover bits can just be yanked up without undoing those little injector wire clips. I also did the valley pan gasket while I was in there as this is also something that like to fail. Glad I did it as my gasket was not looking good. Took me about a month to do this job as I had to keep ordering new parts lol

[@benjischneider4617]

Also spent at least 2 full days cleaning everything in there lol

[@jasonbucher5622]

Loved this series - looking forward to the Eclipse!

[@brianw4brian]

Yo! Use a wrench and Good hammer to hit end wrench in the direction of loosening the clutch fan. Easy.

[@1068andy]

Alex, it’s always great to watch and learn from your videos.

[@motorlife5239]

hey the F150 lightning for the timing chain tensioners DO NOT GET THE NYLON they FAIL easily get the CAST IRON tensioners they will last longer and not fail when the engine heats up after the 5th heat cycle of the engine

[@FappinSteve]

Alex - I love cars, but sometimes I have a difficult time watching so many "build montages" (*cough cough* tavarish *cough cough*) however, I really enjoy how you work and still talk to camera. Makes for a much better video.

[@chriskethan5952]

Having done this job on my E38 4.4L engine, you probably should have replaced the valley pan gasket while you had the intake off...

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Guessing the engineers were thinking "nobody will ever need to replace the water pump or the o-rings - we can bury everything under the intake, it'll be fine!"

[@Emily1963eh]

540 Owner here, thinking the same thing.

[@doingyamom]

My family has 2 E38 740’s and an E39 540. I was thinking the exact same thing

[@Oo-IIII-oO]

"Next time"

[@djsonicc]

Tbh sounds like he should've just rebuilt the entire engine and resealed...while in there.

[@johnp8409]

Great video Alex, good to see some mechanical work done for a change.

[@getdealtwithquick]

Valley pan gasket while you're in there, Alex. And yes, the thingy on the back of the intake also. AND: always test the heater valve before dissasembly. So much easier to replace with the intake is out when the solenoids fail or the valves are stuck. Ask me how I know... 🙄

[@tollefreyerson6710]

Just love your channel Alex!! The BMW repairs I crave. Lol. E38 owner. Lol. Been with you from almost day one!! DYI at its best!!

[@miscbits6399]

That RR dizzy system is really good - until it gets wet. I'd definitely change it for electronic though (too many mechanical fiddly bits, advance, etc), along with the AC compressor

[@rosewd2]

on my 75 shadow, those dampers on the carbs are filled with 20w engine oil. those dpark plug wires are about 300$ a set. I'd suggest you get a universal set from Jegs and make your own. you'll need an msd plug wire crimper for the vise to crimp on the ends.

[@MrTruthAddict]

There's also a freeze plug on the back of the engine that leaks. Many mechanics have done all this to fix a valley pan leak only to find that the entire engine has to come out to replace a 50 cent part, that will kill your engine when it makes you overheat.

[@Bigworm1000]

Amazi g work as always Alex. Here is to a million subs 👍🏻👈🏻💪🏻

[@neil7692]

AC in many of the Elite cars of the US Lincoln, Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile all had the Evaporator in the rear and it was vented thru the ceiling. On the Rolls (and many cars) look for a site glass in high pressure line near the condenser. They were built into the fitting. That is how you know when its full.

[@martinhudobivnik5895]

I got flashbacks from having to remove the clutch on my Oxford green E39 a few years ago to fix the alternator and a few other things. Did it without this "tool", took me a while to figure out a way to unscrew it - I think I stuck something between the bolts and bent something in the process too.. works fine though. Three more months of enjoying it then it'll be ready for a retirement.

[@terrytamblyn9551]

Love the videos, have been watching for some time now and you never seem to get beaten by anything. One thing though regarding the oil in the carbareter dampening pots, they take a very thin oil such as 3 in 1 definitely not engine oil as you suggested.

[@powermoveschris9891]

Holy engineering on the water pump

[@stevenmaresca9637]

Lisle 43300 Pneumatic Fan Clutch WrenchLisle Used it for the last 20 years. No more adjustable wrench and a hammer to break fan shroud.

[@petepenn1]

Only Alex could mix and match up two opposites. Great ending for 2 Great Cars!!

[@ImRacer1]

Trick to get a fan off is hit the top while your are trying to spin it. Blew a radiator on my 5.3 Tahoe on the side of the freeway was able to pull the fan with an adjustable wrench and hammer came off easier than it had with a air hammer

[@xotic8617]

Always look forward to seeing an upload mate.. love the videos 👍🏼 should definitely be well over 1M by now. Watching from Country Western Australia 🇦🇺

[@rbailey225]

The engineering on the M62TU is out of this world. A pain in the A..... Oh but when they are running great there is nothing like it. Such smooth power. The engine is designed to run at a full 16 degrees over the boiling point to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Coolant is a must to say the least. I'm guessing that at the age of this car it doesn't have long to go before the timing guides go kaboom followed by the inevitable self destruction of the valve train when it jumps time. Another HUGE maintenance item.

[@billshirk1737]

Great video, I always learn something from your videos. Keep up the hard work.

[@gilberesrepairs]

29:45 Looks like you fitted swimming goggles to the manifold 😂

[@chosenchild8416]

I really enjoy this channel.

[@sethallison4525]

Idk if this is of any help but being a GM Tech, and when an 04 and prior truck comes in I use my biggest wrench and a 3 lbs hammer. Works pretty well honestly. Never have to hold the pulley either. Just a thought.

[@jasonputtock4428]

Its left tighty. you DONT need to tighten it. It self tightens. Wind it on normally by hand and give no more than 10nm left to tighten. JOB DONE!

[@victor58010]

That " random house clamp" at 10.42 dropped into the engine when you removed the split coolant hose in episode 5!

[@iHelpSolveIt]

Top tip: to loosen or tighten the BMW anticlockwise fan clutch, use a hammer 🔨 and the 32 spanner. Just whack it with the hammer to get it off. And lightly tap to put it on. It will get tighter on its own so do not over tighten when putting back. Also the same fan clutch is available from Nissan for a third of the price 🤣 Those vanity tappet covers are problems whenever there is a lot of dust...

[@joonchung771]

R-12 refriegerant was replaced by R-134a from 80's, but, whatever refriegerant you use on your A/C system, Low side should near around 30Psi and High side near around 220-230 PSi when ambiant temp is near around 25Deg. celcious. Your Low side seems just over 0 and high side is near around 150PSi, which means lack of refriegerant. When you decide to use R-134a on your old R-12 system, you should completely flush your system and use proper compressor Oil for R-134a refriegerant(PAG Oil). If you do not know the exact amount of refriegerant, you should concentrate on your pressure gauge.

[@YogisGarage]

Nice work guys. Lots of WIIT opportunities! Alex do you have an o-ring supplier you rely on or do you go OEM, FCP OE? Those and crush washers are a must have in my garage.

[@AdamAus85]

I got what will be probably my last e39 last year. My sister unfortunately overheated my other e39 (02 525i) that was on permanent loan to her. The plastic coolant hose on the left side of the head had failed. And it wasn't an instantaneous one, the signs were there. That car had been losing coolant for some time, and I had put it down to what may of escaped from the cap. My last e39 is an 03 530i m sport high tech individual in frozen black over black. Most of the bells and whistles bar dsp, blinds and alarm system.

[@tomfurie2996]

Nice job Alex. I’ll take one of each. (I wish!) You might consider a 30-second update the last morning of the auction reminding us to watch the final action live. GLWTA!

[@ganormand]

re: Rolls Royce-it was said that in the old days, a mechanic knew the engine was perfectly tuned when a nickel could be stood on edge while engine ran. I owned one like yours for 5 years-renewed transmission (GM clone), and replace an air conditioning hose. You showed the oil filled carburetors-but did you notice the shocks were also serviceable oil filled?

[@jimc.7121]

Years ago I helped my neighbor replace the thermostat on his wife's 3 series. What a nightmare! The thermostat is in a self-contained plastic housing and resides above the passenger side control arm underneath the engine with about nine hoses connected to it. Ok, very slight exaggeration about the number of houses, but not by much. It took about three hours because there was no space to work in and we both needed about four arms. Never again.

[@andy1056]

Thanks for that “funnel-shop vac” tip. I can never find the stupid hose attachments for my vac. Very useful

[@saulgonzalez5679]

I love the random uploads !!

[@stuartd9741]

Always enjoyed the Rolls content. Something a little different. And that brake pedal system of all them rods and linkages..! She looks a proper Rolls now. .. That BMW water pump replacement looks super complicated and very tricky to get right with all them seals. Always a pleasure watching your channel Alex... Any news/update on the eclipse? That was a clean car just like the fox body.👍

[@amargacanica1042]

Best channel on KZbin

[@markopolo945]

Hello Alex and LegitStreetCars crew 🙌 I'm currently busy so I'll have to watch this a little bit later have a good day everyone

[@LegitStreetCars]

Sounds great!

[@markopolo945]

@@LegitStreetCars Got the upside app thanks to you, tried sharing it with Family and friends. But some are sceptical off free stuff😅😅😅

[@M5tubee]

I used to own a e39 2001 540i and yes the cooling system was a mess he probably should have changed the valley pan gasket under the manifold since it was right there and probably leaking as well. I now own a 2009 n54 135i and 2015 640i and the cooling systems are alot more simpler being electric water pump which does fail but is easier to replace on your own. I must say the n54 engine is a very good engine to work on.

[@homehouae2937]

I’ve been loving your vids man, planning on getting a project car to work on with my 14 year old. Keep the content going!!

[@BloodScatter]

You should have also replaced the valley pan gasket on that BMW. These are notorious for leaking and you already had the intake manifold off. It would have been a 10min job.

[@shanedoink]

Just noticed you won a NBM TransAm WS6 on Modsandmiles! Cant wait to see this thing show up on the channel.

[@shaunbava1801]

That cooling system repair on the BMW is ridiculous. From the look of it BMW designs these things to leak as they age with all of the orings buried under the intake. Such a German design I'm not sure why they couldn't route the cooling system somewhere accessible and without so many potential places to leak. At least in this vintage there isn't so much plastic in the cooling system.

[@jacedamon922]

I have learned so much from watching you work dude you are legit

[@Leo555ZZZ]

BMW engineers deserve a special award. Hint ,,It's not a good one.

[@princeali316]

Replacing the water pump on those early E36/8/9/E46/etc. BMWs is actually pretty simple. I’ve done quite a few

[@jonnydwolf]

Alex, have Peter set up champagne glasses on the hood. Remember the old Lexus ad??

[@viviennepatterson5950]

Great to see the cars at auction. Maybe a good follow up video would be a breakdown again of numbers ever 5 cars or so. Shame it is so expensive to ship over here to NZ.

[@michaelhawkins5530]

The auto parts store didn't have those plug wires in stock? The BMW is such a nice car. I really hope that it goes for a good price to a person who knows how to keep up with the maintenance.

[@rbailey225]

Valley Pan Gasket! A huge while you're in there. That's probably where all the gunked up coolant was coming from.

[@repentnow1720]

LUV that TA you are bidding on! (Wish it was a hardtop)

[@petescarport]

What’s funny is Doug didn’t sponsor any of his fellow car KZbinrs. So crazy but I took him as that type of guy for some reason. All he had to do was reach out and they all would have done it. Even hoovie did a few cars in beginning but not anymore