Service in Review: 1997 BMW E39 528i/5

This video showcases a 1997 BMW E39 528i 5-speed recently serviced by E39Source, LLC.
E39Source website: www.e39source.com
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[@PB200559]

I own a 1997 528i over here in the UK with 63k miles on the clock. In similar condition to this one. Beautiful car to drive, mine however is a 5 speed auto. Great work by you.

[@ivorvanwerven6210]

nice to see a non-m e39!!!

[@kurtrusellpatrickswayze]

Of course we love the M5, but man, there's something about a vanilla E39... esp. an early one, so subtle and soft, really desirable cars. But they are a labour of love!

[@Laraarsa]

02:15 In Europe the chrome strip on the side mouldings was actually still available after facelift. Unlike the pre-facelift examples however, the chrome is actually on the underside of the strips instead of the top!

[@E39Source]

Thanks for sharing this! I noticed when I was in Germany in 2023 that some of the trims looked different but I couldn't get a close enough look to determine why. Now I know!

[@vlad12367]

​@E39Source yeah, you can search for the Exclusive Edition, chrome exterior trims, piano black mixed with wooden trims on the interior, style 50 wheels and a different interior seats design

[@bosephusjr]

Great video & wow.. what a nice example of a 1997 528i

[@KelvynGoveo]

Great video! You didn’t talk much about the rims/ tires, or exhaust/ muffler setup. It’s nice to see this model stock and well taken care of!

[@E39Source]

Wheels are factory original BMW/BBS Style 5. The complete exhaust system is also completely original.

[@barrykrysko3153]

So nice to see these older models! Thanks for sharing.

[@Sonic_1000]

I have a 1-owner 2000 m sport. 111k miles. Love it for a daily.

[@john-danielmartin8753]

I stumbled across this page last year and forgot to subscribe and i was like why wasnt i not seeing your videos thank God for YT suggestions. Subscribed and have alot of catching up to do

[@E39Source]

Thank you and welcome back!

[@DunDealBMW]

Great videos, man I always enjoy watching them. Keep it up. One day I gotta make an effort to drive from LA to San Diego and have you work on my car.

[@E39Source]

Thanks for your comment! We'd love an opportunity to work with you in the future :)

[@Matt_from_Florida]

Fascinating. But then I'm a very technical & detail-oriented man. I've never owned a BMW but recently I'm really warming toward late-90s E38 & E39 4.4L v8s. I mostly owned Mercedes cars in the '90s & '00s.

[@peterers3]

marvellous job. As always great work Ryan.

[@harrytomlucy]

That's in lovely condition considering the age! Love the extra bits of chrome on the trim So difficult to find one like that in the UK without paying the earth. The electric memory seats,/steering wheel look like options. I still have the original rubber seal below the front bumper in my 2003 525d SE :) Not on my 2003 525i M Sport....

[@2flocks]

Makes me want a E39 again 😅

[@Adam-pm2ce]

Have the same car. 99 love it ❤

[@DJAdo80]

Oh man, I need to bring my mom's car over to you! I had to pull a fuse to eliminate this, but I will definitely contact you to get her alarm back in order again!

[@E39Source]

We'd love to help! Email me at [e-mail] when you're ready to schedule.

[@jaym9879]

I believe the center console plastic piece is available on Amazon.

[@Owl-ge9jl]

I noticed a few things that are different on this car compared to my October of 97' 540i. My car has the later style center console, temperature control for the rear passengers, a storage cubby instead of the rear cup holders, wolf whistle instead of the chirp, no washer float level, and the cruise control is all on the steering wheel, meaning the 0 button becomes I/O. Likely all a combination of my car being an early 98MY, V8 car, different options, Canadian market, and maybe some retrofits. Makes me curious how many changes BMW made throughout the E39's production run.

[@E39Source]

Thanks for the info here! I'm fascinated with all of these subtle changes too. It'd be pretty impossible to map every single change because of how many factors there are (production date, options, packages, country it was originally sold in, etc etc.

[@Renannnnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

My Dec/1997 528i 5MT (europe market) also had the cruise control O/I in the same buttom. Exactly same center console as the video thought. Xenon headlights and BBS Style 5s, no sunroof.

[@Owl-ge9jl]

@ It having no sunroof is really interesting. I wish it was a more common option, or lack thereof, in America

[@persistencewins]

Hey Raymond, cool video showing this nice E39. Yo I don’t know if this is a recent video but in regards to the center console tray, you can find at FCP Euro for sure, cuz I just got a new one last week Jan/2025. Take it ez n keep it up! Roberto

[@E39Source]

Hi Roberto, you were able to find the pre facelift center console tray on FCP? The part number needs is 51168219165, which doesn't even come up on FCP for me.

[@ramm0]

i’ve got a slicktop e39 touring in chicago, one day i’ll make it out to cali so she can get the works

[@E39Source]

Sounds like a pretty awesome road trip to me!

[@mihaidanuta938]

Nice job

[@Lucasfitts]

Appreciate the videos and the expertise!! Keep it up! I broke the plastic gate (boot side) on my mass airflow sensor while changing intake boots (02 530 m sport m54) Does this gate do anything seems like I could just snap it completely out.

[@p-driver5584]

Hey Ryan. Please show us more shop work. I am from Germany and this is one of my favorit YT chanals. :D

[@E39Source]

Thanks for the comment! I'd love to shoot more of the "in progress" phase of our work, but my time is completely consumed communicating with customers, ordering parts, writing service, etc. I hope to bring on additional hands to share this workload though, and free up some time to film more in the near future.

[@SDE90]

He should get the Euro armrest for this car! Eliminates that stupid plastic tray - full leather armrest. Night and day better.

[@filipshulikov143]

😍😍

[@135i]

The clutch shouldn't be lighter than the throttle with the cable. Probably needs the throttle cable replaced. I changed mine in my e36 and it's night and day

[@yass123]

Missing the Navi screen and it would have been perfect 😂

[@dcsohn6132]

Can this grill fit the later models? Prefer this one, looks a lot better imo.

[@E39Source]

They kidney grilles? Yes, they can be installed on any E39.

[@ismaelgil5415]

Do you guys only work on e39s, or do you do e38 also? I live in SD and ive been looking for a good shop to take my car to.

[@E39Source]

We proudly service all BMW chassis that begin with an E! I do avoid the F-chassis cars though. We just did a full mechanical restoration on an E38 740i, and are working on an 750iL now. We'd love to work with you and your E38! Feel free to email me at [e-mail] anytime.

[@theadhdunicyclist]

I have an 00 528i with the same black exterior trim with the chrome top lining, so I believe that was no longer an option after the facelift in 01?

[@E39Source]

That sounds right.

[@FELIPE8226M]

Peak BMW, they just arnt the same nowadays

[@jaygrosse8365]

If I get reincarnated as a car I want the family that owns this one (or Ryan) to buy me. Ryan, maybe I've missed it on your prior videos, but for those of us who have to live with a sunroof, how do you suggest we maintain them? I suppose they should be used periodically and lubed, but with what, how often and where?

[@E39Source]

You know what- I've never lubed my sunroofs. I tried to use them at least a few times a year just to exercise the mechanism, but I imagine they'll all fail eventually. It's the plastic vent guides that usually go. They are replaceable, but it's a lot of work. A bit of grease in chain drive is probably a good idea to reduce strain on the motor. The motor has a plastic drive gear which commonly cracks.

[@RPDBY]

its possible to fix a 5 speed manual? how about a six speed manual transmission, is it also fixable?

[@E39Source]

Anything is possible, but not per BMW TIS. ZF/Getrag parts are not sold separately when it comes to the gear set or integral internals. Usually the 'fix' involves removing heavily worn or failed parts and replacing them with used parts from donor transmissions.

[@RPDBY]

@E39Source it's very sad, because we will run out of used parts very soon... I have a 2000 540i with a manual, the third gear sometimes doesn't engage smoothly and makes a grinding noise, other times it's perfect. I've read that these gearboxes are not fixable, and i guess that's what people mean, ie can't make it like new with new parts

[@Qmark78]

Are those rims stock?

[@E39Source]

Yes

[@DannysGarage]

Oh wow, it's a slicktop too. Pretty uncommon as far as US-spec E39's go.

[@afonshinMegaPetuh]

LPR flag