Top 10 Most Common E39 Problems!

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Table of contents in the description, Top 10 Problems begins at 3:29! Thanks for watching and please consider subscribing :)

[@alexhallen5530]

Late to the party here, but here's some more issues to look out for: Water collected under the passenger seat in the electronics distribution box. Had to rebuild mine after water leaked from the passenger door - Replace Vapor barrier Butyl seals on all doors! It's cheap and very effective. Also, on the touring replace the gasket around the Antenna. The rubber gets brittle and water will leak to the interior.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

It's never to late to party, thanks for adding your wisdom Alex!

[@andrewyear81]

Glad I landed on this channel! (Pretty surprised I hadn't seen it a long time ago actually) I actually landed here from watching a Android 10 radio/DVD upgrade which Chris here probably just finalized my decision to purchase in a few days, though I do want to see the backup camera upgrade hes either already put out or will be.Well he does seem to have what appears to be top notch E39 vids and a decent website. Easy sub for me. Thanks for your time Chris. Shoot me a link to the eanon deck so you can be credited for the sale if I choose to go that route. This channel will be huge soon! Keep em coming!!

[@OskarsImaks]

Thanks for the video! Got my touring half a year ago 525d. Runs without any issues besides when in idle it makes low-frequency sounds/vibrations, but that comes and goes. Don't know what's the problem with that, the guys at the workshop said that they can't find any issues. lol

[@EGASTV]

"Engine issues" Meanhile 530D drivers are laughing lol

[@newfieboy1947]

This was very helpful. Thanks

[@famus801]

Video starts at 3:30

[@daviddaniel6644]

Love this wagons, so much stile .true family car for Daddy 😉

[@e36_phantom32]

Cool fact the key on the e39 self charges once is in ignition

[@cellontop]

Dude do you think you could help me on my e39 my key won’t go past acc the steering isn’t locked I just don’t know what to do anymore

[@nojusb4377]

A little more late to the party, but the rear main seal and crankshaft seal are known to go on the M62, and also there is a cover behind the engine above the rear main seal that holds coolant that is known to go bad.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Yeah that coolant passage behind the transmission and above the rear main is a pain to deal with on this engine!

[@markc3884]

I’ve got a ‘99 528i sedan. My dilemma; the mechanical radiator fan, leave as is or change it to electric ? I’ve seen several posts on this (various sites) & the opinion seems split. I was wondering what your thoughts are ?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

I love electric fans. More control, quieter, and less parasitic drain on the engine. My race car has one, and I plan to do one on the M5 wagon one day. Might just wait until it fails and then make the upgrade 😁 thanks for watching! 😊

[@markc3884]

@@TheBimmerBarn thanks - love the channel.

[@Stian2001]

Keep it. It always works. There is an electric fan in the front that on 99% off all e39’s do not work. Replace that and you get better cooling

[@Stian2001]

And the electric fan fuse also

[@tracierainey8200]

Please help. I just had the VC and VCG replaced on Friday drove it to work and home saw oil leaking, popped the hood and my engine and everything under the hood was covered in oil, checked the dipstick ZERO OIL IN THE MOTOR. I'm at my wits end. It was repaired at a BMW dealership. What else could cause the oil to explode all over.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Definitely take pictures, and then take it back to the dealership. Sounds like something may have been installed wrong or left loose causing the oil spray! 😕

[@tracierainey8200]

@@TheBimmerBarn taking it today. He thinks it could be the crankshaft valve pvc. I don't know I just know hadn't had a single problem with it until now.

[@nut5391]

passat floormats :D

[@edwardglatzmayer5466]

Currently have 2001 e39 525iT with 121,000 miles. Battery light going on and off. Comes on when weather temperature drops too but goes away. What steps do you recommend? 1) Check Battery, connections, 2) alternator, voltage...anything other things to inspect?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Yeah I'd check the alternator, make sure it's always getting 13-14v constant, whether you Rev the engine or not. If the voltage goes up or down more than a volt, it's likely a bad voltage regulator. Otherwise, chdck battery, connections, etc!

[@Eljoejoesopa]

hey man i have a e39 540i but i noticed a noise like what you seed in the axle shaft and driveshaft how i can explain my mecanic about that problem? thanks for the video

[@TheBimmerBarn]

You'll either need to replace your axles, your center support bearing, flex disc (guibo) or sometimes the whole driveshaft if the u-joint has failed. Good luck!

[@zhila5958]

i was actually planning on getting an E39 especially a 540i variant. guess i will save up till i find an alternative which is sad considering how much i love the E39

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Get a 530i or 528i! Much more reliable, just a little slower :)

[@SCHMALLZZZ]

​@@TheBimmerBarn Much slower lol. My 98 Auto 528's does 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds.

[@julianocampo8805]

Do you have a video on how to fix the jammed door and window regulator?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

I have a video on the rear window reg, front is same as sedan. What's your door problem?

[@julianocampo8805]

@@TheBimmerBarn car door wont open.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

@@julianocampo8805 sounds like a door lock issue. Best bet is to try removing the door panel from the inside of the car, and disengage the door lock with a flathead or other tools. Gonna take a lot of patience and luck!

[@chrispalubeskie3256]

e39 540i with the zf 5hp 24 trans, the pressure regulator fails and causes the A clutch drum to crack. this is a part that fails on all e39's, a new pressure regulator in the valve body for about 80 bucks solves the 3k nightmare you will HAVE if you dont fix this issue first.

[@zvish7739]

how about diesels?

[@KingX226]

I’m ready to park my e39 and drive something new. Amazing car performance wise. But ridiculous that the most simple aspect of the car fail so easily and become very annoying to fix. I’m tired of not having cup holders, working windows/sunroof, a seat that won’t distort my back, and instrument cluster I can’t read

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Good point, and I agree these cars can be a hassle to maintain with age, and I don't just mean oil changes! The generation is 20 years old, coming up on 25 where it can be considered a antique car in the US! haha sounds like it's time to jump into a newer 5 series :)

[@antiochiaadtaurum3786]

you can get a new set of cupholders for 20 greenbacks, just fix them dude

[@alexandermedia5402]

I have a jitter when I hit the gas... and idea what would cause that?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Coils, sparkplugs, MAF and on the 528i the IAC valve could all cause idle/low rpm issues! Do you have any engine fault codes?

[@alexandermedia5402]

Chris Buisson p1529, p0101. I had a 3rd but it won’t read now.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

@@alexandermedia5402 Camshaft sensor and MAF Sensor faults. I'd start by replacing the cam sensors and cleaning the MAF. Could also we a wiring issue!

[@alexandermedia5402]

Thank you! I cleaned the iAc and it runs a bit smoother. Less jitter. But still there. I think it’s wiring. I’ve replaced 2 of the sensors at the front of the engine. Is the 3rd towards the back of the engine? I have the inline 6.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

@@alexandermedia5402 the crank sensor is at the back of the motor, the camshaft sensor is at the front. If sensors arent the problem, it could be wiring or a faulty vanos solenoid. They get gunked up from waiting too long between oil changes.

[@BMWM5E39]

going to be a blue sexy m5 e39 touring!

[@everydayfishing2670]

Just changing my e39 engine...here is hard to get m5 engine...i swap them to 2.8 as 4.4l v8 is totally gonna cost me high paying roadtax peryear..im so jealous of u guys with no problem swapping to large displacement cc engine....anyway nice video...love it..

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Nice! I would love to do a 528 touring with Turbo build next, best of both worlds!

[@Fuentessergio2]

The keys aren't ews based but dme

[@nils1016]

which year is this one ?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

This is a 1999 model, Pre-Facelift. Thanks for watching!

[@nils1016]

@@TheBimmerBarn thanks for the answer and the video! Definitely learned a lot for when i wanna buy one 🙏

[@TheBimmerBarn]

@@nils1016 Good luck my friend! Happy hunting

[@nils1016]

@@TheBimmerBarn appreciate it my guy

[@Gixxer983]

where he points out the jack points, that are squished in. Under his plastic cover the car is rotten.

[@goldwalker5002]

Pulling my 4.4l out my e39 this weekend . Love this car but if u don't have $ dont buy it

[@LCOF]

E39 parts are cheap and available and the car is pretty easy to work on apart from the bigger jobs but that's down to time and space. Download the E39 BMW workshop manual, everything is in it. Honestly, 99% of the issues I see on youtube and read about online are because owners aren't taking care of their cars. Keep it oem, stick to regular servicing and preventative maintenance.

[@valerianpantsulia1730]

Goddammit BMW BMW should bankrupt they deserve it because they make it too many people suffering and lost a lot of money deliberately and when you gonna realize this is already will be late........Goddammit BMW........ Nice video and Good job, it was very interesting. Thank you ////////////////////

[@Squattarights666]

there's no such thing as an M5 wagon dude.... Super annoying that people constantly try to make their cars as much like an M car by putting everything on them as possible except the parts that matter ... the engine and transmission... Which WILL NOT fit in a regular E39.... I REPEAT, you CANNOT put an M5 engine and trans in a regular E39, especially the wagon. So you just look like an idiot with that license plate saying "M5 Wagon".