james63

Hello all, Recently a birdstrike smashed the cover of my nearside headlamp unit (he must have been travelling at quite a speed), and so I began looking for a replacement unit (2002 M5). I found a pair on Ebay advertised as Genuine BMW 5 Series E39 M5 Hella M Tech Headlights Angel Eye Headlamps Lights, and after a quick inspection, I bought them. When I went to fit them I discovered that the low beam lamp connector, and indeed the entire moulding of the reflector inside the unit, doesn't match the M5's. Question: Are the headlamp units on the M5 exclusive to the M5? Or in other words: Do I have grounds to return them because they are not 'as described'? Could they be from an earlier M5? (they do have the halos and they look exactly like mine apart from that connector. Thanks in anticipation.

Ah, yeah, probably true. In that case I will forget the ipod connection, so I can keep the original HU. The car is in Oxfordshire, so any pointers towards decent sound specialists in the area would be great.

Hi, Anyone know the coolest roof mounts for the E39? Cheers.

Hi, I want to upgrade the sound system in my M5 but I want to keep the head unit and disc changer, and the interface with the multi purpose wheel...In other words I want to upgrade speakers and amp(s) etc, and add an ipod jack. Any one have any advice? Thanks

Hi. One of my son's friends, for unknown reasons, pulled out the rear offside seat belt all the way to its limit and now it no longer retracts and is therefore useless. Now no one can seat in that seat (especially him, the little b....................boy); anyone know where I can get a used mechanism to replace it? E38 728 year 2000. Thanks.

Hello all, The fuel guage on my M5 intermittently works/doesn't work. This is going to catch me out one day, I'm sure, since the car is partial to quaffing outrageous quantities of liquid fossils in small amounts of time. Couple that with the physics of time-flies-when-you're-having-fun and there is high probabilty of a situation involving a long walk and a plastic bottle. I am hoping that it's easily remedied by replacing a conveniently located switch somewhere near the fuel tank....?

Clutch has been replaced under warranty from the dealer. It took a bit of persuading, which was beginning to feel like a fight might be necessary, but hats off to Hexagon N. Finchley for doing the right thing in the end. Their technicians testing the car (on the North Circular, where traffic conditions and things like, well, The Law, limited the range of the testing) couldn't detect clutch slippage; we, on the other hand, on the local circuit (remarkably similar to stretches of the A303)were inducing slippage every time we floored it in 4th at 90mph up a hill. All is well, now. Might be looking for rear tyres soon.....

Well, since the last post the seven's had new brake pads front, new fan belt, one new pulley and new alternator.The sluggish thing was solved by replacement of the 'timing sensor (cam inlet)'. Cost for this work (not the brakes, alternator, etc) was RM360, or in english: 80 quid. I live in Malaysia. Actually, for anyone who's interested, the other costs (in GBP) were as follows: New alternator 260.00 Labour to change alternator 18.00 Labour to change sensor 8.00 It seems to be cheap compared to UK, but then the car cost the equivalent of GBP15,500.00 two years ago, and its a 2000 model. New cars are loaded with tax over here (and by knock-on effect, second hand cars are relatively costly), partly to protect the local (Proton) industry; a new 520i would cost GBP78,000.00! Proton, anyone?...er....no..

I mean the car is telling me to 'CHECK BRAKE LININGS' -I assume it means brake pads.

Hello all. I bought my 7 with no user manual and I have no idea how the trip computer functions work, like Stopwatch, Timer1, Timer2, etc. If I hold in the computer button on the indicator stalk for a while the screen says 'PROG', but that's as far as I have got....?

The 7 will be going in for brake linings attention next week, so I'll investigate the transmission oil approach. Watch this space. Thanks all.

Thanks, GT. I'll be off to find a hill...

Hello M people, Can anyone tell me what I might expect to pay for clutch replacement on my 2002 M5? Go on, tell me, I'm sitting down.... I am actually a little surprised that replacement appears to be due, because the car's mileage is indicated at 28k, but I guess it depends on usage. Can clutch mal-adjustment feel like clutch problem (bearing in mind pedal travel -I assume if pedal travel is correct but clutch slips, then the clutch needs replacing..)? Thanks in advance..

Will do. Actually, what really induces the problem is moving then stopping then waiting then moving then stopping.. in traffic, when the car is hot. Does sound like a viscosity thing. Hopefully an easy fix.