Beskrivning
With regret the time has come to sell my 540iA Touring. This is one of those cars that I genuinely thought that I would never sell as I'd always wanted a V8, and I spent a lot of time searching for the right car before buying this one. However due to a change in circumstances I will shortly be returning to motorcycles and it is difficult for me to justify keeping the car, so unfortunately the time has come for her to find a new home. She is a March 2000 registered car in Vermont Green, the interior is Light Gelb (Yellow) leather, black carpet and individual anthracite headlining and pillars. When I got the car it was fitted with the common Vavona wood trim, but I have swapped this out for Gloss Piano black which looks much better and really works against the lighter coloured leather. I also have the rare cup holder delete trim in gloss black, although this is not currently fitted due to the cup holders still surprisingly being fully functional. The car also has a black dashboard and boot carpet, which is somewhat unusual as most cars with light coloured leather seem to have beige dashboard and carpet. The front seats are sport seats and are electrically adjustable. I’ve fitted an android head unit from Audiotech Direct using the upgraded brackets from the IBUS store in Germany rather than the poor quality Chinese ones that come with the unit, so it sits correctly in the dashboard and doesn’t move. There is a USB socket fitted in the glove box. I’ve also fitted a Resler interface so it runs the IBUS app. I won’t explain all of its functions here as I’m sure most of you know, however a quick Google search will help otherwise. I've currently got the halo rings as daytime running lights through the app which really brings the car into the 21st century IMO. I have replaced the steering wheel with a facelift sport wheel which has been retrimmed in leather and alcantara, and I've also fitted a set of sought after (and expensive) BMW individual sill kick plates.
The car is mechanically strong. Engine still pulls like a freight train and uses no fluids, and gearbox works as it should. There is a little bit of Vanos rattle when warm and very occasionally on start up, but all M62TU engines seem to do that.
Here is a summary of other work that has been carried out during the two years I have owned the car. There may be some things that I have missed, however I have everything stored on a USB stick and have all the invoices:
Backbox delete with twin oval tips from Longlife Exhausts (sounds epic, but without being obnoxiously loud).
4 X engine oil changes (Using Millers Trident 5w40 oil and Mahle / Mann filters). Most recent change was in September last year, and have only done a few hundred miles since.
Air filter and cabin filters replaced twice.
Cooling system renewed: Radiator + hoses, water pump, 740d 88 degree thermostat so engine runs a lot cooler, expansion tank and cap, lower hose temperature sensor, BMW coolant.
Lower timing chain tensioner replaced.
External temperature sensor and wiring plug replaced.
8 x spark plugs (NGK)
4 x tailgate struts replaced.
2 x front stabilizer arms replaced.
Serpentine belt and air con belts replaced.
Rear copper brake pipes replaced.
Brake fluid flushed and replaced (Comma DOT 4)
Wiper blades replaced front and rear (Bosch)
New battery fitted (Yuasa)
Front brake discs and pads replaced (ATE discs & Mintex pads)
Rear brake discs, pads and handbrake shoes replaced.
Fuel filter repaced.
All four door vapour barriers resealed using fresh butyl tape.
Style 49 wheels fully refurbished in dark gunmetal and fitted with matching Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, new genuine BMW centre caps and new black wheel bolts.
Power steering fluid renewed (Triple QX ATF DX 3) and rubber gasket on reservoir cap replaced.
Intensive windscreen wash system removed and washer jets replaced with E60 jets. I’ve also replaced the stalk on the steering column for one without the intensive button for neatness. Washer piping replaced with silicone.
Rubber weather strips replaced at tops of both front doors.
Rear sub frame bushes replaced (Meyle HD)
Front brake lines replaced with HEL braided lines.
ABS block to hard lines rubber hoses replaced with braided hoses.
Propshaft centre support bearing and rubber doughnut replaced.
For the recent MOT all four anti roll bar links were replaced.
Facelift sport steering wheel retrimmed with leather and alcantara.
Moving on to the exterior of the car I have replaced all of the standard SE chrome trim with shadowline trim (including bumper inserts), along with matching black kidney grills from Schiedmann. The PFL headlights have been replaced with Xenon FL units, and the adjusters have just been replaced. The rear lights are PFL clear lensed versions and I have fitted smoked side repeaters.
Points to note / things that require attention. She’s 22 years old and not perfect and these were things that were on my list of things to do if I was keeping the car:
When I got the car there was some water ingress in the interior, which was traced back to a crack in the plastic sunroof cassette and leaky door vapour barriers. As a stop gap I (neatly) sealed the sunroof shut with black silicone and popped the fuse, but being as I rarely use sunroofs I haven’t got round to repairing / replacing the cassette. I cleaned out the sunroof drains before sealing it, and it wouldn’t be too much work for the new owner to recomission it. Vapour barriers have all been resealed, and the interior is now bone dry.
Bodywork is in overall fantastic condition and polishes up beautifully, however there are some minor marks and scratches commensurate with age.
Apologies for the essay, however as you can probably tell I have genuinely loved this car and in an ideal world I would not be selling. I have invoices for several thousand pounds from my ownership alone and service history for the last two years on a USB stick. I have the BMW book pack and owner’s manuals and all keys, along with a decent amount of service history from previous owners. Car also has the glovebox torch and original first aid kit, and I have added a fire extinguisher under the drivers seat. She's never been run on E10 fuel and I only use super unleaded. Speaking of which, the fuel economy is not actually as bad as you may think, I'm getting around 22mpg around town and up to 30mpg on a run. SLS system works as it should, as does the rear PDC (integrated with IBUS app to show actual distance from objects when reversing along with audible alert - useful with such a long car). Car has been garaged during my ownership.
Car has an MOT until January 2023 with no advisories, and the mileage is a shade over 117k (this will not increase as car is now SORN'd)
Private plate not included in sale, will revert to W195 JPL.
If I get near my asking price I will include some other odds and ends – Intrax front lowering springs, AC Schnitzer style front splitter, various service parts (engine oil and filters, various rubber gaskets, etc), a set of US spec front and rear number plate plinths and a spare black interior carpet. I also have the original headlights, tail lights and indicators should you want them.
Car can be viewed in South Wales CF39, with a maximum of two people at a time. I’m happy to send more photos and videos of the car via WhatsApp to genuine buyers, however please bear with me if you don’t get an immediate response as I work nights.
Test drives welcome, but I will be doing the driving without proof of insurance and the full asking price in my hand. If you damage the car then you own it.
Timewasters are very much not welcome, as I have neither the time or the patience. I'm not interested in swaps or PX I'm afraid.
