Hi all: new to the site...been reading and laughing a lot..I have a few questions which may seem lame to most but bare with me.
1) My wiper blades are horrible. Dealer replaced them 2x in last month. LOUD with a great slap as drivers side reaches top. I have driven Yugo's with quiter wiper blades.. this is a fancy car with poor design. Any comments or suggestions?
2) Car has stock tires 16" conti. Like to upgrade to 18" with little degrade in comfort. Also I don't want to spend 1500+ if I can help it. Comments?
3) What's best replacement for stock high beam bulbs? Would like bright white (not blue)
4) Does anyone have wood/leather steering wheel under 550.00?
5) Already broke L fog light. Have to replace whole housing??? Already ordered one for 85.00(good price) Are there plastic films to protect lens so I don't go through fogs like crazy. (I normally bust windshield in first 5 months of owning a car but never a light)
Will be upgrading with strut support bar, clear turning lights, and DSS angels from Matt. Great guy with excellent support!
KEEP ME LAUGHING!!!!!!!

You can find 1 and 5 here:

http://www.bavauto.com

You can find 2 here:

http://www.thewheelexchange.com

I don't know about 3 and 4.

Other thoughts:

1) Try PIAA blades. Do a search on Google.
2) Discount Tire, Wheel Exchange, Ebay, etc. Be careful of replicas vs. OEM. Replicas are usually cast, OEM's are forged. There are some viscous debates over this, but the consensus is that OEM (forged) are better. I found my OEM wheels on Ebay.
4) The victor steering wheel is an option. I also remember reading that Circle BMW had an OEM wood/leather steering wheel for $520.
5) You can buy lens protectors. Here is some info provided by Magnum: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=166375

Good luck!

1. I have also been stressed out by this wiper chatter, but I suggest the PIAA "Sporza" or PIAA "Silicone" blades. I found them at BavAuto.com and AutoBarn.com. (Auto Barn is a little cheaper and they have both versions, as well as replacement inserts.)

Here's what I did:
Dealer checked alignment of the blade.
OEM inserts changed.
OEM blade changed.
Aftermarket inserts tried. (Trico)
Aftermarket blades tried. (Bosch Micro Edge, Trico)
Cleaned with Stoners Invisible Glass.
Cleaned with Bon Ami.

Finally, I was told that the amount of pitting on the windshield was likely the problem.
New BMW windshield installed and the problem went away.

A year later it started again, though minor in comparison to before.
OEM inserts changed again.
OEM blades changed again.
Never used Rain-X on this glass, was told it could be more of a problem than a solution.
(Washer fluid is 20/10.)

Finally went with PIAA wiper blade on the driver's side. Problem solved! :)

http://store4.yimg.com/I/rodi_1772_7664564

http://store4.yimg.com/I/rodi_1772_60666146

PIAA web site (http://www.piaa.com/WiperBlades/WiperBlades.html)


5. For fog light covers, read more at:
www.StonGard.com or www.Xpel.com

I have StonGard on both the E38 and E39.

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/206000-206999/206524_193_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/257000-257999/257557_90_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/257000-257999/257557_86_full.jpg

Yeah, What he said.

Let me add a "Welcome to BF". :wave:

Enjoy the drive, but stay off of the sidewalk...I got dibbs ;)


:D

Not a good picture, but a little taste of something different than the M Par's most use. These are Rondel-58's. I went for 17-inch rather than 18-inch for my own reasons. Michelin Pilot A/S Sport tires, of course.:wave: Welcome to the group therapy.

Thanks everybody for the replies!!! How are the Mich. sports in wet/snow? Baby is beautiful!! Don't quit working on it!! Maybe my car will aspire to be 1/4 as nice but when I showed Baby's picture to it, the crying started. Unconsolable!!! Had to use the old wiper blades just so it could see the sidewalk!!!:)

The Michelin Tires are excellent in snow. Nothing works well in ICE and my car refuses to go anywhere near Mud!!! Maybe that was me that refused to go anywhere near Mud. I will also say they do very well in rain and preventing hydroplaning. Anyway, you looked at Bimmerhead's Baby. It is beyond nice in my opinion, it is a work of art. I am envious, but lack the resources to go down that road. I think if I was to upgrade a car to his extent, I would have to buy a newer model first to have the goodies mine lacks. My wife isn’t exactly enamored with me putting money of this type in my daily driver. She points to the old M5 in the garage and states that is where the performance money should go. Have to think about selling the M5, I guess. I have seen many other exceptionally nice 7-Series cars on this board and on the previous board which will remain nameless (RF), Oops, but I have to say Baby is at the top of the pack. Kudos to Bimmerhead. Takes care and again welcome to the group.

welcome aboard! what year is your 7er?

for your steering wheel question, have you considered the 740iSport 3spoke M-wheel? i think that also goes for around $400-$500. this is the wheel i have (upgraded) and i can't wait to have it installed. i've got an extra airbag for cheap if you decide to go that route :D

aaron

My 7 is 2001. Not sport. I have had a car in the past with wood/leather steering wheel and there is nothing like the feeling. Very sexy feel (don't read into this). Sport wheel would be second choice.:love1

Originally posted by alteredstates
My 7 is 2001. Not sport. I have had a car in the past with wood/leather steering wheel and there is nothing like the feeling. Very sexy feel (don't read into this). Sport wheel would be second choice.:love1

don't read into this LOL! i know what you mean completely. for me i was sold on the smaller diameter/grippier sport wheel...mmm sexy. i like the steering wheel that Rob Levinson has on his car. i believe it is a Victor. do a search and take a look at what he's got. it's sweet

aaron

So you can replace the 4-spoke 740iL wheel with the 740 sport 3-spoke wheel?
Does this require any electrical modifications or is it just a swap deal?

I always wondered why the factory didn't include the 3-spoke wheel on the 740iL even with sport package...?

I suggested looking at ACS wheels. They are awesome. I got them on mine and I love it. Check out some pics.

For your H7 bulbs upgrade, go to http://www.hoen-usa.com/

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=1678163#post1678163

If you want a bigger name brand, try Sylvania Silverstars H7, they are whiter than stock 01 e38 High Beam but not close enough of match IMO to the H1 Low Beam.

JL

Mark W.
I need to ask you about the fog lights on your car shown in this thread. Are those stocks or did you install those yourself? If the later, where did you get them?
Randy

Welcome aboard, man!

Maybe you want to go for 19inch?

http://www.german2000.com/assets/images/db_images/db_bild_0131.jpg

Those are OEM BMW and cheap, too. One piece design made by RH Alurad.

Greetings from Germany,
Marc aka Tranceshark

rango44,

The Sterling Gray car is the E39 540i/6, the Orient Blue is the E38 740iL. The fog lights are the stock ones for the E39. Sorry for the confusion, the two pictures of the E39 was to show the StonGard.

The E38 has the regular E38 fog lights...

Stock bulbs
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/206000-206999/206524_275_full.jpg

Hoen Xeonmatch bulbs
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/206000-206999/206524_276_full.jpg

Mark W.
My wife has a 99 528I and her car has fog lights similar to the 7’s. What year is your 540 and do you know if those are particular to the 540 and not 528? I may see about upgrading hers as one has a broken lens right now anyway.
Randy