Hey guys,
I'm the guy that's been lurking around these forums these past few months and asking all of these annoying questions about the 99 540. The other day, i looked through auto trader and saw that a dealer had mistakenly listed a 99 540a with 61k miles for $21000. I did a KBB search and it retailed for like over 27000 almost to 28000. Anyways... so i call them up and not even mentioning the $21k and asked them about the bottom line and that i didn't want to drive all the way over because i lived over 200 miles away. The dude was telling me something along the lines of $23.5 was the best that he could do for me. I was like WHAT???? You have it listed for $21k. Then he was REALLY surprised and asked me where i had seen it listed for $21k and i told him autotrader. After looking it up himself he said that "it had to be a mistake". So he goes to his manager and they agree to honor the price. Anyways... when i got there, they didn't even allow me to work with a salesperson because they couldn't afford to pay out the commission on the car. So... i guess my question is... is 21k a good deal on a pretty clean 1999 540a with sport package and comfort seats with 61k miles on it? Even the private party value of that car was around 25k i think on kbb.

Anyways... i've been driving for about a week now to and from work and it drives great! This is my first BMW and this thing really corners flat and effortlessly. The acceleration and passing power in this thing is also unbelievable... All else was going fine until a couple of days ago whenever i put a little bit of pressure on the steering wheel, it would make a noise that went "hsssssssssssssss" and so i assumed that it was the power steering. So i'm assuming that the power steering fluid was low or something so i goto check it out. I open the hood and what seemed like the P/S fluid said "ATF fluid only" which really confused the heck out of me so i took it to the dealer so i did not add the wrong stuff in there. Sure enough, it was ATF fluid that went into the P/S and it was just a little low. So i fill it up and the sound has gotten quieter, but it is still there. Is this normal for all 5 series? Or is it something that i need to be worried about? It's wierd, if i roll down the window to try to hear it, i wont be able to hear anything coming from under the hood. I can only hear it with the window up, i'm at a standstill, the A/C is off, and the radio is off. Its a really faint "hssssss" but it's driving me nuts cause i know it's there.
Any suggestions? Could it just be a bad o-ring somewhere? I dont want to take it to the dealer where they'll say "ok... $100 an hour until we figure out what's wrong with it". Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Anyways... i need to get used to the attention i get driving around in this thing... hehe... i think people are eyeballing me sometimes or staring at me because i cut them off in traffic or something... but i realize that they are just eyeing my car. The paint is REALLY CLEAN! I know you guys are anxious for pics... but it's dark outside now... i will take some with my digital camera.

thanks
Aaron

wow... really excited there

congrats on the car... 21k is about right for a private sale on the car.

Not sure what options, so that is why I say about right... anywhere from 22-25 is reasonable for a good low mileage car

you also did not say if the car was CPO or not... I assume not.


PS... might want to check you power steering hoses... have been known to go with out warining (a low fluid is a warning)... as well as the PS pumps


the cars are great... check out

www.bmwtips.com and www.e38.org (this is for the 7 series, but we share the same motor and a lot of other things... good sites)

wow... really excited there

congrats on the car... 21k is about right for a private sale on the car.

Not sure what options, so that is why I say about right... anywhere from 22-25 is reasonable for a good low mileage car

you also did not say if the car was CPO or not... I assume not.


PS... might want to check you power steering hoses... have been known to go with out warining (a low fluid is a warning)... as well as the PS pumps


the cars are great... check out

www.bmwtips.com and www.e38.org (this is for the 7 series, but we share the same motor and a lot of other things... good sites)

It wasn't a private sale car. It was a dealer sale at 21k. hehe
And no it's not a CPO.

I've only had my 5-Series a short time. I really love it. I have a 2000 540i.
It is such a joy to drive. Far better than the 3-Series I had before. Mine was used with 72000 miles on it. Great cars, congrats on your purchase.
Pat

You haven't really told us much about your car besides that it's a 99 540i Sport and the mileage.

What color ext/int?
Manual or Auto?
What features?

I just picked up my 540 this past weekend - I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Congrats on your car and for getting a good deal on it.

Brian

Congradulations on the car man. Awsome buy. In a week or so I'll be buying almost the exact same thing. A 1999 540i sports package. I've only driven it twice and loved every minute of it. The power steering hoses is something with these cars you have to look out for. Also, the valley pan gasket may also need to be replaced. But congrats again on the car. Post pics of it when you get a chance.

Hssssss, go my air conditioner whens it's running. Drove me nuts for awhile until I figured it out.

Turn off the AC and see if the hissing stops. If so... you'll know and it won't bother you anymore ;)

You haven't really told us much about your car besides that it's a 99 540i Sport and the mileage.

What color ext/int?
Manual or Auto?
What features?

I just picked up my 540 this past weekend - I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Congrats on your car and for getting a good deal on it.

Brian

Black exterior/Tan interior (pretty clean)
Auto
It's got the BMW phone and comfort seats. I believe the rest of the fancy stuff is standard. I wanted to find one with either heated seats or a rear sunshade and a manual but this deal was too good to pass up. Do you guys think that i could get maybe $24k for this thing? and i could go find a 6-speed? I mean... $24k is what it blue books for on a private party sale.

Hssssss, go my air conditioner whens it's running. Drove me nuts for awhile until I figured it out.

Turn off the AC and see if the hissing stops. If so... you'll know and it won't bother you anymore ;)

It's not the A/C because i turned the A/C off a couple of times in order to try and hear the noise better. Also, it only hisses when i put pressure on the steering wheel in a direction. Even if the wheel is turned and i let go of it, the sound will go away. So i'm pretty much convinced that it's the power steering.

One more thing... after filling up the power steering fluid a couple of days ago, i checked it again and the fluid is still full. Hmmmm... i guess i will have to take it into the dealer for a check. Also... while i was under the hood, i checked the oil level while i was at it. Even though with bmw's oil shouldn't be a problem until the light comes on i decided to check it out of curiosity anyways... the oil came out looking sort of dark brownish color. Maybe it's just me... but i recall good looking oil having a golden look to it. But i stuck the key into my ignition and the little bars for the service interval still have like 3 greens left to go. So... i dont get it... maybe the used car dealer i bought it from didn't even bother to change the oil. They just reset the light. Think i need an oil change as well?

By the way, how much does an oil change go for on a 540?

thanks

By the way, how much does an oil change go for on a 540?

thanks

It is cheapest to DIY... not hard either


Not like AMerican or other imports where they hide the oil filter under the car in a weird location...


BMW decided to put it in a great location! In the engine compartment behind the drivers side headlight... you will see a canister with a black top ... two stainless lines leading out of it... that is the oil filter housing!

jack the car up... about 3 feet dead cebter of the motor is the drain pludg door... remove... remove the drain plug (have a receptical handy!) drain the oil... replace the oil filter / o ring...replace the plug, door... and replace the
drain plug fill with 8qts oil... save 45 bucks (change is 90 at the dealer... 45 with synth oils DIY including filter)

Congrats on the purchase, I think you got a good deal :D

It is cheapest to DIY... not hard either


Not like AMerican or other imports where they hide the oil filter under the car in a weird location...


BMW decided to put it in a great location! In the engine compartment behind the drivers side headlight... you will see a canister with a black top ... two stainless lines leading out of it... that is the oil filter housing!

jack the car up... about 3 feet dead cebter of the motor is the drain pludg door... remove... remove the drain plug (have a receptical handy!) drain the oil... replace the oil filter / o ring...replace the plug, door... and replace the
drain plug fill with 8qts oil... save 45 bucks (change is 90 at the dealer... 45 with synth oils DIY including filter)

Hmm... not too bad. Sounds easy enough. How about resetting the oil change interval light? I talked with a German car shop. He said i shouldn't go by the light. He says the light sometimes takes a while to come on and that usually the bmw sythetic oil doesn't last that long. Is he just pulling my chain and wanting to earn more money? Or is this true that it's not good for the engine to rely on the oil change light?

thanks
Aaron

well lthe lights go by fuel used, and miles driven, etc


for me waiting 15k miles for an oil change - even syntheyic - is silly

I change mine every 5-7500 miles

I usually do not re-set the light EVERY time, as that will throw off the schedule for inspections, etc.

as far as re-setting them when they SHOULD be done (after 15k miles or so)

there is a great write up on www.bmwtips.com on how to DIY

essentiall there is a port in the engine compartment, should be near the passenger side shock tower - black round with a cap

get a piece of metsl... a trimmed down coat hanger works fine (copper) or a piece of wire used for houses, etc. place the car in "start" position (not "on" but in the start position - i.e. do not start car) and jumper pin #7 and #19 (I think they are the correct ones ... benn 7k since the last time I did this... need to do soon) for 3-5 seconds... pull the wire... turn car off and then on... should be re-set

to re-set the inspection lights... leave in for 7-10 seconds and will re-set those...

really easier than it sounds... takes a few times (sometimes) to get the timing right but works well.

there are devices sold that will do this for you... but do nothing more than what is described above

marinakorp, I agree with everything you said except -
I can't see myself sticking wires in the port to my Computer. :eek:

well lthe lights go by fuel used, and miles driven, etc


for me waiting 15k miles for an oil change - even syntheyic - is silly

I change mine every 5-7500 miles

I usually do not re-set the light EVERY time, as that will throw off the schedule for inspections, etc.

as far as re-setting them when they SHOULD be done (after 15k miles or so)

there is a great write up on www.bmwtips.com on how to DIY

essentiall there is a port in the engine compartment, should be near the passenger side shock tower - black round with a cap

get a piece of metsl... a trimmed down coat hanger works fine (copper) or a piece of wire used for houses, etc. place the car in "start" position (not "on" but in the start position - i.e. do not start car) and jumper pin #7 and #19 (I think they are the correct ones ... benn 7k since the last time I did this... need to do soon) for 3-5 seconds... pull the wire... turn car off and then on... should be re-set

to re-set the inspection lights... leave in for 7-10 seconds and will re-set those...

really easier than it sounds... takes a few times (sometimes) to get the timing right but works well.

there are devices sold that will do this for you... but do nothing more than what is described above

The DIY site that you directed me to says that there are 2 different types of lights. One for oil change and the other for inspection. So... it should be ok to reset the light every time you change the oil right? And is that really when the oil change light comes on? every 15000 miles?

thanks

By the way, how do you tell the difference between the oil change interval light? and the service interval light? I just have this little meter thingy that lights up after i start the engine. But then goes out. Not sure which is which though...
any insight?

thanks

DO NOT RE-SET EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE THE OIL


unless you actually wait for the lights to change to the right cycle. If you change the oil MID cucle (every 5-7k miles) then re-set every other time, as this will tell the computer to post the next service due..

below the lights there is a indicator "oil service" or "Inspection"

Recommendation... change it every iteration of 5k miles... 25k..30k..35k.. etc.


it is not a port to the OBDII computer (I would agree with you there) this is for the re-setting of oil service lights , etc.

Sticking the wires is ... I was freaked the FIRST time I tried it... oooh I might mess something up... what if the car won't start afterwards... follow the directions... you will not have any problems

thousands have done this before you... and more will do it after. If you feel more comfortable spending some $$$ for a code re-set tool go right ahead, they work fine... but they do nothing more than what I just described to you... for free


your choice... just giving options and opinions

It's not the A/C because i turned the A/C off a couple of times in order to try and hear the noise better. Also, it only hisses when i put pressure on the steering wheel in a direction. Even if the wheel is turned and i let go of it, the sound will go away. So i'm pretty much convinced that it's the power steering.

My power steering thingy is starting to drive me nuts. Now... every part of my 540 runs smoothly except for the steering. I'm pretty sure there's not a leak because the amount i put in there is still in there after a week. When i put pressure on the wheel it makes a sort of hissing/light whining sound. Does anyone have experience with what noise this is? I can only hear it with the window up and i'm inside. There is almost NO noise if i try to listen from outside. When i went to get my oil changed, i had them check for leaks in the hoses. They said that none of the hoses are leaking. I asked him about the hissing, the guy said that hissing is normal sometimes because of the high pressure steering system. Somehow... i'm not buying this... my friend has a 528 98' with 135k miles on it. It's SILENT! no noises whatsoever. I really would not like to waste the money to take it into the dealer and pay $100 an hour until they find the problem.
Any theories?

thakns

I don't notice any noise in my 2000 540i. A 528 might not be a good comparision though as the steering is different than a 540.
Pat

congrats on the purchase man.

Actually, i did a little research. Someone with a 330 had the same problem. Think it's possible that i have the same problem?

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=209011&highlight=steering+noise

thanks

Need I say congratulations?

Sounds like you need a factory Owner's Manual for the glovebox. Buy one at the dealer for about $10. Most of the common questions you have like "what kind of P/S fluid" are in there.

If you're gonna keep this car and you want to do some of your own repairs, you'd better get $110 Bentley E39 Service Manual and a copy of ETK and TIS off ebay or somewhere (about $25). One unnecessary trip to the dealer for something you could have figured out yourself will pay for this literature. They may also prevent you from doing something wrong and messing up your car.

Have fun. Rick