There is a website about common problems for those cars. www.540i6.com.
my car is following that list of problems precisely. final stage unit went out,
radiator and expansion tank leaked, thermostat got stuck closed. clutch pedal was squicking so they changed the bearing.
Bentley repair manual states that oil pump bolts come loose in V8 engines and fall into the oil pan. has anyone experienced that problem. what are the symptoms if that happens? should I be expecting that when I have 46K miles on my car?

There is a website about common problems for those cars. www.540i6.com.
my car is following that list of problems precisely. final stage unit went out,
radiator and expansion tank leaked, thermostat got stuck closed. clutch pedal was squicking so they changed the bearing.
Bentley repair manual states that oil pump bolts come loose in V8 engines and fall into the oil pan. has anyone experienced that problem. what are the symptoms if that happens? should I be expecting that when I have 46K miles on my car?

Wow... 46k seems very soon for all these problems... these problems usually occur at around 65-80k... I bet it has the do with the Vegas climate....

what year is your ride?

Heard the oil pump bolt coming loose pertains to pre vanos 540 which means 97-99.

Heard the oil pump bolt coming loose pertains to pre vanos 540 which means 97-99.

It has happened to Vanos engines as well, if you own a e39 540 then you better check thoose bolts.

Heard the oil pump bolt coming loose pertains to pre vanos 540 which means 97-99.

I have heard the same thing, although the VANOS engine started in 1999. I read that BMW started using lockwashers in 1999.

That's good to know...i just bought a 98 540i today with 55K....what's a good repair book for bmw's?(i'm commin' from a 98 Golf GTI)

my ride is made in April of 2000. I am glad that VANOS engine's oil pump bolts dont come loose. I know how much pain it is to check those bolts?
you got to remove oil pan 1, oil pan 2 and many other greasy and dirty things.

Good repair book is Bentley's repair manuals. I dont know if there are other better ones. it is about 120 bucks but it already saved me that much.
once this dumb mechanic was asking 300 bucks to install an outside temperature sensor and I installed it myself. thanks to the electronic diagrams
in the book I could easily firgure out which wire went were. Also it tells you a lot about the engine, VANOS system, transmissions and other hardcore stuff.
overal it makes you a smarter bmw owner and you would not get easily duped by mechanics.

my ride is made in April of 2000. I am glad that VANOS engine's oil pump bolts dont come loose.

They do come loose.

Here's some interesting information documenting common E39 problems
http://www.angeleyesusa.com/e39/e39maladies.jpg

thanks, real nice compilation of problems. well, looks like you got to be able to easily say good bye to hundreds of dollars when owning this car. But I say its worth it.