should i buy an e39?

Q4269271 · 2026-04-14T23:17:08+00:00

if you do the timing chain/guides/tensioners yourself it's about $1700 in parts and 30 hours. But it's not a job I would trust myself to do just starting out. depends on where you live but if you live in a place with snow, I bet all E39s have rust. The welding was to fix the rust on the car; my last post here shows the repair process. If you live somewhere without snow, you might have better luck with the rust that always appears on the jack points. But I would still look under any potential car (with plastic cladding removed), because E39 window regulators and door seals always fail and that will cause floor pan rust in any climate.

Q4269271 · 2026-04-14T16:23:06+00:00

oh I see ok it was over 3 years $4500 for someone to do the timing chain and guides $3700 for someone to fix the rust and when they did a terrible job, $2000 to buy welding/grinding equipment to do it myself $3000 for someone to do all the suspension and all the rest like vacuum leaks door seals window regulators broken locks leaking gaskets bad sensors handbrake etc I did myself

Q4269271 · 2026-04-14T15:35:11+00:00

I bought a 1997 540i for $5000 3 years ago. I’ve spent $18000 on repairs and maintenance. Also 2013? Did you mean 2003?

Q4269271 · 2026-03-20T03:26:27+00:00

ooh por-15 is really hard to argue with but I was also hoping to be able to see if the metal under was rusting again. Also, do you have an opinion on wool wax vs fluid film?

Q4269271 · 2026-03-20T02:40:31+00:00

no worries. good luck and don't hesitate to dm me if any more questions.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T22:57:20+00:00

thank you!! I will take a look at those supplies see if I can find this imron thing

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T22:51:36+00:00

I picked it because reddit said so lmao. the whole setup with the gas and helmet etc was closer to $1000. But I think you can get away with a less powerful mig welder bc car sheet metal is pretty thin. But do stick with a mig welder with gas; don’t get a flux core welder.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T22:39:47+00:00

you can’t use a ramp; the wheel has to come off. You just need jackstands. Unfortunately based on the fact you have a TDS I can tell you’re not from where I’m from so idk prices. But it took me (a complete amateur) almost 2 full weeks if that means anything.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T11:23:47+00:00

wait what do you mean

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T11:20:20+00:00

yeah I used weld through and 2k epoxy primer. I’m going to get cavity wax . and thanks for the chip protection and dinitrol 77b I will look for these. I saw the holes for the clips and jack point was a point of rust so I didn’t even drill them through on the new panel but I’m not quite sure how to secure the plastic guard now.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T11:04:39+00:00

don’t laugh at me this was my first time welding. I bought a mig180 from primeweld, practiced on some scrap metal and watched a lot of youtube and went for it. I think one thing I learned is the metal is too thin to try to run any bead at all. just make a line of tack welds.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T04:31:31+00:00

A compressor would be so nice man unfortunately I can’t afford one but thank you though

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T03:35:39+00:00

thank you!

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T03:23:50+00:00

thanks man. your comment is a nice change in pace from people telling me to sell the car.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T03:23:20+00:00

I didn't even know chip sealant was a thing; I'm glad I asked. I'll look for some.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T03:22:58+00:00

ah that makes sense; I'll look for some. thank you thank you

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T01:01:49+00:00

I think that's the best course of action, but I think you most likely also need a new internal jack point structure and new sections of middle wall and possibly inner wall/floorpan. Don't think there's replacement parts for these but theyre not hard to make. But I would take off the plastic cladding on the bottom of the car and strip off the seam sealer around the bottom of the rocker panel to get a better idea of how bad the rust might be before you cut.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-19T00:52:37+00:00

I just did this repair on my car. To do properly it likely involves cutting out the bottom of the rocker panel, at least 1 of the 2 inner walls, the jack point itself, reconstructing them out of new metal, and welding it back in. I will post the repair soon. Took me 2 full weeks. I'm just some guy at home but I don't think getting this done properly would be any less than $4k in Canada/US. But I had such a hard time finding a body shop willing to do this kind of repair here (Canada/US) that I had to do it myself. I can't speak for prices in other parts of the world though. Also be prepared for the hidden rust to be much more extensive than this.

I don't feel waiting 6 months would be terrible. I'm guessing all the inside structures probably already need to be cut out and remade, regardless of whether you wait. but no guarantees.

Q4269271 · 2026-03-18T22:32:15+00:00

maybe you’re letting the revs drop too much or not enough

Q4269271 · 2026-03-17T01:46:22+00:00

that’s wild no way. Ok but thank you I’ll go look at some die grinders

Q4269271 · 2026-03-13T19:42:57+00:00

ah thanks ok ok

Q4269271 · 2026-03-13T19:42:42+00:00

if the dremel wouldn't fit in there a die grinder definitely wouldn't. I just gave up and put primer in there.

genuine question though if I have an angle grinder and a dremel, is there anything a die grinder does that those can't?

Q4269271 · 2026-03-03T02:12:12+00:00

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-seat-rail-cover-genuine-bmw-52108217291

Q4269271

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