Quick (Belated) Intro

[BimmerM3inGA]

Well guys, I have my new project. Unfortunately it's not an X5, so I don't know that I'll be able to post updates here.

I picked up a 2002 530i Sport Package from an estate sale about an hour from where I live. Overall, it's a pretty nice car, but it does have some problems. It suffers from all of the common E39 maladies, including a faulty ABS module, dead pixels in the instrument cluster and the radio display (MID), broken window regulators, and various oil leaks. It also has a very noisy rear wheel bearing.

The elderly previous owner passed away recently and the car was being sold by her family. Judging by how the car smells inside, I'm guessing the cause was lung cancer. The car reeks of cigarette smoke. I've been leaving the windows rolled down (well, the ones that WILL roll down) to try to start airing it out. I have a plan for getting rid of the smell, but I'm definitely open to suggestions if anyone has a technique that's been successful.

An interesting side note is that this is first of my project cars in a long time that actually made it to my house under its own power. I can't remember the last time I didn't have to scramble to find a trailer and tow vehicle! My wife went with me to get it and we had a nice adventure - even the part where I made a wrong turn and took us 30 minutes out of our way.

I've already pulled the ABS module out and sent it off to be rebuilt. And my buddy Chris at German Audio Tech in California gave me a great deal on repairing the cluster and MID. I shipped those off this afternoon. I wish I could fix those parts myself (I've tried), but I just don't have the touch for it. Besides, I really want to get this car turned around quickly so I can get back on the hunt for another E53. So I figured it would be best to defer to a pro on some items.

I don't normally like green cars, but this one is a somewhat unusual color that I had not seen in person before. And I kind of like it. I'm also really digging the two-tone interior. It's different from the black-over-tan or white-over-tan that I usually see. The M5 wheels are also a nice touch, although I strongly suspect that they're replicas.

Anyway, wish me luck on this project! And if anyone happens to know someone who's parting out an E39, please let me know. There are a few things that I know I'm going to need.

[Riggodeaux]

Congrats, M3 - actually a nice color, and sportsitze are always nice, though those appear to need a good leatherique treatment. Those do appear to be aftermarket wheels, not what you see on 2002 E39s at bmwstylewheels.com. Shame its not a manual. Manual E39s are quite nice; we had a 1998 silver on silver the CEO regrets having made me sell, circa 2006 ..... That cig stench will be a resale obstacle for you, I don' t know what will get it out of the carpet/leather/headliner. You might check the detailing forum for suggestions.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by BimmerM3inGA

Well guys, I have my new project. Unfortunately it's not an X5, so I don't know that I'll be able to post updates here.

Sure you can. Start a new thread, in the Other BMWs subsection. Everyone who can see it here in the E53 section can see it there.

[BimmerM3inGA]

Sure you can. Start a new thread, in the Other BMWs subsection. Everyone who can see it here in the E53 section can see it there.

Good to know!

I don' t know what will get it out of the carpet/leather/headliner. You might check the detailing forum for suggestions.

I'm going to take the seats out and soak the carpet with deodorizer. The headliner is pretty nasty and the pillar trim is peeling, so I will most likely re-trim all of that stuff. I think doing that will go a long way to freshening it up. I'm also going to disassemble the center console and clean all the nooks and crannies.

A few years ago I did an E46 323i that smelled just as bad as this one. I took those steps and got rid of nearly all of the odor. If the car sat parked in the sun for a few hours, there was a faint whiff of smoke. But nobody who test drove it made any comment about being able to smell it - and I got top dollar for the car. Hopefully I can pull it off again with this one…

[tmv]

Congrats on the find. 530i with sport pkg.
You have one of the rare color combo for the E39. Stone Green/Slate Green interior. Those wheels look to be reps though.
What parts are you looking for?

[Ricky Bobby]

Hey man, you want to really get rid of the smoke smell in the car?

You need an ozone generator. Probably will take more than one treatment as well.

Amazon.com - Commercial Air Purifier Cleaner Ozone Generator with UV Cleaning -

Watch Larry @ AMMO NYC's video as well.

Interior Smoke Removal Tricks: Mercedes AMG G55 - YouTube

[BimmerM3inGA]

Hey Ricky Bobby, I had heard of something like that ozone generator, but didn't really know where to look for one. Thanks for the link!

Originally Posted by tmz

What parts are you looking for?

I know I'm going to need the cover plate for the shift lever - this is the part that has the PRNDL markings and LEDs. The one in my car is broken and all beaten up. I also may need the trim piece around the instrument cluster. Mine disintegrated when I removed it to pull the cluster. There will probably be some other interior and trim pieces that I'll find once I start taking things apart. I'll make a list as I go.

[Riggodeaux]

M3, you might check with these guys over in Bogart, GA - local source of used BMW parts:
Bimmers South, Inc. - Home

I vaguely recall looking to get an E36 smog pump from them, but ended up getting the part from the big bimmer used parts source in California, whose name escapes me.

[JCL]

Time for that new thread?

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Hey man, you want to really get rid of the smoke smell in the car?

You need an ozone generator. Probably will take more than one treatment as well.

Amazon.com - Commercial Air Purifier Cleaner Ozone Generator with UV Cleaning -

Watch Larry @ AMMO NYC's video as well.

Interior Smoke Removal Tricks: Mercedes AMG G55 - YouTube

Great links!