My E39 540i - Going on Air

[AiredE39]

there's just some thing about that front bumper, i dont know if i like it because its different or i dont like it because it looks to bubbly...... any who, good wheel selection and suspension set up!

Yeah the sections below the fogs are a little more bubbled up then the regular m5 bumper. I got it for a steal, some shop had one they couldnt get rid of so i picked it for cheap. Was way better then the regular non-M style bumper, it has grown on me but I'm thinking of picking up OEM m5/m-tech bumpers front and back...no rush though.

Are you located in windsor Canada??? what mods you got on your e39, i like the white!!!

[AiredE39]

Whats up all!?!?!

Haven't been around in a while due to work and a long overdue vacation, plus doing work on your car in the middle of summer in Texas is nuts. Now that winter has started and I'm back from vacay, time to start a few things over the winter.

I did do a few things over the summer, I had pictures but broke the phone:
- Control arm bushings from powerflex
- waterpump went so I did that
- New set of rear tires
- replaced brake pads, installed crossdrilled rotors and painted the front calipers.

I do have some pics but I can't find them right now...

The biggest news though is that i picked up this bad boy from a family member on the cheap, was sitting around for years so I finally said tell me what the price is to take it and boom!



Jimmy rigged it up last night to make sure it still works but this has forced my hand on something i have been putting off. Due to my air ride i dont have a place to bolt this sub to from a solid footing standpoint so now I am in the process of ripping the trunk out and building a false floor.

So ill keep you guys posted cause this could be an interesting project for myself, but i will also leave you guys with some photos that i took this summer (no editing at all)

[TerenceJCruz]

Beautiful E39 man

[dubs&boost]

you escaped the Canadian prairie winter.... lucky man. So you found no real problems running the air in our winters? its really the number 2 thing making me not want air. 1st is of course the price.

[AiredE39]

you escaped the Canadian prairie winter.... lucky man. So you found no real problems running the air in our winters? its really the number 2 thing making me not want air. 1st is of course the price.

lol yes i escaped the winters, miss them though. That was a huge issue for me when i was looking at air ride, i was put at ease when i found out there is only one thing you have to do. Go to a truck stop or a trucking store of sorts and look for air brake antifreeze, drain the air tank open a port and put like a shot glass of antifreeze in there.

The other thing i did because i knew i would be driving long distances was go with the airlift autopilot system, with it being a pressure system and a feature of the system, it would let me know if a bag/line was leaking which i liked...would help pin point the problem faster.

[AiredE39]

Beautiful E39 man

thank man, just took a look through your build thread..im interested to see where you take. I like the choice of the wheels. I always like the K car size...but i could never fit in one haha.

[nsogiba]

thumbs up so far!

[ryanjblajda]

looks really good.

[AiredE39]

So this weekend I had two things I was working on, first was making a wiring harness for an aux cable to use with the OEM deck. The other was getting all the materials for making a new false floor and start on the template for the trunk.

Got all my connectors and wiring.


Removed the business CD unit


Test fitting the connectors, had to file one down.


Test run on the business CD, got it working... Cleaned up the connections and then installed it all...



All works and cleaned up... Sound pretty good... Now on to the trunk this week and hopefully by the end of next weekend have another update. And I'm going to do something about these broken cup holders...I'm probably taking them right out and making a black face plate to cover up the gap.

[fire730]

Nice car. Would love to have air ride on my E39. Maybe someday.
Need more info on the AUX cable. What pins?

Thanks.

[AiredE39]

Nice car. Would love to have air ride on my E39. Maybe someday.
Need more info on the AUX cable. What pins?

Thanks.

Fire, this is the website I used to figure out the pin numbers...only works for e39s after 09/02 production date. Use the dedicated aux pins.

http://www.tehnomagazin.com/Auto-rad...-Connector.htm

All you need are some pin connectors from a local computer shop, 22 gauge twisted pair and a 3.5mm jack male or female...your choice.

[DriftGirl]

Car looks amazing! Any pix of the front setup portion of the build?

[AiredE39]

Last night I got started on the false floor, took a while to get the template all cut out but it's close enough that all it will take is some sanding to fit the corners a little better. Also laid out the access door to get to the air ride and traced out the subwoofer to see where it would sit and how high it's going to be. I actually started by tracing the OEM mat that was in the trunk, used that to get me close and then shaved it down slowly to fit.



I got everything in and then leveled it off with the weight of the drill bit case. I like it and tonight I'll start building the frame underneath and cut out the floor from the piece of pine.

[AiredE39]

So last night made a huge amount of progress and finished it up to a point where it's functional but not finished from a aesthetics stand point.

Here is the floor all cut out


The sub and the door to the air ride mocked up


Drilled holes for all the wiring and it will be practically hidden once all mounted.


Amp all wired up, needs some zip ties...


The door access...


All said and done till I get the finishing for the floor...

[D4VY]

Looking good man, I'm excited to see how it will be when it's all finished !