chowdah

Introduction

I would like to take a fresh look at reorganizing the Do-It-Yourself threads here, by:
1) finding/identifying the best ones
2) providing a dedicated thread for nominations of newer/better ones
3) adding rudimentary keyword tags above each link (which may not be in the title)

If you know about a post that is superior/complementary to one already listed, or if you know about a new one, please post here with:
- the link
- some keywords for reference

Better yet, if you are motivated to create a better-written / more-accurate version of a DIY here, please do so, and let this thread know about it.

Gustav has added a "DIY" prefix which you can apply at the time you post your new DIY thread.

Thanks for the help.

chowdah

When to do it?

Note: The following intervals are meant only as very general guidelines, and may not be suitable for your car or your driving style.

Again, I’m seeding this with information I have cataloged for my own purposes, based on observations made about when owners addressed them. That starting point may or may not be correct. Please post replies with errors and additions.

General:
Air filter – every 15k miles / 25k km
Brake fluid – every 2 years, or less
Coolant – every 3 years, or less

Think about at 50k miles / 80k km, if not already done:
Belts
Transmission fluid
Pre-cat oxygen sensors

Think about at 70k miles / 110k km, if not already done:
Fuel filter
Thrust arm bushings
Power steering fluid
Wheel bearings

Think about at 90k miles / 145k km, if not already done:
Fan clutch, radiator
Fuel pump

Think about at 100k miles / 160k km, if not already done:
Rod bearings

chowdah

How to do it?

Note: Be advised that these DIYs are mostly written by non-professionals. The help you seek may be worth exactly what you paid for it here: nothing.

ABS sensor
ABS sensor replacement front DIY (vantaam5)

Audio bluetooth A2DP via Aux
Bluetooth Streaming Audio (on the cheap) (emfunf)

Aux audio input
Retro-Fit Auxiliary Audio Input Harness (AGM5)

Battery drain diagnosis
Got Battery Drain Problems? Check Here (StreetDragster)

Belts, serpentine (alternator/waterpump), AC
Fan clutch, aux fan, pusher
DIY - S62 V-belts replacement and fan clutch replacement. (J Irwan)

Blower motor HVAC
Replaced Blower Motor ( 64118385558 ) (tbalon)

Brake booster
DIY: Brake Booster Replacement (Nabio)

Brake fluid flush
DIY brake flush w/Motive Power Bleeder (chowdah)
Brake/Clutch Bleed w/ATE Super Blue (phid_bombadier)
help with front brake air lock please (eljockvis)

Brake kit, BMW Performance retrofit
How To Fit The BMW Performance Brake Kit to an E39 M5 (StreetDragster)

Brake line, hose
Changed a rear brake line (video) (Jetpilot718)

Brake pads
Replacing Brake Pads (w/ video) (zed.inc)

Bumper removal, front
How to Remove the Front M5 Bumper (pureretro)

Camshaft Position Sensor, general
Tech DIY: Replacing USA Driver Side Intake CPS (shammy)
Camshaft Position Sensor, intake, bank 1
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...m5-s62b50.html (DavidS)
Camshaft Position Sensor, exhaust, bank 2
Whews...Finally replace CPS exhaust - Bank 2 (Cyl 5-8) (J Irwan)

Camshaft timing
Cam timing DIY (vantaam5)

Chain tensioner
Chain tensioner change DIY with pics (vantaam5)

Coolant flush
advice on draining coolant for stat change. (jamiepeers)
Coolant Flush Procedure? (NogginM5Beast)

Coolant temp sensor, lower
DIY: Lower coolant temp sensor replacement (MPowrd)

Clutch
Rear main seal
Rear Main Seal / Cluch / Transmission removal & install with PICTURES and VIDEO (not full DIY but informative). (Terabass)
Clutch change DIY with pics (vantaam5)
My Clutch Change Video (Jetpilot718)
Replacing the E39 M5 Clutch and Flywheel with Original Equipment (OldRanger)

Clutch line
Clutch line replacement DIY (vantaam5)

Compression, leakdown test
TECH: How to accurately compression test an S62 engine (DavidS)
Compression and Leak-Down Results (jfdturbo)

Dynavin
My Dynavin all in one thread (Tho///a5)

Differential, general
Rear Diff - Visual condition? (Tin)
Differential, input shaft
Differential input shaft sealing DIY (vantaam5)
DIY Rear Differential Side Axle Seal Replacement with pics (tripevans)
Differential, rebuilt
Differential rebuild with some pics (vantaam5)

Differential oil
Transmission oil
Changed Transmission and Differential Fluid today [Pictures] (timmay77)
Anyone know where to get the tool for changing the differential fluid?

Door edge seal squeak
Replace front/rear worn and 'creaking' door seals (TMcNasty)

Door stuck locked actuator dead
How to open (passenger) door stuck in double lock (Spiller)

Door vapor barrier leaking, gasket, insulation, water
Door seal/gasket/insulation DIY, to prevent water leaks (chowdah)
Fixed leaking rear door vapor barriers (pics) (timmay77)

Engine motor mounts
Replacing Motor / Engine Mounts with Pics (Inverno)

Escort
Valentine1
HOW TO: Hardwiring a Radar Detector - Escort 9500ix (Diny)

Fog light refinishing
DIY: Fog Light Sanding/Refinishing with Pics (Mfreakin5)

Fog light replacement
Fog Light Bulb Replacement for E39 M5 w/ Pics (D-RodM5)

Fuel filler door lock actuator
Gas Filler Flap Lock Actuator DIY (Phyber0ptik)

Fuel filter
Fuel Filter install DIY, observations and tips (rdm190)
Changed your FUEL FILTER Lately? (filter cut open pic) (SehrSchnell)
Fuel Filter Replacement (phid_bombadier)
Video: BMW M5 E39 Fuel Filter (Terabass)

Fuel Pump
Complete Fuel Pump DIY with pics! (doc$holliday)
DIY: Video: BMW M5 E39 Fuel Pump (Terabass)

Fuel tank breather valve
Replacing Fuel Tank Breather Valve DIY (Peake code E8) (J Irwan)
Replaced my fuel tank breather valve, pictures of the job.. (rdm190)

Hood / bonnet release bowden cables
How to change bowden cables for bonnet(hood) locks.. (vantaam5)

IATS intake temp sensor relocation
Intake Air Temperature Sensor Relocation (roverguy10)
DIY: IAT Relocation from MAF wires (///m62e39)

Instrument cluster bulb
Removing The gauge cluster, and replacing bulbs! (Avante)

Laser intecerptor
DIY front LI (laser interceptor) install e39 (chowdah)

Leather re-dye, caramel
Caramel leather Re-dye (skeelo34)

Oil change
DIY Oil Change instructions (Naka)

Oil pan drain plug stripped, timesert
DIY -Repair stripped oil pan drain plug (TMcNasty)

Oil temp level sensor
Oil Temp/Level Sensor DIY (w/ Pics) (D-RodM5)

Oxygen sensor, pre-cat, post-cat
o2 / Oxygen Sensor Test How-To (nathanielbrown)
DIY - O2 sensor change (TMcNasty)
HOWTO: Replace O2 sensors (w/pics) (aaronmiles)

Paint correction
Paint Correction by a Noob! (5thGen)

Parking brake adjustment, hand brake, loose
Adjusting Handbrake - What's a "Notch"? (TheAvenger)

Parking brake shoes replacement, handbrake
Handbrake Shoes replacement (bimmerule)

Pixels, dashboard display
DIY: Pixel Repair (Lots of pictures) (Burnout_187)
Missing Pixels on dashboard display

Power steering fluid
Power Steering Flush & Reservoir Replacement (getbent)
P/S Flush DIY (pics added) (Lancefitzgiben)
Change Power Steering Fluid? (SeattleM5)

Power steering hose
Replaced Power Steering Hoses Today (ECB)

Power steering pump, troubleshooting
How do i replace my power steering pump assembly?

Propshaft center bearing
Propshaft center bearing DIY with pics (vantaam5)

Rear Main Seal, Clutch, Transmission shaft / seal
Rear Main Seal / Clutch / Driveshaft DIY with pics (tripevans)

Rod bearings
Rod Bearing DIY with pics inside (vantaam5)

Seats twisted
The Complete DIY for Twisted Seat Repair! (doc$holliday)
VIDEO: Twisted seat repair/fix - super easy (Terabass)

Shift knob, illuminated, F10
F10 Shifter Knob and Boot Install (mattmor)

Short shifter, e60
E60 545i Short Shifter Install + Review (M55555)
E60 545i "Short" shifter install (xr4tic)
E60 540i Short Shifter/Slimmbones Alcantara Boots and Ebrake Handle DIY w PICS (OsinO)

Sirius, satellite, radio, BM53, retrofit
E39 - BM53 & (BMW) Sirius Radio Retrofit (AGM5)

Sound system, radio, audio
How to Add Amps (w/out Cleansweep) to a DSP system (DouglasABaker)

Spark plugs
DIY Spark Plugs, as requested. (Pics inside) (rdm190)
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/m5-...gs-e39-m5.html (jaj)

Steering idler control arm bushing
How to change steering idler arm bushing (vantaam5)

Suspension, coilover
E39 M5 Front Suspension Coil Over Install (long and detailed) (jaj)
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/m5-...-detailed.html (jaj)
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/m5-...-detailed.html (jaj)

Thermostat
M5 weirdest themostat ever? How does it even work? (jfman)
Did a thermostat replacement today (a lot of pics) (timmay77)
Alternative Thermostats (russap5)

Throttle position sensor, TPS
TPS DIY. (Jetpilot718)
TPS replacement (pictures inside) (mmzcee)

Thrust arm bushings, X5
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...insertion.html (deleted! can anyone remember the author?)
Diy m5 thrust arm bushings install (ACHTUNGM5)

Tie rod
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...e-rod-diy.html (deleted! can anyone remember the author?)

Vacuum line, throttle body
DIY: Fuel pressure regulator to throttle body vacuum line replacement (Mike S.)

Valve cover, general, grommets, oil
Where do the valve cover gaskets leak?
Leaking oil cap - or this?

Valve cover gaskets
Replacing Valve Cover Gaskets (CWY_M5)

Vanos solenoid
VANOS solenoid / rough idle fix SUCCESS (Don Incognito)
How to remove solenoids video (vantaam5)
Vanos Solenoid Repair (gzig5)
DIY Cleaning VANOS (TommeH)
Vanos cover Set Screw modification. (wilhit10)
VANOS Solenoid Maintenance_Full DIY (bdsmitty88)

Vanos spring plate
DIY: Vanos spring plate renewal (jamiepeers)

Water pump
Water pump replacement DIY (vantaam5)

Washer fluid reservoir leak, intensive
Intensive fluid cleaner leak DIY (CarbonCopy)

Washing claying waxing
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/det...do-i-need.html (Tiauguinho)
Washing, Claying and Waxing the E39 M5: Tutorial, tips and tricks. (Tiauguinho)

Wheel bearing, rear
DIY: Rear wheel bearing (jamiepeers)

Windshield gasket seal
Windshield Rubber Seal Replacement (billrM5 & mjohnson)

Blown03HD

I like this info, think it might be a good sticky!

BenTong

Subscribed

__________________
Ben

2000 E39 ///M5 - Evolve Stage 4
2009 E82 135i Coupe ///M Sport - Evolve Stage 1
2006 Ford Territory Turbo

Wanting to buy : OEM 2000+ headlights , OEM Celis tail lights , 540i lower grill , Alcantara E-brake boot

Mx5

Subscribed as well. Thanks for the thread.

__________________
Mx5 Columbus Ohio
Stock Titanium Silver 2001 E39 M5

jrsuh85

subscribed extremely useful

__________________
Cosmetic:
Exotic Tuning Front Lip, ZHP Illuminated Weighted Shift Knob, AC Roof Spoiler, Slimms big mouth grill with Stainless steel ducts, Slimms CF Rear Diffuser with fins, Slimms CF Fog light covers with Ducts, and Euro Style center console with storage try

Performance:
UUC SSK with DSSR, SS X-Pipe, Eisenmann Mufflers with 83mm tips, Gruppe M intake covers with K&N Filters, Evolve LHD Headers and 100 Cell Cats (with Alpha-N and stage 3 tune on order)

to do list
ESS SC, BC Coilovers, CNS clutch, CF Hood with power dome, Hamann Style Side skirts, and Wheels

bimmerule

Thank you for spending time to put this together.

feeblebob

Absolutely, many thanks for this. I reckon a lot of members on here hold the DIY's in very high regard and they are extremely useful, they must be saving us £1k's in labour costs.

Great idea to sort them out a bit.

__________________
2001 E39 M5 : Silverstone Blue, 19" Breyton Spirits (horribly rashed...), black kidney grilles (one broken...), black and white badging (fading fast...), Philips Silverline Indicator Bulbs, Alpine KCA-420i (in a box in the house) and Xmas-pressie iPod Classic (just need Intravee II now...), otherwise standard (but who knows...)

"I look at it like this. Owning an M5 is kind of like dating a slamming hot big-t...ed blonde, who is a pain in the *****, drains your cash, but screws like there's no tomorrow. Owning a Honda Civic or the like, is akin to dating a girl who is fat, ugly, smells a bit where she shouldn't, is a cheap date and doesn't screw at all (you don't mind). So yeah, I'll take the blonde." (Courtsey of Jetpilot718)

The thread of my car and it's progression to mechanical perfection... : http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...ry-thread.html if I ever get around to anything...

Cabin Filters 6/3/11, Bosch wipers 21/5/11, OEM air filters 24/5/11 (110,920), Oil Change, Oil Seperators and Thermostat 07/08/11 (112,699), Final Stage Resistor, Coolant Temp Sensor, Silvered Indicator Bulbs 21/08/11 (114,110), Private Plate 23/10/11, Came home from storage 13/02/13

lugnuts

great thread, this should be a sticky.