The end of an era

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
06/16/2020 at 19:58 • Filed to: None

I know I’ve made melodramatic posts about this car before, but I think this is actually it this time. After spending the afternoon pulling the steering wheel to replace the turn signal switch only to find that didn’t fix my lighting issue, I got it started and discovered that the TPS has somehow gone bad from sitting for two weeks. I’m flooring it for the duration of the above video.

It’s my own fault too. I’ve been battling depression for the last few years and it’s caused me to not address maintenance issues unless they were critical. Now there’s a mountain of work to be done and I just don’t know how I’m going to tackle it. There’s this new TPS issue, the turn signals go haywire and won’t turn off, there’s an airbag light, for some reason scantools can’t connect to the ECU to read the airbag light, the headlight adjustment is broken, the rear struts are on their way out, the sunroof doesn’t work, and so on.

I don’t know what to do next. My mom has spare cars I can borrow so I’m good on transpo for now. I’ll have to make a concerted effort to get my Grand Cherokee driveable, and then... I don’t know. I’ve had this BMW for two thirds of the time I’ve had my license. It’s worth absolutely nothing, nobody would want to pick it up as a project because of the miles. At the same time, it’s the best car I have ever driven and likely will ever drive. I’ve made so many wonderful memories in it. It’s like putting a pet down, honestly.

The Grand Cherokee is a fine car and will serve me well, but I just know that every single time I climb into it, and any future automobiles I own, I’m going to be painfully reminded that it’s not my special little E39.

Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go ingest an entire pint of ice cream.

DISCUSSION (13)

Tripper > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/16/2020 at 20:28

271k nice work!! Guessing you’ve made up your mind but ya could still fix it...I found this...no way to know if it’s the same issue and the part is almost $800 totally get why you wouldn’t. Would you go for another E chassis?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tripper
06/16/2020 at 20:31

Thanks to covid I have $300 in the bank. Any car shopping is a long way away. Plus, I’d have to find the same spec or better. Most of the cheap E39s are 6cyl autos and driving one while knowing what the manual is like would be torture.

Tripper > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/16/2020 at 20:44

Yeah, gotta have 3 pedals. Well if it does end up being that throttle body, it does not look that bad to remove. Maybe a scrapyard? I’ve lucked out with bits for the E46 here and there.

Nibby > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/16/2020 at 20:45

wow dude 271K out of any modern BMW is impressive! hang in there though... i can’t help much with the car but if you need to talk i’m here :)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tripper
06/16/2020 at 20:53

I’ve pulled it before. It’s an entire afternoon. Also sometimes used throttle bodies don’t work on new cars for silly reasons like being a different year even though the parts and cars are identical.

Tripper > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/16/2020 at 21:05

oof yeah, half day/full day to find out its still broken after you’ve just done that does not sound appealing. Whip what you can borrow and sit on it for a while sounds like all ya can do for now:/

CompactLuxuryFan > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/16/2020 at 21:19

it’s the best car I have ever driven and likely will ever drive

It’s like when your first crush tells you they don’t like you that way. You think you’ll never have anything like that again and then that feeling fades until suddenly someone else shows up and bam! You start the cycle anew.

It’s like putting a pet down

True, but a pet that lived a long, happy, and full life! 271k out of an E39 is damn solid!! Nothing is permanent, but there’s much solace in going out like that.

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been battling depression and Covid/2020 definitely sucks but things will eventually pass and we’ll all go back to worrying about different things and taking for granted stuff we now miss. Just hang in there and better days with awesome new cars will there waiting for you :)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/16/2020 at 21:45

That’s tough and I have no real advice besides admiration for going through what you’ve gone through (depression).

Perhaps you could take it to a specialty shop for a diagnoses and try the work yourself? Might be worth it for the specialized scan tools they have. Probably also get some good advice.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/16/2020 at 21:49

I’ve been to a specialized shop. Their $2 000 scantools can’t connect to any modules besides the main ECU . I can get engine codes only.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/16/2020 at 21:55

Any profession opinions? Could be a bad, well, anything. That's the trouble.

Victorinoo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/16/2020 at 22:01

I’m not sure of bmws from this era but many cars including toyotas had a Separate diagnostic port for things like airbag and abs. So that may be a route to go. I say you continue messing around with the car and see if you can fix some of the little gremlins, even if just for fun. Break out a wiring diagram and see what else is on the lighting circuit and separately find yourself a used tps. The body looks straight enough, so keep on keeping on!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Victorinoo
06/16/2020 at 22:11

The separate diagnostic port isn't working.

pip bip - choose Corrour > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/17/2020 at 04:32

if it helps, i need a new car too, my motor shat itself