Recently, I was contacted by a fellow BMW owner who wanted to give his E60 530d some much-needed TLC. The plan was simple: he’d drop the car off with me while he was in JHB, then head down to CPT for a few days, and collect it when he returned.
The work list included:
🛡️ Initial Prep & Inspection
We began with the usual protective covers (driver’s seat, steering wheel, footwell) to keep everything spotless.
🔧 Brake Fluid Flush
🛠️ Service & Repairs
❌ Swirl Flap Delete
🌀 Cabin Filters & Finishing Touches
🚗 Final Checks & Result
After reassembly, we performed a full final check:
Owner collected the car upon returning from CPT — happy and reassured knowing the 530d had been given the proper TLC it deserved 🙌
Another happy BMW Fanatic. 💙
The work list included:
- 🔍 Full inspection
- 🛠️ Engine service
- 💧 Brake fluid flush
- ❌ Swirl flap removal
- Plus attending to any issues found during the inspection.
🛡️ Initial Prep & Inspection
We began with the usual protective covers (driver’s seat, steering wheel, footwell) to keep everything spotless.
- Vehicle moved onto the lift
- Full undercarriage inspection covering suspension, engine, transmission, drivetrain, brakes & tyres
- Noted and documented issues with photos/videos for the customer
- Removed engine bay covers & checked filters + brake fluid condition
- Shared findings with the owner and ordered the required parts
🔧 Brake Fluid Flush
- Cleaned the brake fluid reservoir cap & plastic filter
- Extracted old fluid
- Filled pressure bleeder with 4 bottles of Motul DOT 5.1 brake fluid 🔥
- Bled all four corners until clean fluid was through and no air remained
🛠️ Service & Repairs
- Removed old air filter, cleaned airbox & fitted new MANN filter
- Replaced left & right upper control arms
- Replaced left & right stabilizer end links
- Added engine flush, then drained old oil via sump plug
- Removed exhaust & heatshields for full access to Propshaft coupling
- Opened oil filter housing for complete oil drain
- Replaced propshaft coupling while exhaust was down and Oil still draining.
- Reinstalled sump plug with new crush washer
- Cleaned oil filter housing, fitted new filter & o-ring
- Refilled with fresh Motul engine oil, checked levels ✅
❌ Swirl Flap Delete
- Removed intake manifold
- Stripped out all swirl flaps & old gaskets
- Cleaned gasket surfaces & ports
- Installed blanking plates with new manifold gaskets
- Reinstalled intake manifold
🌀 Cabin Filters & Finishing Touches
- Fitted new activated charcoal cabin filters
- Topped up washer fluid
- Ran diagnostics → cleared old codes
- Reset service reminders for brake fluid, engine oil & microfilter
- Stamped the service book & updated records
- Gave the engine bay a quick clean and applied plastic dressing to freshen it up.
🚗 Final Checks & Result
After reassembly, we performed a full final check:
- Vehicle idled & ran smoothly
- No leaks, no noises, no issues
- Test drive confirmed everything spot on
Owner collected the car upon returning from CPT — happy and reassured knowing the 530d had been given the proper TLC it deserved 🙌
Another happy BMW Fanatic. 💙
