#LIFEONAIR: Bekir Iskender's 540i

Bekir’s E39 is a familiar sight on the UK show scene and is one of the cleanest examples of the E39 shape around. But what looks to be a reasonably conventional build at a glance is actually a feast of BMW OEM plus a whole numch of trickery.

We caught up with Bek at a recent show to find out more:

Air Lift Performance: Love the build. It’s rare to see an E39 finished to such a high standard. With so many different cars out there, what made you choose an E39 and, more specifically, why a 540i?

Bekir:  Thanks guys, I’m really pleased with the way this one is evolving. I’ve always been a BMW guy at heart and was craving a big V8 saloon. The 540i was a popular model in the UK and it seemed the logical choice. The E39 has always been one of those cars that I’ve wanted to own but never got around to.

Air Lift Performance: What made you choose to put the car on air, and what drew you to choose Air Lift Performance?

Bekir: I knew right away that I wanted perfect paintwork and a slammed stance, so coilers were a non-starter. I couldn’t risk any bodywork damage and they just wouldn’t achieve the look that I wanted. When researching suspension options, Air Lift Performance kept cropping up online with positive responses. The info and support out there from other Air Lift Performance users was really strong. Car Audio Security has been really helpful too – it’s really important to know you have a trusted source for tech/product questions. My first setup used V2 management but I have now updated it with the Air Lift Performance 3P.

Air Lift Performance: With so many changes over stock, what is your favourite part of the car?

Bekir: It’s tricky as I love the car as a whole. It all works together really well, from the E38 7 series seats to the retrofitted BMW iDrive entertainment system. When I think about it though, without question my favourite part of the car has to be the air ride. The look on peoples faces when I air it out is great. Call me childish, but it still makes me smile like a kid!

Air Lift Performance: We’ve seen your car at all sorts of shows, in the UK and Europe too. What is the furthest distance you have travelled for a show in it?

Bekir: Furthest show so far is probably Rollhard – the Belgian Chapter. It wasn’t long after I’d fitted the air and wheels and it was the first show I took it to. It was a great run to stretch its legs for a foreign show but it’s been all over since then.

Air Lift Performance: The car is a pretty rounded package already, but do you have any finishing touches planned for 2017?

Bekir: As you know, a project is never finished. The to-do list is still endless! I’ve already got an exhaust system lined up for it and some genuine Alpina brakes from a B10 V8s. They will go on at some point. I’d really like to clean up the engine bay with a few tweaks though. That’s first on the list.

Images courtesy of Slam Sanctuary and Bek’s Instagram page, @beck34ist