Butler's E34 M5 Barn Find Restoration

[doorman]

Damn that cleaned up nice down there!!

My dad always comments "they're just cars son".

People that don't own BMWs will never understand.

My mom still has her 2001 X5 she bought brand new.....a tick under 200,000 miles and she can't bring herself to sell it.

[CubbyChowder]

Awesome story and I like your approach to the build so far. Will be following this one for sure!

[bangn]

excellent cleanup, those wheels are retro and cool!

usually when get cars like this is generally easier to pull the seats out and centre console. Start with a bucket of soapy water with washing powder in it and scrub everything with a microfibre. Then hit it with a nice product like autoglym vinyl/rubber cleaner, autofresh and interior shampoo. Also use a narrow paintbrush with electrical tape wrapped around the metal part to stop scratching teamed with a vac cleaner. Use the brush to flick the dirt out of ridges and around switches. The vac will pickup the dirt when it flicks out.. Really handy around vents and radio buttons

[pandaboo911]

750iL bushings work great too. Much firmer.

Are all e32 bushings the same or is the 750iL bushing special? Is it a different rubber? Just checking because I'm probably gonna be doing the same job on my 735.

[CorvallisBMW]

Are all e32 bushings the same or is the 750iL bushing special? Is it a different rubber? Just checking because I'm probably gonna be doing the same job on my 735.

750 bushings had fewer cutouts (more solid rubber) and higher durometer rubber as well.

[Butler]

750 bushings had fewer cutouts (more solid rubber) and higher durometer rubber as well.

Link me to anything you can. I was researching this last night and couldn't find anything very definitive; and the one discussion I did find said to stick with OEM M5 vs the 750 bushing.

[Eric]

Spherical control arm bushings > 750 green bushings.


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[pandaboo911]

Spherical control arm bushings > 750 green bushings.


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Except the cost is a little steep for control arm bushings lol

[Eric]

Not when you replace the 750i ones again in less than 10,000 miles. Those bushings wear fast, sphericals are a one time buy.

[Butler]

I started a more in-depth detail. This car was so freaking filthy my last weekend clean up was just a first pass at getting it to to a point where it was drivable! Now I want to actually detail the car.



I had to get all the door jams, which I hadn't had the energy to scrub on my first go around.

M5_detail-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_detail-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-10 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-13 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-14 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_detail-15 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_detail-16 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


A fresh wash, iron-x and then clay bar was done here -


M5_detail-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Now into my garage for some plastic and rubber treatment as well as some time with the Porter Cable. :devil: The paint is awful but hey, I'll see what I can do!

M5_detail-17 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

[cypriotgeeza]

Nice find!

Can't beat a good barn find (even if it was found on a driveway!)

Looking forward to the progression man!

:up:

[doorman]

Door jambs are a pet peeve of mine!!
My E39 and the wife's E90 have huge jambs so the must be clean!!

Some time with a polisher and some music in the garage can always do some good for a man and his car.

I just reordered some Iron-x on Amazon today!


Keep up the good work!

[Butler]

Door jambs are a pet peeve of mine!!
My E39 and the wife's E90 have huge jambs so the must be clean!!

Some time with a polisher and some music in the garage can always do some good for a man and his car.

I just reordered some Iron-x on Amazon today!


Keep up the good work!

I agree completely :mrgreen:

Nice find!

Can't beat a good barn find (even if it was found on a driveway!)

Looking forward to the progression man!

:up:

Yes! Thanks man.

[e30austin]

I hope you call me when you get bored of this thing. Another car I need to cross off my "must own at least once" list.

[audiquattrot]

My ix had the same "paint checking". Unfortunately coming from experience, the porter cable won't do anything. I spent countless days trying to fix the paint checking (looks like someone took a Brillo pad to the paint)....and my only option was to respray.

I love the originality of this car. I would leave the patina on the exterior and focus on cleaning the interior more.