Butler's E34 M5 Barn Find Restoration

[QuiqueUy]

amazing how much it has changed since u brought it to ur home ! nice work sir.

[KyleDriver]

that Z4...:bow:

[Butler]

Thank you for all the comments everyone! Its motivating for sure. :D

Very nice M5. Keep it! Only go up in value

I hope so! I doubt it will ever command the attention that the E30 M3 has gotten but I'm not concerned. I just love heritage and rarity!

Nice! Next time I want in invite :)

DUDE! You gotta join the facebook group. PWN BMW - look it up.

I drove my rental Ford Focus out from Portland to the coast, down to Tilamook, and back. It was great fun in that - I bet even more so in a real car!

The Oregon coast is fantastic!

that Z4...:bow:

Its crazy as hell to actually see it cruising down the road!

[Butler]

This afternoon's project: More cleaning (wtf!?)


I popped off the wheel, just as a "thing" to do since I haven't pulled the wheels/tires off the car yet. I wanted to inspect the brake pads, because THEY SUCK and just poke around. I started at the drivers side rear since I knew that was the SLS shock that used to leak. I figured I should wipe it off and make sure its not leaking any more. Well.... wiping didn't really do anything sooooo, I went all out. They don't call me elbow grease for nothin'.


Before

M5_Detail-35 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

During

M5_Detail-37 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


After

M5_Detail-38 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Wow, stock brake calipers are actually silver..? I didnt know!



At this point, I figured I may as well scrub down the wheel. So I did. E90 has been neglected since Scully arrived. haha!

M5_Detail-39 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_Detail-41 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_Detail-40 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Back to the wheel well.

Before-

M5_Detail-36 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


After -

M5_Detail-42 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Muuuuch better doesn't describe this level of clean or this level of crazy. I need to relax a little, no? I suppose it will be really nice when I'm in there doing suspension and brakes (hopefully in the near future!).

[CorvallisBMW]

And an MSport e90? Awesome!

[jeenyus]

nice.

[TimeMachinE30]

Just pressure washed the wheel wells?

[Butler]

Just pressure washed the wheel wells?

Degreaser, a garden hose and elbow grease!

[TimeMachinE30]

Not supposed to have undercoating? Should my AW E30 have white wheel wells ?

[Jb325is]

They have an undercoating but it's painted over. But yes, your wheel wells should be white

This thread is awesome, I would love to take on a project like this and you're doing a damn good job. Looks like you're enjoying it, so carry on!

[estoguy]

Some great work on that M5... the E34s were nice!

[Butler]

This thread is awesome, I would love to take on a project like this and you're doing a damn good job. Looks like you're enjoying it, so carry on!

I appreciate the support! I've watched your builds for years and have always been envious.

[Butler]

Saturday..... and Sunday: Thrust Arms



I had a hell of a time getting one of the original arms out. I've never been so stuck by one bolt! It took two days before I finally got it. The winning combo was heat, a ball joint puller and then a BFH, over and over again. Next time wont be so bad, the first time is always the most awkward.

New parts! Got a tire shop close to me to press the new bushing in for $20.

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Lets get the car up in the air and get to work!

TA & Scrub M5-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

The drivers side popped right now. No snags, the passenger side was god awful.

TA & Scrub M5-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

TA & Scrub M5-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr






Sunday: Finally managed to get the passenger side out. The new parts made a huge difference. The car is SO much more planted, it feels great. Now going over bumps, slowing down and cruising highway speeds aren't such a bad experience. hahah, Success!




Now lets get crazy and scrub stuff!

TA & Scrub M5-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Seriously, WTF is all over this wheel well? Looks like this car drove through a puddle of oil...?! The really dark stuff was thick and disgusting.


TA & Scrub M5-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

TA & Scrub M5-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Ahhh, yes so clean and satisfying.

TA & Scrub M5-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Now how about those damn door handle gaskets? Remove and destroy.

TA & Scrub M5-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


No pic but you know I cleaned the area behind the handle.

TA & Scrub M5-10 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


This was the only one that didnt crumble into a million tiny fragments. The new ones are soft and fresh.

TA & Scrub M5-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


New again!

TA & Scrub M5-11 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

TA & Scrub M5-12 by Nick Butler, on Flickr




It was a busy weekend!

TA & Scrub M5-13 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

TA & Scrub M5-17 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

TA & Scrub M5-14 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

TA & Scrub M5-16 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



I'm loving this car more and more. I need some new tires really bad maybe thats up next. I haven't decided yet.

[CubbyChowder]

Looking good!

[Eric]

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

I absolutely love all the work your doing, great stuff! However, those bushings will fail pretty soon. You can mitigate the failure by bolting them in, yet leaving the bolt loose. Once you have weight on the car and the suspension at it's normal ride height then tighten the bolts. Often people tighten them while the front struts are unloaded (drooping). This puts huge twist on the bushings once the car is back on the ground and immediately or pre-maturely fail the bushings.

To fix this weak point on the front of the E23/28/34/31/24/32 the spherical bushings from mooshead and others means you won't have to fight this failure point ever again!