Butler's E34 M5 Barn Find Restoration

[pandaboo911]

19's!?! What!? No way. lol

Doesn't look like a donk.

[Butler]

For real? That looks great. Looks like how I image 18's. Very nice. I want (need?) the M tech mirrors.

[Butler]

Finally, a fuel door!

This stupid thing was wedged under the passenger seat. I found it during the cleaning phases. I bought a new OEM hinge and proceeded with some OCD and pics.

Inspect the old hinge

FuelDoor-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Pop off the hing and compare to the new piece. Yep.. something tells me this one 100% broken. I suppose thats why it has been floating around in the backseat of the car for god knows how long.

FuelDoor-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Degreaser and some soap to the rescue!

FuelDoor-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



It cleaned up perfectly. Now ready for install.

FuelDoor-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


YEESSS! So satisfying. I've been dying inside every time I see the passenger side of the car, until now.

FuelDoor-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Cheers!

[Butler]

Todays Project: Vacuum line inspection and replacement

Started with a whole S38 -

S38 Vacuum Lines-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

S38 Vacuum Lines-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Got the intake plenum off -

S38 Vacuum Lines-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

S38 Vacuum Lines-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

S38 Vacuum Lines-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Ummm, that looks broken. Yup. valve cover to intake vent tube. Ran to the dealer who happened to have one in stock! Lucky me.

S38 Vacuum Lines-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Got her all buttoned up again. I scrubbed a lot of shit while I was in there. Many years of gunk and dust on everything. No pics of the cleaning but everything looks good, even if its out of sight!

S38 Vacuum Lines-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

S38 Vacuum Lines-10 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


So, the point of todays work was to solve for any potential vacuum leaks. I have assumed that I have a leak somewhere because the intake actuator valve doesn't do its test at start up. This usually points to a vacuum leak, since the part is vacuum powered, or so I understand. Well, after all that work and my actuator still did not do its self test cycle... Bummed about that! Two probable outcomes - I didnt find the vacuum leak or its due to another issue somewhere else.

video of the actuator test cycle here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSTd3eqdc28

There was some good news! My AC started working just after completing this work. I have a strange suspicion that the ripped vent pipe might have been involved but I can't make the connection. Anyway, I was happy with that.

More soon!

[TimeMachinE30]

You are doing such great work to this lovely car. Well done.

[Butler]

Played with the car for a while this weekend.

I have a power steering leak so I wanted to poke around and see where it was coming from. Looks like this line right here... I threw on a new hose clamp and I'll see if that helps anything.

IMG_7971 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

IMG_7970 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



I decided it was time to re-finish the windshield cowl. It was so faded and worn out. It needed some attention.

IMG_7972 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


IMG_7973 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


IMG_7974 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


IMG_7975 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



A few coats of trim paint later -

IMG_7976 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

IMG_7977 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

IMG_7978 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

IMG_7979 by Nick Butler, on Flickr





Fresh stuff from Levent! GutenParts ftw

IMG_7969 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

IMG_7980 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

IMG_7981 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

IMG_7982 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Rollin capless for the day!

IMG_7983 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

[jhaurimn]

Nice work 8)

[e30austin]

Looking good, Nick!

[Rouvld]

Car is looking great! Been following this thread since it started. Hopefully I can pick one up myself.

[TimeMachinE30]

What a nice pace of work being done. Well deserved car and driver.

[Butler]

Washed and waxed Marcel.


Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr


I love this car so much but there is a weird and pretty strong feeling that makes me more excited about the M5. :devil: I love how stiff and mechanical it is comparatively. The 335 is really smooth and quiet, of course it pulls like a maniac, its in great condition, every single thing works and its a gorgeous color combo... yet still, this old clunker E34 is alternatively extremely attractive.
I love old BMWs!

[bangn]

Love that interior colour!

I know what you mean, I love everything about my E90, its like it "lets" you drive the car when really it could drive itself and gently wake you when you arrive.

However it has no soul, and I think I would be happier driving an old BM to work. Something about the older ones that seem really dependable.. like an old friend.

[iwantspeed]

Awesome car.

It's kind of common for the e34 to have a broken gas lid

Glad you got That sorted out.

[bostonvert]

Love to see this car get better and better, been enjoying in on instagram as well.

My local garage has a e34 m5 touring sitting in the lot, god I wish I could give it the same treatment someday..

[Bmwdayz]

In my opinion the turbines are what makes the car! Great job so far, owning a silver e34 m5 is on my bucket list.