Butler's E34 M5 Barn Find Restoration

[Butler]

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.

Sure.

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.

Paint checking :( Google also tells me this is irreversible. Damn! Oh well.




So I do have a nice update that made me really happy -- The previous owner came through with the long awaited service records... Hell yea! I scored! Totaled them all up to $11,026 in service since the mid 90s! ;D

The cooling system was gone through just 18,000 miles ago. Which means I need to rethink my first round of new parts. I'm resting a little easier knowing what love this car, surprising, received!

[Eric]

At least change the coolant if it's been sitting for years!

[2002jm]

enjoy

I would not worry about the paint for now. You have a nice rare car....drive it and enjoy!:)
jm

[jhaurimn]

At least change the coolant if it's been sitting for years!

I agree with Eric. How long ago was the 18,000 miles? If those parts have been sitting in old coolant for years, still might be worth refreshing the cooling system.

[slammin.e28]

spherical control arm bushings > 750 green bushings.


Sent from my iphone using tapatalk

mhe ftw.

[Butler]

I spent the day with the car. No surprise! Today was finishing the exterior detail. I had clay bar'd the car last week and left it in the garage in anticipation for today's time with my porter cable. It was a great day tho the paint didn't bounce back, as I knew. It does look much improved from the dry, rough and scratched state it was in.

I didn't take any photos during the paint correction but here are the grills before I pulled them off to paint.


M5_detail-20 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_detail-18 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-19 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



I was really excited to find the builders signature and date. ;D

M5_detail-21 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



M5_detail-22 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_detail-23 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-24 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Spit shined all the nooks and crannies in the front bumper and then removed the fogs completely. I can't stand seeing the broken, mossy bits of broken glass! Better to have nothing than an eye sore if you ask me. haha

M5_detail-25 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Hours later and all back together!

M5_detail-27 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_detail-28 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Its amazing how dirty and contaminated glass can get. Clay bar did wonders then good ole elbow grease and window cleaner inside and out to get this -

M5_detail-29 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Got a sticker.

M5_detail-30 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


I found a sterling silver gas cap - its in the mail. Stoked.

M5_detail-33 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_detail-32 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


M5_detail-31 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Finally back into the garage! More tomorrow for sure :hitler:

M5_detail-34 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

[pandaboo911]

The coolant parts wouldn't have been heat cycled while sitting so they are still good, no need to change em. Car looks great man


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cypriotgeeza]

Nice progress man! :up:

I also love little things like the build date and signature!..but for me it was taking the seats out and seeing the tag with the date on them :oops: (sad I know )

[Butler]

Sunday funday!

Our local PNW BMW group got together for a cruise and special surprise... :devil: We ended up driving across the state, to the coast and back. It was 400 ish miles total! I was so happy with the car! It was a really good opportunity to get to know the car. I've now really had a chance to push it and ohhhh my god it felt so good. This is an M car, no doubt about it! Its not "fast" by standard terms but its really fast if you work for it. It carries its weight easily through the twisty coastal roads we were on. 60-80 mph, in high rpm through rolling curves = pure smiles.

Here are my pics

I love taking rolling shots, even if I'm doing it out the drivers window by myself! hahah This E30 touring though --- such a nice car, shit. The interior is BMW black anniversary cloth (looks like M tech cloth but its purple instead of M colors), M50 swapped, coils, 15" SSR mesh wheels and all the euro goodies that come with an import.

PNWBMW_April Cruise-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Sam's stupid fast single turbo 135

PNWBMW_April Cruise-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Derricks slammed Z4, which is now blown with an ESS supercharger.

PNWBMW_April Cruise-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


PNWBMW_April Cruise-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

PNWBMW_April Cruise-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


PNWBMW_April Cruise-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


PNWBMW_April Cruise-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Nathans Dinan M5 - just rolled 47,000 miles. It still looks showroom, aside from the BBK

PNWBMW_April Cruise-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Standard generational BMW M pictures -

PNWBMW_April Cruise-10 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

PNWBMW_April Cruise-11 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

PNWBMW_April Cruise-12 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Then this happened! This was the surprise!

PNWBMW_April Cruise-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



The weather cleared up on the way home so I snagged a few pics of Scully by myself.

PNWBMW_April Cruise-13 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

PNWBMW_April Cruise-14 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

PNWBMW_April Cruise-16 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Perfect day for a drive!

PNWBMW_April Cruise-17 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

[tak7]

That's a lucky car, nice work!

[dishwab]

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!

[gte175x]

Awesome skills - congrats.

[CorvallisBMW]

Nice! Next time I want in invite :)

[Sh3rpak!ng]

Very nice detailing work! Totally transformed the car! I think it looks great all things considered.

[e30s50dan]

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