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Butler's E34 M5 Barn Find Restoration

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    Butler's E34 M5 Barn Find Restoration

    Hey nerds!

    I'm back. Theres a decent story with this car, here it goes -

    My wife and I moved to Portland a couple years ago. We would go exploring either on foot or just driving around getting to know our new city. Of course (and probably just like a lot of you guys) I'm permanently on the look out for BMWs out of pure habit. So in an upscale neighborhood near where we were renting, while out exploring, I notice an E34 M5 sitting in front of a house. It was clear that this car had not moved in a long time. It was filthy and there was piles of leaves and gunk gathered behind each wheel.

    I noted the car again months later while cruising through the neighborhood. The car hadn't moved an inch. The gears start turning and I say to myself "I wish I could be one of those guys that grabs something like this"... We were saving to purchase a house and our current rental house at the time had a really weird small drive way on a steep hill. Life goes on. And really, what was I going to do? Knock on the door and make some stranger an offer? Yea right.

    Flash forward to Thanksgiving 2014 - after a night at the gym I couldn't stop thinking about the idea of another E30 or something project like that I could obsess over and throw money at. "Ah, yeah... that M5", I thought. "I should go drive by it and see if its still there". Sure enough, there she was in the dark. still had not moved an inch. I leave my car running and get out to look at the M5.. There I am-- 10PM, wet hair, in sweat pants and a hoodie looking like a creepy motherfucker, when bam! The porch light comes on and screen door swings open! Oh great... here comes the owner! Greeeeeat timing. I look like a thief snooping around in the damn yard. The guy is nice enough but says I'm not looking to sell the car. Hes going to fix it up this summer.. blah blah blah. I give him my card and ask him to let me know if he changes his mind. Through out 2015 I drive by the car numerous times - almost hoping to see that the car is gone or at least in a new spot - Nope. September 2015 we finally find a house to buy and life gets busy as hell.

    Current time - This week 2016, I get a wild hair up my ass and take the long way home from work... just to see if that god damn M5 is still there. Sure as shit, it hasn't fucking moved. Now there is moss growing all over it and its covered in leaves. :( BUT guess who is outside in the front lawn AND guess who is still in his work clothes looking like a decent human being. Yep. So I'm feeling bold. I park in his driveway and hop out with a giant grin on my face, introduce myself and we start taking about the car. He remembers me from that thanksgiving night and we laugh about it! Things are going good. After an hour or so he finally admits to me that he would be willing to sell it. He'd like a few days to think it over, which gave me time to talk my wife into it!!! Perfect! So we arranged to meet again on Saturday and try to get it started. This was the longest week ever! Saturday couldn't come quick enough holy crap! The owner was an 65-70 year old guy and very attached to the car. He didn't want to sell it but also wasn't driving it any more. He bought a new S4 and was focused on that, even with a history of owning a brand new 2002tii way back in the day. The M5 was the second BMW he owned.

    Well, long story even longer- we met today, topped off all the fluids and the car fired up with no hesitation! 2 years of sitting like it was nothing. FUCK YES. We signed the papers and I drove it home. Yes, I'm calling this a barn find because yard find doesn't sound cool.


    CLIF NOTES:
    Noticed an M5 sitting being neglected near my house. Talked to the owner in 2014, no dice. Talked to him again this week and we made a deal. Stoked.


    1991 M5
    S38B36
    196,000 miles
    Clean title
    2 owner car. First owner was the sales manger for Palo Alto BMW. Sold it to 2nd owner with 12k miles in 1992.

    Serviced most of its life at the Dinan headquaters in Mountain View, Ca.

    Sterling silver metallic
    (Light?) silver grey interior
    Non heated seats
    6 cd changer



    Here are the pics!


    M5_barnfind by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


    M5_barnfind-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-10 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


    M5_barnfind-12 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-13 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-14 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-15 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-28 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


    M5_barnfind-16 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

    M5_barnfind-18 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



    So there she is. My first M5 and my second M car I've owned. Surprising the interior actually smells good. The motor pulls without hesitation, no lights on the dash, no leaks detected from its resting spot for the last 2 years. Needs tires, suspension and I'll get the fluids changed as quick as I can. She will definitely need some attention, which I'll document here. tomorrow starts the cleaning process.
    -Nick
    Originally posted by 87e30
    First of all: calm the fuck down; second of all; cool story bro.

    #2
    Wow. Nice score, buddy. My friend saw this car downtown a few years ago and left a note to no avail. Glad it went to a deserving home.

    I know where an M3 with a similar story is sitting. They told me it'll go to their grandkids someday. Yeah, right. Time to go stick some cash in their face.
    '72 2002 pickup | '88 M5 | '89 330is | '89 M3 | '01 Z3M | '11 328xi-t

    Comment


      #3
      Sweet find!!

      Subbed

      Can't wait to see the first wash pics.

      Comment


        #4
        Nice find!

        That fuel door mechanism is cheap at the dealer (at least it was a few years back when I had an e34) - GLW the restoration
        Build Threads:
        Pamela/Bella/Betty/325ix/5-Lug Seta/S60R/Miata ITB/Miata Turbo/Miata VVT/951/325xi-6

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Austin! View Post
          Wow. Nice score, buddy. My friend saw this car downtown a few years ago and left a note to no avail. Glad it went to a deserving home.

          I know where an M3 with a similar story is sitting. They told me it'll go to their grandkids someday. Yeah, right. Time to go stick some cash in their face.
          Hey dude! Yea for sure. Cash talks! Their grandkids will be driving 800whp F80s and not give a fuck about the old clunky E30 M3. lol!
          -Nick
          Originally posted by 87e30
          First of all: calm the fuck down; second of all; cool story bro.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by doorman View Post
            Sweet find!!

            Subbed

            Can't wait to see the first wash pics.
            I wont let you down!


            Originally posted by Julien View Post
            Nice find!

            That fuel door mechanism is cheap at the dealer (at least it was a few years back when I had an e34) - GLW the restoration
            Oh? I never go to the dealer. I was going to start asking around for a sterling silver gas door... am I missing a mechanism as well as the door? Two separate pieces? Ha, I haven't even gotten a chance to look at it up close yet.




            Also, this is a open invitation to school me on E34s! This is my first non-3series and Im ok to admit that I don't know much about this body style. :yawn:
            -Nick
            Originally posted by 87e30
            First of all: calm the fuck down; second of all; cool story bro.

            Comment


              #7
              Very nice found! Always liked the e34 for the "wolf in sheep's clothing" effect. I knew of a similar BMW barn find near me, still working on it. Good luck with the restoration.

              Comment


                #8
                Damn, talk about stalking your prey.
                sigpic
                Gun control means using both hands
                Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n roll. Pick two.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Clean up step one: Pressure wash

                  Before:
                  Holy crap this thing is filthy. Lets see what happens!

                  M5_pressurewash-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

                  M5_pressurewash-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

                  M5_pressurewash-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

                  M5_pressurewash-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

                  M5_pressurewash-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr
                  -Nick
                  Originally posted by 87e30
                  First of all: calm the fuck down; second of all; cool story bro.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    After:

                    M5_pressurewash-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

                    M5_pressurewash-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


                    M5_pressurewash-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

                    Major patina M badge! I think it looks kinda cool.

                    M5_pressurewash-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


                    M5_pressurewash-10 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


                    Ok, so there might be some silver under all that gunk after all! I blasted my door handle gaskets into a million pieces. They were barely being held together. :(
                    -Nick
                    Originally posted by 87e30
                    First of all: calm the fuck down; second of all; cool story bro.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Looking great so far!!

                      I swear by a product called "Iron X".

                      It eats iron/rust off of anything. I've used it on rims, brake parts and even the body of my wife's Alpine 328xi. It's a bit pricey on Amazon but a must have for cleaning up a car.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I'm familiar with Iron x. I have some! :)
                        -Nick
                        Originally posted by 87e30
                        First of all: calm the fuck down; second of all; cool story bro.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          what an awesome story and project car.
                          ---E30 320i Hennarot 1984 Sedan---

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Soooo jealous Id love an M5. I love e34s, my favorite 5 series by far, I just picked one up to accompany the E30. They are alittle different, much more complicated then the e30, but theyre comfy great cars. Ive been told the Bimmerforums E34 forum is pretty active.

                            The sublime car chase through Paris scene, from the 1998 movie 'Ronin'. Copyright MGM.


                            theres some inspiration .
                            1985 325e M50TU(Sold)
                            1991 318is Slicktop (Sold)
                            1990 325is Brilliantrot S50/5 Lug Swapped.
                            1992 525i Manual shitbox Winter Beater

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Cool story! Enjoy the car!

                              OBDI M62B44/6 swap
                              Transaction feedback
                              - jpod999

                              Comment

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