E34 M5 Restoration

[CGriffiths]

Hi everyone, Ive just come across a e34 M5, ive wanted one pretty much all my adult life so snapped it up when I got the chance.

Im in need of a new speedo cluster or can the dials be changed from the back and are they available? They seem to have got damp inside and all the numbers etc are spliting.

Thank you in advance and here are some pics of the car









Chris Griffiths

[bmthnick1981]

I can't help re: the cluster but do hope you keep this thread updated as i'm interested in following your restoration. Good luck!

[melvster]

Very nice, best of luck with it, i will be watching with interest.

[JRBM5]

You might want to try giving David Olias at Classic MD Autos a call (07762 214118). David is a personal friend of mine, whom i met through owning an E34, he has owned many E34 M5's and through his business has accumulated a number of parts that you might be able to make usage of.

I'd recommend giving him a call, let me know how you get on.

Jon

[CGriffiths]

Thanks for the great advice!!


Chris Griffiths

[belleair302]

I recently sold my E34 M5.....I now sleep peacefully at night and my wallet does too. Fun cars but not an everyday vehicle. Bodywork is easy to resolve, the engines however are not so strong, especially the hard worked 3.8's.

[JRBM5]

Belleair, sorry to hear you had a bad experience with your E34.

I wanted to add an alternative opinion to the suggestion that the engines are not so strong, as mine and many others through the M5 Board will testify have proven to be very reliable so long as they are meticulously maintained. In my 8 years of ownership the engine cost me approximately nothing to keep on the road beyond standard servcing. The more likely areas of weakness are the brakes and suspension which when driven hard can often lead to open wallet surgery.

I'll leave you with this as a testimony to the engines strength: i stripped out a road car for use on the track, it now has 192k on the clock, only gets used for the Ring and UK trackdays and as such is only ever living near its limiter, other than a litre of oil every now and then the engine runs as it was intended when it left the factory.

[chilistrucker]

i'll be watching this
greatest car i ever owned, and agree with others, i think the engines are strong, mine had 148000 miles, but tight as you like
suspension is known as an issue with the edc. the m5 board is a great place for info and help, some very helpful people on there.
i also had a 94 model in black, i really miss it.

[Vixpy1]

My 3.8 has 218K miles on it, its in storage at the moment

[bmthnick1981]

Mine had 172k when I sold it and it did need a new clutch and some suspension work then. Engine was sound after I had the leaky sump sorted.

[TEKNOPUG]

Vixpy1 said:

My 3.8 has 218K miles on it, its in bits at the moment

[belleair302]

When I look back at the bills over a six year period, and my car was concourse. I spent well over what it cost me and I did under 4K per annum with the car stored over the winter months. The previous owner had spent well over 6K on an engine rebuild at 68K and I have probably spent the same if not more on engine related parts. Water pumps are weak as are radiators, my EDC had been renewed just before I bought the car but at the end of the day, a great ride for the mid 90's but not a great ride in 2012.

[deadslow]

Its a heavy car so suspension wears out, can be prone to rust, but strong in the engine department.

[Vixpy1]

I've got a full set of spare EDC here, shame the rest of the car is rusty

[CGriffiths]

Ive replaced gearbox, clutch and rear springs. Also riscous fan had gone. Getting new wheels, probably 18s. Body work will be in a few weeks. Ill get some pics up asap


Chris

[stevesingo]

Don't change the wheels. The throwing stars are great. 18s look overwheeled IMO.

[bmthnick1981]

stevesingo said:

Don't change the wheels. The throwing stars are great. 18s look overwheeled IMO.

Absolutely, please don't change the wheels. Keep it looking original is best IMO. Get them refurbed maybe?

[Pip1968]

Yes I 'second' that. I too had an e34 with the throwing star wheels and loved them to bits. I moved up to the e39 M5 which is also a beauty.

I hope the restoration goes well and is not too expensive.

Pip

[CGriffiths]

I was looking at original M Parallel M sport wheels. I would refurb these but the centres are magnesium i believe? and im guessing with that corosion they will be wrecked? Im a pro detailer by trade so most of the body work can be saved but there is lots of paint needed really, thats my major concern

[Vixpy1]

Most are Swiss cheese underneath, let alone up top