Few Jobs and Repaint for my e39 M5

[e21Keith]

I've owned this car for over 14 years and I just love it, can't see that I'll ever sell it. Le Mans Blue, full spec, 70k miles. I regard this as the last of the real M5s, manual 'box V8 etc. I know there are faster and more powerful M5s but they just don't do it for me.

I've looked after it with regular servicing and repairs as required but it really needs a repaint due to a mismatch of previous repairs, a very small amount of rust and the lacquer is peeling off all the horizontal surfaces.

Getting a car like this painted properly and to the standard I really want is a challenge. I've used a number of body shops over the years and always been let down by them eventually, one of them even scraped the whole side of the car on a wall at their workshop, owned up to it and then bodged the repair so I had to get it redone elsewhere.

So I'm looking for someone to paint the whole car properly, it needs to come out looking like it was factory painted. I can strip all the trim and get it delivered for them ready to start work, and refit everything myself. I need a recommendation for someone in the South East, the closer to Camberley the better, I need to be able to see examples of their work before I go ahead.

[Harry Rule]

Harry Metcalfe, who does the Harry's Garage videos on You Tube, had his Jaguar XJ coupe fully restored by a company called Painting Classic Cars in Eastbourne and the paintwork on that looks fantastic.

The whole thing's documented over several videos on his his You Tube channel and the guys who run that business certainly seem to know what they're about.

[rfsteel]

I'd recommend Bob and Jamie at Canada Coachworks in Byfleet

http://canadacoachworks.co.uk/

I've owned my M5 coming up for 12 years and only used Bob and Jamie for keeping keeping it factory fresh, back in April they did the bonnet, wings, bumpers and sills;






There is also this thread from last year with some other suggestions and examples recommend a body repair shop in the SE

[carbonblack]

rfsteel said:

I'd recommend Bob and Jamie at Canada Coachworks in Byfleet

http://canadacoachworks.co.uk/

I've owned my M5 coming up for 12 years and only used Bob and Jamie for keeping keeping it factory fresh, back in April they did the bonnet, wings, bumpers and sills;

There is also this thread from last year with some other suggestions and examples recommend a body repair shop in the SE

Stunning E39 - did you have any rust repaired or welding done over the years?

[rfsteel]

carbonblack said:

Stunning E39 - did you have any rust repaired or welding done over the years?

Thanks they've addressed the common E39 rust spots on mine, front sill, rear arches, around fuel flap and trunk lid.

For welding I know they bring in a 3rd party for and sorted the sills on my 944 a few years back without complaint.

Where they are based is next to a Porsche and Bentley dealer that they do a lot of work for, and also believe all Teslas go there for any PDI rectification work.

[LankyMcTally]

Our M5 was restored and repainted last year but in East Anglia, so not in the area you’re looking at. While ours was being done though, another was being documented online on one of the E39 groups by Stellar Paintworks in Aylesbury. The quality of their work is self-evident from the posts that were linked to on their Facebook page. If you look on there and scroll back to updates in and around April 2021 you’ll see a few of a Velvet Blue E39 M5 that was comprehensively de-rusted and painted. The finish is immaculate.

https://m.facebook.com/stellarpaintworks

[e21Keith]

Just seeing pics of an M5 raises the hairs on the back of my neck. I remember Top Gear reviewing the car back in '99 with Tiff Needell screaming it round an airfield, that was when I decided I was going to have one.

Rust wise I have a small spot at the top of one front wheel arch where the liner has rubbed away the paint, a small spot at the bottom on the other side, another small one on the rear panel below the boot lid. There was work done inside the petrol cap 10 years ago which still looks ok and some work was done on a rear wheel arch and N/S sill about 5 years ago. So for a 20 year old e39 I don't think it's doing too bad. From now on it will be garaged.

I'll have a look at the body shop recommendations but in the meantime I'm going to take the rad out for replacement together with the water pump, thermostat and condenser. Just going to do a few mechanical bits before I get the bodywork done. I priced up a full set of tread plates for the sills as all 4 of mine have disintegrated, nearly £600!

I'll start work in 2 weeks as soon as the TVR that's wasting space in my garage has gone.

[Mr Tidy]

I've never used them for bodywork or paint (only MOTs) but a motor-trader mate of mine told about St. Georges Coachworks in Camberley - link here. https://www.autoinsider.co.uk/local/1709/st-george...

Tracey who runs it likes his American Classics/Customs so they may be worth contacting - they're certainly in the right place.

Anyway good luck getting it done - an E39 M5 is such a fantastic car!

[CursedS54]

rfsteel said:

I'd recommend Bob and Jamie at Canada Coachworks in Byfleet

http://canadacoachworks.co.uk/

I've owned my M5 coming up for 12 years and only used Bob and Jamie for keeping keeping it factory fresh, back in April they did the bonnet, wings, bumpers and sills;






There is also this thread from last year with some other suggestions and examples recommend a body repair shop in the SE

stunning m5!
How are Canada Coachworks on pricing? I’m looking to get new wings and the front bumper resprayed on my e46 m3.

[e21Keith]

Finally got round to doing some work on the M5 after the last MOT, no advisories again although I think I'll be changing the steel fuel lines soon.

I got the aircon de-gassed at the MOT so I could replace the Condenser to hopefully fix a very slow leak, together with the compressor (developed a whine) and the dryer (just for the sake of it).

I thought the radiator would probably need changing but having taken it out it looks like it it will last another 20 years, although the cooler for the PAS doesn't look so good, so I'm going through checking everything on the front of the engine, replacing the belts, checking everything with a pulley or idler. A couple of the breathers on the front of the Plenum have gone a bit soft so I'll change them along with anything else that looks suspect, like the rocker cover gaskets.

I bit the bullet and bought the full set of treadplates for the sills from the dealer, came in a fair bit less than they are advertised on eBay, in fact eBay seems the most expensive place to buy genuine parts, most of my evenings are spent listing the parts I need to buy and researching the best place to buy.

Does anyone know where I can get a fresh copy of the ETK as mine is pretty old, really looking for a copy with the prices in Sterling £ as well?

[FlyingTomato]

e21Keith said:

I bit the bullet and bought the full set of treadplates for the sills from the dealer, came in a fair bit less than they are advertised on eBay, in fact eBay seems the most expensive place to buy genuine parts, most of my evenings are spent listing the parts I need to buy and researching the best place to buy.

The proper M5 ones? May I ask what they roughly cost? Thanks

[DVandrews]

Nearly shed a tear reading the posts here, let my LeMans blue E39 M5 with 65K miles go a few years ago after 10 years of ownership.. I do miss it..



Off to it’s new owner..

Dave

[e21Keith]

FlyingTomato said:

e21Keith said:

I bit the bullet and bought the full set of treadplates for the sills from the dealer, came in a fair bit less than they are advertised on eBay, in fact eBay seems the most expensive place to buy genuine parts, most of my evenings are spent listing the parts I need to buy and researching the best place to buy.

The proper M5 ones? May I ask what they roughly cost? Thanks

Yes, genuine M5 ones. I get a small discount, so I won't say. Full retail with the VAT under £600.

[e21Keith]

DVandrews said:

Nearly shed a tear reading the posts here, let my LeMans blue E39 M5 with 65K miles go a few years ago after 10 years of ownership.. I do miss it..



Off to it’s new owner..

Dave

Looks just like mine. Just shy of 70k miles. Now fighting coolant leaks having changed the antifreeze!

[DVandrews]

e21Keith said:

Looks just like mine. Just shy of 70k miles. Now fighting coolant leaks having changed the antifreeze!

Had a small leak in the valley which dripped onto the starter and caused a failure.. a b*gger to track down.

Dave

[RichE60]

Try Stuart Brown in Haslemere. He did an ace repaint of my Silverstone Blue.

[LankyMcTally]

FlyingTomato said:

The proper M5 ones? May I ask what they roughly cost? Thanks

Although I have not done it myself, I understand that the M Tax can be avoided by purchasing standard 5 series ones and transposing the M5 logo from the originals to the new replacements. A bit of faff perhaps, but potentially saving £hundreds.

[e21Keith]

Coolant leak sorted after I changed the thermostat, O' rings on the back of the housing, very easy to damage as you put the thermostat back in.

Biggest problem I have at the moment is getting my local dealer to order the right bits and to have them delivered undamaged!

[AlasdairB10]

A bit off thread, but Cotswold’s BMW are excellent for ordering parts and tracking down the right bits. Reasonable courier prices too. Discount for some club memberships. 100% can recommend

[FlyingTomato]

LankyMcTally said:

Although I have not done it myself, I understand that the M Tax can be avoided by purchasing standard 5 series ones and transposing the M5 logo from the originals to the new replacements. A bit of faff perhaps, but potentially saving hundreds.

Good shout! Thank you.