Project E34 535i Restoration
Discussion
Bogracer said:
I have fettled many cars and one thing I have learnt is while you have things apart do the lot in one go, it saves you much pain in the long run. It's a good example but everything is nearly 20 years old and the cost is not huge especially when compare the costs against depreciation on a newer car. Also, it takes the car from a good example to an excellent example with no question marks over what might fail next? Nothing. It's all been checked and replaced. And you have a car drives well, better than new. Plus, it's just the fun of doing it, isn't it?
And that is exactly what I would love to do with one 
bm0p700f said:
21 RHD manual 535i left - what!
I suspect that info came from Howmanyleft.co.uk - the data isn't that reliable, due to the rather inconsistent way that DVLA named cars.There were three Manual E34 535i Sports on Ebay a few weeks ago, so I think there may be a few more that 21 left.
E38Ross said:
keep up the cracking work, and as others have said....photos please!
have driven a 535i (SE spec) manual with around 230k miles on the clock, it was still something to behold. lovely cars and properly built to last!
There are 535i's in the US with over 500,000 miles on the clock! The M30 3.5 engine is charismatic and tough, with loads of heritage and DNA going back 50+ years. have driven a 535i (SE spec) manual with around 230k miles on the clock, it was still something to behold. lovely cars and properly built to last!
Bogracer said:
E38Ross said:
keep up the cracking work, and as others have said....photos please!
have driven a 535i (SE spec) manual with around 230k miles on the clock, it was still something to behold. lovely cars and properly built to last!
There are 535i's in the US with over 500,000 miles on the clock! The M30 3.5 engine is charismatic and tough, with loads of heritage and DNA going back 50+ years. have driven a 535i (SE spec) manual with around 230k miles on the clock, it was still something to behold. lovely cars and properly built to last!
i wonder whether the newer turbo charged straight sixes will manage to be as reliable as the M30.....hmmm
More surveying photographs, the car was very dusty underneath and most of the issues were age related rather than wear.
Any rust being superficial, I must have checked over 10+ E34's most looking good until you prod and the screw driver goes right though. The usual story of cracking under-seal and water festering underneath.
Old under-seal being removed and a proper 2 day session of professional rust proofing.
Nothing here fails the MOT surprisingly, but in 150 MPH car, it is a little unnerving so everything is being replaced.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/FJGPcjx8.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/7KHQRrmm" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/7KHQRrmm.jpg)
Any rust being superficial, I must have checked over 10+ E34's most looking good until you prod and the screw driver goes right though. The usual story of cracking under-seal and water festering underneath.
Old under-seal being removed and a proper 2 day session of professional rust proofing.
Nothing here fails the MOT surprisingly, but in 150 MPH car, it is a little unnerving so everything is being replaced.
I had one of the very first E34s. Took delivery of a manual 535i in August 1988. Everyone else seemed to be ordering autos.
It was a superb car. I sold it in 1993 with 120k on the clock. Still looked and drove like new.
After a couple of years I got letter from a guy who'd just bought it and wondered if I had any history. I sent him a pic of it on delivery day plus more details.
Got a reply from him saying he was gutted. The car had 65k on the clock. In reality must have done 150k by then – but this shows how tough the cars were if a rogue could shave nearly 100k off and get away with it!
It was a superb car. I sold it in 1993 with 120k on the clock. Still looked and drove like new.
After a couple of years I got letter from a guy who'd just bought it and wondered if I had any history. I sent him a pic of it on delivery day plus more details.
Got a reply from him saying he was gutted. The car had 65k on the clock. In reality must have done 150k by then – but this shows how tough the cars were if a rogue could shave nearly 100k off and get away with it!
Vroomer said:
I had one of the very first E34s. Took delivery of a manual 535i in August 1988. Everyone else seemed to be ordering autos.
It was a superb car. I sold it in 1993 with 120k on the clock. Still looked and drove like new.
After a couple of years I got letter from a guy who'd just bought it and wondered if I had any history. I sent him a pic of it on delivery day plus more details.
Got a reply from him saying he was gutted. The car had 65k on the clock. In reality must have done 150k by then – but this shows how tough the cars were if a rogue could shave nearly 100k off and get away with it!
Yes, there were loads of ads for mileage adjustment with the arrival of digital odometers! A clockers dream indeed, easy to hide a 100k in the engineering.It was a superb car. I sold it in 1993 with 120k on the clock. Still looked and drove like new.
After a couple of years I got letter from a guy who'd just bought it and wondered if I had any history. I sent him a pic of it on delivery day plus more details.
Got a reply from him saying he was gutted. The car had 65k on the clock. In reality must have done 150k by then – but this shows how tough the cars were if a rogue could shave nearly 100k off and get away with it!
I traced and confirmed the history through the BMW dealer network, and old MOTs through the DVLA, early in its life it covered normal yearly mileage, the chap who owned in worked mainly abroad, one year it only did only 100 miles between MOT's! Advisories and fails are logged and the fails were for mainly corroded brake disks.
Just completed the list of BMW OEM and upgrade parts from Motormec who are brilliant and specialise at sourcing OEM parts from Germany £2715.71!
www.motormec.co.uk
Aim to get the differential rebuilt next week ready for the total mechanical 'blitz'.
www.motormec.co.uk
Aim to get the differential rebuilt next week ready for the total mechanical 'blitz'.
Bogracer said:
Vroomer said:
I had one of the very first E34s. Took delivery of a manual 535i in August 1988. Everyone else seemed to be ordering autos.
It was a superb car. I sold it in 1993 with 120k on the clock. Still looked and drove like new.
After a couple of years I got letter from a guy who'd just bought it and wondered if I had any history. I sent him a pic of it on delivery day plus more details.
Got a reply from him saying he was gutted. The car had 65k on the clock. In reality must have done 150k by then – but this shows how tough the cars were if a rogue could shave nearly 100k off and get away with it!
Yes, there were loads of ads for mileage adjustment with the arrival of digital odometers! A clockers dream indeed, easy to hide a 100k in the engineering.It was a superb car. I sold it in 1993 with 120k on the clock. Still looked and drove like new.
After a couple of years I got letter from a guy who'd just bought it and wondered if I had any history. I sent him a pic of it on delivery day plus more details.
Got a reply from him saying he was gutted. The car had 65k on the clock. In reality must have done 150k by then – but this shows how tough the cars were if a rogue could shave nearly 100k off and get away with it!
I traced and confirmed the history through the BMW dealer network, and old MOTs through the DVLA, early in its life it covered normal yearly mileage, the chap who owned in worked mainly abroad, one year it only did only 100 miles between MOT's! Advisories and fails are logged and the fails were for mainly corroded brake disks.
Limited slip diff check over and refurbish. A strip down revealed that my Ebay purchase was in rude health with no wear.
Just going to replace all the seals and bearings while its apart.
SY Motors that specialise in transmission in Birmingham have been really helpful with the project, and tremendously enthusiastic.
http://www.s-ymotors.co.uk/
Photos.
Just going to replace all the seals and bearings while its apart.
SY Motors that specialise in transmission in Birmingham have been really helpful with the project, and tremendously enthusiastic.
http://www.s-ymotors.co.uk/
Photos.
E38Ross said:
this is absolutely fantastic. the car will drive like new when you're done.
i'm glad their are people like you out there which means cars like these can live on. any plans for the engine....even if it's "just" a minor rebuild?
The car has only cover 90,000 miles, I have had then engine compression tested the engine and it's as new, removed the rocker cover to check the top end oil feeds and it's incredibly clean with zero sludge. Really the reason why I brought the car as a base project. I looked for 2 years to find a car this good that needed a sympathetic and detailed refresh. I want the new nimble E34 feel which is lacking in heavier modern BMW's, of which I own several. I have also owned M5's it think the E34 535i is an emerging hero and good one's are very rare indeed.i'm glad their are people like you out there which means cars like these can live on. any plans for the engine....even if it's "just" a minor rebuild?
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