[ryoken]

old pic , but she still looks the same (apart from none blue calliper covers

[B58 parts]

Just picked up the e53 X5 with 6 speed manual. 2005 lci. Sight unseen so I'm sure I will regret it. I never really cared for the X5 or SUVs in general, but I never knew they made a few of these with a stick. So I had to have it. Winter beater. I'm sure the m54 3.0 will be underpowered, but I can do an engine out service and refresh it, and build it for the supercharger kit. 6 speed with exhaust, cams, and supercharger kit, lowering springs .. come on

[eugenebmw]

My first 2007 335i 6 speeds dipping the toes in the water. I am having too much fun on the skid pad

[visionaut]

Tree hauling duty for the ‘76..
lol

Happy Holidaze!

[IcewaterPete]

Originally Posted by B58 parts

Just picked up the e53 X5 with 6 speed manual. 2005 lci. Sight unseen so I'm sure I will regret it. I never really cared for the X5 or SUVs in general, but I never knew they made a few of these with a stick. So I had to have it. Winter beater. I'm sure the m54 3.0 will be underpowered, but I can do an engine out service and refresh it, and build it for the supercharger kit. 6 speed with exhaust, cams, and supercharger kit, lowering springs .. come on

We’re going to need a separate thread on this project! Great find!

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by B58 parts

Just picked up the e53 X5 with 6 speed manual. 2005 lci. Sight unseen so I'm sure I will regret it. I never really cared for the X5 or SUVs in general, but I never knew they made a few of these with a stick. So I had to have it. Winter beater. I'm sure the m54 3.0 will be underpowered, but I can do an engine out service and refresh it, and build it for the supercharger kit. 6 speed with exhaust, cams, and supercharger kit, lowering springs .. come on

Surprisingly, the M54 isn't under power at all. It has a super short stump pulling 1st gear to help get off the line. Here a picture of mine... still enjoying it after 20years with it and still drives as well as the day I drove it off the showroom.

[GCR]

[GCR]

[IcewaterPete]

Originally Posted by GCR

That looks to be in amazing condition! Care to share the story on it?!

[GCR]

Originally Posted by IcewaterPete

That looks to be in amazing condition! Care to share the story on it?!

I'll be happy to
This was a rescue, purchased from one of my customers who had brought his e36 M3 to us on a few occasions for maintenance and repairs. He told me that he had this car, and had "just quit driving it since he got the M3", about 9 years prior. The car sat in his backyard under a Magnolia tree and looked like absolute hell when it arrived on the flatbed. It was covered in black mold, and had to be dragged off the flatbed as the brakes were locked up. The interior was moldy, and the fuel system was toast. It needed pretty much everything mechanically and a lot of cosmetic work.
His request was to get it running and back on the road again, but after inspecting the car thoroughly, and running numbers on the bare essentials, I stopped at about $14k (In 2006/2007 money) and called him. This was to address the essentials, as he asked, and did not include other upcoming needs like timing chain, gears and rails etc. At the time, a "good" M635Csi was worth about what my initial estimate came to, so he decided to pass on fixing it. He told me to make an offer, which I did, and he accepted it.
With title in hand, I began acquiring parts for the car, while it sat under a cover in the corner of my shop.
After a couple of years, I found the time to start on the project. Mechanicals first. Pulled the engine and transmission , and found the head had been off previously and not so professionally reassembled. Decided to do it right and shipped it off to my favorite race shop (Now out of business, unfortunately). Custom stroker crank, Scat Rods, CP pistons, a little cylinder head work and their expertise, and I had a solid starting point. Another very good friend, one of the premier tuners in the country, set up the Megasquirt MS3Pro after making and installing the custom wiring harness for the motor.
New clutch, ALL new rubber suspension components, Synchro Design Works thrust arms, BMW Motorsports Big Red springs (NLA), Koni adjustable front struts and Bilstein HD rears, US e28 M5 front sway bar and Racing Dynamics rear bar and my suspension setup was complete.
Did the steering box reinforcement and new tie rods and drag link. Reman driveshaft and all mounts.
Brakes were upgraded to e32 750iL front, and e34 540i rear.
Complete cooling system, radiator, hoses, heater valve and core,waterpump etc.
I left no stone unturned as I wanted this to be a turnkey retromod that could take me anywhere I wanted to go. I could go on and on with the mechanicals but I don't want to bore you.
Paint and interior was another adventure. After pressure washing the outside with a diluted bleach mixture to kill and remove the mold, I discovered what appeared to be a previous Maaco quality repaint. It was a good 20 footer at that point. (More later on that).
I found a good used dash in Oregon and had it shipped, and while it was out, I replaced the heater core, cleaned the evaporator, and replaced both blower motors- all were still available at that time. New A/C compressor from BMW was also installed. Seats were removed and re-dyed and carpet was shampooed and dyed. Did not find any rust which was a very pleasant surprise, as the car had clearly been damp inside given the mold and rusty tools etc.
After re-assembly, I gave the car to my detail specialist to see if he could do anything with the paint. he had it for 6 weeks, working on it as time allowed. Lots of wet sanding, buffing, and a final ceramic coat yielded the results you see in the photos.
So, that's pretty much it in a nutshell, there's a lot more to it as far as what is new and what was done to the car, but it was truly a (very expensive) labor of love. Worth every penny, and every minute spent, and I honestly can't think of another car that I would rather have, unless it's a real 3.0Csl, or a pristine e26, one of which is currently in my shop

[Erinra]

e46-330-touring

[IcewaterPete]

Originally Posted by GCR

I'll be happy to
I could go on and on with the mechanicals but I don't want to bore you.


Worth every penny, and every minute spent, and I honestly can't think of another car that I would rather have, unless it's a real 3.0Csl, or a pristine e26, one of which is currently in my shop

Amazing story! Thanks for all of the details. BTW no way you’d “bore” us with more details.

I can’t believe the luck you had with the paint detailing. It looks great in the pics.

Agreed…worth every penny!

[CornerGorillaPit]

My old sleds.

[bimmer_456]

BMW E39 523i 1999

[W///]

My new to me M4 GTS next to the old gal. The M4 looks twice as big as the E36 in real life!

[fuxxo]

not a picture, and not mine, but i just finished this insane specimen of 850CSi, and thought i share :-)

[Mani59]

Originally Posted by W///

My new to me M4 GTS next to the old gal. The M4 looks twice as big as the E36 in real life!

Both equally as stunning!

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

Not the best pics but all I have of the 1991 e34 M5 3.6 that I owned from 1998-2001.
First thing I did when I bought it was to de-badge it…I like the ‘sleeper’ look

Blast from the past…my old E34 M5 J600 RJC has been resurrected, although a quick DVLA mot history check shows a recorded 89,365 miles, considerably less than the 125,000 it had covered in August/September 2001 when I parted company with it.
It seems to have been off the road since 2008/10 & been ‘got at’ at some point, although the engine bay looks to be showing it’s true miles, which would be anyone’s guess now, shame as it had a great service portfolio when I let it go

[Chappers 71]

A little reminder of how it looked when I owned it

[MADBMWX5MC]

Originally Posted by CornerGorillaPit

My old sleds.
Attachment 3373003
Attachment 3373004

Good looking couple...

[bmwsone02]

My 1991 slick top 318is and 1991 sedan that sold.

[FoxberryJam]

Just picked her up yesterday!!!