E34 restoration job

Pfw28

New member
Hi there, started on restoration of an E34 525i today. Car has been standing for 2 1/2 years due to a broken flex plate, which the owner thought was a bearing knock. It has had a 535 non electronic box put in for some reason, but it seems to work ok. The engine is still standard and running well, but not sure if it's the original. The paint is in tatters, washed with brake fluid by a 10 yr old some months back. (don't ask me why!) Interior is ok, everything works! Leather dirty and dry, only 1 seam split, no tears or holes. Can't get photo's to upload, will keep trying. Will update as we progress.
 

WyKiD

Active member
Looking forward to pics of the car and on the progress you making as well...:thumbs:
 

Pfw28

New member
As promised, some pics.








Stripping paint the hard way!!! The paint is a mix of varnish and Vaseline, cant sand it, can't wipe it. Luckily, the factory paint below survived.



The seats, black leather, are not too bad, just drivers armrest broken off, and the rest is still good too! Hood liner still tight and stain free, dash no cracks, instruments intact and working, even the trip display.
:sorry: I will need to arrange lights for interior pics, my phone camera is not dark friendly.
The driver's door is now off for the dents to be knocked out, minor damage and the door is still straight, so no new panels required. We will straighten a slight bend in the right A pillar (drunk pedestrian at 80 kmh, still drinking!) when the windscreen is out.

The aim of this project is to create a powerful cruiser rather than a race machine, thus engine mods will be limited to what is available without opening the engine, for now, and figures similar to a standard 535 is the goal. The car has been modified at some stage with a 535 non computer auto gearbox, which seems quite happy, but a return to original is planned, depending on availability and cost.

The overall plan is to renovate the body first to primer, then send it out for mechanical mods and top coat as our paint facilities are below standard for this type of project.
We will not be dropping the suspension as the vehicle will occasionally travel on gravel. Our gravel roads are "a little" challenging on standard springs, impossible if dropped. We will fit new shocks, and bushes should they prove necessary.
The wheels will be replaced, hopefully with something O.E.M.,but no choice has been made yet.
More pics and waffle as things go along.
 

Raybimmer

New member
Good luck , these ladies are built strong . The 540i manual has harder springs and 17 inch mags.....and a hard ride :roflol:
 

Adi

///Member
nice project......if you need spares shout, busy stripping a e34 M5 have lots of bits and pieces.....!
 

Nic_s

///Member
abmi0000 said:
Nic_s said:
Apparently the internet is broken, that might be why some struggle uploading picks.

Link: http://mybroadband.co.za/news/adsl/53847-adsl-international-connectivity-problems.html

Shouldn't affect local browsing unless your ISP lacks local peering and pushes you all the way to London and back for local pages.

MWEB was a culprit of this for a long time.

I know, that's why BMWFanatics is running fine, but postimage.org might be troublesome as it's not a local site. Looks like the SAT3 cable is up and running again anyway :thumb:
 

Raybimmer

New member
e34 525i , does it have the M20B25 motor ( 12 valve motor with distributor on the front of the head ) or the M50B25 motor (24 valve with six coil packs ) ?
 
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