Touring for manual swap in CA - anyone

[HausBimmer]

I was hoping to find one of these a bit closer to Ohio - anyone interested?

http://web.me.com/matthew_fletcher/MatthewForSale/1994_BMW_wagon_for_sale_-_$3000_obo.html

Who built the 535iT and what model did you use for the body?

Thinking about getting rid of the '97 Mountaineer I use to pull my boat and for vacation and replacing it with a touring. Found a nice '99 528it with a manual trans and about 58k miles - but the car (above) in CA looks like a good starting place for a project - anyone have any leads closer to Ohio?

[flipwils11]

I have one, Mr. Project built his and I think it's already been sold, Scott Hersted in Chicago was the first. Ben Thongsai who built my Touring also has one of his own, but it's an M30b35 and an automatic.

If you really, really want to go down this road you'll need an E34 535i 5spd for a donor. Best scenario is one hit hard in the rear and totaled. I bought a 250k mile running rustbucket '91 535i 5spd from craigslist for $1700 which was good at the time, but the engine had to essentially be rebuilt. And lots of other stuff. All the parts were there but Ben ended up replacing or repairing a lot of items as he did the build which added a lot to the cost.

If I had it to do over again, here's what I'd do.

1) Find a better wagon. For me personally, a rare non-sunroof Touring is best because mine leaks and causes more problems than I feel like dealing with. Some people on this forum will debate you endlessly about wanting a sunroof, but that's because they have endless time to repair their sunroof and/or they haven't had their sunroof leak water onto their dress shoes when you're going to work in a suit and tie. Also find a lower mileage wagon, closer to 100k. My car with 182k when I bought it needed a lot more tlc for little items which gets to be a pain and it really made me miss my 70k original mile E34 M5 euro 3.8 where everything still worked.

2) Don't be like me and spend money from the outset on items that can be added easily later on (brakes, suspension, euro lights). If I had it to do over, since the whole point of my M30b35 conversion was for a turbo, I'd do that as long as the engine is going in. Getting a running, turbocharged and intercooled TCD S2 setup and 5spd manual in the car with the appropriate engine build-up with ARP components, beefy clutch, and engine management. If you're not going to do this, and don't have a serious love for the truck-like simplicity of the M30 and frequent gas fill-ups, do an S52 and 5spd conversion.

3) Buy someone else's project. There is a negative ROI on this project so it's best to buy someone else's 5spd converted (and engine if possible) Touring for half of what it cost to build it.

4) At least the one thing I did right was buy a rust-free CA car. That's one less headache to have to deal with at least, although the rusty donor '91 535i 5spd contributed a few parts with rust issues (like the exhaust).


That's all the advice I can think of.

[kalevera]

That's a lot of money for an inop touring. My '95 black/black rust free non runner (in Ohio) is available for half the price.

[ShapeShifter]

I picked my '95 black/black touring, running with 130K miles for $1300. Needs front end rebuild and heater core.

[HausBimmer]

I have two 535iM's, but neither is going to be a donor. I can round up the parts pretty easily - did an '92 525i auto to manual for my niece last winter with just junkyard parts. But finding the right donor car is key - thats why I posted the one in Cal. with the tranny going bad - looks like a sweet starting point for someone out there. The big six would be great if I had to pull the boat farther than just to the ramp and back.


That's a lot of money for an inop touring. My '95 black/black rust free non runner (in Ohio) is available for half the price.

I'm interested in more info - is it the 530iT?

[sfgearhead]

That's a lot of money for an inop touring. My '95 black/black rust free non runner (in Ohio) is available for half the price.

i agree, as soon as repairs make the car a non-runner, it's a $500 or $1000 car tops. most sellers think "it's worth $5k, needs $2k in tranny work, so I"ll sell for $3k.". bzzzt, wrong. if i can't drive it to see what else is wrong, it's basically a parts car. or YOU fix it, then sell it for $5k and make back your money. they'd do it if they could, right?

[attack eagle]

1) Find a better wagon. For me personally, a rare non-sunroof Touring is best because mine leaks and causes more problems than I feel like dealing with. Some people on this forum will debate you endlessly about wanting a sunroof, but that's because they have endless time to repair their sunroof and/or they haven't had their sunroof leak water onto their dress shoes when you're going to work in a suit and tie. Also find a lower mileage wagon, closer to 100k. My car with 182k when I bought it needed a lot more tlc for little items which gets to be a pain and it really made me miss my 70k original mile E34 M5 euro 3.8 where everything still worked.

2) Don't be like me and spend money from the outset on items that can be added easily later on (brakes, suspension, euro lights). If I had it to do over, since the whole point of my M30b35 conversion was for a turbo, I'd do that as long as the engine is going in. Getting a running, turbocharged and intercooled TCD S2 setup and 5spd manual in the car with the appropriate engine build-up with ARP components, beefy clutch, and engine management. If you're not going to do this, and don't have a serious love for the truck-like simplicity of the M30 and frequent gas fill-ups, do an S52 and 5spd conversion.

3) Buy someone else's project. There is a negative ROI on this project so it's best to buy someone else's 5spd converted (and engine if possible) Touring for half of what it cost to build it.

4) At least the one thing I did right was buy a rust-free CA car. That's one less headache to have to deal with at least, although the rusty donor '91 535i 5spd contributed a few parts with rust issues (like the exhaust).


That's all the advice I can think of.

1: yeah, If you can FIND a non sunroof, and you can FIND one in the color combo you want, go for it. I would never buy a kasmirbeige vinyl interior stripper car over a more desireable car with a working sunroof though.

90% of maintenance is Opening and closing the roof regularly. shooting a little lithium in the sliders once or twice a year and if it leaks, unstopping the drain.

I hear you though flip, I had mine rain on me once and soak me from head to toe. that is why I finally got off my butt and figured out which drain was plugged and unstopped it. If they aren't plugged, you don't get water leaks. period.

2: Euro headlights, maybe if you have free forms, otherwise probably not needed right off the batt. I see no need to go 535 in a touring, at least not now that it is a 5 speed. Maybe a displacement bump but not go back to the m30 from the m50.


3: AMEN. but be wary. Foglght found out that all swaps are not equal. that panda Touring he bought is apparently a giant pile of of hacked/'make-do-for-now' shht.
You get into some people's projects and it is just a headache. you have no idea what they did, where to source replacement parts, and some people and wiring/mechanicals just do not Mix at ALL. SOMETIMES it is better to just start with a stock Touring and do it all yourself, rather than reverse engineer someone else's project. (which is why mine is all oem and period correct parts)

4: Records and rust free southern cars

[NikosX]

I'm interested in more info - is it the 530iT?

Not to answer for him, but it's a '95 525iT with high miles that needs an M50TU. Nice-looking car though. He listed it a month or so ago.