Butler's E34 M5 Restoration Thread

[Butler]

Nothing big to report. Car is solid as ever and puts a huge smile on my face every day.

SummerSunset-11 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

SummerSunset-16 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

SummerSunset-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

SummerSunset-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

SummerSunset-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

50mm1.4Test-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


I polished my glass. Huge difference! I didn't realize i was living in the dark ages. This was from the griots class cleaning setup... freaking love their products.

BEFORE
Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr


AFTER
Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Happy first day of fall!

[staystackin]

Makes me want to raise my car up - looks so good!

[atl530i]

Love that interior. I am going to have to try that glass polish, that looks awesome.

[Eero]

Great job, car looks good.

[SpecRaceM5]

Probably easier to paint or wrap the dash trim pieces. I got lucky when I swapped in my driver side glove box and was able to find one piece of wood trim new from BMW still and the other came up on ebay a year or so later.

I imagine removing the turbine centers takes away the performance benefit.

Car looks great though! Glad another one was saved!

Brian

[Butler]

Hi guys,

Its time for the beginning of my next big thing! I'll start it off with a teaser which is unfortunate because the color is so beautiful. <3




Its going to be a long and slow process. I'm only going to be working on this for a few hours per week. Wish me luck!

[Kannackas]

Cool!

[WordMan]

Fantastic job thus far! I had a '93 M5 in Calypso with a dove interior. Man I miss that car!

[Stealeye13]

Love the Car and all the work you have done on her! Just burned through your thread from front to back. After years of mulling it over, I just finally purchased my first E34. It's an automatic 525i, but its near mint inside with all leather intact, and just some door card issues (standard fare unfortunately). the body is in fantastic shape. Its the rare Glacial Blue with the blue interior. Car only has 92k original miles on it and was kept garaged all it's life. I have it in storage for the winter and will begin my work on it this spring (praying that groundhog doesn't see his shadow). Your thread has given me a lot of ideas. Looking forward to interacting more and more as I work on my new baby.

Keep up the amazing work on Scully.

[Butler]

Hi Guys,

Wow its been ages since any updates for the group!

Not much to report with the car. Insanely preoccupied with a demanding job and we moved into a new house and a 1 year old. Not much time for ol' Scully. :\

Here are some pics

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr


I should update you guys with a few little bits and pieces I have waiting to install. Nothing amazing but it all adds up.

[sprouting]

Lovely pictures. I doubt anybody cares about the lack of content, just post more pictures, some interior and engine bay pics would do nicely.

[Tristan36]

Yup, the rear seat belt covers are cheap and available (weird, right??).

Sir Butler, you are quite literally an inspiration. That interior originally was actually worse than my M5, which I thought impossible, and it looks amazing. I have big plans for mine and will be using your thread to keep me going during the eventual, massive, expensive swap.

I'm sure you plan on a headliner re-wrap; thoughts on the carpet? I don't think grey looks bad at all, and wouldn't advise dying the carpet (ask me how I know).

dying the carpet is possible just make sure you use a good product I did mine and it came out looking great for a 25 year old car i found in a field. ill try to find the dye i used its been a while.

[TGreene]

Those are good priorities to have, man.

[Butler]

Love the Car and all the work you have done on her! Just burned through your thread from front to back. After years of mulling it over, I just finally purchased my first E34. It's an automatic 525i, but its near mint inside with all leather intact, and just some door card issues (standard fare unfortunately). the body is in fantastic shape. Its the rare Glacial Blue with the blue interior. Car only has 92k original miles on it and was kept garaged all it's life. I have it in storage for the winter and will begin my work on it this spring (praying that groundhog doesn't see his shadow). Your thread has given me a lot of ideas. Looking forward to interacting more and more as I work on my new baby.

Keep up the amazing work on Scully.

Thanks for the nice words. Love to hear that you've got a project to focus on too. 92k miles is LOW, nice find.

Lovely pictures. I doubt anybody cares about the lack of content, just post more pictures, some interior and engine bay pics would do nicely.

I think I'll have to accommodate your request.

Those are good priorities to have, man.

Thanks. Its the good life, I recognize it. Amazing how fast it goes isn't it?

[Butler]

Chilly morning at Portland Cars and Coffee this morning.

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Always comments on the interior.

[BleedsBlue]

Keep on keeping on

[theBMWbeast]

Loving this thread, always a great feeling to be able to bring something back to its former glory. Very jealous of that interior, and maybe that engine too
Idk if you already found your trimless interior you folks were talking about a few pages back, but at least in my ‘89 535i that came with trimless interior, there actually still was a spot for wood trim, however in its place was a black trim piece made of a plastic/vinyl? I think the trimless center console is just one piece, no addons. I upgraded to wood trim myself, always funny how everyone wants what they don’t have

[shiremux]

Hey Butler, how much work did you have with changing the center tie rod and pitman arm? Any special removing tools needed?

[CarterH]

Easily my favorite build on the forum. I'm curious though, do you plan on changing the dash to match the color of the door trim and removing the wood?

[Butler]

Finally the rear seat belt covers! Only took me year... Not in a hurry! Geez guys

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

[disguy]

if you dont mind me asking how mich did you pay for your M5? i am looking for one right now. thanks

[Butler]

Hey guys,

Bitter sweet update for you all today. The old girl was just posted up for sale on Bring A Trailer.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...g_started_user


BaT_E34M5-78 by Nick Butler, on FlickrBaT_E34M5-79 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

BaT_E34M5-51 by Nick Butler, on FlickrBaT_E34M5-55 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

BaT_E34M5-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

BaT_E34M5-1 by Nick Butler, on FlickrBaT_E34M5-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

BaT_E34M5-14 by Nick Butler, on FlickrBaT_E34M5-14 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

BaT_E34M5-141 by Nick Butler, on FlickrBaT_E34M5-141 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

BaT_E34M5-146 by Nick Butler, on FlickrBaT_E34M5-146 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

BaT_E34M5-117 by Nick Butler, on FlickrBaT_E34M5-117 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

BaT_E34M5-143 by Nick Butler, on FlickrBaT_E34M5-143 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Hard to captured the amount of blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this little beast but I trust that BAT is the best option to find her next owner. I have loved being the steward to this amazing car. Its rarely driven and needs to go in order to make room for something more practical with a growing family. By the way, we are expecting baby #2 this spring!

Tell your friends if there is anyone that might be interested. Let me know if there are any questions!

Nick

[Old525i]

Do you think it will pass California's tough emissions test?

[Butler]

Do you think it will pass California's tough emissions test?

Absolutely. Without a single doubt.

[Red Shirt KRT]

What was original purchase price if you are willing to share? Looking at buying a fixer upper eventually.