Butler's E34 M5 Restoration Thread

[Butler]

My wife came through big time for an insanely nice birthday gift! She had some help from my friends!

M5_MtechII-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_MtechII-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_MtechII-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_MtechII-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Pop off the kick panel and steering column cover.

M5_MtechII-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Grab your T27 torx bit and pull the airbag

M5_MtechII-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Find a breaker bar and 15mm socket to pull the wheel.

M5_MtechII-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



And profit. Ahhhhhh SO MUCH BETTER.

M5_MtechII-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Seriously, this is an amazing upgrade. The wheel is the smaller, 370mm version, wrapped in brand new leather with M color stitches! This is a mod that I've always wanted but never actually had in my 12 years driving different BMWs! The steering feel is much improved over the stock wheel which is just hideous. Seriously, hideous.

[Silva51]

Amazing barn find, great work!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mottati]

while you've got the lower cover off, check the tightness of the big gland nut at the base of the steering column. Too tight and you wont be able to telescope your wheel, but tightening mine up really made the steering feel more 'connected' (if that makes sense). Took some slop out, and i never mess with the telescope feature anyway.

[91e34M5]

That steering wheel is super nice!....and I wish I had an adjustable steering wheel. My M5 is an early one w/o an adjustable wheel.
Thought I would include a couple of photos of my remote fob. Not sure if the one appropriate for your car would be the same.

[Butler]

while you've got the lower cover off, check the tightness of the big gland nut at the base of the steering column. Too tight and you wont be able to telescope your wheel, but tightening mine up really made the steering feel more 'connected' (if that makes sense). Took some slop out, and i never mess with the telescope feature anyway.

Thanks, Mike! Also your advice for disabling the SRS light was welcomed.


For anyone with an aftermarket non-airbag wheel here is what you need to do if for disabling the flashing SRS light after installing your new steering whee -

Remove lower kick panel

Locate the big orange SRS module and then the two orange plugs mounted just off of the firewall. Disconnect the lower of the two connectors as shown.

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Done! Enjoy your dash with one less annoying flashing light.

Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

[BleedsBlue]

Great pictures as always, Nick. I have a thread bookmarked with a reply by Mike on how to do that, but these pictures are better

[Butler]

Ha! Yea, I had his response booked marked too. This took me much longer than it should have so I wanted to take pictures for you guys.

[Butler]

Well I have another update for you guys. This came from my best friend.. He came through big time! Portland BMW said this was the last one in the states!

M5_shiftknob-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_shiftknob-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_shiftknob-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_shiftknob-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

Gahhhh! It feels like a million dollars in my hand! I know you guys understand what a piece like this means to a old time BMW nerd like myself. The new knob + steering wheel... just damn. It feels so good.

[chuddism]

My wife came through big time for an insanely nice birthday gift! She had some help from my friends!

M5_MtechII-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_MtechII-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_MtechII-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

M5_MtechII-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Pop off the kick panel and steering column cover.

M5_MtechII-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



Grab your T27 torx bit and pull the airbag

M5_MtechII-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Find a breaker bar and 15mm socket to pull the wheel.

M5_MtechII-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



And profit. Ahhhhhh SO MUCH BETTER.

M5_MtechII-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


Seriously, this is an amazing upgrade. The wheel is the smaller, 370mm version, wrapped in brand new leather with M color stitches! This is a mod that I've always wanted but never actually had in my 12 years driving different BMWs! The steering feel is much improved over the stock wheel which is just hideous. Seriously, hideous.

First time I've ever wanted a 3 spoke on this car. That's a beautiful wheel.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[stilljester]

First time I've ever wanted a 3 spoke on this car. That's a beautiful wheel.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

Agree; looks great! Only wish this model wheel came with an airbag

[Butler]

This weekends project: Front suspension!

I've been waiting to tackle this project for a while now. The car has been riding on original 198,000 mile shocks and we're safe to say thats not my favorite part about the car.

New stuff -
Koni sport adjustables
LowTec 60mm springs
KMac adjustable camber plates



Untitled by Nick Butler, on Flickr

FrontSuspension-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

FrontSuspension-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

FrontSuspension-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

FrontSuspension-4 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


FrontSuspension-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr




And done! Honestly, not as low as I was expecting or as low as I wanted. I might switch camber plates down the road if it doesn't settle a little more. So far, they function as they should... which is DAMN GOOD! Holy crap, these parts made a huge difference over the nasty blown out stock parts. The install was pretty easy for what I've experienced in the past working on old BMWs. No tricky bolts or parts stuck together. I was, very literally, sprayed with 30 year old shock oil while disassembling the first shock. It sprayed all over me and my driveway making a huge mess - it was my first time dealing with an oil filled shock apparently.


Here is the final result. So far the front fender is at 25.75" I stupidly didnt measure the before height. Doh!

FrontSuspension-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

FrontSuspension-7 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

FrontSuspension-8 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

FrontSuspension-9 by Nick Butler, on Flickr


I'll get on my spacer game soon. The wheels suddenly look really sunken in. Need to change that.


Anyway, I'm feeling great! I'm gonna go drive the car right now.

[DRock91]

Looks awesome! Should settle a bit more the longer they are installed. Give them a few miles and a month or two.

[mottati]

i put low tech's on my prior 530iT and they did settle over the first week. I didn't use camber plates, but give them some time.

[EnoBull]

Still not done going through this whole thread, but I'm so compelled to applaud your work thus far! Amazing work, sir!

[laine34]

Looks great. Ground control camber plates sit lower, in case you wanna swap them in the future.

[QuiqueUY]

Looks amazing man , how's the ride feel with the lowtec's springs? i was thinking of using koni adjustables either and eibach springs

[Jackson42]

That steering wheel is beautiful, man. You married the right woman - or maybe she married you!

[BleedsBlue]

Nice work. Your pictures always make it seem like you're having the best time, wrenching in Hobbiton in perfect weather. My pictures are always in a sh1tty, dirty, dark, cramped garage

See my old M5 thread for an idea of what a similar front set-up (I had H&R, and GC plates at -2 camber) with 15mm spacers looks like. I thought 15 was a good combo for looks, with out poking at all and still leaving some thread outboard of the nuts w/ 75mm studs.

[Butler]

Looks amazing man , how's the ride feel with the lowtec's springs? i was thinking of using koni adjustables either and eibach springs

Thanks! The ride is so much better its hard to even compare to stock. Its very planted. Not H&R stiff and not Bilstein firm. This is the first set of Koni's I've ever had and so far so good! I love the fact that they are adjustable. I haven't adjusted them yet but I will after I get it aligned. I need more seat time before I want to tune it further.

Nice work. Your pictures always make it seem like you're having the best time, wrenching in Hobbiton in perfect weather. My pictures are always in a sh1tty, dirty, dark, cramped garage

See my old M5 thread for an idea of what a similar front set-up (I had H&R, and GC plates at -2 camber) with 15mm spacers looks like. I thought 15 was a good combo for looks, with out poking at all and still leaving some thread outboard of the nuts w/ 75mm studs.

LoL

[CarbonGTI]

You guys in Oregon have some nice BMWs! This car was so neglected, and now looks like brand new.

[Butler]

I've been so swamped with work I've hardly had time to play with the M5.

I had a mix up with ECS who accidentally sent me a set of front shocks... I ordered rears. That took a quick 2 weeks to get sorted out but eventually I was back on track with the right parts and I finally got down to business this weekend.

New rear shock mounts
Koni sports
LowTec 10mm springs



RearSuspension-1 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

RearSuspension-2 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

RearSuspension-3 by Nick Butler, on Flickr



You guys only get these sneak peek rainy pics for now.

RearSuspension-5 by Nick Butler, on Flickr

RearSuspension-6 by Nick Butler, on Flickr




I deleted the SLS. This was quite the project. I'm going to do my part and help the community by doing a write up with pictures and my best attempt at detailed instructions. I didnt have much guidance from anyone (besides Mr Caron). So far the car feels leagues better than it did before! I'll have it aligned and with some more seat time I expect to be very happy with the setup.

The rear sits at 25", I hope it settles a bit more. It seems higher than it was before but I can't say for sure since I didn't measure it.

[tmswell]

The car is really looking good Nick!
How's it feel now (old vs new suspension)?

[mottati]

The rear sits at 25", I hope it settles a bit more. It seems higher than it was before but I can't say for sure since I didn't measure it.

it does look higher than stock, but in my past experience with Low tech's on a 530iT, it will settle over the first week or so.

[BleedsBlue]

it does look higher than stock, but in my past experience with Low tech's on a 530iT, it will settle over the first week or so.

I was going to say that as well. It'll totally dorp another few/several mm.

Nice work as usual, Nick, and I look forward to an SLS delete DIY with your attention to detail (as well as what approach and specifics you used). Was your SLS blown? I'm mainly wondering why you think it feels so much better, I sort of prefer a fresh SLS over other set-ups on this chassis.

[Smith Jason]

I know a guy who is VERY interested in buying your SLS shocks and springs if they are available..............it's me for my own M5 where they have been deleted. Let me know.

Car is looking great as usual.