DAS VADR: Evan's E39 Touring Build Log

[ucsbwsr]

Is the grey one from Topend? Also everything is very awesome and entertaining to read.

Thanks. Yes, the grey E61 was previously owned by the co-owner of Top End. Mine now

If you Google “another project wagon” you should be able to find my build thread for that. It’s been getting a lot of love as well.

[adm750]

dude....do you have an actual job, or are these wagons your "job"...!!??? ....LMAO !!

I mean this is awesome....(total props and mad respect to you.....), but between, work, school, kids, being the do-all / repair-all around the house and for friends/family, all while attempting to have some semblance of a relationship with my lovely wife, I can barely find time to hit the head, let alone do what you've done....! absolutely amazing !!

tony

[oekundar]

dude....do you have an actual job, or are these wagons your "job"...!!??? ....LMAO !!

I mean this is awesome....(total props and mad respect to you.....), but between, work, school, kids, being the do-all / repair-all around the house and for friends/family, all while attempting to have some semblance of a relationship with my lovely wife, I can barely find time to hit the head, let alone do what you've done....! absolutely amazing !!

tony

Facts!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ucsbwsr]

dude....do you have an actual job, or are these wagons your "job"...!!??? ....LMAO !!

I mean this is awesome....(total props and mad respect to you.....), but between, work, school, kids, being the do-all / repair-all around the house and for friends/family, all while attempting to have some semblance of a relationship with my lovely wife, I can barely find time to hit the head, let alone do what you've done....! absolutely amazing !!

I work from home and don't have kids.

[ucsbwsr]

Got the family together for some pics. The black one, the grey one, and the fast one.

[oekundar]

Love the picture of the stable


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ucsbwsr]

Refreshed some OEM center caps (the top set)
Before



After



OEM Style 37s, E38 fitment which mean 72.56 and also a 9.5" rear as opposed to the usual 9" on the E39 which allows for E39 M5 spec tires on the M Parallels. Professionally refinished and powdercoated in "Porsche Silver." The BMW silver had a too much metallic flake in it, the Porsche is a sharper color with a metal like satin finish. No clear coat. 245/40 275/35 Hankook V12s.









Changing of the guard





Style 37s always looking sharp








Cleaned up the M60 intake manifold







New OEM lower seat trims and cargo trim pieces.



Before



After




Before



After

[jonasflataas]

What spec was the style 167's?

[ucsbwsr]

What spec was the style 167's?

E63 M6 http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/167

[jonasflataas]

E63 M6 http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/167

So
8,5x19 ET 12
9,5x19 ET 17
I've found a pair with ET 12 and ET 28 but they won't fit if u had ET17

[Redshift]

Subscribing (hi, Evan!)

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

What’s up, Brian!!!

[Redshift]

Yo!

[cmybimmer]

Mpars look great!

Did you bore them out, running adapters, or do you have e60 hubs?

[ucsbwsr]

Mpars look great!

Did you bore them out, running adapters, or do you have e60 hubs?

Swapped to E60 hubs.

[AquilaBMW]

Nice to see another E39 Wagon with the E38 Sports Contour Seats

[DennisCooper]

Nice to see another E39 Wagon with the E38 Sports Contour Seats

I have them in mine now too! Really liking them too and glad I jumped on them when they were listed up! I've got a few more bits to tidy up and then a few photoshoots in various locations and I'll post up

ucsbwsr - Always fantastic to read and see your upgrades and work that you do ! Sometimes I wish I could do the same... then I remember I like to pay my good friends to look after my car for me & I provide them with tea/samosa's/money/chocolates/booze !

Cheers, Dennis!

[ucsbwsr]

Das Vadr has been very patient as my E61 and diesel X5 have been getting all the attention but the wait is over and Vadr is cleaned and in the garage for the main phase of the build.


6MT swap
M5 clutch
E60 SSK
M5 steering Box
Zionsville cooling setup
Timing chain guides
Vanos refresh
Water pump
MAS!


Can’t wait! This thing makes a killer soundtrack and with 3 pedals it’s going to be a very slick “muscle wagon”.


V8 + Manual + Wagon = Yes Please


Once all the mechanical work is done I plan to drive and enjoy the wagon for a bit. This will also give me time to make sure everything is sorted and I can wrap up the remaining cosmetic work repairs, then the plan is to sell it on BAT buuuut we will see how much I like it.


Lot's to come!

[DennisCooper]

Hi uscbwsr/E!

I think I have to unfriend you on FB for that comment ! thinking of selling it! are you drunk ?!

That manual swap and addtional mods I strongly suspect will make you want to keep the car longer term/not sell it ! I'm a 5 spd conversion and absolutely love it - it's the 'same' car but its a 'different' car !

E60 short shift as well as the ACS Digital Display gearknob;




Whilst not being able to go anywhere, there's a few more bits I've worked out I need so will order in soon. Looking forward to your updates

Cheers, Dennis!

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Man, all that work, and you’re gonna well it??? I know it’s your thing, your car, and your time, but sell it??? Yer nuts! KEEP IT!!!

[ucsbwsr]

Man, all that work, and you’re gonna well it??? I know it’s your thing, your car, and your time, but sell it??? Yer nuts! KEEP IT!!!

Yea, I know I will enjoy the wagon a lot after it is manual swapped and has more goodies but I only have room for so many vehicles and I already have a manual swapped, RWD converted, 550whp E61 that is very special to me and a lot of fun to drive. More here: https://bmw.spoolstreet.com/threads/...build-log.559/

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

I hear you, I have four cars and 7 motorcycles... lol, 8! I forgot about the dirt bike. My problem, I love them all and just can't seem to let go. I'm gonna have to start thinking of this though, as 4 of the bikes don't really get ridden much anymore. But from all my time with BMW's, keep the E39!!! Everyone that sells theirs end up regretting it, yours is beautiful, it's a keeper. If you sell it, you'll end up getting another one and having to start all over.

[ucsbwsr]

If you sell it, you'll end up getting another one and having to start all over.

I mean, you never know. E39s are one of the all-time great designs and what drew me to BMW originally. However I am 6'8" 255 so I don't fit well in most vehicles but I am really "making it work" in the E39. My E61 and E70 are more accommodating and for my next project I want to M57 diesel swap an E61, the combo of 600+wtq, 40mpg, and an ULTRA reliable engine makes for a hard to beat combo. It won't have the sound or styling of the E39 but with how relatively common and inexpensive 540iTs are it should be easy to pick one up and build another v8 manual wagon if I want.

Truth be told I am not crazy about black so if I was going to build and keep a 540iT I would prefer a different color and might entertain an LS swap or M62TUB46, something unique.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Haha! Man, you're making me drool. At the last Cars and Coffee I hit out here before the stupid virus broke out, I met a fellow who had a really nice E61 with big brakes, Apex ARC8's, it was lowered, but the engine was bone stock, guy approached me because he saw me parking my wagon. We got to talking and he said the same thing, shoot, he wasn't 6'8"...... How the hell did you grow so tall???, but he was tall, hell, I'm a stubby 5'7", anything over 6' is freakin Lurch material to my short a$$! Lol! Anyway, he said the same thing, he sold his 540 wagon and got the E61 because he fit in it better. But man, those newer wagons, they don't do anything for me in stock form, like an E39 does, but when you work them and trick them out, they're not so bad anymore.

[rickadootrd]

Those lil' Rubber elbow clip on's by the rear tailgate/bumper are TAXATION! Mind me asking what you got the set for? My E39T needs a set also..