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Thread: 2001 S54 M Coupe Rebuild

  1. #1
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    2001 S54 M Coupe Rebuild

    I purchased a Houston TX Flood car. Plan is to go through the whole car and bring it back to life!


    Much like all of you, I've always had a love of these cars. When I saw this S54 car at the auction in my favorite color, I had to have it. I've had a few flood cars and really do not like them. Salt water is Terrible and not worth bring a car back. Fresh water is a bit more forgiving. So that's why I'm giving this a try.


    Had to order a key for it because it arrived at my shop with the key snapped off in the ignition and the doors locked. I opened the car up, and it was surprisingly dry already. I unplugged the DME, ABS module and a few other connections to see if they were damp. Not even any residual moister. There is a coating of dirt on every surface, and some plugs show a tiny bit of corrosion. Luckily, the important plugs showed hardly any.


    The seats are coming out now. The passenger seat functioned, but the drivers is not cooperating. Of course it's in the full down position and making it very hard to reach any connections.


    I had the car on the lift earlier to drain all the fluids. The differential had teaspoons of water in it. The transmission had a bit more. The engine on the other hand, had a couple gallons of water come out before the oil. I'll be pulling the engine out and giving it a full rebuild assuming there's no unforeseen reason this is not possible. I'd like to keep the original engine in the car (after the rebuild). Worse case, I rebuild a different S54 and put it in. TBD


    The ignition will not go into the start position for some reason. I'll be tearing that apart at some point to straighten it out.


    Just wanted to document the process here. Plan is to get it back to 100% and add it to the collection!

    IMG_1834.jpg

    20171108_170739.jpg
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  2. #2
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    Good project. Was this at copart or IAAI?

    Been watching a few cars, but nothing that was obviously completely submerged.
    Let us know if you need electronics help.
    Last edited by 328 Power 04; 11-09-2017 at 06:53 PM.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  3. #3
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    This was an IAA car. I picked up an S52 roadster as well. That one won't be going back on the road.

    Thank you for the offer. I have 5 or 6 whole Z cars at the moment and a bunch of parts on the shelf. Should be able to make this one go again!
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  4. #4
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    330tti?........twin turbo?

  5. #5
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    1995 318ti swapped with an S52 crank/cam small bore Pauter/Wiseco engine and PT6262

    905299_10101470648455583_156691018_o.jpg
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  6. #6
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    20171113_102400.jpg20171113_102413.jpg

    Making a z3M coupe life size model. Going to be so much fun putting all the pieces back together again!
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  7. #7
    mherington is offline Passing Gas... BMW CCA Member
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    Wash, rinse, repeat. 🤣

  8. #8
    mherington is offline Passing Gas... BMW CCA Member
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    But seriously, thanks for bringing this one back from the grave. I’ll be watching with interest.

  9. #9
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    Thank you. Should be a worthy en-devour. I'll be making my largest dealer order ever. All the sound deadening/insulation in the rear is shot. I'll be ordering all new along with any other pieces that need to be tossed and replaced.
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  10. #10
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    bubby

    if u end up getting "packets" of fasteners in rear hatch area Ill buy some!....you may not need all of them

    I took my rear hatch apart a yr ago to do rsm's, and I lost some of those little screws/fasteners etc etc

  11. #11
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    Great purchase you cant go wrong with a s54 Coupe. Keep the pictures coming.

  12. #12
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    good luck! in for progress

  13. #13
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    I moved my long-long term project off my "personal" project lift to make room for the z3m. Figure it's going to be on the lift for a while as the engine gets rebuilt.

    20171115_184852.jpg
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  14. #14
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    Pulling more parts out. Forgot that the exhaust would also have a bunch of water in it. Had some yummy orange milkshake empty out of there.

    Transmission is out and engine is almost ready as well.

    20171121_121524.jpg

    20171121_121543.jpg

    Got the center console cleaned up and treated with leather polish.

    20171119_121603.jpg
    Last edited by bubela; 11-21-2017 at 08:37 PM.
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  15. #15
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    Having rebuilt a flooded Z3 roadster... little advice... Remove the gas tank and replace the sensor on the top. Feeds the DME info about the state of the evaporative control system. Pain in the rear trying to diagnose that system when the sensor is bad...

  16. #16
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    Awesome, thanks for the tip!

    Did you bring your z3 back as a road car or track car? Salt or fresh water?
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  17. #17
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    Well you convinced me. I pulled the trigger on a Harvey rescue as well. Not a Z3, and this one wasn't submerged too much. Mostly the rear.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  18. #18
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    where are you finding these cars for sale?

  19. #19
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    Iaai.com for me. Must have a dealer / scrapper license, or know someone with one, who is willing to bid for you.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  20. #20
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    He runs a junkyard lol

  21. #21
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    Ya, out of my garage
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  22. #22
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    Step one done.

    20171204_185704.jpg
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  23. #23
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    Got to see the bearings of the crank. Was happy to see no issue other than normal wear.
    20171208_205110.jpg20171208_205203.jpg
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  24. #24
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    Pretty much completed disassembly. 20171215_210952.jpg20171215_211030.jpg
    95 turbo 330ti. 01 maxpsi m3 e85. 01 m5. 01 m coupe. 03 AIM 996t e85. 06 x3 w/Meyers plow and winter daily. Prussian Motors is hiring!! prussianmotors.com/jobs
    Current e39t LS Turbo swap: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-e39-Touring

  25. #25
    mherington is offline Passing Gas... BMW CCA Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by bubela View Post
    Pretty much completed disassembly. 20171215_210952.jpg20171215_211030.jpg
    I’m impressed with the progress. It’s kinda neat to see the whole thing apart. As a humorous aside, at first glance it looks like you’ve put a 4” lift kit on the coupe... maybe there’s a rally in the future ;-)

    M.

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