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Thread: This Old Wagon

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
    Posts
    190
    My Cars
    99 528iT

    This Old Wagon

    So like the title says. This thread is going to be the story of an old wagon. This thread is going to be a " build " thread as I never did one on any of my previous cars and I know there are some things I will encounter that will help others who have the same issues.

    Introduction/s.

    I myself am no stranger to BMW. Have been through E34, E46 and E39 once before. Things were broken, things were fixed, parts were sold, parts were bought, fun was had shifting gears. So the saga begins, yet again, of a similar, yet different BMW. This time it will be with a '99 528iT.

    The lump.
    What I can confirm.
    *152k on clock
    *dead magic shift machine
    *BC racing coil overs
    *3.15 open diff already swapped in ( was told, need to confirm )
    *Has Bav Auto coils
    *Many new cooling sys bits

    The car runs real good, starts right up, smooth idle but 1st is fried out. It got onto the trailer but that is about it. There is some rust on the rockers were the jack pads once lived and a spot or 2 in the center of the rockers. I am a fairly experienced former welder and spent some time in the autobody industry. I will most likely find a donor at a local pick and pull and see if I can cut out some donor sections of the rockers from another car. I ran an endoscopic camera into the rockers the other day and the cancer is nowhere even close to warrant full rocker replacement. I am going to paint the entire car. I have painted cars before in years past and I have a friend who used to be a professional painter who will be giving me advice help along the way.

    Now lets get into the mechanical.

    Obviously the ZF 5 M/T swap is coming. Doing research on this presently and learning what I need to do over and over until it is burned into my brain LOL. I think the engine is going to see a S52 cam swap, M50 intake, electric fan conversion ( I've read the opinions on this ) , and exhaust. Now on the topic of exhaust. I own several other vehicles, all MOPAR. I have some pretty fancy systems on those vehicles and I want to say, sometimes there is a difference in exhaust systems and sometimes there isn't much. Given the age of the E39 and considering a lot of the systems that were available in years past no longer are available. I have thought it thru and I have decided I am more than likely going to purchase a good, usable, budget TIG welder, a decent universal SS exhaust kit and weld one up myself. I will top that cake off with most likely a fine set of Flash Shark LT headers LOL. If I have to modify them to make them fit better no big deal. Obviously a tune for all this is in order as well. There are other things the car needs but I will chronicle them here. In my neck of the woods, we have a motorsports track ( new in '22 ) and I would like to maybe start diving off into that and this car would be a good entry into that. Will it become a track car ? Probably not. The challenge of making a 400lb ballerina is just too crazy and enticing to say no to. No offense if you are 400 lbs, know a 400 lbs person or are a 400 lb ballerina ( just keeping it in tune with the times

    Will post some photos today if I get a chance. Hello to all you fellow long roofers, conestoga's and covered wagon owners!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
    Posts
    190
    My Cars
    99 528iT
    IMG_20240204_115459278.jpgIMG_20240204_115455949.jpg
    Not my work so.. LOL It is what it is. Sorry for the 90 degree rotate. It doesn't look any better right side up

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
    Posts
    190
    My Cars
    99 528iT
    Attachment 722612
    Passenger side

    Attachment 722613
    Drivers side
    Attachment 722614
    Passenger front

    Attachment 722617
    Passenger rear. You know, you would think using that as a jack point was a bad idea at some point..

    Attachment 722618
    Drivers rear

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
    Posts
    190
    My Cars
    99 528iT
    IMG_20240204_115519043.jpg

    Drivers front

    IMG_20240204_115533624.jpg

    Drivers front side

    IMG_20240204_115739542_HDR.jpg
    Pretty sure that ain't factree. lol

    IMG_20240204_115836271_HDR.jpg
    I went behind this with the endoscopic camera. There appears to be about a nickel sized hole that has the ole trusty " bondo plug" in it. LOL Needless to say, unless I find one heck of a smoking deal on a liftgate,. gonna have to fab some sheetmetal and weld in a new piece.

    IMG_20240204_115854000.jpg

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
    Posts
    190
    My Cars
    99 528iT
    IMG_20240204_115631013_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20240204_115636598.jpg
    IMG_20240204_115639375.jpg
    Headliner is going to come down and receive the micro suede treatment along with pillars.

    IMG_20240204_115623010.jpg
    Look 'ma a BMW with a bad seat bolster LOL

    IMG_20240204_115846348.jpg
    There is an amp under there but haven't gotten into that yet. Curious as to the level of wiring I am going to find.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
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    My Cars
    99 528iT
    IMG_20240204_115736517.jpg

    IMG_20240204_115910413_HDR.jpg

    IMG_20240204_115921976.jpg

    - - - Updated - - -

    Now friends, some of you may probably be wondering right now. Why did he buy this thing? Well, I will tell you. I got a deal on it. It runs, moves around, the tires are barely even a year old, was parked June of 2023 has a lot of work done on it. Fact is these touring rigs are sorta rare and will only get even more rare as time moves on. I could easily part this out and come out just fine but, its still too good for that. Trust me, I have seen worse. Way worse.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
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    190
    My Cars
    99 528iT
    Finally had a chance to get car up and really get my head wrapped around where I am at with this. Trying to guage possibly parting the entire thing out and just looking for another one or fixing it. Drives good once you get it into 2nd gear. LOL Pics coming. going to need to section at least the bottom of the rockers and probably going to be less work to find another liftgate ( because those are just laying around everywhere ) . Rest of the car seems to be good. Pics coming.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    Springfield, Mo. USA
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    99 528iT

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    99 528iT

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    99 528iT

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    99 528iT

  12. #12
    Join Date
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    99 528iT

  13. #13
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    Mar 2011
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    Rear subframe mounts. This isn't too bad actually. I think it would clean up pretty easy with a wire wheel, metal treatment and some sealer.

    IMG_20240205_135100456 (1).jpg
    IMG_20240205_135116216 (1).jpg

    liftgate

    IMG_20240205_134829871.jpg
    IMG_20240205_134841156_HDR.jpg

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Texas, USA
    Posts
    1,944
    My Cars
    '01 740i, '99 528iT
    Looks like the car was driven in salt water, and sat outside. You've got lots of body work ahead if keeping it.

    Frankie
    Texas, USA
    frankies-bmw.com

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Tavernier, Florida
    Posts
    1,793
    My Cars
    '99 2.8&Mcoupe, '03 Mini
    The rust on your wagon looks pretty terminal. Yes, anything can be fixed, but a clean southern donor would put you way ahead of the game. There’s a clean, rust-free tailgate in a nearby yard right now. I already got the glass hatch because it took less than 10 minutes to grab. A gate is an easily replaceable component, but sills, floors, and rockers; not so much.
    -Donny

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Tampa, Florida
    Posts
    735
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 750iL
    Quote Originally Posted by KeysCoupe View Post
    The rust on your wagon looks pretty terminal. Yes, anything can be fixed, but a clean southern donor would put you way ahead of the game. There’s a clean, rust-free tailgate in a nearby yard right now. I already got the glass hatch because it took less than 10 minutes to grab. A gate is an easily replaceable component, but sills, floors, and rockers; not so much.
    -Donny
    Donny - wish I still lived down closer to you, I'd snag that tailgate. I'm up in Gainesville now.
    Current Cars: 2001 750iL, 2001 540iT
    Previously Owned: 2003 530i, 1998 M3, 2001 740i, 2004 M3, 2000 M5

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
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    99 528iT
    Quote Originally Posted by KeysCoupe View Post
    The rust on your wagon looks pretty terminal. Yes, anything can be fixed, but a clean southern donor would put you way ahead of the game. There’s a clean, rust-free tailgate in a nearby yard right now. I already got the glass hatch because it took less than 10 minutes to grab. A gate is an easily replaceable component, but sills, floors, and rockers; not so much.
    -Donny
    Yeah I go thinking and after looking around I am gonna save it. Got a perfectly rust free one shipping to me from CA. Sad thing is where I live wagons are hard to find let alone one with zero rust!!

    The pictures I was able to take are only of the rockers. The rest of it is clean and trust me, I crawled all under looking. I spent years in the autobody business and I have seen some bad stuff. The rockers are $102 full replacement. I can cut the skins off and tack new ones in in a day. Not a big deal really. I didn't get pictures of the insides of the rockers but its not bad. I have an endoscopic camera I ran inside there that helped me decide on what to do.
    Last edited by keineM3noch; 02-11-2024 at 06:14 PM.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Springfield, Mo. USA
    Posts
    190
    My Cars
    99 528iT
    Quote Originally Posted by KeysCoupe View Post
    The rust on your wagon looks pretty terminal. Yes, anything can be fixed, but a clean southern donor would put you way ahead of the game. There’s a clean, rust-free tailgate in a nearby yard right now. I already got the glass hatch because it took less than 10 minutes to grab. A gate is an easily replaceable component, but sills, floors, and rockers; not so much.
    -Donny
    Yeah that might be somewhat easier but then again, finding one is that hard part. I have a new tailgate coming that is 100% rust free which only leaves the rocker skins to deal with.
    https://raybuck.com/product/1997-03-...assenger-side/

    https://raybuck.com/product/1997-03-...l-driver-side/

    Now it would be a totally different story if I did not know how to stitch new rockers on it. A good bodyman is worth paying.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Falls Church, VA
    Posts
    1,039
    My Cars
    '90 325iX, '00 528iT spo
    Best of luck with your build.
    Jason

    '90 325iX 5M, '00 528iT 5M Sport (mfg. 5/1999)
    BMW CCA member #130075
    JScott Racing

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