I'm still a rookie to these boards here, but I figure this is a solid outlet for me to share some pictures and learn a bunch from all of you much more "seasoned" folks!
My current daily driver and newly found soulmate is a 1993 Calypsorot M5. Only 130k miles young and still eager as ever to tear up the streets. I bought her back in September 2013 through a friend from our longstanding annual e24 trips known as Sharkfest. I'm the 4th owner, with all records and invoices accumulated in a box dated all the way back to the original owner and the window sticker he got to pull off the car 20 years ago.
Here's how the car looked after picking it up just a few short months ago...
E34 ///M by NSCaron, on Flickr
I purchased the car on stock suspension, however it came with a set of H&R springs and bilsteins for the front so I swapped those in the following week. It certainly firmed up the ride, albeit I still had those pesky SLS struts in the rear bouncing all over the place. Needless to say I was happy to have it handling better than stock and continued to drive it like it was built for.
Addiction by NSCaron, on Flickr
Also, I conveniently had some 20mm spacers lying around from an ex-girlfriend so why not mount them on the rear to make the wheels sit a bit more flush
Morning Glory by NSCaron, on Flickr
Drove her a bit more, then I got a terrible vibration from my drivetrain. After hunting down the source, it turns out it was the driveshaft, so that was replaced, along with dogbones too as the rubber had long since disintegrated. Those darn orange reflectors bothered me too so I added some euro bumper trim to ditch those, and cleaned up the car in the meantime.
BMW M Power by NSCaron, on Flickr
BMW Motorsport by NSCaron, on Flickr
And this brings us to the most present (and most noticeable) change to the car. While the billies were fun, I really REALLY wanted coilovers and after doing some research ended up going the Ground Control route. First things first...to send my front strut housings out for rebuilding.
Work in Progress by NSCaron, on Flickr
And then a picture of her crippled and waiting for the goods to return...
She's always in good company at home with plenty of German moral support.
Home Sweet Home by NSCaron, on Flickr
And finally I received my package that I'd been anxious for all along! While tearing the front apart I decided to replace both front wheel bearings as well for the heck of it.
Suspension Goodies by NSCaron, on Flickr
Camber Plates by NSCaron, on Flickr
And finally how she sits now! Got everything installed, SLS deleted and hydraulic return line fitted, aligned and ready to rip! I couldn't be more happy with how everything has turned out and plan to enjoy the hell out of this car for a long time coming. (You'll notice backseat isn't installed because I was dialing in my compression when these photos were taken)
DSC_5915 by NSCaron, on Flickr
DSC_5897 by NSCaron, on Flickr
DSC_5882 by NSCaron, on Flickr
DSC_5857 by NSCaron, on Flickr
Hope you enjoy!!
Great work what spring rates did you settle on?
"You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas."
Davy Crockett
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DIY Rear Seat Backrest Modification for E32 Armrest
Thank ya! As of now I'm currently running 430fr/350rr. From what I've seen others running, my rates seem low but I have to say the ride is great. It's nice and firm but not harsh or jarring at all.
Did calypsos ever have the dark silver lower bumper lips? Either way, the car looks great, perfect height in my opinion.
my version of a midlife crisis: 20 year old spray painted, lowered BMW station wagon.
They did as far as I'm aware. This car used to have the two-tone with silver lowers however one of the previous owners wasn't a fan and had them resprayed calypso to match. I personally love the uniform look of the matched lowers! Not sure if I would have actually gone through with it myself, but it's convenient to have picked up the car that way.
Photo update...I decided to stretch the ol' girls legs today being the weather was just so damn nice out. Caught a pretty nice sunset on the way home to boot.
I don't have any real updates but just thought I'd share a pic.
Sunset Run by NSCaron, on Flickr
Love this car, interesting that it has an msport bumper and that weird cutout. I'd be in for a pic with solid lower frontal lighting.
Very very jelli of the car, congrats on a solid purchase!
Nice car! Last pic is great.
e34 540i/6 :: e30 M62/6 :: e30 318is :: c5 Z06
beautiful,just beautiful.
i'm jelly too but not of the car/s,of the space and garage you have to work with at your leisure.
good lookin car
Thanks for the love guys! I'm completely obsessed with the car and she puts a smile on my face every single day when I drive her. It's true that...they just don't build 'em like they used to. All these modern cars with computers controlling everything, and reading text messages to you while you drive are garbage. Who needs all that crap when you can go out on a drive and actually feel/hear the car. I'll be sticking to these 20 year old stallions as they age with me!
And Wes, I'll see if I can dig up a better frontal shot for you. I'm still not sure exactly what lower bumper it is either, as the center opening is different from the M Tech front.
Please post updates and more pictures.
Current Fleet:
E34 1991 M5 Macaoblau on Complete (ruined)Leather Champagne - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1705166
Past:
E34 1989 535i 5-Speed AlpineweissII on Natur - Parted
E34 1992 525i 5-Speed Islandgrun on Pergament - Parted
E34 1995 540i 6-Speed ShwarzII on Shwarz - Sold to Sneezy.
E34 1995 525i 5-Speed Calypso Red on Parchment - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1748143 - Sold locally.
E39 1998 528i 5-Speed Black on Black - Sold locally.
E34 1993 M5 Alpinweiss on Black - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...lpinweissII-M5 - Parted
Sorry guys I've been busy with a million and one other things recently so I haven't been online much.
Lets see....updates on the car are as follows. Control arms were completely shot and I had the dreaded 50mph shakes under both normal driving and braking. So I just replaced with all new arms and powerflex black bushings for uppers and purple for lowers. It really tightened the front up and made it feel as it "should" have before in my opinion. People seem to get scared away from poly for harshness over road surface imperfections, but it's by no means rough at all. And on a less exciting note...my clutch is going. =( Full throttle third and fourth gear pulls yield crazy slippage up above 4k. I'm deciding if I want to do a lighter flywheel while I'm in there but can't seem to find many options except for the JB. Theirs is super light at only 8lbs, and the stock flywheel isn't THAT heavy at 16lbs so I'm tempted to stick with the OE one. Anyone have experience or insight on what they've done?!
Also changes coming in the way of aesthetics soon too! It's crazy how everything works out, but I'm in the process of refinishing a set of OZ futuras at the moment. 17x8.5 et13 all around. And as luck/fate/whateveryoucallit would have it, I landed into a set of my dream wheels too! Full set of AC Schnitzer Type 1's found their way into my hands this past week. 17x8.5 et13 front, 17x10 et19 rear. =D Pics of wheels to come soon...don't you worry.
On to recent pics of the car for the hell of it...
DSC_7697 by NSCaron, on Flickr
DSC_7652 by NSCaron, on Flickr
DSC_7688 by NSCaron, on Flickr
DSC_7714 by NSCaron, on Flickr
- - - Updated - - -
Here's a quick teaser pic of the unicorns. Just waiting on tires then these bad boys will be mounted!
ACS Type 1 by NSCaron, on Flickr
Last edited by theredcaron; 05-24-2014 at 01:43 PM.
Keep the pictures coming.
Current Fleet:
E34 1991 M5 Macaoblau on Complete (ruined)Leather Champagne - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1705166
Past:
E34 1989 535i 5-Speed AlpineweissII on Natur - Parted
E34 1992 525i 5-Speed Islandgrun on Pergament - Parted
E34 1995 540i 6-Speed ShwarzII on Shwarz - Sold to Sneezy.
E34 1995 525i 5-Speed Calypso Red on Parchment - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1748143 - Sold locally.
E39 1998 528i 5-Speed Black on Black - Sold locally.
E34 1993 M5 Alpinweiss on Black - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...lpinweissII-M5 - Parted
Nice pickup on the wheels! Great shots of the m5 too.
Gorgeous car.
This be gettin' good. Love calypso.....
Thanks guys! I'm currently in a tire dilemma but as soon as I get myself sorted, I'll post more pictures!
Anyone know if I'll be ok with 255/40/17 on a 10" et19 rear wheel?? It'll be close...but that's what I want. =D
Great looking M5. Seeing how well those throwing stars look spaced like that is awesome. Definitely keeping mine for a another day now.
Very nice.
95 540i6 M Sport - 95 525it S52/OBD2 - 433k E36 328i5 - X5D that hit a pothole - IG: @justinmurray95
I barely rub with 275/40/18 on an 11" ET+9 and a small pull. You'll be fine. Looking good, man.
Love calypso rot!!! Those ac's are one of my favorite wheels for the e34 chassis
Thanks for the insight guys! I'm thinking it'll all work out, I just wanted to see what others have run and if they've had any issues. I'll of course get some more photos once the tires come in. Hoping to have it mostly dialed by the end of this next week assuming work isn't hectic.
legitly is getting gooood! and man those GC coils are beauties, along with your m5 of course! But Please spin those suckers down a tad bit more when you throw on the schnitzer's on.
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