Nolift911
Well-known member
Only 275 photos... 
The *Mostly* BMW Garage Bolt-On
- Thread starter davidstutler
- Start date
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Just yesterday I said I didn't have any updates despite the fact I did actually purchase a car recently. Shame on me!
Suprisingly, this is only my second car purchase this year - down from an average of 11 per year over the last 5 years. Growth? Maturity? Who knows.
Being a wagon lover and not having a wagon, I started to look in the late Summer for a wagon that would fit the bill financially (allowing me to keep the X5 4.8iS) and practically (useful for different things than the X5). I initially started looking for a high-mileage F31 diesel, but given it'd have to be an M-Sport, the market priced me out. The second option was an E91, but the size is what always drives me away from that (too small for my tastes).
I've had two E61s and loved them, despite their quirks. Turbos, HPFP, injectors, sunroof drains, water in the cargo area melting modules ... you know, standard stuff But I love them nonetheless. And especially love the M-Sport variants, with the bumper and sideskirts to make it more aggressive from a styling perspective. I bought E61 aftermarket bumpers for the first two I had - but I decided it was time to buy the real thing.
In the mid-Summer I missed out on one on BaT and tried to locate the seller after it failed to meet reserve. No luck. Until that exact same one showed up on Cars & Bids. I made sure I was the high bidder so that when it didn't meet reserve, I had a shot. It worked out as I made an offer that the seller approved, and into an E61 I went.
Open arrival, it was in decent shape. The PPF on the front nose was hard and brittle, and was scratched to smitherines. The fitment of the 19" wheels bothered me (sunken in the rear, proud up front). The wood trim on the interior had not aged well and there was .... gulp ... water in the cargo area. Let's go!
The day it arrived: '09 535xi Sport Wagon - M-Sport - Carbon Black over Natural Brown.
Out comes all the interior of the cargo area to clean up, clean the sunroof drains and move the modules:
Now to deal with the sunken rears - before:
After a 7.5mm spacer:
Next came removal of the crusty PPF on the hood - which completely demotivated me from doing the rest.
After some matte black grille swap, some fresh side markers and a paint correction/ceramic coating, it was coming along well:
Into the interior I went - swapping out the brown seat backs with some black ones, to match the two-tone theme. A guy I follow on Instagram did this recently on his car and it opened my eyes to the obvious improvement.
Before:
After:
And then finally on to replacing the wood trim. This trim kit was the exact kit I did in my last E61 - alcantara with some 3-stripe stitching. A great fit for the M-Sport vibe.
And that's the update! She sits with the others now, sharing daily driving duty with the 4.8iS X5.
Suprisingly, this is only my second car purchase this year - down from an average of 11 per year over the last 5 years. Growth? Maturity? Who knows.
Being a wagon lover and not having a wagon, I started to look in the late Summer for a wagon that would fit the bill financially (allowing me to keep the X5 4.8iS) and practically (useful for different things than the X5). I initially started looking for a high-mileage F31 diesel, but given it'd have to be an M-Sport, the market priced me out. The second option was an E91, but the size is what always drives me away from that (too small for my tastes).
I've had two E61s and loved them, despite their quirks. Turbos, HPFP, injectors, sunroof drains, water in the cargo area melting modules ... you know, standard stuff
But I love them nonetheless. And especially love the M-Sport variants, with the bumper and sideskirts to make it more aggressive from a styling perspective. I bought E61 aftermarket bumpers for the first two I had - but I decided it was time to buy the real thing.In the mid-Summer I missed out on one on BaT and tried to locate the seller after it failed to meet reserve. No luck. Until that exact same one showed up on Cars & Bids. I made sure I was the high bidder so that when it didn't meet reserve, I had a shot. It worked out as I made an offer that the seller approved, and into an E61 I went.
Open arrival, it was in decent shape. The PPF on the front nose was hard and brittle, and was scratched to smitherines. The fitment of the 19" wheels bothered me (sunken in the rear, proud up front). The wood trim on the interior had not aged well and there was .... gulp ... water in the cargo area. Let's go!
The day it arrived: '09 535xi Sport Wagon - M-Sport - Carbon Black over Natural Brown.
Out comes all the interior of the cargo area to clean up, clean the sunroof drains and move the modules:
Now to deal with the sunken rears - before:
After a 7.5mm spacer:
Next came removal of the crusty PPF on the hood - which completely demotivated me from doing the rest.
After some matte black grille swap, some fresh side markers and a paint correction/ceramic coating, it was coming along well:
Into the interior I went - swapping out the brown seat backs with some black ones, to match the two-tone theme. A guy I follow on Instagram did this recently on his car and it opened my eyes to the obvious improvement.
Before:
After:
And then finally on to replacing the wood trim. This trim kit was the exact kit I did in my last E61 - alcantara with some 3-stripe stitching. A great fit for the M-Sport vibe.
And that's the update! She sits with the others now, sharing daily driving duty with the 4.8iS X5.
M-technik-3
Well-known member
E61 is a very under rated car. It came out great, any more plans for it or just keeping the stealth look? Avus M is looking good still. Where did you get the molding from? Or did you make that yourself?
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Agreed on the E61 - very much underrated, particularly in wagon form. I think they've aged well. The trim came from a guy overseas who does these trim refurbs - I took a chance with a previous E61 and loved the quality, so I used the same guy this time. They are well done. In terms of next steps on the E61, it'll probably be a front spring drop and subsequent air suspension adjustment in the rear. Here's my previous one ... Man, I did love those wheels!
Kyle Van Hoften, the BMWCCA photographer, has a black E61 that I absolutely love. I could see me heading that direction with mine, from a wheel/tire and suspension perspective.
The Avus M3 is still the one I want to jump in a for quick, fun drive. With Fall being in full swing here, this is my favorite time to drive.
M-technik-3
Well-known member
The old one was sweet, I am looking for some 640M's for my E91. Yeah went for a spirted drive yesterday in my 95. Still a fun car but needs the bushings done in rear. Would you share the guy that does the panels? I had been looking for aluminum ones for my E91 but maybe this would look better than the wood.
THIS is the content we need!!! The new E61 is looking great! Love the two-tone seats (should have come like that from the factory). And that Alcantara trim is "chef's kiss". Nice work. Looking forward to more BMW content....
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Yes! 640Ms are great and look awesome on the E91. On the interior trim, the seller is on eBay and his username is dbcarparts. Looks like he has quite a few kits for the E9X generation.
Haha - thanks for the nudge!
Funny enough, I was heading out to the airport for a trip yesterday and got about halfway there when I got a fuel pump alert on the dash coupled with limp mode! Right at 96000 on the nose. Luckily I had time to get a tow and make it to the airport, but that fun is waiting for me when I get home.
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Ah - the classic four month gap in my posting! A few things to catch up on ...
I'll get the depressing news out of the way first ... my '95 Avus M3 is off to a new owner. College tuition for my oldest was the motivation and I only had two good options to help - the M3 and the Avus 840. The 840 is a tougher sell for a variety of reasons, so the M3 left. Luckily I found a great new owner - one who has owned a number of really cool BMWs. It now lives about an hour from here, so I'm hopeful I'll get to see it at a C&C from time to time. Here she was leaving the nest:
When I posted last, the E61 had been towed to the shop after breaking down on the way to the airport. Easy fix and it was back on the road. When I bought it, the sunroof was not working, so I decided (like a fool) to take a run at rebuilding the mechanism. I shouldn't have done that. It was awful. I hated every second. Not to mention, when I finished and reinstalled it into the car, it ... broke. Too painful to get into, but in the end, I sourced a working cassette locally and got it installed. I still haven't mustered the courage to open it
The point of overwhelm:
But she's good now, and has been serving as the daily during the winter.
A few days after the M3 left, I got a text from the guy who bought my first E53 4.8iS last year. Quick review: bought a 4.8iS on BaT about 18 months ago, trying to determine if I'd like daily drivng an E53. Turns out I did. Ended up buying a VERY nice, beautifully maintained LeMans example and sold the BSM version locally. So, after putting about 12k miles on it, he started to get the Trans Failsafe Prog alert. He tried a few things but ultimately decided it was time to move on. He reached out asking if I'd be interested in buying it back and, because of the price, I did. It was very, very cheap.
I immediately regretted it when I picked it up. They live on out in the country, and his daughter had been the one driving it for the year they had it. Needless to say, it was filthy.
Having owned a few E53s, I know they can be temperamental when it comes to voltage irregularities, so the first thing I checked was the battery. While it was newer, it was undersized. I happened to have a properly-sized battery on hand so I dropped it in. After a few other minor fixes and a DEEP cleaning she was looking and driving much better. I put 100 miles on it with zero issues. It was so good I almost considered keeping it around, but ultimately I found a new owner. Here are some after shots:
Two other quick updates before I get to the finale - new Xtrons unit in my LMB X5:
And the Akoustic CarPlay Single-DIN radio that was in M3 - new owner didn't like it - so it migrated over to the 840. I am typically a purist/OEM type, but I do actually like having modern amenities in an older car like this.
And the final update ... a fun one. We've been in our house for 8 years now - lovely little neighborhood. We walk our dogs every day and when I see a cool car, I always shout it out, wave, whatever. And in the time we've been here, there is one car that always makes me weak. It's an E38 740i Shorty Sporty in Anthracite. It took us about three years to finally track down which house it lived at - a place we walk by on weekends. I've never spoken to the owner nor do I think he recognizes me rubber necking when he drives by.
Fast forward to last weekend - we were walking down his street and I noticed the owner was outside washing a car, but it wasn't the 740. I panicked, thinking he might have sold it and this (a Lincoln Town Car) was the replacement. Say it ain't so! I told my wife that I was going to make a noise to get his attention as we walked by. Sure enough - one grunt later and he looked up to see us walking by. Oh hi! I immediately asked "how's the 740 doing?". He looked perplexed - how did this dope walking by know he had a 740? But that started the conversation. Turns out the 740 wasn't doing well - it had started making noise and he was concerned (rightly) that it was the timing chain guides giving up. He had decided it needed to sit and he'd ponder what to do with it. Me being the guy I am, I told him I'd buy it if he ever decided to move on from it. 24 hours later, it was in my garage.
He had owned it 22 years. Bought it as a CPO car back in 2003. The car is a time capsule. Every damn thing done to this was documented in a spreadsheet - down to when he'd add air to the tires. He made custom oil change stickers and tape them to the door jamb, because he didn't like the look of the window stickers. In short, the obsessive guy you want to buy from.
It's not all great news - the car clearly needs a timing chain service, as evidenced by the guide bits in the oil pan.
He also neglected to take care of some dirt trapped in the passenger rear door trim blade, which led to rust taking over the door. Not a large spot, and terrible job of me focusing this shot, but here's the before:
I decided to make the rust my first project - which I got done this past weekend - my first full weekend with the car.
This weekend I dive into the mechanical and suspension work. I'm doing replacement struts up front (OEM sport) as well as a full control arm refresh. Engine mounts, power steering reservoir and lines will also get done. Then the attention will turn to the timing chain service. All the parts arrived yesterday, so it's just about time!
Here's a parting shot - the lovely unmolested interior! What a beauty!
If anyone with an E38 has some suggestions on ways to improve this, leaning toward OEM+, I'm all ears. I've had one other Sporty Shorty before, but not of this quality. This one, given the price and condition, is a keeper! Famous last words!
I'll get the depressing news out of the way first ... my '95 Avus M3 is off to a new owner. College tuition for my oldest was the motivation and I only had two good options to help - the M3 and the Avus 840. The 840 is a tougher sell for a variety of reasons, so the M3 left. Luckily I found a great new owner - one who has owned a number of really cool BMWs. It now lives about an hour from here, so I'm hopeful I'll get to see it at a C&C from time to time. Here she was leaving the nest:
When I posted last, the E61 had been towed to the shop after breaking down on the way to the airport. Easy fix and it was back on the road. When I bought it, the sunroof was not working, so I decided (like a fool) to take a run at rebuilding the mechanism. I shouldn't have done that. It was awful. I hated every second. Not to mention, when I finished and reinstalled it into the car, it ... broke. Too painful to get into, but in the end, I sourced a working cassette locally and got it installed. I still haven't mustered the courage to open it
The point of overwhelm:
But she's good now, and has been serving as the daily during the winter.
A few days after the M3 left, I got a text from the guy who bought my first E53 4.8iS last year. Quick review: bought a 4.8iS on BaT about 18 months ago, trying to determine if I'd like daily drivng an E53. Turns out I did. Ended up buying a VERY nice, beautifully maintained LeMans example and sold the BSM version locally. So, after putting about 12k miles on it, he started to get the Trans Failsafe Prog alert. He tried a few things but ultimately decided it was time to move on. He reached out asking if I'd be interested in buying it back and, because of the price, I did. It was very, very cheap.
I immediately regretted it when I picked it up. They live on out in the country, and his daughter had been the one driving it for the year they had it. Needless to say, it was filthy.
Having owned a few E53s, I know they can be temperamental when it comes to voltage irregularities, so the first thing I checked was the battery. While it was newer, it was undersized. I happened to have a properly-sized battery on hand so I dropped it in. After a few other minor fixes and a DEEP cleaning she was looking and driving much better. I put 100 miles on it with zero issues. It was so good I almost considered keeping it around, but ultimately I found a new owner. Here are some after shots:
Two other quick updates before I get to the finale - new Xtrons unit in my LMB X5:
And the Akoustic CarPlay Single-DIN radio that was in M3 - new owner didn't like it - so it migrated over to the 840. I am typically a purist/OEM type, but I do actually like having modern amenities in an older car like this.
And the final update ... a fun one. We've been in our house for 8 years now - lovely little neighborhood. We walk our dogs every day and when I see a cool car, I always shout it out, wave, whatever. And in the time we've been here, there is one car that always makes me weak. It's an E38 740i Shorty Sporty in Anthracite. It took us about three years to finally track down which house it lived at - a place we walk by on weekends. I've never spoken to the owner nor do I think he recognizes me rubber necking when he drives by.
Fast forward to last weekend - we were walking down his street and I noticed the owner was outside washing a car, but it wasn't the 740. I panicked, thinking he might have sold it and this (a Lincoln Town Car) was the replacement. Say it ain't so! I told my wife that I was going to make a noise to get his attention as we walked by. Sure enough - one grunt later and he looked up to see us walking by. Oh hi! I immediately asked "how's the 740 doing?". He looked perplexed - how did this dope walking by know he had a 740? But that started the conversation. Turns out the 740 wasn't doing well - it had started making noise and he was concerned (rightly) that it was the timing chain guides giving up. He had decided it needed to sit and he'd ponder what to do with it. Me being the guy I am, I told him I'd buy it if he ever decided to move on from it. 24 hours later, it was in my garage.
He had owned it 22 years. Bought it as a CPO car back in 2003. The car is a time capsule. Every damn thing done to this was documented in a spreadsheet - down to when he'd add air to the tires. He made custom oil change stickers and tape them to the door jamb, because he didn't like the look of the window stickers. In short, the obsessive guy you want to buy from.
It's not all great news - the car clearly needs a timing chain service, as evidenced by the guide bits in the oil pan.
He also neglected to take care of some dirt trapped in the passenger rear door trim blade, which led to rust taking over the door. Not a large spot, and terrible job of me focusing this shot, but here's the before:
I decided to make the rust my first project - which I got done this past weekend - my first full weekend with the car.
This weekend I dive into the mechanical and suspension work. I'm doing replacement struts up front (OEM sport) as well as a full control arm refresh. Engine mounts, power steering reservoir and lines will also get done. Then the attention will turn to the timing chain service. All the parts arrived yesterday, so it's just about time!
Here's a parting shot - the lovely unmolested interior! What a beauty!
If anyone with an E38 has some suggestions on ways to improve this, leaning toward OEM+, I'm all ears. I've had one other Sporty Shorty before, but not of this quality. This one, given the price and condition, is a keeper! Famous last words!
tweidman
Well-known member
That's a nice 740. That door looks great. What is your process?
Nolift911
Well-known member
Had an 01 e39 M5 in LeMans - miss that car, always wanted the 4.8 twin.
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
For this job, I sanded down and treated the area where the rust was with some encapsulator. Then a small amount of body filler to hit the low spots. From there, normal refinishing - prime, paint, wet sand, polish. I mainly wanted to get it "better" for now - not perfect.
The guy I bought my 4.8 from also had an E39 M5 in LMB. They were quite a pair!
cccoltsicehockey
Well-known member
Was starting to wonder when we would see the next up date from you. Glad yo see you are still having fun constantly swapping cars.
Congrats on the new to you 740. Have always loved those.
Congrats on the new to you 740. Have always loved those.
Getting these updates from you is like finally letting out a sneeze that I've been holding back...like, FINALLY, it's time! haha
LOVE the 740i...such a great car and a good find for you. Sad to see the M3 has left the stable, but I get it. Adulting ***** sometimes!
Hopefully we can cut the 4 months between updates in half...I'd gladly take only having to wait 2 months instead to see what sorts of shenanigans you've gotten yourself into. Take care...cheers!
LOVE the 740i...such a great car and a good find for you. Sad to see the M3 has left the stable, but I get it. Adulting ***** sometimes!
Hopefully we can cut the 4 months between updates in half...I'd gladly take only having to wait 2 months instead to see what sorts of shenanigans you've gotten yourself into. Take care...cheers!
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Ha - that's exactly how it feels to me too! I'll try and do a better job of documenting ... something. That's where I typically fall apart on the updates - some project leads to me buying gobs and gobs of parts and then I get so excited to do the work, I neglect taking a single photo. With the 740 and all the it's going to get done in the next two weeks, this is the perfect opportunity.
And depending on how the timing chain work goes, I may end up doing the timing chain on my son's X3. It's the N20 (ugh). But working on that motor is so different given the massive amounts of space to work in that engine bay.
Ha-ha!
I feel ya. I haven't documented ANYTHING recently, and haven't taken the time to get together with any of the KC GJ folks recently.
I just finished up a rush job for my niece, she needed a vehicle so I re-habbed an Escape Hybrid for her. It was a REALLY rush job since she was making the Uber folks pretty wealthy driving her to work everyday.
I have an X5 with an N55 that I need to get started on, I ordered the parts for it in December, and I can't remember what the issue is at the moment. I also have an X3 with the N20 that runs great for a few minutes, then posts cam sensor errors for both the intake and exhaust sensors and starts making a horrible noise, so I suspect I'll be doing a timing chain on that one.
I love your 740, there was a 740 near my last neighborhood that sat for a long time, I was tempted to make them an offer, but I hated the color.
Let us know how your timing chain adventure goes!
TX4runner
Well-known member
Glad to see an update. You always have so many nice BMWs run through your garage.
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Let's get the obvious out of the way - I need to be better at keeping this thread up to date. I marvel at the guys who can do that. Lots to catch up on, so here goes ...
Last we spoke, the lineup of cars had stabilized to include the following:
- '05 BMW X5 4.8is in LeMans
- '09 BMW 535xi M-Sport wagon
- '00 BMW 740i Sporty Shorty (broken)
- '94 BMW 840ci
- '72 Ford F250
- My wife's '16 Porsche Cayenne Diesel (this isn't going anywhere any time soon)
Not included are my boys cars, since they only involve work and no fun - the younger one's '13 X3 2.8 is a great example. FCP just delivered a timing chain service kit to my door today ... to say I'm dreading that is an understatement.
Anyway - of that list above - two of those are gone with one replacement on the way. I'll keep the suspense alive until the end of the post.
First up, updates to the X5. I'm a sucker for the E53 generation X5 - I believe it's aged very well aesthetically. Muscular looking, particularly in the 4.6is and 4.8is trims. One of the options I always loved but never had is the rolling load floor. I almost immediately started looking for one when I bought the LeMans version back in March of '24. It took nearly a year to find one I wanted to splurge on, but splurge I did. An eBay purchase, the seller was kind enough to box it up as well as he could and ship it off to me.
Install took about an hour, moving slowly. This is the type of project that requires no YouTube certification.
The before:
I had visions of putting my large baseball catcher's bag in the back and rollng out the floor to help removal. Did I end up doing that? Nope. I only used it to show people how "cool" it was.
Look, it opens!
Look, it closes!
Look, it lifts up!
Kind of neat ...
If I'm being honest, I bought it as a distraction from the really big project - the timing chain work on the E38 I bought recently. My last post was done right after I bought it and drove it a mile home from the previous owner.
It basically sounded like a box of nails in a blender driving home, and the suspension up front was completely shot. I basically regretted buying it about 500 feet from my house. But - she's beautiful.
Among my car buddies - and boy do I have a long list of car buddies - my reputation is that of an aesthetics guy. Fitting, for sure, as I love to take ugly things and make them pretty. My twin brother is the mechanical guy - so I've leaned on him a LOT over the years. A valve cover job or a water pump was essentially the type of thing I didn't mind doing on my own. Beyond that - no thanks. So when I bought the E38 with a clear need for TCGs, I naturally figured I'd just send it to my preferred shop. But something made me rethink it - likely stupidity looking back.
I started watching all the TCG content I could find on YouTube and came to the conclusion that if I moved deliberately, I might be able to do it on my own. So I announced it - to my wife, to my twin brother, to myself - I'm tackling this on my own. Shudder! But I wouldn't just do the TCGs, a lot was needed. Full front suspension (shocks, control arms, end links, the whole lot), engine mounts, PS lines, PS reservoir, PS pump, all belts and pulleys, rebuilt VANOS units ... basically everything I could think of to tackle while in there. One VERY large oder from FCP Euro later I was completely in over my head.
But bit by bit, it went. I splurged on things that I shouldn't have - namely factory front struts and OEM valve covers - which combined were nearly ... gulp $2k.
I dove in and within 10 minutes, I was patting myself on the back. See - you're being organized! Little did I know that this list of "organized" parts was the tip of the iceberg.
The valve covers told a story of a long, hot life.
To be clear, this car was VERY well-maintained. So the guides didn't give up due to any neglect from the owner. Heat cycles and time were the culprits. By the time I got the timing covers off, the noise made a whole lotta sense. No plastic left on the lower guide ... at all. Nothing. Chain on metal - lots and lots of glittery remnants in the oil pan.
I shouldn't neglect to mention the most horrendous part of the job - the freaking Jesus bolt. My god. Busted my thumb getting that job done.
But once that was off it was mostly smooth, deliberate sailing. Granted, everything was absolutely filthy, to the point where I ended up getting a HF parts washer.
The after:
Organization was key, and my 16 year old did help for all of 30 minutes - drawing a diagram of the timing covers and helping to place the bolts in the cardboard. The ping pong table was helpful.
The G.A.S timing set was amazing to use. Very straightforward and easy to understand. Basically no drama at all until I dropped one of the G.A.S butterfly nuts down into the engine. About shat myself. The scope was critical here!
But here's the engine all wrapped up - new timing chains and guides (and VANOS units) looking lovely. Not at all bad for a complete amateur.
Time for fluids ...
And a sparkling set of new valve covers ...
To say the first start was pucker-worthy is an understatement. Boy was I nervous as hell. In the end, no drama.
That allowed me to perform my last step - an aesthetic one! CocoMats! I've probably bought 25 sets over the years, but because of the length of mechanical time spent, these felt especially satisfying.
Since the work, I've driven it and enjoyed it. More than 300 trouble-free, SMOOTH miles. It drives like a dream. Put in a BlueBus that same week and have been enjoying the pseudo-modern upgrade.
Sheesh - this is a long one - but a few more updates to go.
As I near two milestones - I turn 50 in August and I'm closing in on 100 cars owned - I've been wanting to slow the buying pace and settle on fewer things to own and maintain. Back in April I started to entertain the thought of me selling my two dailies and buying a newer "something". Something under warranty, something cool and something that could serve the basic utility needs I have. I typically have a couple baseball games a week where I haul all my equipment into KC, so a wagon or SUV would apply.
I contemplated an Audi RS6 Avant but the depreciation hasn't really hit the point where I could pull that trigger. I then started looking at the Panamera Sport Turismo - which I've lusted over since launch.
At the beginning of May my wife and I started getting serious and visited the local Porsche dealer. They happened to have a Panamera ST and my other choice - a Taycan Cross Turismo - on their lot so we were able to compare them directly. The choice was really, really easy for me after experiencing them both. I decided then and there that the Taycan CT was the fit. We've owned a half dozen EVs over the years so we're well-versed in that space. For me, the Taycan felt more nimble and the size was perfect. I fell in love.
That meant the X5 and wagon had to be sold - which actually happened very quickly. Within 8 days, I had sold both and signed papers on the CT. That was almost a month ago ... and the car is still not here. The dealer has been incredibly slow to book shipment, and since they are paying for it, I've decided to remain patient.
Here's a look at what's coming:
Thank you for attending this car update Ted Talk! Sorry for the length ... we'll talk again in six months!
Last we spoke, the lineup of cars had stabilized to include the following:
- '05 BMW X5 4.8is in LeMans
- '09 BMW 535xi M-Sport wagon
- '00 BMW 740i Sporty Shorty (broken)
- '94 BMW 840ci
- '72 Ford F250
- My wife's '16 Porsche Cayenne Diesel (this isn't going anywhere any time soon)
Not included are my boys cars, since they only involve work and no fun - the younger one's '13 X3 2.8 is a great example. FCP just delivered a timing chain service kit to my door today ... to say I'm dreading that is an understatement.
Anyway - of that list above - two of those are gone with one replacement on the way. I'll keep the suspense alive until the end of the post.
First up, updates to the X5. I'm a sucker for the E53 generation X5 - I believe it's aged very well aesthetically. Muscular looking, particularly in the 4.6is and 4.8is trims. One of the options I always loved but never had is the rolling load floor. I almost immediately started looking for one when I bought the LeMans version back in March of '24. It took nearly a year to find one I wanted to splurge on, but splurge I did. An eBay purchase, the seller was kind enough to box it up as well as he could and ship it off to me.
Install took about an hour, moving slowly. This is the type of project that requires no YouTube certification.
The before:
I had visions of putting my large baseball catcher's bag in the back and rollng out the floor to help removal. Did I end up doing that? Nope. I only used it to show people how "cool" it was.
Look, it opens!
Look, it closes!
Look, it lifts up!
Kind of neat ...
If I'm being honest, I bought it as a distraction from the really big project - the timing chain work on the E38 I bought recently. My last post was done right after I bought it and drove it a mile home from the previous owner.
It basically sounded like a box of nails in a blender driving home, and the suspension up front was completely shot. I basically regretted buying it about 500 feet from my house. But - she's beautiful.
Among my car buddies - and boy do I have a long list of car buddies - my reputation is that of an aesthetics guy. Fitting, for sure, as I love to take ugly things and make them pretty. My twin brother is the mechanical guy - so I've leaned on him a LOT over the years. A valve cover job or a water pump was essentially the type of thing I didn't mind doing on my own. Beyond that - no thanks. So when I bought the E38 with a clear need for TCGs, I naturally figured I'd just send it to my preferred shop. But something made me rethink it - likely stupidity looking back.
I started watching all the TCG content I could find on YouTube and came to the conclusion that if I moved deliberately, I might be able to do it on my own. So I announced it - to my wife, to my twin brother, to myself - I'm tackling this on my own. Shudder! But I wouldn't just do the TCGs, a lot was needed. Full front suspension (shocks, control arms, end links, the whole lot), engine mounts, PS lines, PS reservoir, PS pump, all belts and pulleys, rebuilt VANOS units ... basically everything I could think of to tackle while in there. One VERY large oder from FCP Euro later I was completely in over my head.
But bit by bit, it went. I splurged on things that I shouldn't have - namely factory front struts and OEM valve covers - which combined were nearly ... gulp $2k.
I dove in and within 10 minutes, I was patting myself on the back. See - you're being organized! Little did I know that this list of "organized" parts was the tip of the iceberg.
The valve covers told a story of a long, hot life.
To be clear, this car was VERY well-maintained. So the guides didn't give up due to any neglect from the owner. Heat cycles and time were the culprits. By the time I got the timing covers off, the noise made a whole lotta sense. No plastic left on the lower guide ... at all. Nothing. Chain on metal - lots and lots of glittery remnants in the oil pan.
I shouldn't neglect to mention the most horrendous part of the job - the freaking Jesus bolt. My god. Busted my thumb getting that job done.
But once that was off it was mostly smooth, deliberate sailing. Granted, everything was absolutely filthy, to the point where I ended up getting a HF parts washer.
The after:
Organization was key, and my 16 year old did help for all of 30 minutes - drawing a diagram of the timing covers and helping to place the bolts in the cardboard. The ping pong table was helpful.
The G.A.S timing set was amazing to use. Very straightforward and easy to understand. Basically no drama at all until I dropped one of the G.A.S butterfly nuts down into the engine. About shat myself. The scope was critical here!
But here's the engine all wrapped up - new timing chains and guides (and VANOS units) looking lovely. Not at all bad for a complete amateur.
Time for fluids ...
And a sparkling set of new valve covers ...
To say the first start was pucker-worthy is an understatement. Boy was I nervous as hell. In the end, no drama.
That allowed me to perform my last step - an aesthetic one! CocoMats! I've probably bought 25 sets over the years, but because of the length of mechanical time spent, these felt especially satisfying.
Since the work, I've driven it and enjoyed it. More than 300 trouble-free, SMOOTH miles. It drives like a dream. Put in a BlueBus that same week and have been enjoying the pseudo-modern upgrade.
Sheesh - this is a long one - but a few more updates to go.
As I near two milestones - I turn 50 in August and I'm closing in on 100 cars owned - I've been wanting to slow the buying pace and settle on fewer things to own and maintain. Back in April I started to entertain the thought of me selling my two dailies and buying a newer "something". Something under warranty, something cool and something that could serve the basic utility needs I have. I typically have a couple baseball games a week where I haul all my equipment into KC, so a wagon or SUV would apply.
I contemplated an Audi RS6 Avant but the depreciation hasn't really hit the point where I could pull that trigger. I then started looking at the Panamera Sport Turismo - which I've lusted over since launch.
At the beginning of May my wife and I started getting serious and visited the local Porsche dealer. They happened to have a Panamera ST and my other choice - a Taycan Cross Turismo - on their lot so we were able to compare them directly. The choice was really, really easy for me after experiencing them both. I decided then and there that the Taycan CT was the fit. We've owned a half dozen EVs over the years so we're well-versed in that space. For me, the Taycan felt more nimble and the size was perfect. I fell in love.
That meant the X5 and wagon had to be sold - which actually happened very quickly. Within 8 days, I had sold both and signed papers on the CT. That was almost a month ago ... and the car is still not here. The dealer has been incredibly slow to book shipment, and since they are paying for it, I've decided to remain patient.
Here's a look at what's coming:
Thank you for attending this car update Ted Talk! Sorry for the length ... we'll talk again in six months!
Hey David!
Congrats on getting both feet back into the Porsche world!
Sad to see the X5 and the wagon go, but decisions had to be made.
I'm doing a complete rebuild of the front end of an E60 this week, i.e. shocks, struts control arms, etc, so I hope it goes as well as your work on the E38.
Congrats on getting both feet back into the Porsche world!
Sad to see the X5 and the wagon go, but decisions had to be made.
I'm doing a complete rebuild of the front end of an E60 this week, i.e. shocks, struts control arms, etc, so I hope it goes as well as your work on the E38.
I have a 2018 M5. Great car! But I keep cars a while and bought this one in 2021 so I will spend a few more years with it. I would rather have 400-500 miles of range when I go electric. If I had a bunch of cars like the OP, then mixing in an electric one would be fine.
Nolift911
Well-known member
Nice work on the chains!! Have you counted up all the cars you have bought and sold... I bet that is a mighty list!
I bet that is a mighty list!Great update and fantastic work on the chains! I swear your exact E38 passed me on 95N today while driving home from Foxwoods casino...it was uber clean and I badly wanted it!
That Taycan is a great spec...nice choice!
That Taycan is a great spec...nice choice!
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Nice work on the chains!! Have you counted up all the cars you have bought and sold...
I'll put it this way ... if I didn't have a spreadsheet, I would have forgotten about a couple dozen. The official total is 96. 54 BMWs, 11 Porsches, 7 Audis and a smattering of other brands. BUT! I'm slowing down ... I think.
They look so at home on the highway, gobbling up the miles. Last weekend I had to run into KC to pick up a radiator for the Ford. Since the Taycan wasn't here, the 740 fit the bill. What a great car at speed. Smooth as butter.
The Taycan finally arrived yesterday. A month and four days after purchase - not great. But it's here, it got washed and is sitting next to another beautiful black Porsche. First impressions - I may never sell this thing! (I know, no one believes me). Comfortable, fast, handles like a Porsche, and has exactly zero bad angles. This thing does it for me.
It's in need of a full-blown detail - which I'm so stoked to do. In the meantime, the two shots I have:
cccoltsicehockey
Well-known member
Congrats on finally receiving it. A buddy of mine had a regular Taycan for a while. It was amazing how well that thing handled. The COG being so low really helps them feel so planted. The CT is in another league, though, with how good it looks.I'll put it this way ... if I didn't have a spreadsheet, I would have forgotten about a couple dozen. The official total is 96. 54 BMWs, 11 Porsches, 7 Audis and a smattering of other brands. BUT! I'm slowing down ... I think.
They look so at home on the highway, gobbling up the miles. Last weekend I had to run into KC to pick up a radiator for the Ford. Since the Taycan wasn't here, the 740 fit the bill. What a great car at speed. Smooth as butter.
The Taycan finally arrived yesterday. A month and four days after purchase - not great. But it's here, it got washed and is sitting next to another beautiful black Porsche. First impressions - I may never sell this thing! (I know, no one believes me). Comfortable, fast, handles like a Porsche, and has exactly zero bad angles. This thing does it for me.
It's in need of a full-blown detail - which I'm so stoked to do. In the meantime, the two shots I have:
Nolift911
Well-known member
All the cars - you need to get to 100.
Electric is not really my jam but that has all the angles covered. Timeless design. Maybe a few years from now you convert to LS with RWD, Tremec 6SP? Lol...kidding kidding.
Electric is not really my jam but that has all the angles covered. Timeless design. Maybe a few years from now you convert to LS with RWD, Tremec 6SP? Lol...kidding kidding.
M-technik-3
Well-known member
Sad to see the E36 leave the fold. Nice updates. Not a Taycan fan, it's the styling to me.
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
The E36 going was a tough pill to swallow. So glad it went to a collector in the area - hoping I see it at gatherings in the coming years. Of course I followed my typical pattern - chase every deficiency until the car is virtually (relatively speaking) perfect and then sell it. I never truly enjoy the fruits of the labor.
The Taycan CT design speaks to me - particularly in the flesh. It's a very bold design but with the right wheel setup, I absolutely love it. But I understand it's not for everyone.
My wife is out of town this week so I get all three "spots" in the front garage, two on the floor, one on the lift. There's at least TWO timeless beauties in this photo!
Weird to not have any cars in the back garage at the moment. I did some rearranging back there given we now have fewer cars. Got the back wall painted a couple weekends ago as well - just wanted a contrasting wall.
So far, not much to report on updates to the Taycan. I put some Flat6 Motorsports 15mm spacers on it, which helps the fitment tremendously. I also scored some cross bars and a bike rack from a seller on a Taycan forum - made a special trip to deliver them as well.
Still need to do a full detail on it, which will hopefully happen in the next week or so. More as it happens!
Just catching up on your thread, saw the Taycan and thought that needs spacers! Well, evidently this has been sorted already haha.
I am a big fan of them, they plummet as new cars over here depreciation wise, so much so that its something I am now considering at 3 or so years old.. that's the nature of EV's I suppose. My Tesla was the only car I've lost money on and it was at like 50% loss in about 2 years.
I am a big fan of them, they plummet as new cars over here depreciation wise, so much so that its something I am now considering at 3 or so years old.. that's the nature of EV's I suppose. My Tesla was the only car I've lost money on and it was at like 50% loss in about 2 years.
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Sheesh - my last update was June 18! Well here is a teaser ... a lot has happened in the last seven months.
I turned 50, I sold the Taycan, bought a BMW to drive daily, sold it, bought a different BMW to drive daily, sold it ... and bought two older BMWs to share daily duty.
I'll write it all up with pictures in the coming days. Currently repairing hard brake lines on a newly acquired E53!
I turned 50, I sold the Taycan, bought a BMW to drive daily, sold it, bought a different BMW to drive daily, sold it ... and bought two older BMWs to share daily duty.
I'll write it all up with pictures in the coming days. Currently repairing hard brake lines on a newly acquired E53!
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Technically, there are other brands under the garage roof (my wife's Cayenne Diesel) so I think I'm obligated to keep it the sameSo does this mean you're going to change the name from "The Mostly BMW Garage" to "The BMW Garage", at least at the moment?
My '72 F250 sits outside, so he wouldn't feel offended with a title change.David. I think you change cars nearly as often as I change my underwear. I hate buying and selling cars. I can’t imagine the work it takes to cycle thru cars that often. That said I’m looking forward to see what you’ve bought (and sold, and bought and sold and bought…..).
OP
davidstutler
Well-known member
Well, as promised, I come slinking in here after way too many months, attempting to catch up.
Where did I leave this thing …
Oh yes, I had just finished the timing chain guide work on the E38 Sporty Shorty. Like normal, when done with a vehicle, I am so far upside down my brain can't take it. Given it was a white whale for me, I overpaid to start ($5k for a non-driving BMW) and I went all out in replacing all it needed. In other words, I was $15k+ into it when finished. Neat!
I had also just decided that for my 50th birthday, I needed a gift for myself (understanding that the LAST thing I needed was a gift for myself). Justification. I bought a 2022 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo from a dealer in Georgia who specializes in Buy-Back (Lemon) vehicles. I’ve been down the lemon title route many times before and for cars that still had a factory warranty, it never bothered me. And since this was the only way I was going to justify buying one, I did it. It ended up being about $10k less than a normal title car - so I figured I’d give it a shot.
Given it’s been sold, I can now be honest with myself. I don’t do well with newer cars (more on that in a minute). While I don’t necessarily love wrenching, I do love improving my cars. Sometimes that’s a mechanical improvement, sometimes aesthetics. But with new cars, it’s either not as enjoyable or not financially feasible. I’m left to do spacers and all weather mats
Looking back, I give the Taycan CT a 9/10. Quick, beautiful and practical. Was that enough to keep me in it - nope. Ultimately having a car payment soured me. It didn’t help that I had to sell two sorted BMWs to get into it - both of which I owned outright. Still, I loved the look of it. One other thing - the UI on it was great - I absolutely loved the understated nature of the UI.
Right around my 50th, I had a heart-to-heart with myself. I’d been feeling the stress of having too many cars for a while and really wanted to get myself down to two (not including the old truck). At the time, I had my E38, the Avus E31 840Ci and the Taycan. The 840 sat on the lift most of the time - looking great, but not getting use.
Shortly after the birthday, I did something I never thought I’d do …. I sold nearly all of it, including the lift. The E38 went first - sold it to a lovely couple in Wisconsin, who drove out to pick it up. It was for the wife, who was over the moon with excitement. I admit, it hurt to see it go. But the $5k loss I look was a reminder, saying goodbye is ok sometimes.
Next went the 840Ci. Given it was a 1 of 1 and I had chased it for a solid seven years, that was a tough one. A local collector bought it, so I’ll have an opportunity to see it from time to time. The lift was gone a few days later.
In the end, it was absolutely freeing. So much so, I decided to move on from the Taycan in early October. My brother was selling his wife’s 2013 BMW 535i M-Sport so I bought that, selling the Taycan and buying the 535 within a few days of one another. I’ve always loved the F10 M-sports, so this was an easy decision, but one that didn’t last very long
In early November, I started looking at getting into a newer BMW. Why? I don’t really remember, other than being bored pretty quickly with the 535. My local BMW dealer had a CPO ’23 i4 M50i in Tanzanite Blue. I’d seen a San Remo Green version on my Summer vacation that left a mark so I put it in the back of my head - if I could find a decent green or blue M50 example, I’d consider it.
One random Thursday evening in November, my wife had a board meeting so I had three hours to kill. Drove out to see the i4 thinking I’d just test drive and come home. Well - I did, but I came home in the i4. I’ll admit, I fell in love pretty quickly with it. Way faster than the Taycan (though my M50i was faster than a base model Taycan CT), handled like a BMW and looked good with the M-Sport package (apart from the grille).
I went to town making small changes to it - fully convinced I was going to keep it. LCI grille, emblem swaps all around (to rid myself of the blue rings), new badging, accessories galore - typical overdo.
As much as I wanted to love it forever, it just didn’t fit me. The ONE thing I absolutely loved - turning the car on from my phone. One night I was returning from a work trip, landed when the temps were around 10 degrees. From the terminal, I turned on the car. By the time I got to it, it was fully toasty, steering wheel heated, etc. Easily the best feature. The worst? The UI - my gosh was it overdone. I couldn't stand it - and the ginormous screen that just sits on top of the dash never won me over.
But one thing remained true - I shopped for something every single day. BMW wagons, E53 X5s, Range Rovers, you name it - I was constantly on Facebook Marketplace and all the normal forums. That’s never, ever a good sign for me.
So … I decided I was going to go ahead and scratch the itch. Time to look for a BMW wagon, and preferably one I hadn’t owned before. Given I’ve had E34, E36, E39, E61 and F31 wagons, the “available” list was essentially an E30 and E91. I’ve owned an E91 before, but it was my son’s daily. I loved driving it, even with 250k miles.
So I centered on finding the best E91 I could, when the exact one I wanted appeared. A 2012 328i M-sport manual. 6-speed, RWD. Nirvana. Better yet, it was color combo I’d want above all others - LeMans Blue over Saddle Brown. It was a salvage title car but was well-owned/cared for. Only 73k miles. I had to do it. Two sets of wheels (including the factory M-Sports), M Performance exhaust (amazing), roof bars, all weather mats, records galore.
Here she is:
With my twin brother’s Golf R:
And - it’s car #100 for me. Appropriate for me to own this rare wagon as my milestone purchase.
That’s the new daily. But when I sold the i4, I told my wife I wanted to get back into an E53 as the winter “beater”/ change of pace piece. I initially was focused on a 3.0 due to the reliability factor, but the 4.8is kept calling me. The LeMans one I owned lasted me 16 months - a virtual eternity for someone like me.
I’ve never had an Imola BMW before (despite 58 of my 100 cars being BMWs), so I decided that’s what I would hunt. I found a couple 4.6is trucks, but the 4.8is speaks to me more. So I found this lovely example - well-owned by the previous owners - well documented, too. It came with one known issue - the PO thought the brake booster had failed but he had the part in hand. We came to an agreement and the truck arrived last Sunday.
Here’s how she arrived - with some interesting looking Borbet wheels:
Better:
As soon as it arrived, I did some digging into the braking system. Within a few minutes, the issue was pretty clear - rusted brake lines.
I’ve tackled the line repair already (bubble flares are fun to do, just not under the a car), but the E53s are a pain to bleed. I’ve been fighting that the last 24 hours. Might need a new MC while I’m at it.
Ironically, I'm right back where I was a year ago. In a rare BMW M-sport wagon (E91 now, E61 then) and a special SAV (Imola 4.8is now, LeMans 4.8is then). Feels just about right.
It’s going to be interesting to see where my car buying habits go from here. I have two platforms I love - the E90 and E53 platforms. I have visions for how I want to use both, have a list of things I want to do to improve them and enjoy looking at them when they are sitting in the garage. That’s a great combo. I’m also six months away from having two in college, not just one. That, and the reality that tuition is due for both in September, has me wanting to dial way, way back.
Next up - some interior upgrades for the E91. New steering wheel, new alcantara trim, some better all-weather mats, etc.
The E53 is due for an oil change, a battery swap and a deep cleaning. It's been here a week and it's still not dialed in aesthetically, so that's killing me. I have some thoughts for it as well - nav screen repair, a trim swap and a few other goodies.
Phew - that should catch everyone up. Hopefully I can stay on top of this thread going forward.
Where did I leave this thing …
Oh yes, I had just finished the timing chain guide work on the E38 Sporty Shorty. Like normal, when done with a vehicle, I am so far upside down my brain can't take it. Given it was a white whale for me, I overpaid to start ($5k for a non-driving BMW) and I went all out in replacing all it needed. In other words, I was $15k+ into it when finished. Neat!
I had also just decided that for my 50th birthday, I needed a gift for myself (understanding that the LAST thing I needed was a gift for myself). Justification. I bought a 2022 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo from a dealer in Georgia who specializes in Buy-Back (Lemon) vehicles. I’ve been down the lemon title route many times before and for cars that still had a factory warranty, it never bothered me. And since this was the only way I was going to justify buying one, I did it. It ended up being about $10k less than a normal title car - so I figured I’d give it a shot.
Given it’s been sold, I can now be honest with myself. I don’t do well with newer cars (more on that in a minute). While I don’t necessarily love wrenching, I do love improving my cars. Sometimes that’s a mechanical improvement, sometimes aesthetics. But with new cars, it’s either not as enjoyable or not financially feasible. I’m left to do spacers and all weather mats
Looking back, I give the Taycan CT a 9/10. Quick, beautiful and practical. Was that enough to keep me in it - nope. Ultimately having a car payment soured me. It didn’t help that I had to sell two sorted BMWs to get into it - both of which I owned outright. Still, I loved the look of it. One other thing - the UI on it was great - I absolutely loved the understated nature of the UI.
Right around my 50th, I had a heart-to-heart with myself. I’d been feeling the stress of having too many cars for a while and really wanted to get myself down to two (not including the old truck). At the time, I had my E38, the Avus E31 840Ci and the Taycan. The 840 sat on the lift most of the time - looking great, but not getting use.
Shortly after the birthday, I did something I never thought I’d do …. I sold nearly all of it, including the lift. The E38 went first - sold it to a lovely couple in Wisconsin, who drove out to pick it up. It was for the wife, who was over the moon with excitement. I admit, it hurt to see it go. But the $5k loss I look was a reminder, saying goodbye is ok sometimes.
Next went the 840Ci. Given it was a 1 of 1 and I had chased it for a solid seven years, that was a tough one. A local collector bought it, so I’ll have an opportunity to see it from time to time. The lift was gone a few days later.
In the end, it was absolutely freeing. So much so, I decided to move on from the Taycan in early October. My brother was selling his wife’s 2013 BMW 535i M-Sport so I bought that, selling the Taycan and buying the 535 within a few days of one another. I’ve always loved the F10 M-sports, so this was an easy decision, but one that didn’t last very long
In early November, I started looking at getting into a newer BMW. Why? I don’t really remember, other than being bored pretty quickly with the 535. My local BMW dealer had a CPO ’23 i4 M50i in Tanzanite Blue. I’d seen a San Remo Green version on my Summer vacation that left a mark so I put it in the back of my head - if I could find a decent green or blue M50 example, I’d consider it.
One random Thursday evening in November, my wife had a board meeting so I had three hours to kill. Drove out to see the i4 thinking I’d just test drive and come home. Well - I did, but I came home in the i4. I’ll admit, I fell in love pretty quickly with it. Way faster than the Taycan (though my M50i was faster than a base model Taycan CT), handled like a BMW and looked good with the M-Sport package (apart from the grille).
I went to town making small changes to it - fully convinced I was going to keep it. LCI grille, emblem swaps all around (to rid myself of the blue rings), new badging, accessories galore - typical overdo.
As much as I wanted to love it forever, it just didn’t fit me. The ONE thing I absolutely loved - turning the car on from my phone. One night I was returning from a work trip, landed when the temps were around 10 degrees. From the terminal, I turned on the car. By the time I got to it, it was fully toasty, steering wheel heated, etc. Easily the best feature. The worst? The UI - my gosh was it overdone. I couldn't stand it - and the ginormous screen that just sits on top of the dash never won me over.
But one thing remained true - I shopped for something every single day. BMW wagons, E53 X5s, Range Rovers, you name it - I was constantly on Facebook Marketplace and all the normal forums. That’s never, ever a good sign for me.
So … I decided I was going to go ahead and scratch the itch. Time to look for a BMW wagon, and preferably one I hadn’t owned before. Given I’ve had E34, E36, E39, E61 and F31 wagons, the “available” list was essentially an E30 and E91. I’ve owned an E91 before, but it was my son’s daily. I loved driving it, even with 250k miles.
So I centered on finding the best E91 I could, when the exact one I wanted appeared. A 2012 328i M-sport manual. 6-speed, RWD. Nirvana. Better yet, it was color combo I’d want above all others - LeMans Blue over Saddle Brown. It was a salvage title car but was well-owned/cared for. Only 73k miles. I had to do it. Two sets of wheels (including the factory M-Sports), M Performance exhaust (amazing), roof bars, all weather mats, records galore.
Here she is:
With my twin brother’s Golf R:
And - it’s car #100 for me. Appropriate for me to own this rare wagon as my milestone purchase.
That’s the new daily. But when I sold the i4, I told my wife I wanted to get back into an E53 as the winter “beater”/ change of pace piece. I initially was focused on a 3.0 due to the reliability factor, but the 4.8is kept calling me. The LeMans one I owned lasted me 16 months - a virtual eternity for someone like me.
I’ve never had an Imola BMW before (despite 58 of my 100 cars being BMWs), so I decided that’s what I would hunt. I found a couple 4.6is trucks, but the 4.8is speaks to me more. So I found this lovely example - well-owned by the previous owners - well documented, too. It came with one known issue - the PO thought the brake booster had failed but he had the part in hand. We came to an agreement and the truck arrived last Sunday.
Here’s how she arrived - with some interesting looking Borbet wheels:
Better:
As soon as it arrived, I did some digging into the braking system. Within a few minutes, the issue was pretty clear - rusted brake lines.
I’ve tackled the line repair already (bubble flares are fun to do, just not under the a car), but the E53s are a pain to bleed. I’ve been fighting that the last 24 hours. Might need a new MC while I’m at it.
Ironically, I'm right back where I was a year ago. In a rare BMW M-sport wagon (E91 now, E61 then) and a special SAV (Imola 4.8is now, LeMans 4.8is then). Feels just about right.
It’s going to be interesting to see where my car buying habits go from here. I have two platforms I love - the E90 and E53 platforms. I have visions for how I want to use both, have a list of things I want to do to improve them and enjoy looking at them when they are sitting in the garage. That’s a great combo. I’m also six months away from having two in college, not just one. That, and the reality that tuition is due for both in September, has me wanting to dial way, way back.
Next up - some interior upgrades for the E91. New steering wheel, new alcantara trim, some better all-weather mats, etc.
The E53 is due for an oil change, a battery swap and a deep cleaning. It's been here a week and it's still not dialed in aesthetically, so that's killing me. I have some thoughts for it as well - nav screen repair, a trim swap and a few other goodies.
Phew - that should catch everyone up. Hopefully I can stay on top of this thread going forward.
Wow!! Just, wow.
Ever since starting (and nearly a year later, closing) my dry ice cleaning business, I've been on quiet the stretch of automobile purchases, myself, but nothing like you. You, my friend, are an animal!!
Since 2018, I believe I am on my 10th vehicle, give or take. My wife, surprisingly, still hasn't left me.
That E91 is gorgeous...nice score! Looking forward to more (ahem, consistent) updates from you!
Ever since starting (and nearly a year later, closing) my dry ice cleaning business, I've been on quiet the stretch of automobile purchases, myself, but nothing like you. You, my friend, are an animal!!
Since 2018, I believe I am on my 10th vehicle, give or take. My wife, surprisingly, still hasn't left me.
That E91 is gorgeous...nice score! Looking forward to more (ahem, consistent) updates from you!
Nolift911
Well-known member
Wow that is a journey on the BMW front!! Y
You mentioned you had some e36's - did you ever replace a magma interior in an M3 with sport seats, not vader? I see some companies that have replacement covers - not sure if one is better than another? They are torn so no rehab will help.
You mentioned you had some e36's - did you ever replace a magma interior in an M3 with sport seats, not vader? I see some companies that have replacement covers - not sure if one is better than another? They are torn so no rehab will help.
runit
Well-known member
Goodness that Blue wagon is so dreamy!