Also figured I should share some updated pictures. I have since had a crew of people remove the decals at Sam’s wedding, and painted the blue exhaust tip black.  [image: IMG\_2989.jpeg][image: IMG\_4999.jpeg][image: IMG\_4996.jpeg][image: IMG\_4998.jpeg] I also bought a brand new full airlift 3p setup with dual compressors and level sensors from a friend for a really good price, and I got a set of iForged wheels from another friend, but ended up selling the wheels and I am having second thoughts about the airride… [image: IMG\_2828.jpeg]

Pulled the 540i out a couple weeks ago intending to prep it for Udderly Euro since I have never been but unfortunately a work trip last minute canceled those plans. Either way getting it out of storage is forcing me to work on it. I did change the oil at 156k and finally raised the suspension up 1" front and rear. Still need to have the front wheels on 2x4's to get a low-pro jack under the front subframe but Ben and I are happy where it sits now. Handling improved greatly as well as I'm not getting bounced around anymore Still need to refresh the steering components but otherwise its picking away at cosmetic issues. [image: IMG\_7957.jpg]

Well its 3 years since I've updated anything about this car. It seems like its time. I bought a set of BC coilovers for it, but then sold them to a friend that needed them in a pinch and he gave me a set of maxpeepees to put on the car so I didn't have to fight with the lifted set. My friend Mark who runs slidesociety has been hassling me about learning to drift with this car and I agreed, which made me make the decision to put it back to a state were I could actually drift it again. Another  friend of mine; Anthony, his brother, and two friends were over at my shop earlier this year and they were excited to help work on this car. So with their help we were able to revert the car back and make a list of changes. Here is what was done and changed; Lowered back down on new maxPP coilovers New E46 front control arms / Lollies / Balljoints / Etc. Install the CF sunroof panel and remove the broken cassette Clean out the interior and rid it of all the random clutter that its acquired over time (no more raccoon skull) Remove the roof rack and fill the holes  Reinstall the fenders and the bumpers Install the SLT mirrors Mock up and build side skirts and filler vents for the fenders Test fit new wheels. Ive had a set of AREs I really wanted to run but they are too wide for the front (17x11). I also bought a set of 3PC Enkie Winsomes a while back but never mounted tires to them. Well I finally got around to mounting tires and they are pretty fitting for the car. Anthony, his brother, and two friends all took one corner of the car, and together they peeled all the plastidip off of the billet Hawks. I forgot how great those wheels look polished and I cant thank them enough for getting them back to this state, I never would have taken the time to do that. ARE's [image: IMG\_3797.jpeg][image: IMG\_3798.jpeg] Centerline Hawks [image: IMG\_3830.jpeg][image: IMG\_3833.jpeg][image: IMG\_3835.jpeg][image: IMG\_4422.jpeg] Here you can see the side skirts I'm building. Oddly enough, they are from a Charger Hellcat cut and sectioned to fit. I have material to make a vented fender filler and a functional front splitter as well.  Enkie Winsomes [image: IMG\_4845.jpeg][image: IMG\_4848.jpeg] Finally my friend Austin came over with his friend and wanted to shoot some pics and video of the car, so here's some pictures I took with my phone of the car that evening. [image: IMG\_4386.jpeg][image: IMG\_4392.jpeg][image: IMG\_4395.jpeg][image: IMG\_4398.jpeg] And after a few months, I did manage to get it out to the Slide society season opener too, but I only got a handful of laps in before the slave cylinder started to fail. Thus the car is now sitting for another date when I have time to fix that add a bunch of go fast engine parts to it.  [image: IMG\_4894.jpeg][image: IMG\_4888.jpeg][image: IMG\_4885.jpeg] I also have future plans to paint the car with a modern looking livery and tint the windows...again. The red tint is still on there, but its completely faded clear. I guess sitting outside for an entire summer really took a toll.  This is kind of the idea and color palate I have in mind for the livery; [image: SOLO 86 - Business in the front - Party in the back. This one had us living a nostalgic dream as it came together! DM or Email us to create your own - [email protected] #gt86#gt86lifestyle #gt86nation #stancenation #stanced #widebody #carlifestyle #lowlife #tuned #turbo #targa #autoart #automotiveart #jdm #drift #drifting #forza #carwrap #wrapdesign #livery #retro #80svibes #80sdesign #rotiform #nittotires ]

It's looking so happy! Nice work!

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If it's a manual and you have fold down rear seats, more than likely your floor pan in the rear where the subframe mounts might be tearing.

Thanks!  The only differences are this one has heated rear seats, and it doesn't have ventilated seats or a HUD like the 2011 does.  It has all the good stuff that comes with the premium and cold weather packages though. Gonna start on paint correction and detail today...

131,050 [image: IMG\_4936.jpeg] Well, my time with this car has come to an end. What a wonderful car and one I’ll truly miss, but it was time. It sat nearly all summer and was just getting to be a pain to maintain on top of the truck, e30, and e91. It went to a local guy who was looking for a neat older car to learn to wrench on, so I think it’ll suit him well. It remains the quietest, most solidly built car I’ve ever owned, it was seriously a tank. Hung the tail out in the snow pretty impressively too. Replaced the blower motor before I sold it, and sent two sets of wheels and most of my e34 spares along as well. I’m excited to have the space back, one less project, and to be able to focus more on the E91 and E30. I still have the MOMO Heritage 6’s and the m-systems, if anyone was wondering haha. MOMO’s will be listed as soon as I wash them, and the M-Systems will hopefully get their restoration completed once the e30 is back on the road.    Farewell to the E34 club, it’s been a good ride!

Wow that's an awesome result, I bet it's a riot to drive!

I honestly would be interested in the hood, doors, fenders, shit, maybe the whole shell? I will PM you.

This thing is coming along super well! Love the tasteful updates and the paint correction looks well worth the effort. Also didn't realize the exhaust tips were just friction fit and not factory welded to the muffler. Off to go polish / replace mine!

Looks great from here!

Been almost a month since my last post but my car has been successfully rekeyed and is back in my possession! Last week BMW Motorwerks finally gave me the call that they got a fob and a spare key to work with the car just fine and told me I was welcome to come pick it up. I may have gotten there 2 minutes before close, but luckily enough they still released the car to me. Been enjoying it for just a few days now and I could not be happier to have it back. It drives really well for everything it has gone through and it has been a dream come true that I get to daily drive this thing once again. [image: PXL\_20230619\_161232613.jpg] Cheers to hopefully enjoying many more miles with this beauty in the future!

That LS fire-up on the engine stand is priceless. Nicely done!

Minor update today. Put 5000 miles on the car since I bought it so I stayed late at work and got an oil change done. 5W-30 Liqui Moly and a WIX filter at 125k miles. [image: PXL\_20230508\_223038996.jpg] This was my first time using a WIX filter on one of my BMW's but I was able to get it at cost through my work. Anyone had any problems with aftermarket oil filters like this or have recommendations for ones I should use in the future?

S54 is at 103k miles and had the bearings replaced with WPC! Everything looked pretty normal wear wise for this mileage, and crank was in great shape.  [image: IMG\_0527.JPG]

Got the car out of storage two weekends ago when it was warm just to circulate the fluids and what not. Car started in half a crank, so no issues there thankfully. Also, very little fluid underneath the car for sitting in the same place for almost 6 months. Really no big plans for the car this year other than some continued maintenance. I addressed a big portion of things on top and front of the motor last summer. Aiming to target the lower portion and the rear. Now that I’m thinking about it, I still have this Ireland Engineering cat back I bought last summer and never had installed, so that will be a big thing I’ll look to have done.  OFHG for sure, and possibly looking at having the RMS and crank seal done. Have the trans resealed, new guibo, trans mounts, slave cylinder, drive shaft CSB, etc. Starting to build out the shopping cart on FCP. Hopefully just a lot more miles this year. I’ve owned this car for 4(5?) years now and I think I’ve only put on like 2-3K miles.    [image: IMG\_1007.jpeg] [image: IMG\_1015.jpeg]

I went a little backwards a few days ago and tore out most of the interior. I was hesitant but it kind of needed to be done sooner or later. I really want to pull the carpet, but that might be too far at this stage. The plan was to hunt down the factory speaker wires and remove them due to the car having premium sound, and upgrade to standard +/- speaker wire that all heads to the back seat of the car. I managed to remove everything needed and cleaned up unused wires for who knows what previously.  [image: RYHJ7618.JPG] I ordered a full Infiniti reference component set to replace all the speakers and tweeters. Man I had no idea the factory tweeter housings were so expensive for what they are ($150 a side!?) I carefully removed the old tweeter which was glued in really well and mocked up the new ones. Sadly as I was about to trim the housing my rotary tool died, so I ordered a new one and didn't get to finish last night. [image: IMG\_2113.JPG][image: BNEL7209.JPG][image: ERWV6669.JPG] I moved onto the head unit area which I think I mentioned before, but I will not be running a head unit, as my amp connects directly to my phone. So I ordered a single din storage tray/ dual cup holder combo to fit in its place. This was the only one I could find that I knew would fit and wasn't overly complicated. I wasn't please with the quality as it felt cheap and the trays pulled out loosely and uneven as there are no guides/ slides for the drawers. I fixed this by adding felt to the inside edges of the drawers which completely changed the feeling of them. This made such a huge difference. I also added some green felt inside the drawer to class it up a bit.  [image: IMG\_2081.JPG][image: IMG\_2083.JPG][image: IMG\_2085.JPG] That's all for now until I finish the tweeters and get the amp mounted. I plan on building an enclosure in the void between the rear seat and the trunk for a sub eventually, but for now this is a huge improvement.

YoungCR said: Congrats on the purchase, love the color! I got the 4x4 itch too, it opens up a whole new door for driving adventures. This wagon is still one of my favorite modern cars on here though. I'm sure the new owner will enjoy it just as much. Thanks! It totally does, I'm looking forward to taking some trips and getting out in the woods! It's actually pretty fun (in a silly way) on road and in corners too. And totally agree but I'm definitely biased haha.  Bassboy3313 said: Wish the touring was coming home with me, but I'm sure it's still going to a good home. Congrats on the bronco too! Thanks! I wish there were more to go around too...  P_Roloff said: Congrats on the new Ferd Joe! Having seen it in person, the color and overall looks are even better than the photos, which is saying something. Now that you officially posted about it though I think there’s a requirement for photos of it hard parked with one wheel on a big ass snowdrift Thanks!! I was hoping for some snow drifts to go bombing through this morning but we ended up getting nothing but rain  Enjoy the new ride!!

Nice work