E39 M5

Earl

The paint/clear doesn't even look sunbaked=P

patsbimmer1

Great find! That's a unique color combo! I love that the seats are one color. The 2 tone always bothered me in these.

TehRaydarlover

Thanks for the kind words guys!

I started working on it tonight. Intake plenum, coils, and valve covers off. A little dirty under the valve covers but the cams look perfect!

B C

Have you driven it at all?

TehRaydarlover

Basically just a test drive. The timing chain guides/tensioners are pretty loud, I want to take care of them before driving it much. I'd hate to jump a tooth and lunch the engine.

straight6pwr

man i thought the e34 v8 cars had no room in the engine bay, that thing is packed like a can of sardines.

dastuz

I'm going to pile on a little. But that is a very cool and unassuming color combination. I've always loved that gen M5. Have fun with the winter projects!

TehRaydarlover

Pulled the lower oil sump pan and oil pump(s). The two electric oil pumps were a pain in the dick to get out, oil everywhere when the do finally come haha. Found a few broken pieces of plastic in the pan. Along with the wear on the oil pump chain tensioner, I'm glad I trailered it home from Arkansas! Next I need to pull the suspension and drop the subframe to be able to pull the upper sump pan.

REKIII

Very cool! I helped a friend in Norther IL install an evolve supercharger kit on the exact same color combo e39 M5.

Good luck with the maintenance.

TehRaydarlover

Nice, I was looking at different kits for the s62. Would be pretty cool to do, maybe if I decide to keep it for longer haha.

i_love_cars

Fuck that is awesome. I have been away from the forums for a few weeks and missed this post. Awesome car. Easily my favorite M5 in terms of holistically pleasing cars - good engine note because #justV8things, nice interior and very aesthetically pleasing. This car has a very classic BMW appeal to it.

TehRaydarlover

Small update! The timing chain guides are done, just about to drop the front sub frame to do the rod bearings. It was a pretty scary sight as I pulled the timing chain covers. The plastic cover on the center guide was broken up and completely gone. The chain was riding on the aluminum base of the guide and actually contacting the lower timing cover. Luckily it doesn't look like it was running like that for very long, probably the majority was me test driving it and pulling it on/off the trailer. All of the guides, tensioners, chains, and seals have now been replaced and the top end is pretty much back together. It should be interesting to see what the old rod bearings look like after 150k. They'll be replaced with WPC treated bearings and new rod bolts, hopefully then I can get this thing back on the road and enjoy it!

TehRaydarlover

Subframe and upper oil sump came off yesterday ...what a pain in the ass. I got the first 4 rod bearings out last night. When I pulled the first two I was regretting doing this job because they looked perfect for 150k, but after cylinders 2 and 6 I was glad. The top half shells are pretty worn but the crank journal looks great!

I'm going to pull the remaining 4 today at some point. Also cracked rods are pretty cool, instead of being made out of two pieces the rods are made from one and cracked at the joint giving you an extremely precise fit.

TehRaydarlover

Old bearings are all out and new WPC treated ones are in 🖒

Cylinder 8 bearing definitely looks the worst, but minus the first two cylinders they all look pretty worn, very glad I decided to change them.

YoungCR

What's left on the to do list after the bottom end is back together?

TehRaydarlover

It should be drivable once the bottom end is back together but at some point I also need to replace the rear view mirror, fix the 3rd brake light, replace the shift knob, and try to figure out the sat nav, also maybe bleed the clutch and get some new tires on it. We'll see, I want to put some miles on it haha.

REKIII

Nice progress! I should hired you to come do my timing guides....at least inspect them.

TehRaydarlover

I could probably do it haha. The guides weren't too bad, just time consuming. Dropping the K member to do the rod bearings was a pita.

i_love_cars

hopefully this will be ready for spring. I would like to see it at a meet

BMWben

I am late to this thread but how amazingly clean is that car? I got my e34 540 from Texas and I can't believe how clean it is. That state mummifies cars. I'd buy every car I ever own from that state if I could.

WIBIMMERS

E39 M5