E28 M5: Bringing it back to life (UPDATED 8/14/16)

[MilanoFc]

Well first, I would like to intoduce myself since I'am new to mye28. Names Marc and this is my recent purchase.

I bought this 88 M5 from the auction in Sacramento, Ca. So after a whole month of wait, it finally got dropped off. When I first saw it, I thought it was only front and rear quarter oanel damage. Well when it got here I was in for a surprise.

Arriving





On the rack and getting ready to see the parts I will need first hand





After taking the front end off



The damages I didnt know it had

[









The beast's heart



So this is the as much as I have done to it. At the moment I havent worked on it because I'am waiting on some parts to come it from the dealer. So updates will be posted as I go.

[wkohler]

Holy crap! Good luck! I have to commend you for wanting to save it.

[KRsM5]

WOW - I hope you can save her! Some of those parts are gonna cost you a fortune...you might make more off it as a parts car...?

Good luck, we look fwd to seeing the progress!

[Kyle in NO]

Holy crap that thing is done for! It will never be structurally sound again. You would be MUCH MUCH MUCH better off swapping the good mechanicals to a nice straight shell....

[CSBolger]

Get a 535i/is for an S38 swap!

[wkohler]

Holy crap that thing is done for! It will never be structurally sound again. You would be MUCH MUCH MUCH better off swapping the good mechanicals to a nice straight shell....

Do you even know the condition of the motor? Hell, you could swap it all into an eta and pay nothing for insurance.

[Dinan e28]

Wow I hope you don't really plan on saving that car. Is the interior any good?

[shaunmlavery]

Congrats on your car and good luck with all of the work ahead of you. I have a project that is similar but no where near the cost of what you are about to encounter. I can pratically build my project from a catalog.

Good luck and thanks for saving it and not letting it get crushed.

[MilanoFc]

Thanks everyone for their comments and giving me alternatives. But I'am still going to go for it. I own a body shop so really the damage on the 5 is nowhere comparable to the cars/trucks that come in, so having a frame machine is a must.

As for the damage, really its only the firewall where the tires ended up due to the accident. The frame rails are straight and true believe it or not. The interior is is good condition except with the cracks on the dash, which is the least I'm worried about at the moment.

The car might not come out 100% but I'am trying my best to make it look the best it can. I have found a local M5 that has been rear ended, so that one will be pretty much the donor car.

[C.R. Krieger]

The car might not come out 100% but I'am trying my best to make it look the best it can. I have found a local M5 that has been rear ended, so that one will be pretty much the donor car.

Ach! Der Schpleiz!

You sure you got that donor-recipient thing the right way around?

[Adam W in MN]

Cool for saving her. If you're going this route already (and you own a body shop), might I recommend doing the euro bumper and airdam route? You'll have to paint it anyway so it's the perfect time to do the job right and fill in the US bumper holes.

You could end up with something like this:




Or this:

[MilanoFc]

The car might not come out 100% but I'am trying my best to make it look the best it can. I have found a local M5 that has been rear ended, so that one will be pretty much the donor car.

Ach! Der Schpleiz!

You sure you got that donor-recipient thing the right way around?

Translation please

And yes I said it right lol

[MilanoFc]

Cool for saving her. If you're going this route already (and you own a body shop), might I recommend doing the euro bumper and airdam route? You'll have to paint it anyway so it's the perfect time to do the job right and fill in the US bumper holes.

You could end up with something like this:




Or this:

thx, and euros are on the list to do for it. I will also get the holes filled in.

[crazy88]

Wow. You have a big project there. Have fun and take your time. Keep us posted .

[Scottinva]

Nice project, what does it have for suspension? It looks lowered (yes I know the tires are flat). I'm asking because I like the way the wheels look cleanly tucked into the fenders.

[MilanoFc]

Nice project, what does it have for suspension? It looks lowered (yes I know the tires are flat). I'm asking because I like the way the wheels look cleanly tucked into the fenders.

the suspension its on is billie sports with dinan springs

[Bavaria72]

Hi,

Are you interested in an almost new set of matching BMW M5 wheels? They are on ebay.

Let me know and i will send you the link!
Thanks!

Sascha

[ldsbeaker]

Wow. Brave.
I'm in awe. (Although my piddly "is" has been under construction for two years now...) Owning a shop is going to help.

[Tucker]

I, for one, am glad to hear that you're resurrecting it. Make sure you get in the M registry ( http://www.bmwmregistry.com/ ), and buy Johnnye23's bits ( http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=60405 ) for it . Good luck!

[Scottinva]

Nice project, what does it have for suspension? It looks lowered (yes I know the tires are flat). I'm asking because I like the way the wheels look cleanly tucked into the fenders.

the suspension its on is billie sports with dinan springs

Wow, I love the stance man.

[MrNic3Guy]

Buying parts from the dealer? Damn thats going to cost you tons of money. Look around and you can get the parts cheap. Trust me.

Example. I need a Ecu and the dealer charged me 2,000. And the next day found one for $25, and its never give me problems.

Its a nice car and I'm sure you got it for a good deal. Good Luck!

[MilanoFc]

Thx everyone. For the moment I have not messed with it due to time and well money. So far I already got the subfame which was one of my main concern to find.

Now Im looking for a oil pan so I can bring the motor down and change the valvetrain components. When I get that done I will be getting started on the body. And yea Iam getting quoted at the dealer, and if its a reasonable price Ill buy it, else I start to look around. lol

[MilanoFc]

*UPDATE*

Well after 6 years, the wait is finally over. I am officially going full force on the restoration. At the time of purchase I was 20 with no steady income. Well of course that has changed and well I will be getting married on Aug 2016 so my plan is to make the E28 my getaway car.

Since then I have actually changed the plans. I originally was going to use the original body, but after a tear down it was just not worth it. Best bet was to source a better shell and with the help of MyE28, I was sent to Sherman and picked up a euro shell he had. Now it wasn't perfect, but definitely something better than what I was working with originally. Being that the overall body was in great shape I went for it. Now it does have its normal rusted areas but again, all that can be repaired. My main concern with the body was the roof which was damaged by a hail storm in the original owners possession.That will be swapped out with the Ms roof panel, I attempted to purchase a new roof panel, but that was not looking promising due to availability. I started on it again in November which since I have gotten the vehicle blasted and primed. Current stage its on is getting the body straight and repaired from the rusted areas. As well as purchasing parts, refreshing and cleaning up the engine to have that out of the way.

Now I will let the photos do the rest of the talking. Updates will be as I go and feel free to ask any questions or to give me any suggestions.

Before ( side by side)



After ( getting it ready to send it to blaster)



Body in the blaster possession. ( Thanks to Terry at Precision Dustless Blasting in Booth, TX. Had the vehicle dropped off on a Saturday and he had it ready for pick up on Monday)









The rusted areas. I have a new tail panel for it and will be using the E28M5 floor section to repair floor













Getting it ready for Epoxy primer













Repairs started (Prior bodywork on door)









Since actual body work is getting done by a friend I'm taking the time to clean up the engine components and replacing the timing components as well



Work area













Throttle bodies were taken apart a set at a time and cleaned up. Results were worth the time.

And last but not least the goodies I have acquired so far





Thanks to Vincent at HRE for being able to rebuild the wheels with new barrels and lips!



Thanks to Trevor at Ground Control for helping me out getting the coilover set up!

Other parts I have already is full euro bumper set up, lower euro valance and spoiler, euro headlights, and Supersprint mid section.
Thanks for viewing and I will keep posting!

[tig]

Nice work!

With black M5s being so common, are you going for a color change?

[MilanoFc]

Nice work!

With black M5s being so common, are you going for a color change?

I will actually be going with lapis blue, which is what the euro shell color is originally.

[1st 5er]

Glad to see things progressing.

I need to pay you a visit.

[tig]

Nice work!

With black M5s being so common, are you going for a color change?

I will actually be going with lapis blue, which is what the euro shell color is originally.

Great color! I approve.

[MilanoFc]

Glad to see things progressing.

I need to pay you a visit.

Anytime! best bet would be Sat, since on weekdays I only work on it after work.

[MilanoFc]

Nice work!

With black M5s being so common, are you going for a color change?

I will actually be going with lapis blue, which is what the euro shell color is originally.

Great color! I approve.

[MilanoFc]

So far I only have a small update. 3 out of 4 doors have been completed of body work, removed the wiring harness from the shell, and also took off trunk area parts from the M5









Received my IE rear camber/toe kit and placed an ordered on a new trunk and lt fender