Lookign to fix up a 1992 e34 M5

drenius · 12-21-2011, 04:56 PM

I got a family member who is basically abandoning this e34, it’s got a rebuild title, with but supposedly no structural damage or issues with engine, transmission, and no paperwork to go back on.

I took it to a mechanic who told me this after a pretty quick inspection:

Rear pads and brakes
Front pads
Lower control arm, passenger side front
Auxiliary fan, clutch fan
Windshield cracked
Has oil accumulating on engine, transmission, not a lot of drip though

Also needs electrical work on low beams (currently disconnected and don’t work)

The car starts to overheat after driving in stop and go traffic.

Can anyone tell me how much the parts and work would be, I would really appreciate it. Dont want to see this beauty go to the junk yard!

KIRASIR · 12-21-2011, 06:21 PM

Try this site to get a general idea of the prices for some of the parts:

http://parts.autopartsonlinecanada.c...&model=M5--002

Most of the work you can probably do yourself. Which part of the engine is the oil coming from?

Any pics of the car?

drenius · 12-22-2011, 05:50 PM

The site is pretty good, its mostly OEM which are on the expensive end...which kind a make sence if i am going to be putting in parts in an M5 might as well make em the best!

Any tips how i would go about searching/finding a good bmw specialist in Newmarket area?

njansenv · 12-22-2011, 06:21 PM

Isn't that the one that just sold on here? (that I missed out on?

)

Eurostyle · 12-22-2011, 08:11 PM

^^^ Sure looks like it!

drenius · 12-22-2011, 09:04 PM

I think I got myself a real steal here too... drives really nice, needs some things, has very minimum rust, what does bother me the most is oil leaking, 3 days standing in garage I got 5 drops of oil on the cardboard, Looks like it's coming from the front of the engine...

InspClave · 12-22-2011, 11:07 PM

You did well and are the envy of some of us here.

bmwm5lover · 12-23-2011, 04:54 PM

I believe that car has a leaky headgasket. A few members and I were looking at it pretty closely at the bimmercruise this year.
Looked rough but with some work it could make a nice daily driver.

The overheating can be the clutch fan.

I hope you didn't pay more than 3 K for it so that you can have cash to throw at it. Most parts on a e34 M5 are double the price of parts for a regular BMW (ask me how I know).

Autopartsway.ca has some reasonable prices.

davericher20 · 12-24-2011, 12:35 PM

+1 for fan clutch

DIY · 12-25-2011, 12:39 AM

With the things wrong, I suggest parking it for a while. Pull the engine if you can and "refresh it" (ie get new gaskets/check compression and maybe get it rebuilt), its got 200k+ maybe on it? And if its leakin and needs some suspension work too, your best bet is probably to try and do it all at once. That's always the ideal sonario, but 90% of the time you just want to drive it

... You'll waste a ton more time trying to fix everything with the engine in the car, and yes this will lead to a lot more money being spent on the little things ie vaccuume lines, fixing the wiring harness, shifter bushings etc but if you manage some self control and have a few funds already, you'll be singin in a few months

You have a gem to work on, so keep things simple and do it right the first time

drenius · 12-26-2011, 12:58 PM

I payed $4900 for her, got some 15" bbs snows over chistmas weekend from an 1992 e34 touring. I want to get her to a bmw specielty shop preferably somewhere in the Newmarket, Aurora, Richmond Hill area. ( I sure as hell wont go to Open Road BMW) I will do a seperate thread about those scam artists.

I need an appraisal how much its going to run me to rebuild the engine, and get the car in top mechanical shape. Your guys are right about everything costing double because its an m5, so i want to find someone that wont be ripping me off (too much) and gets a quality job done from start to finish.

Somebody throw me a bone

njansenv · 12-26-2011, 01:14 PM

$4900 is a pretty good price for a running M5! That said, depending on your budget (and how much you want done in one go) it may be best to bring it to one of the specialists in the GTA.

The S38 is a unique animal - get the right people rebuilding it, but be warned that it will in all likelihood cost a lot more than what you paid for the car.

BigD · 12-26-2011, 02:31 PM

I recommend Bill at Motex for the rebuild. He lives/works in Alliston but he will pick up and deliver the motor.

If not too many things need replacing and no extensive machining, just seals, bearings and maybe the oil pump, budget 3-4k but Bill will give you a clearer idea.

drenius · 12-26-2011, 10:18 PM

What does the rebuild entail exactly, the engine/body has 276k on it, and from what i read the engine is good for 400k?

Would this mechanic Bill at Motex be able to do the rest of the repairs, I would want to do it all in one sitting, bring the car and order the parts, unless he can get the parts cheaper.

BigD · 12-27-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drenius

What does the rebuild entail exactly, the engine/body has 276k on it, and from what i read the engine is good for 400k?

The basic idea is to replace all wear components. Unless you had a major failure/problem, things like the block, crank, rods, pistons, head, cams should last "forever". Valves could but they will go sooner than other things, especially in these motors if it wasn't maintained well, including proper valve adjustment.

So having said that, a rebuild means complete disassembly, cleaning every component (removing carbon from pistons and valves etc etc), then putting everything together with new bearings, seals etc.

Realistically, the head and block will need to be decked, crank polished, block re-honed, some other machining. Things will get expensive if it turns out you need to replace some of the normally non-wear items like valves, pistons or even the head. The general vibe this car gives out is that it's neglected, so I would brace myself for the condition of the motor and its rebuild cost to reflect that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drenius

Would this mechanic Bill at Motex be able to do the rest of the repairs, I would want to do it all in one sitting, bring the car and order the parts, unless he can get the parts cheaper.

I'm sure he can but I doubt he'd want to. He's an engine builder and machinist. And whoever does the repairs for you, it will be in your best interest to source the parts yourself at the best price you can find. The mechanic will have no vested interest in getting you a good deal on parts - he'll use (read: you'll pay for) the easiest source he can find.