My Love affair with BMW

[Me78569]

Well I not only have a beat up Dodge truck, but I also have a 1989 bmw 750il.   Yep quarter century old bmw v12, good choice huh hahah

 

I've always had a soft spot for the older BMW sedans.  I have had 

 

E36 318is SOOO SLOW, but ran good at 260,000 miles 

not worth a picture

 

E34 540i 6 speed, quick and fun had big dreams with a small wallet

 

E34 530it Awesomely fun to drive soccer mom car.  I sold it at 297,000 miles and it still ran like a tank, I later found it at a junkyard.  That hurt. If you care to read the story of this car it can be found HERE

 

 and finally the current

 

E32 750il

 

Anyways I bought this car from my farther in law for $250 in none running condition.  It needed some serious help.  

 

Some specs.

- m70 5.0l v12 SOHC

- 300 hp 300 ft/lb

- #4000+ worth of German metal

- Reclining rear seats

- all seats heated

- self leveling suspension

Anyways here's how I got it

 

Parked at it's new home

 

things it needed to be road ready,

- all fluids changed

- all 4 rotors turned and new brake pads

- 4 new tires

- %75 new coolant hoses ( replaced the rest shortly after)

- New head gasket on drivers side.

- Rear suspension valve re-seal and adjustment

- Headlights

- engine bay cleaning

- Some basic wiring

 

 

Paint was in 3/10 condition.

 

Head off

 

Brake Work

 

Back on the ground in running condition

 

Painted it Flat Black

 

And upgraded headlights Morimoto Bixenon mini h1's ( very highly recommended)

 

 

Anyways all of this to get to where it is now.  Paint is starting to peel off due to me not having time to finish it...........So whats the next step?

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I think camo green WWII Bomber theme needs to happen. I am thinking Shark Teeth and maybe a pin-up girl.  something like the below.

 

 

 I have to say that plasti-dip is wonderful stuff.  ( nice to have a car you can do whatever you want with because you don't care about it) 

 

The beginning

 

 

Edited August 27, 2018 by Me78569

[Mopar1973Man]

Interesting to say the least.

[Me78569]

I think the old girl is gonna look good with the bomber look.

 

I think rather than teeth the 7 needs a pin up girl.  The car isn't a fighter.

 

 

It is a dream to drive though.   100+ mph without a sweat all day long.

[Me78569]

Another 2 cans of plastic dip

[Wild and Free]

Is that spray on or roll on stuff?

[CSM]

Very interesting.  

 

I've never heard good things on working on BMWs... is this model an anomaly?  

[Me78569]

It is the spray stuff.  It actually works great, little pricey, but it looks pretty dang good.

 

 

The Germans were VERY good when it comes to building a car that can be serviced.  The v12 in a car makes some things tough, like spark plugs, but they give you a special tool that allows you to do it.  People who typically say "bmw's are terrible to work on / keep running" typically have never worked on one.  The old ones (pre 2000 ish) are VERY robust and easy / cheap to keep going if you know where to get your parts.  

 

The Cummins has cost me much more to keep on the road compared to this 1/4 decade old german v12

[Buzzinhalfdozen]

I had a short affair with a mid 80s 318i. Fun car and super easy to work on but holy crap was that thing slow. It had been sitting for years and the mice had their way with the wiring, I would chase down one problem then the next day something else would go crazy. Cool paint scheme but I seem to remember a time when WW2 bombers and Germans didn't really get along lol.

[Me78569]

Yea my friend is poking fun at me for paint a german car in US colors hahha..

 

 

I told him we stole it, and that his car was still on jackstands.

 

His thread is next to unbelievable if you care to read it.  Anything he does is %150....Give the guy a rapid prototype machine and a mill and he goes crazy.

 

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1869798-93FIM5-s-1993-E34-M5-Build

[CSM]

I'm going to read through.

I can't pick up any more projects, but it's tempting.

Another odd car with a bad rap that is fun are the old diesel Buicks and Cadillacs. A buddy of mine collects them and they are great cars with a set of head studs.

[Me78569]

CSM,

 

I'll sell you this project for $1,000 haha.  Runs great now, just needs about 6/8 more cans of plasti dip.  

 

 

 

I got my eye on a 96 f 350 CCLB roller in denver that I can't afford right now hahaha. 

 

 

this 750il is a rocket ship waiting for a speeding ticket.

[CSM]

If I were in Colorado I'd be tempted. I may need an airport commuter car.

Not now though.

Heck, with house prices on the front range, I may be living in a camper somewhere! It's gotten nuts!

[Me78569]

Heck ill deliver the car to you.

[CSM]

Haha. Nein. I have a 96 Saturn now.

[Me78569]

Lets just say there is more than one reason for all the work I did on the he351ve controller 

 

 

 

If things ever slow down for me and I get a couple grand into the project...

[dripley]

Haha. Nein. I have a 96 Saturn now.

That is unereving. I just bought a 98 SL2 about 4 months ago. I aint a v12 like Nick has but that 4 cylinder screams. Of course the thing weighs almost as much as ream of paper.

[CSM]

That is unereving. I just bought a 98 SL2 about 4 months ago. I aint a v12 like Nick has but that 4 cylinder screams. Of course the thing weighs almost as much as ream of paper.

 

It is a disposable car to me, but it won't die. It was my wife's car when we got married 5 years ago.  It is a good little car though, gets good mileage... ~35mpg.  The only issue it has is a sketchy wheel bearing and an inoperative cruise control.  

 

I feel like a hobo though when I show up to work, haha!  But, that is normal.  

[dripley]

It is a disposable car to me, but it won't die. It was my wife's car when we got married 5 years ago.  It is a good little car though, gets good mileage... ~35mpg.  The only issue it has is a sketchy wheel bearing and an inoperative cruise control.  

 

I feel like a hobo though when I show up to work, haha!  But, that is normal.  

The Saturn is the wifes car but i drive every once in a while and it is kinda fun except for getting my 6'4' butt in the drivers seat.

[CSM]

Lets just say there is more than one reason for all the work I did on the he351ve controller 

 

 

 

If things ever slow down for me and I get a couple grand into the project...

 

 

I dream of exotic things like this.  Unfortunately the money has yet to be consistent enough when I have time available to make it worthwhile.  

 

Now, if you have a $250 car though, it is a real possibility!  

[Me78569]

As much as I wanna stick a couple of he341vgt's on that v12 I kinda doubt it would ever happen.  The point of the car is more so to keep me busy with cheap stupid things like Plasti dipping the car, and painting a pin up girl on the door.....

 

 

If I don't spent my free time doing something that is time comsuming ( without money consuming) I find myself bored and doing something stupid.