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Jul 16, 2015 18:44:21 GMT
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Ok, so in a fit of stupidity and boredom whilst browsing a certain hateful auction site that shall remain anonymous, in January I bought a BMW E34.... A 520i non SE auto  Probably the least desirable spec 5 series ever made  Added to which, I live in Manchester and the car was in London.... Dunno why, but for some reason I seem to have a thing for buying cars from The Smoke  Anyway, I forgot to get pictures at the time, so you'll have to rely on my description of it!!  . It was horrible!!!! Dark non metallic blue, paint flatter than a flat thing that's been run over by a flattening machine on Flat Street in Flatsville!!! Threadbare blue seats, blue door cards with cloth panels falling off, blue carpet with infestations growing..... Get the picture? On top of all this, as its a 2.0 litre slushmatic there isn't enough power to pull you out of bed!!! Ran it as was until earlier this week, then decided I needed to get some work done on it ready for The Gathering!! First job was to change the wheels.... It had some early E39 alloys on that we're buckled to hell, turned me into a milkshake by the time I got home!!! Found some E60 5 spokes for the princely sum of 100 shekels, complete with good Conti's on  Next, the car needed a serious altitude adjustment, as when it was parked up people kept trying to park Smart cars in the arch gap! Before: IMG IMG IMG Choppy choppy! IMG More choppy choppy!  ? IMG Now it sits like this ( 2 coils off each front, 1 1/2 off each rear ?) IMG IMG Oh yes, much better! Next on the agenda, paint and interior.... What do you guys reckon, white with a graphite roof and wheels, or all satin black for the evil look? All suggestions welcome.... |
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Jul 16, 2015 18:46:00 GMT
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Aargh, damned iPad! Will try uploading photos from my laptop....
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Jul 16, 2015 18:55:16 GMT
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,518
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Jul 16, 2015 19:48:34 GMT
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Nice blank canvas to make your own. That colour should polish up lovely with a bit of work.
I've got those same wheels on my E60 530d. Really like the design, but not sure on an E34. Having said that, you got them for a bargain price, and anything is better than having your fillings shaken out by buckled wheels.
Looking forward to seeing how you progress with this one dude.
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CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'01 Rover 45 TD (minter)
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles)
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Jul 16, 2015 20:40:56 GMT
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I know what you mean about the wheels Geordie, would ideally like to swap them for summit a bit more suited to the style of the car.... The problem with the paint is that it's in really bad shape... I used to be a painter and I can recover lots of paint that other people give up on, but I'm not sure I can rescue this..... Gonna try tho....
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Jul 23, 2015 10:37:11 GMT
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Ah the good old 2.0 bmw 6, sounds nice but doesnt do much...
The e34 is still a nice car tho, still miss mine at times.
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Jul 23, 2015 13:06:44 GMT
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Another E34 on here, excellent! One of the best colours too. I'll definitely keep my eye on this!
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Jul 23, 2015 14:04:11 GMT
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Cheers drdantastic! Have to agree marsh300ce, it's slow but still a nice thing to drive. Was gonna paint it satin black for the evil look, but now thinking of doing the body repairs it needs and keeping it original colour..... Opinions welcome!
Need to find some bottom door strips and a wing moulding for it as well...
It'll probably be for sale sometime after the Gathering, once I get my other Volvo T5 on the road as I want to dedicate more time to my rwd mk3 Escort project, but we'll see... Gotten quite attached to the old slug if I'm honest.....
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Jul 23, 2015 16:02:46 GMT
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If your good with a spray gun, id be tempted to keep it blue. Your description of how flat the paint is made me chuckle!!
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Jul 23, 2015 16:50:52 GMT
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Thanks mate. I'm not bad with a gun, used to work for Merc some years ago, then moved to my own place painting mainly race and rally cars.... Nowadays I just paint my own stuff plus the odd car for other people..... Think I've decided to keep it blue for now, see how I feel in a couple of months ( provided I don't decide to sell it on of course )....
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Jul 24, 2015 20:09:18 GMT
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As a fellow E34 owner I'm always interested when these appear on here. Definitely keep it blue, especially if you're handy with a spray gun!
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Aug 15, 2015 18:12:15 GMT
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Not much to report on this I'm afraid...  Managed to find some 'new' door rubbing strips for it, plus fitted a tow bar for pulling a small caravan to the Gathering. Got some replacement seats 'cos the originals are threadbare as per 90% of 80's BMW's..... Problem is they were light grey, so I've dyed 'em!! Before and after pics tomorrow.. Next up is to give it a service, then repair and paint the o/s/r quarter and n/s/f wing, paint the mirrors and fit the interior. Then a mega valet ready to leave home Friday.... In between all this, I have a Porsche 944 Turbo to finish a rear 1/4 on and paint the full car, plus give the £140 caravan a quick makeover ready to travel. Oh, and I have a job that requires my input too..... Not much to do then.. |
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Aug 26, 2015 22:53:30 GMT
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Well, the E34 made it to the Gathering and back ok..... In the week running up to the show I was so busy I didn't have time to update this thread, so I'll do it now. Slapped a bit of rattle can paint over the worst areas of the body, no pics I'm afraid..... Still, that'll be coming off over winter and the car will be getting a full reprint in its original Atlantis Blau..... Interior.... The original seats were ruined, so I bought some replacements in light grey  The colour was no good for the car as the interior in mine is a sea of various shades of dark blue, so some aerosol dye was required.  Fitted all the seats, a service and valet and we were off! Due to the somewhat asthmatic 2.0 litre M20 plus auto box in this one, plus strong headwinds on the M6 and M5, she only managed 12mpg on the way down pulling the caravan!! I'm currently considering whether to sell it or not to be honest, but if it stays there are plans afoot...... First plan is to fit the 2.5 M50 that Adey kindly donated to the cause, along with a refreshed auto box and decent decat and exhaust. Then I'll repair and repaint the full car and do some tidying on the interior, and the E60 wheels need replacing with something a bit more suitable. New shocks and springs are also on the cards, a couple of the shocks are currently leaking..... All this is subject to it staying, but I'm unsure on that one. I want to spend some time and money on my RWD Mk3 Escort project, plus I have a Mk1 Escort that I want to build. Thing is, neither will be ready for RRG16, and I don't wanna come in my daily...... Time will tell.... |
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Sept 8, 2015 20:50:24 GMT
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Right guys, need the combined wisdom of the RR community here..... Been having a proper look at this, and it's a really good shell. I quite like the car, but it's distinct lack of power is really spoiling the experience, which is a shame really. I'm fairly sure I'm gonna keep it now, so it will be getting painted, some new brakes and suspension goodies etc. The help I need is with the power plant. I have an M50 2.5 which was very kindly donated to the cause by Adey. My original plan was to fit this, and leave it at that. Problem being, I've been having some evil thoughts regarding a nice burbly V8 on open pipes Can't decide whether to use a BMW unit, or go completely left field and fit something different.... Thinking along the lines of Merc or possibly Audi V8..... Get voting guys, all ideas very welcome..... |
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Sept 8, 2015 21:37:46 GMT
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A nice lexus v8 would make reliable sense.
If you decide against the 2.5 let me know as it would be a handy spare.
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Sept 8, 2015 22:28:36 GMT
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To V8 or not to V8 is not a question... Scour salvage auctions for an M3 or similar that some yoof has put around a tree. Get the parts you need/want from it then use the bits you don't need to recoup some of the spend. Or just spray it, sell it and put a V8 in one of your escorts  |
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Sept 8, 2015 22:36:54 GMT
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Definitely go for the V8. The bigger capacity the better. Not sure there's any point keeping it all BMW. Guess it depends on what you can get for the right price and what goes in easily.
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Sept 8, 2015 22:52:40 GMT
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I'm currently plumbing in a Toyota engine to my E30, and I would definitely say M60 V8 is the way to go for you!!
If there is an engine readily available that bolts up with factory parts and transmission, use it!! You'll thank yourself when it's done about a year before the non BMW engine option!
Plus, i'd also happily swap the M50 for some V8 funds - i've got an E21 i'm trying to find an M50 for!
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what about an LS of some kind?
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Sept 9, 2015 18:07:24 GMT
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MightyMork The Lexus V8 is one of the considerations after hearing that Matt black Capri at RRG!!!! Will have a chat with you soon re the M50, but I thought you were planning a V8 in the Taunus? sciclone I'm afraid the Escorts have a very specific future planned, and neither of them involve a V8, but the Mk3 will have more power than most multi cylinder builds!!! igor That was my reasoning! andrewbaran I do like the M60 engine, and I get your comment regarding ease of fitting when using same manufacturer parts. With regards to the M50 I have, I'm afraid @mightymork got there first, but I'll let you know if it becomes available again... welshpug Whilst I love th sound of a nice Chevy LS, I think the cost might be a little prohibitive..... Keep the suggestions coming guys..... |
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Probably the least desirable spec 5 series ever made 
Added to which, I live in Manchester and the car was in London.... Dunno why, but for some reason I seem to have a thing for buying cars from The Smoke 
. It was horrible!!!! Dark non metallic blue, paint flatter than a flat thing that's been run over by a flattening machine on Flat Street in Flatsville!!! Threadbare blue seats, blue door cards with cloth panels falling off, blue carpet with infestations growing..... Get the picture?
Next, the car needed a serious altitude adjustment, as when it was parked up people kept trying to park Smart cars in the arch gap! 
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Managed to find some 'new' door rubbing strips for it, plus fitted a tow bar for pulling a small caravan to the Gathering. Got some replacement seats 'cos the originals are threadbare as per 90% of 80's BMW's..... Problem is they were light grey, so I've dyed 'em!! Before and after pics tomorrow..
