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Jed's official E39 M5 Touring Build Thread

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433K views 659 replies 141 participants last post by  M5 Jed 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello all ye fellow M5 nut jobs,

Its been 6 months or so since I was first inspired by Steve Wright's (UK) and HartgeM5's (Atlanta) M5T build. I must have read their build threads about a dozen times now and at the same time slowly accumulating parts I need to build my own M5T. Props to them for their "innovation" and intrepidness. Its also been about 5 months since I sold my Euro E34 M5T and I cannot seem to get over it. I miss it quit a bit, but it was getting kinda old and the S38 was just lacking the power and torque, you can say I've been spoiled by the S62 & the S85. Around December of last year, my poor E39 M5 started making the infamous rod bearing tapping noise, so its been sitting in the driveway. About the same time and without really much effort, an opportunity to buy an identical M5 and a 540iT M Sport came about and I took advantage of it.

So now, I'm sitting on 2 E39 M5s and a 540iT M Sport (all are 2001s). I've been back and forth in my head for 3 months now asking myself if I really want this challenge. Part of me is utterly salivating at the new project, but another part of me is like..."that's a crap load of work dumba$$"!!! I've also been figuring out the best, easiest and most efficient way to go about the build, taking into consideration time, expense, limited amount of garage space and ultimately what will make me happy. I guess you can say I've been strategizing, planning and mapping out the build.

First, I finally made the decision, I'm going for it. Second, I'm not 100% sure if the Orient Blue 540iT will be the host candidate of the conversion. Its too dang nice to just take apart, and it looks like there aren't very many M Sport Tourings to begin with. So I'm kinda sorta almost found another Touring candidate, I'll know for sure in the next week or two. Third, I'm probably exposing myself too much to public critique by posting this build thread on the forum, but the forum is a great place to chronicle the build. I do welcome everybody's opinion, positive and negative, and at the same time this can prove to be educational for everybody's benefit.

I have some teaser pics to begin with, see below. I've started the dismantling process and setting aside the best parts to do the build. I'll also be keeping all the upgrades that I had installed in the M5 that crapped out. Call me crazy, but this is probably another excuse I'm using to avoid changing out the rod bearings, which I will probably end up fixing anyways coz that engine has perfect compression readings and I'm not willing to just sell it for scraps.

Frequency of the updates with pics on this thread will depend on a lot of things, but I will try my best to update every couple of weeks.

BTW, I'm going to have tons of parts left over from this build so I will be selling them off on the forum in case you need parts.
 

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#3 ·
Doo it!!
Sounds like its going to be a fun project.
Those are some pretty M5's..
When you part it out I have some requests!
The fender liners with the bottom part that attaches to the bumper.. On the passenger side there's a temp sensor attached to it the drivers side is plain.
And the little tiny tiny grommet that is on the right side of the sunroof wind deflector that the small arms the sunroof slides on to close the deflector are attached to. (That was hard to explain)
I call those.

Goodluck to you sir.
 
#5 ·
Those are coils.
 
#8 ·
Awesome project! Can't wait to see the build and finished project. I've always drooled over a touring.
 
#9 ·
You my friend are the MAN! Subscribed. Dibs when you go to sell it as an M5 touring! :haha:
 
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#11 ·
Great project:goldcup: can't wait to see this beast when it's finished:cheers:
 
#12 · (Edited)
The orient touring is the perfect candidate imo. I owned an s50 swapped e34 touring for a while and I always wished it had started as a cleaner specimen. Still willing to lend a local hand when you get to that point!

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk
 
#21 ·
Thanks Tim, I'm sure I will take up your offer.
 
#13 ·
Cheers!! this is on my to do list in the next couple years. I've always wanted to build an M5t.

Best of luck with it, please keep us posted.

-Audio
 
#19 ·
Initially I thought of preserving the SLS rear suspension. But I will also try to see if the rear Ground Control coilovers will clear the rear subframe and mounts. Its worth a try, only takes a second to test fit it once I have the rear subframe of the Touring removed for the rear trunk floor surgery. Will also need to test fit the air compressor of the SLS on the false trunk floor of the M5 where the mobility kit resides. Easiest would be to keep the SLS and just find a good place to house the compressor. I've already installed a brand new pair of rear Bilstein sport shocks, new sport air springs and new subframe bushings on the Orient Blue Touring a couple of months ago, the ride is just just perfect.
 

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#20 ·
Sadly yes, that will be the case.
 
#22 ·
Subscribed, great stuff Jed!
 
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#26 ·
Did I miss something, or are you really destroying two relatively clean M5s to convert a Touring?

And they're anthracite M5s, that should be a crime!
 
#28 ·
BMW.WilliamsF1Team said:
My dream project...just can't afford 1 M5 at the moment let alone 2 + a 540iT. :)
Maybe we can get RK to do a complete conversion kit, with the supercharger already mounted!!!:biggrinbounce::biggrinbounce:

Regards,
Jerry
 
#32 ·
One by Steve Wright is recent, the other one (Atlanta member) I believe is hartgeM5. I would think a search with "touring" would bring them both up.

Regards,
Jerry
 
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