M5 UTE conversion - Page 23 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Apples · 20th January 2007, 14:23

The wheel wells are all done, not an quick thing to knock up but I'm very happy with the finished product.
They look good and fit the "look" of a ute, well this one perfectly.
The top of the suspension is now 100mm lower then the OEM height (thank god)
The rings on the shocks now are going to be lowered a few inches and then Koni will customize the internals a bit to give us a bit more room for compression.
The final travel range will be about 3 inches for compression.

APPLES

kees · 20th January 2007, 14:27

Nice!

Gustav · 21st January 2007, 13:50

Nice work, looks like a quality job!

DavidS · 22nd January 2007, 01:41

Great project, and by the looks of it, very good workmanship!

David

Ashok Arora · 22nd January 2007, 01:53

Coming along nicely now - can't wait to see the finished article

Gustav · 23rd January 2007, 19:31

VW Caddy Forum commenting it

http://vwcaddyforum.com/showthread.php?t=12496

Gustav · 5th February 2007, 20:30

This guy was 20 years before you Apples

http://forum.staples2naples.com/viewtopic.php?t=2028

Apples · 6th February 2007, 03:31

OK Mr Gee.
You've got too much time on your hands to find this sort of stuff on the web.
One of the reasons I did this conversion was that it had never been done to an M5 and probably won't be done ever again.
Others have done 3 series and 5 series over the years, but I didn't want the easy way out.
I could have saved many dollars and done a 5 or a 7 series and never have really put a test to it's design and function.
This will be a very talented car/ute, and very able to match it with it's stock brother in any way.
I know there are people that think i've wrecked a great car, but that's a fair call to such a legend, but I've got an itch that needs a scratch..
I've got another normal M5 to drive when I'm in the US to feel like a less crazy man if their worried.
This project will/is getting much attention on the WWW, (because it's so off the norm for custom creations) but it will really show is what can be done with one very sharp work shop from down under and some obscure owners dream.

I was doing a search on Google the otherday for "E39 M5 strut brace" and I see the "ute project" popped up high on the hit list

I think I'm going to get a web site built just for the Ute and get it out of the imagestation hosting site.

APPLES

Gustav · 6th February 2007, 03:42

Yes, Imagestation sucks. www.m5ute.com

I can give you an FTP account to upload things on m5board.com if you like.

Event though many comment on your product I think the big majority thinks its really fun, but most importantly: they are very impressed by the workmanship. The VW Caddy forums, Aussie forums etc they all love the work. So keep it up

I have to somehow reroute my USA trip via Australia this summer

to check it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apples

OK Mr Gee.
You've got too much time on your hands to find this sort of stuff on the web.
One of the reasons I did this conversion was that it had never been done to an M5 and probably won't be done ever again.
Others have done 3 series and 5 series over the years, but I didn't want the easy way out.
I could have saved many dollars and done a 5 or a 7 series and never have really put a test to it's design and function.
This will be a very talented car/ute, and very able to match it with it's stock brother in any way.
I know there are people that think i've wrecked a great car, but that's a fair call to such a legend, but I've got an itch that needs a scratch..
I've got another normal M5 to drive when I'm in the US to feel like a less crazy man if their worried.
This project will/is getting much attention on the WWW, (because it's so off the norm for custom creations) but it will really show is what can be done with one very sharp work shop from down under and some obscure owners dream.

I was doing a search on Google the otherday for "E39 M5 strut brace" and I see the "ute project" popped up high on the hit list

I think I'm going to get a web site built just for the Ute and get it out of the imagestation hosting site.

APPLES

LFC09 · 6th February 2007, 04:03

I can understand your inspiration Apples. You are being true to the legend, whilst creating it's offspring, doing it to an exceptionally high standard of workmanship, and all class.