e34 M5 or wait for e39 - question inside

[repenttokyo]

I've pretty much decided on picking up an 01 M5 in January. However, recently, I came across a local 1991 M5 with a built motor but poor paint and an average interior. I drove the car, extremely tight, spoke to the shop that built and maintained it. The guy was asking 7k, so I said no thanks, too much paint work to do - peeling clear, rust bubbles rear fenders, but no dents body very straight. Car has dinan software, springs, koni shocks and BMW Motorsport cams.

Anyways, he is a motivated seller as he tells me, and he emailed me today to ask what price I WOULD pay to take on a cosmetic project like that. I am tempting to offer 4k. However, this would definitely be a weekend car and would set me back a couple of weeks in terms of picking up an M5 - I'm looking for a Royal Red vehicle, which is hard to find. I know where one is, but each week I stall, I run the risk of it being sold out from underneath me.

So, what should I do? Pay a small amount for a weekend car and put off the e39 for a few weeks, or should I pass and buy what I really want? The temptation to own an e34 M5 is great, esp. at such a low price.

[Ross]

He knows the cost to restore the body. Ask him how much he has been quoted to see what sort of answer you get.
Huge money to properly repair a rusty car.
I say low ball him with cash in hand. If he takes it enjoy the car as is. Leave the restoration to someone else with stars in their eyes for an M when you are finished with it.

[repenttokyo]

He knows the cost to restore the body. Ask him how much he has been quoted to see what sort of answer you get.
Huge money to properly repair a rusty car.
I say low ball him with cash in hand. If he takes it enjoy the car as is. Leave the restoration to someone else with stars in their eyes for an M when you are finished with it.

i've considered just flat blacking it and doing exactly that.

[Ross]

i've considered just flat blacking it and doing exactly that.

Or remove the badges, leave it in beater condition and terrorize kids with fart pipe cars.

[Sam-Son]

Or remove the badges, leave it in beater condition and terrorize kids with fart pipe cars.

genius

[Sam-Son]

Built motor?
details please
personally I'd go for the E34
E39's are nice but I want a big 6 cyl thats been hand built

[repenttokyo]

details are in first post.

[bubba966]

I'm curious about these "BMW Motorsport Cams". Never heard of such a thing. Unless this guy is calling the cam sprocket upgrade (putting 3.8 cam sprockets on the 3.6) "BMW Motorsport Cams". I'd guess that's what's in there as it'd go along with the Dinan software.

Could have Schrick's in it too I suppose.

And there were a few custom built cars that left the Motorsport facility with 408HP S38's. But I really doubt a beater '91 US spec M5 would have anything resembling the custom parts that were in those S38's. In fact I'm not all sure what they did to squeeze that much power out of 'em. But I'm guessing different cams was part of the equation.

[repenttokyo]

I'm curious about these "BMW Motorsport Cams". Never heard of such a thing. Unless this guy is calling the cam sprocket upgrade (putting 3.8 cam sprockets on the 3.6) "BMW Motorsport Cams". I'd guess that's what's in there as it'd go along with the Dinan software.

Could have Schrick's in it too I suppose.

And there were a few custom built cars that left the Motorsport facility with 408HP S38's. But I really doubt a beater '91 US spec M5 would have anything resembling the custom parts that were in those S38's. In fact I'm not all sure what they did to squeeze that much power out of 'em. But I'm guessing different cams was part of the equation.

I understand what you are saying. The car was built by these people: http://www.machschnell.com and owned by the shop owner's wife for 3 years.

I want to stress - it's not a beater. The car drove extremely well at very high speeds - no vibrations, no hesitation, no pulling, very different from my car which is in quite good shaped. Clutch was very heavy and the transmission had no play in it whatsoever.

The only downside is the fact that the paint was not looked after and there is a small amount of fender rust. In my opinion, the car needs a complete repaint.

[Ross]

Here is the solution.
I'll give the $4k for it. You pick it up and whoop it all you want on your way to Chicago.