M5 "Makeover" (Photo Heavy!)

Specific conversations and info for the BMW E28 M5 and M535i.
Tifoso
Posts: 65
Joined: Jul 05, 2011 5:57 PM
Location: New Hampshire

M5 "Makeover" (Photo Heavy!)

Post by Tifoso »

I purchased one of my dream cars, a euro-ized E28 M5, last fall. While the car was well maintained by its prior owners, as I enjoyed the car over the first couple of months, I kept a running list of all of the things I wanted corrected to bring the car to that "next level" - both mechanically and cosmetically. Thanks to Mario Langsten and his expert crew at VSR, the transformation is now complete! The car looks and drives like an absolute dream....

Here are some before and after photos.

BEFORE

Started with a nice euro look, H&R springs:

Image

Lots of rock chips in the front valance, hood, and quarter panels:

Image

Rear valance was a bit of a mess:

Image
Image

AFTER

Overall view - including new Fikse wheels, spax springs:

Image

Hood, front quarter panels, and valance all expertly re-painted:

Image

Rear valance completely stripped and re-finished, painted to match body color. I know it's not "stock," but it looks incredible, and really helps to "balance" the look of the car:

Image

Image

Image

All business:

Image

Image

Interior shots, including Mtech II wheel, new audio system with Nakamichi head unit, euro cloth:

Image

Image

Image

Image

One last shot:

Image
Last edited by Tifoso on Nov 27, 2017 2:50 PM, edited 1 time in total.
S38Mike
Posts: 865
Joined: Jul 01, 2011 1:03 PM
Location: South Bay, SoCal

Post by S38Mike »

Looks sharp dude! I dig the Fikse's.
Jelmer538i
Posts: 1222
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Jelmer538i »

Very, vey nice and shiny! You guys are lucky with all those Swart E28s!
gray635
Posts: 1996
Joined: Dec 06, 2006 11:29 PM
Location: Perry, GA

Post by gray635 »

Isn't this Brooks Robinson's old car? Seem to recall the cloth interior in his car.

Looks very nice. Congrats on good job! :alright: :alright:
rcbmw
Posts: 846
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM

Post by rcbmw »

gray635 wrote:Isn't this Brooks Robinson's old car?
Yes, its 2875331.

Best,
RCBMW
elcinco
Posts: 186
Joined: May 01, 2010 6:26 PM
Location: San Francisco

Post by elcinco »

VERY NICE!

whats the specs on wheels/tires and suspension?
Jeff B.
Posts: 183
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: San Diego

Post by Jeff B. »

The car looks great! I'm sure it drives as good as it looks.

Nice work on refreshing the M5.
Kyle in NO
Posts: 17638
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Nasty Orleans------> Batten-Rooehjch------>More Souther LA

Post by Kyle in NO »

What a fabulous M5! I really like what you have done.
Tifoso
Posts: 65
Joined: Jul 05, 2011 5:57 PM
Location: New Hampshire

Post by Tifoso »

Thanks for the kind words, everyone! I'm really thrilled with how she turned out.

This is indeed Brooks Robinson's former M5.

To answer the questions about suspension and wheel specs:

Suspension is Bilstein Sports with Spax springs, all worn bushings replaced, front and rear Mason strut bars.

Wheels are 17 x 8.5. Fikse spec'd an offset of ET13. Turns out that is too aggressive for a lowered car. Oops. Even with 225/45s, I was rubbing in the rear. Additional fender rolling did the trick, and there are no longer any rubbing issues, even with folks in the back seat. In retrospect, I could've gone with an 8" instead of 8.5" width, same offset, to save me some trouble.... But it's fun to push the envelope once in a while.
5280 JB
Posts: 728
Joined: Apr 15, 2008 10:39 PM
Location: 5280' altitude: Denver, CO

Post by 5280 JB »

Dayum..........that looks great! You've taken an already great looking car and escalated it up to the next level. :alright:

Well done sir, well done.

Jim
mooseheadm5
Beamter
Beamter
Posts: 23035
Joined: Apr 08, 2009 10:30 PM
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Contact:

Post by mooseheadm5 »

Looks fantastic!
Karl Grau
Posts: 9708
Joined: Mar 10, 2006 7:34 PM
Location: Sandy Eggo

Post by Karl Grau »

I love it, good work! :alright:
TurboChris
Posts: 894
Joined: Aug 21, 2010 1:22 AM
Location: Costa Mesa, CA

Post by TurboChris »

Looking great! Get a new Radiator reservoir in that engine compartment tho, they're only like $35!

Edit: Whoops, they're more like $116.00 I was thinking of the Washer bottle.
Last edited by TurboChris on Jul 09, 2012 12:27 AM, edited 1 time in total.
wkohler
Posts: 50921
Joined: Oct 05, 2006 11:04 PM
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
Contact:

Post by wkohler »

That's a beautiful car. Congrats.
M. Holtmeier
Posts: 3024
Joined: Mar 11, 2007 3:06 AM
Location: Dallas, Texas

Post by M. Holtmeier »

Wow, very nice. :)
Mark in Toronto
Posts: 2442
Joined: Feb 14, 2008 7:28 PM
Location: Toronto

Post by Mark in Toronto »

Heino is very impressed with the attention to detail. And the cloth seats are killer!
Mab1957
Posts: 2244
Joined: May 14, 2010 1:33 PM
Location: Northern Virginia, USA

Post by Mab1957 »

Very nice. :up: Good to have you join this circus. Will we see you at PVGP or maybe O'Fest/5erFest? :roundel:
1st 5er
Posts: 21718
Joined: Jun 13, 2008 12:15 AM
Location: Cypress
Contact:

Post by 1st 5er »

Love me some cloth seats, beautiful car.
Dinan e28
Posts: 3343
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Portland Oregon
Contact:

Post by Dinan e28 »

Very nice indeed. The fisks and cloth seats make it more individual.
1st 5er
Posts: 21718
Joined: Jun 13, 2008 12:15 AM
Location: Cypress
Contact:

Post by 1st 5er »

TurboChris wrote:Looking great! Get a new Radiator reservoir in that engine compartment tho, they're only like $116.00!
FTFY ;)
Hilda
Posts: 1
Joined: Jul 08, 2012 11:19 AM

Post by Hilda »

Great work on a great ride,nothing like that black schwarz.
Retro Rust
Posts: 353
Joined: Oct 22, 2009 12:30 AM
Location: Dalton, GA

Post by Retro Rust »

Nice car man. Its examples like these that make me want to euro-ize mine.
MicahO
Posts: 2481
Joined: Jan 07, 2010 7:50 AM
Location: Warwick, NY

Post by MicahO »

Beautiful! This car was in some ways inspirational for my own changes. I do love a Euro-ed car with cloth!
Devinder
Posts: 810
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Berkeley, CA

Post by Devinder »

great choice of wheels. just when you think you've seen all the combinations of wheels and trim ...
mallex
Posts: 1
Joined: Jul 23, 2012 3:24 AM
Location: South Africa

Post by mallex »

simply gorgeous, the M-tech 2 completes the look beautifully ;)
Post Reply