I've been seeing a few e34's popping up on this site lately, I figured I would throw my build thread on here. I started this thread a few months back so I'm just going to kind of post the cliffs up to now. I always have had a thing for e34's and had a really nice one a few years back but I ended up breaking it apart and using the drivetrain in my e30..
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5250390854_1b2f55c80d_z.jpg)
I kinda regretted it and really wanted another one, so I had no choice when I found this '89 535i 5 speed on craigslist locally with a blown headgasket. It was cheap enough to allow me a little extra cash at it, nothing crazy as I am a self sufficient homeowner/college student but I suck at leaving things alone.
The owner was a typical non-enthusiast bmw owner and after telling me the body was near perfect I drive an hour to see this:
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5635415889_ac95bd9412_z.jpg)
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5635996344_ab8bbb1b2b_z.jpg)
Other than that, the car was fairly clean all things considered and it was cirrus which is one of my favorite BMW colors so I ended up getting it for a decent price and taking it home.
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5671204291_e25a1b7ec2_z.jpg)
The paint looks decent enough in that picture but I can assure you, it sucks and it was apparent right away that it was gonna need an all over re-spray. I wasn't really excited about this but I've worked with a body shop for years now, so while I've never actually done any paint and body, I kind of know the gist of it and I have some friends at work helping me out along the way.
Anyways, I got the car home and immediately got to work on the headgasket. Check out the steam clean on #6-
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5309/5690992151_67c11552e6_z.jpg)
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5690991739_ca98db2611_z.jpg)
I tried to just slap a headgasket on it but the head was warped, so I had to pull the motor-
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/5705287623_1be2835451_z.jpg)
Luckily I had the spare motor from my old e34 just sitting in the garage, all it needed was some cleaning and it was ready to go in-
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/5714992062_7031233c5f_z.jpg)
![](http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/jbraswell/DSCF4510.jpg)
![](http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/jbraswell/DSCF4514.jpg)
Cleaned the engine bay up too-
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/5714482765_4848e52ec3_z.jpg)
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2127/5714430815_933594a875_z.jpg)
Took a couple weeks but finally got it buttoned up and running again-
![](http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/jbraswell/DSCF4517.jpg)
Suspension comes next...
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5250390854_1b2f55c80d_z.jpg)
I kinda regretted it and really wanted another one, so I had no choice when I found this '89 535i 5 speed on craigslist locally with a blown headgasket. It was cheap enough to allow me a little extra cash at it, nothing crazy as I am a self sufficient homeowner/college student but I suck at leaving things alone.
The owner was a typical non-enthusiast bmw owner and after telling me the body was near perfect I drive an hour to see this:
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5635415889_ac95bd9412_z.jpg)
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5635996344_ab8bbb1b2b_z.jpg)
Other than that, the car was fairly clean all things considered and it was cirrus which is one of my favorite BMW colors so I ended up getting it for a decent price and taking it home.
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5671204291_e25a1b7ec2_z.jpg)
The paint looks decent enough in that picture but I can assure you, it sucks and it was apparent right away that it was gonna need an all over re-spray. I wasn't really excited about this but I've worked with a body shop for years now, so while I've never actually done any paint and body, I kind of know the gist of it and I have some friends at work helping me out along the way.
Anyways, I got the car home and immediately got to work on the headgasket. Check out the steam clean on #6-
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5309/5690992151_67c11552e6_z.jpg)
![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5690991739_ca98db2611_z.jpg)
I tried to just slap a headgasket on it but the head was warped, so I had to pull the motor-
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/5705287623_1be2835451_z.jpg)
Luckily I had the spare motor from my old e34 just sitting in the garage, all it needed was some cleaning and it was ready to go in-
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/5714992062_7031233c5f_z.jpg)
![](http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/jbraswell/DSCF4510.jpg)
![](http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/jbraswell/DSCF4514.jpg)
Cleaned the engine bay up too-
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/5714482765_4848e52ec3_z.jpg)
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2127/5714430815_933594a875_z.jpg)
Took a couple weeks but finally got it buttoned up and running again-
![](http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/jbraswell/DSCF4517.jpg)
Suspension comes next...
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