BMW E39 M5 Restoration

[Gally]

I know a lot are big fans of the E39, it looks so classic yet isn't even that old!

First up a big thanks to the owner for trusting us with the car, they're going up in value for the well looked after and lower mile ones. There was zero risk in spending a few quick getting this one up to scratch. Passed it's MOT while with us with flying colours, not an advisory in sight.

Apologies about the afters (dried it and it rained again!) and lack of pics during, I was on holiday for nearly 3 weeks whilst it was with us!

DSC09762 by gally.., on Flickr

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DSC09752 by gally.., on Flickr

AFTERS:

20161017_154451 by gally.., on Flickr

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20161017_154359 by gally.., on Flickr

 

[Knuckles]

I like.

Are there any during pictures?

 

[Gally]

Not really. My Mk1 Focus RS restoration has over 120 pictures... I might post it tonight!

 

[ForceIndia]

What sort of costs involved with something like that?

 

[Djw John]

Looks great but that rear bumper isn't the same colour as the car in any pics, how come?

 

[Gally]

Damn, forgot to mention the bumpers were not painted at the request of the owner as he wants them done at a later date and may have a new front bumper to use as he's not happy with the one on the car.

The roof was flattened and machine polished as there were zero rust issues or heavy scratches even with the age.

Bumpers were advised against as we knew the rest of the car would look better but customer is the owner.

 

[Djw John]

Odd decision but fair enough. Hope he doesn't wait too long!

 

[Louis]

Has this had all new sills, wings etc? A full restoration?

 

[Gally]

New wings, new sills and dog legs. Wouldn't call it F40 levels or restoration but upon stripping it required quite a bit of work.

The FRS one I post will give an idea of work we carry out on restorations.

 

[Djw John]

Or my mums partners mx5 that now weighs more than most volvos!

 

[Gally]

The arctic one?

 

[Djw John]

Yup, those repairs are holding fine but superficial rust has come back. It really kills my idea of having another one, they rot faster than focus RS's

 

[Gally]

That was a few years ago now?! It's the age of cars that rust that is scary. The FRS i'll post is a 53 plate... worse than some 70s cars.

 

[Djw John]

Aye a good few years ago but it still only an 11 year old car that needs a serious amount of rust removing for the second time! The fact that the first lot was structural boggles the mind.
I fully agree, it's like the manufacturers have forgotten the basics.

 

[Gally]

It's frustrating. Usually on decent cars aswell!

2003 car! It was actually worse than the picture suggests. The seatbelt point inside the car was a hole.

IMG_3153 by gally.., on Flickr

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IMG_3472 by gally.., on Flickr

 

[Pep]

My 59 plate FRS was starting to rust in the door shuts on 30k miles, bear in mind this was 3 years ago too!

 

[Louis]

Love me some rust...

 

[Djw John]

f**king hell, that focus is horrific!

 

[Ant1]

Done a good job on that! Do you paint Gally?

 

[imprezaworks]

That looks brilliant

 

[Smiffyboy1990]

M5 looks so good now!

I bet 95% of these 'mint' RS's out there are all rusty and rotten?

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

 

[clio007]

Did you repair any of the panels that had rust on them? How does that get on? Doesnt the rust come back after a while?
I have a rusty silverstone M3 that I havent got back to restoring
Rusty wings are easy as you can replace. Rear quarters and sills are not so easy.


It looks immaculate and most have cost a pretty pound!

 

[Ian_182]

That's a good resto on the M5.

 

[cat171]

Not really. My Mk1 Focus RS restoration has over 120 pictures... I might post it tonight!

Please do!
Where do these people live ? Is it by the sea ? How comes they're in such a state ?

 

[ben_pf]

All new metal welded in place of the rust patches or is there a better technique now? Heck of a lot of work put in to that by the looks of it.
It's paid off though, looks great

 

[charltjr]

Rust is killing Mk1 Focuses all over the place now, even the late ones. E39 sills are becoming very bad news too - used to be you knew the jacking points were usually a fairly easy fix but now the rot is really getting out of hand.

Nice job on the resto :up:

 

[MG cup]

Nice colour... overspray ahoy though, did he just want a cheap job doing?