Bringing a dishevelled car back to life can be a hugely rewarding experience, especially when it’s something a little bit special.
And if you’re a fan of 80s and 90s performance cars, they don’t come much more special than this – the legendary E34 BMW M5.
Based on the 5-Series saloon, the E34 was the last of the six-cylinder M5s, and to many is regarded as the model’s high watermark, the later 3.8-litre models developing 340bhp and coming equipped with Adaptive M Technic suspension.
This one comes from the personal collection of a performance car specialist and he’s spent a small fortune on the M5 already, getting a lot of the major work done – including having the floors and sills professionally welded and the fuel tank restored.
But time constraints mean that he’s now offering the car for sale as a project, albeit one that has already had a lot of the major work already completed. It’ll need some cosmetic work and a general mechanical overhaul before it returns to the road, but it’s a car with immense potential. A7408575.jpg779.25 KB
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
1993 registration. Was on a personal plate but vendor has applied for a new V5C and age-related plate, which will arrive before auction ends
Has been resprayed in the past and still presents fairly well, with some imperfections to note
Underside has seen extensive and expensive repairs, with high-quality welding to floorpans and inner and outer sill areas, bulkhead and jacking points
Dent in nearside front wing
Deep scratch on offside rear D-pillar
Corrosion to inner lower door bottoms, not visible from outside
Genuine BMW ‘Throwing Star’ alloy wheels in very good order
Some minor trim pieces missing in photos are with the car – it’s complete but they have been removed and are supplied with the car in boxes ready for reassembly
Vendor has had the fuel tank refurbished and rubberised for long-term protection
Needs new clutch slave cylinder
Currently has an electrical fault that the vendor has traced to the earth wiring in the passenger footwell, but which causes intermittent starting problems ad will require further investigation
Engine runs well and shows good oil pressure
The car hasn’t been driven for a few years and potential bidders should expect it to need a level of refurbishment or at least a thorough checking over of the suspension, braking and steering systems
As projects go, this is a really exciting one – a performance icon that’s fundamentally complete and known to be extremely solid underneath thanks to the work carried out by the current owner. It now needs someone else to take it on and put it back on the road. It may benefit from a full respray but the vendor believes that localised repairs to the minor damage and door inners will make it look pretty smart - how far you go with that is up to you. It certainly doesn’t appear to be a massive project, though – just a car with masses of potential that, when finished, will be an absolute joy to own and behold.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
