Well, the E60 530I project is complete. For those that haven’t read my past postings, I bought a damaged 2006 530I with 8,002 miles on it. It took a hit on the left driver’s side.
This is the seventh damaged car that I have rebuilt. My prior projects were a 2000 A4 for my son, a 2002 Audi S4 for my wife, a 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS for a daughter, a 2003 Volkswagen Passat GLS for a daughter and a 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLX for a daughter. I also did a 1997 Porsche 911 (933) Cab for myself. They were all bought with the intention of keeping them. The Audi S4 was sold for the BMW 530I. I saved a lot (about half the market rate) on the Audis and VW’s. The Porsche about a 1/3 and the BMW about 25 %.
The primary problem with the BMW was parts. I usually buy used parts and was able to find a few for the BMW, but most were new. I did find a connection and saved off of the retail price, but still very costly.
The salvage title will hurt the value of the car for several years, but after a certain point, it will not be that important. A 5-year-old BMW with 90,000 miles will be worth a fraction of the sticker price. Put a salvage title on it and it will be worth a little less.
My biggest problem with this BMW is the fact that I have lurked on this forum enough to want more. Like the comfort seats, heads up display and maybe 2 more cylinders (550I). But I’ll keep this one for 4 years and go from there.
But, this is the nicest car I have ever driver.
Bottom line on this one…. $28,000 for the car; $3000 for labor (friendly body shop and I am a repeat customer) $3776.03 for parts; Total: $34776.03
Enjoy the photos;
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010438.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1000601.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010436.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010432.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010433.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010434.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010435.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010428.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010429.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010431.jpg

And.....The finished product.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010419.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010420.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010422.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/P1010424.jpg

wow looks great!!! u should of installed a E60 M5 body kit on it...

Nicely done! I always appreciate good bodywork.

I remember the first post about this project.
Congrats Chuck!
Very impressive!

Very nice!

WOW! Almost better than new.

That came out nice. Black is a tough color. How does the paint look up close and who did the body work?

3k for all that work? Damn, usually a paintjob costs $2500 alone.

That is freakin sweet!

congrats and nice work.

3k for all that work? Damn, usually a paintjob costs $2500 alone.

Uhhh, who pays $2500 for a paint job :confused






Anyways, it looks great. Seriously.


EXCELLENT BODYWORK. RECOMMEND THIS REPAIR SHOP. A++++

thats really cool i must say

Uhhh, who pays $2500 for a paint job :confused



Someone who wants a quality paintjob done right that won't crack, peel, and fade after 3 years.

very impressed...any rattles...?

looks better than new!

Someone who wants a quality paintjob done right that won't crack, peel, and fade after 3 years.

If you can get a top quality paint job for $2500 retail, I have bad news for you. You got hosed and got a shit job, unless you are buddy buddy with a paint/body shop owner...

Nice work on the 530!

I'm not sure what prices are like for some of you, but I can get a good quality paint job for less than $2,500 all day. It all depends on what needs to be done. Now, if your doing a color change or some candy paint, then I can see going at or above $2,500. For that you have to damn near strip the car down to the bare frame almost.

Great story board showing the history of the project. Great job and kudos goes to the shop that did the work for you. However, seeing the finished product up close and in person would be the real deal. I'm sure it met you expectations.

Congrats! :drink1

I can't imagine how rewarding it must be to drive that car around now. Nice work!

Uhhh, who pays $2500 for a paint job :confused






Anyways, it looks great. Seriously.


EXCELLENT BODYWORK. RECOMMEND THIS REPAIR SHOP. A++++

For a full respray? That is a cheap paintjob...

DamN.

That is one hell of a job. I thought it would cost MUCH more but I guess not :-p

Chuck,

I remembered your first post about this as well. How time flies!

Good job on the body work. Congratulations on the car.

Paolo

Thanks for all of the kind works. This has turned out to be just a great car. I am still learning its features.

wow looks great!!! u should of installed a E60 M5 body kit on it...
If the bumpers had needed to be replaced I may have considered it. When I did my Porsche I kept it stock. What a mistake. After three years I think I’ve hit the 20 mod point. That slippery slope is brutal

That came out nice. Black is a tough color. How does the paint look up close and who did the body work?
This is my first black car. It’s the metallic (sapphire) black. The body shop did a great job. Because the car was so new it is impossible to tell where the car was re-painted. Being a newbi, I have waxed it 3 times in 3 weeks. Doing so I have yet to find a flaw.

3k for all that work? Damn, usually a paintjob costs $2500 alone.
You are so right. Depending on what you get painted, the car and the area the body shop is located in the prices vary. I would guess that just the paintwork for this project could go as high as $6000 at some shops.

very impressed...any rattles...?
Not a one. I was a little concerned because some of the postings talked about rattles and such off the showroom floor.

Great story board showing the history of the project. Great job and kudos goes to the shop that did the work for you. However, seeing the finished product up close and in person would be the real deal. I'm sure it met you expectations.

Congrats! :drink1
You are so right. I have seen a lot of cars that look good twenty feet away (or in a photo) and once you get close you can see the flaws. I am fortunate that my body shop does a great job.
DamN.

That is one hell of a job. I thought it would cost MUCH more but I guess not :-p
I was actually hoping to come in a little less. I had to have part of the “A” pillar and the “B” pillar replaced. When I first looked at the car I thought they could be repaired.

Chuck,
I remembered your first post about this as well. How time flies!
Good job on the body work. Congratulations on the car.
Paolo

For me, time stood still. The more I lurked on the forums the more I wanted to drive the car.

Very nice project. I'm very impressed with that.

Well done! In our throw-away culture, it's nice to see the craftsmanship needed to return a car to the road.

Looks great! Congrats!

Well done! In our throw-away culture, it's nice to see the craftsmanship needed to return a car to the road.

if it werent for that throw away culture.. he wouldnt have had anything to fix up.. either way.. amazing job.. the car looks beautiful! you really did a spectacular job.. i couldnt tell the difference between this and my friends 530 which he just bought brand new off the showroom last week!

You were able to get new airbags and doors..etc. for $3K?? Wow great deals

Looks good.

You were able to get new airbags and doors..etc. for $3K?? Wow great deals
Yeah, I had some help from a friend who owns a salvage yard. Still, the prices were higher than the other cars for the parts. But then...this is a BMW.

Very very pretty