Before and After 540i/6

[bmwhiteman]

I dont think ive ever posted what my 540 looked like when I bought it last october. Paid $2300 for it with 208,000 which probly wasnt the best deal since I have 8k into it including EVERYTHING down to the small stuff (oil, filters, steering wheel cover, leather wipes)
Im happy with what its become but I cant help thinking that I could have got a way clean one for 5k that would have only needed a couple things. But I am partial to alpine white
before








After

[E34nication]

So your car was originally green? Whoa. Talk about a transformation.

[darknezz7]

Wow very nice. wtf was up with that hood? why was it bowed in the middle? I would like my alpina to look just like that someday

[bmwhiteman]

yes it was green, and every panel had oxidization and the whole other side was keyed up. The guy I bought it from was a total dick so people prob keyed it lol
i dont know how it happened but it has that dent by the highbeam too. Looks like he ran into the back of a lifted truck or something. The headlight support was shattered too. Had the hood fixed not replaced. I think they did a good job even though the hood doesnt line up perfectly. check out the mad seat twist too haha. Seat twist was the first DIY I did on the car. both seats and almost every adjustable point was twisted and the auto headrests didnt work. took me like 8 hours to fix haha

[somerandomdude]

She looks good.

[535ipower]

When i'm done with my 540i with maintenance and performance mods i am thinking of either going black or white with it. Most likely white now specially since it's a wide grill white just makes it look so new.

[bmwhiteman]

thanks guys! Ya white makes everything better. People that dont know squat about cars ask me if its an 05 or 06.

[Husky]

thanks guys! Ya white makes everything better. People that dont know squat about cars ask me if its an 05 or 06.

Haha, about a week after I got my black 540(the auto), right after my buddy and I spent 10+ hours buffing/polishing, my boss saw it and asked if I had a second job, because there's no way I can afford an 05 BMW on my salary. He honestly thought it was an 04-05.


Back to the topic at hand... your car is GORGEOUS.

[jbondbmw]

Wow, great job! That is one hell of a transformation. Also, I bought mine for 5.2K and I have over 10k into it now, so these things eat money either way, haha.

[e34Croak]

Very nice resto! Do you have pictures of the painting transformation? Did you pull the glass out, door jams? Engine bay?

[David325e]

What work. If I ever see this car at a meet I expect to see an album full of pics in the back seat right?

And did you go back non angel-eye lights?

And you're right about the money invested. But the work is 70% of the fun in an older BMW. I've been driving a car that doesn't need work for about a month and I'm bored crazy haha.

[bmwhiteman]

Haha, about a week after I got my black 540(the auto), right after my buddy and I spent 10+ hours buffing/polishing, my boss saw it and asked if I had a second job, because there's no way I can afford an 05 BMW on my salary. He honestly thought it was an 04-05.


Back to the topic at hand... your car is GORGEOUS.

HAHAHA I almost didnt just get hired at autozone because the manager thought my car cost $40k and I was some rich kid. I told him It was 2300 and had an interview 3 days later.

@jbond - thats good to hear that I didnt do it in vain. Nice white 5er
@e34croak - ya i have a couple pics of when I had tint and when My e39 M5 reps were still gun metal, And i have one from when It was in paint. I had a pretty cheap shop (1day) paint it. It was $1300 for the paint and body work. It had 2 major dents and 43 dings. The paint was only $600 of that. Its a single stage but has a 5 year warrantee. They did do the door jams and the hood but not the shock towers. They oversprayed a bit on the interior but i cleaned it up pretty easily.



Yep I have a full album of all the e30s before this I had too. Ill post a pic of my riced 1986 325e/5 that started life BONE stock and covered in bird poo.

[e34Croak]

Nice man. Sicc ETA! haha e34's and e30's go together like peas and carrots.

[BoldUlysses]

Very nice! Did you paint the engine bay as well? Plans for Euro trim?

Funny how Alpine White is such a sought-after color for E34s... It's one of the least popular for E24s, especially US-spec, since the US bumpers stick out like a sore thumb in contrast to the white.

-Matt

[MarchelloBB]

Talk about a sick transformation!

[jbondbmw]

Nice man. Sicc ETA! haha e34's and e30's go together like peas and carrots.

Damn right! I need to get myself an E30.

[Steve547i]

that looks awesome. black wheels on white car is secks.

[bmwhiteman]

Ya I miss that e30 that thing could hold a drift like nothing else haha. Ya I wanna do euro trim but I'm not even sure what it is. I thought it was just marker-less bumper trim. Na I didn't paint the shock towers. They were such a dull green that they look black and blend in. I don't think it's worth the overspray that would occur in the process. You are all so kind

[auto da fe]

Very nice job. I love the Antelope Valley too. Almost moved there a few years ago.

[AlmostStock]

is that the volvo lip on it? where can i get one? im pleased with my stance but i want more visual low

[TouringDan]

Nice car! Well done!

[janders211]

Best e34 before-->after I've seen. Beast of a job.

[bmwhiteman]

@almost stock - they are on a ton of late 80s early 90s volvos. you will know when you see the ones that fit.
@ janders - really? that means alot man i love restoring.

[AquilaBMW]

For what would otherwise be considered a less expensive paint job, that was some good work there man.... good job! You brought the car back to life. CONGRATS!

[SC David]

Looks real nice man. Great job on the resto. Looks like your hood could use some basic aligning, and then all is kosher.