2001 BMW E39 M5 Project

Childhood Dreams:

The E39 M5 is one of those BMW's that doesn't need much of an introduction. Its understated looks and incredible performance are from an era when BMW created peak M Performance vehicles. Being the fastest saloon of its generation it will forever be regarded a collectible and truly one of the greats. They say never meet your heroes but the E39 M5 is the exception to that rule.

Having previously had two E39 M5's in my family (Jet Black and Le Mans Blue) I know them well and I absolutely love them! Fast forward many years, many more cars and many other achievements a Titanium Silver 2001 BMW M5 happened to come across my life once again. A tired example in need of tender love and care. A one owner local Toronto car with approximately 140,000 km that had been enjoyed in its younger years but was left unattended in recent years. After two weeks of persistent follow up and negotiation a deal was struck! Money exchanged hands, signatures flowed and an ownership was flipped. I've done it so many times but I still haven't lost the thrill. So now what?

Enjoy the first set of pictures I ever took of the car in the parking garage:

First things first:

I open the driver door and sit inside the beautiful M5 cockpit as I close the door I await that familiar thump when it closes...ahhh there it is! I put the key in the ignition and turn. She's alive! So far so good. As I shift into first and begin to accelerate I am reminded of that glorious V8 rumble and as I shift into second I realize it climbs the RPMs much quicker than it should yet I'm not really driving any faster either. This could only mean one thing that my suspicions were correct and the clutch was in need of replacement. All I thought in this moment as I limped the M5 home was "what have I got myself into now?" Upon arriving home I parked it in my driveway and took some time to look at it once more, marveling at what I had just done and how I was about to save another 'bimmer' from a life of neglect. Somehow it felt nice that I was about to flourish the BMW Parts Business and that my mechanic was going to greet me once more with that abnormally large smile.

The first question you should always ask when purchasing any old car is, what's wrong with it? And with this one, there was plenty... Mechanically, it needed a full restoration i.e. clamps, gaskets, seals, pumps, tune up, clutch kit/flywheel, hoses, bolts, coolant system refresh, and other odds and ends. Aesthetically, it had been previously painted and was done poorly (orange peel, fish eye, swirls, holograms, paint on trims/moldings) however the rims were in terrific shape and were the original chrome shadow finish from factory which is almost impossible to replicate. The interior was well preserved surprisingly and only needed a deep clean. Overall the car was in average condition. The exterior body apart for the poor paint job and some surface rust in the common areas was solid and straight. What did this all mean? That we have a worthy project on our hands and it's time to order parts...oh boy!

Drives Like New?

The E39 M5 has a distinct feel. It's poised but it's comfortable. It's fast but it's subtle. It's tail happy, very tail happy. Driving it home from the shop it was all those things and more! Maybe my senses were heightened but it drove like a new car! I took the long way home and loved every second of it. As I sat in the filth I looked over and the noticed the sludge and grime all over the vehicle. It was littered with parts inside the and next step was very clear to me.

Smells Like New?

I take pride in having a clean vehicle and have always been fond of detailing. I find it therapeutic taking the time and the effort in attempting to polish a, for lack of a better word, turd. The paint was going to be a large feat and although making it perfect would require a complete paintjob it simply wasn't in the budget at this moment.

I always begin with engine detailing as it is the dirtiest place on a car. A great degreaser, various brushes, microfiber towels and a steamer always gets the job done. Interior is next, removing as many components as possible makes the task easier and the results better. As I suspected the interior cleaned up nicely and was in terrific shape, all that was left inside was for my leather repair trustee to touch up and dye the driver seat and door panel...easy. I start the exterior with a basic but very thorough wash followed by a clay bar of the entire car including the glass. Once it is rinsed and dried I tape off all the delicate areas and remove anything that can be easily taken off and put back in. My Dual Action Rupes polisher is my weapon of choice and yields me excellent results combined with various pads and compounds. It's a bit of trial and error to get the right results without pushing the boundaries of the paint too far, but that's all part of the fun...for me at least. Once the paint correction is completed the trims and tires are dressed and the leather is conditioned once more.

She's Perfect For Now...

Unfortunately I was not able to document everything, but after I detailed it I installed 15mm spacers all around, muffler by-pass with larger diameter tips, new Bilstein sport shocks, 35% tint, new ///M5 Badge, brand new OEM Carpet Matts and the new floating center caps from BMW. At the end of it all I was extremely happy with the results and with myself for having trusted my instincts once again. Having been in the industry for many years I still have the same passion as when I first started and now with my experience and my network projects like this take no time at all and the results speak for themselves. Buying, selling, appraising and simply just talking about cars have been a huge part of my life and I can't wait to do it all over again with another incredible car. This is the first series I've documented and look forward to doing more and documenting more of the process.

Now that the M5 on the road I have insured it with Hagerty Classic Car Insurance and appraised for it's true value. I can do the same for you!