Back from the painted wide grille mod and bumper repair and paint touch ups, the car was sent to have its long-overdue windscreen replaced. If you drive an old car with an old windscreen, you’d know how pathetic pitted, scratched up, dirty old windscreens can be. I always had the urge to replace but there were always another priority. Now that i’ve fulfilled most of the checklist, it’s time. Continue reading
Here are more recent updates on the E34. Yes, it’s still unpainted. I took the effort to lay on a coat of flat black on the bonnet. Not the best effort, but good enough for a temporary look 
Loving the wide grille now since it adds to the wide and low front.
Can’t wait to get it all black and glossy again
As you can clearly see, the E34 is going through an ugly phase. For the better. Which is a pretty shocking fact, since the 10 years i have had the car, it had always been the narrow grill. So about time a new look. Plus the wide grille ages the car pretty well, celebrating its 10th years of service. Plus the recent heart transplant and interior renovation deserves a more mature body.
What’s to be done: The AC Schnitzer badge will go, and the car will be sent for paint soon. Also, the bumpers needs to go. For many years the bumper had been damaged and repaired that it just isn’t practical repairing anymore. A single nudge will send cracks of previously damaged area. As for design, it’s either the same Schnitzer replicas or a custom job. Just not fixed on ideas yet.
Thanks to Abdullah Al-Ahdal | Ahdalphoto.com for taking the time to shoot the 2 cars. Typical monsoon season provided a different perspective and of course, spoilt the shooting session. So there are only 2 shots for now. Also, I’d like to debut the flat black headlight surrounds by Angeline on the MINI, Done by Herself.
Though the rain screwed the shoot, it still managed to produce the above. At least I have a shot of the E34 in the wet . Another session will be arranged for a full feature. This will probably be the last few shots of the E34 in the current state. Aesthetic changes awaits.
The Type IIs that i recently acquired came with Falken rubbers. So why not use them first? They’re in 245/35/19 and 275/30/19. I managed to fit the fronts, with the 15mm spacers on. but had to remove the rear 20mm spacers. They will be shaved and reinstalled, once i get the rear fenders rib shaved. I also have some new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric, just waiting to go on, in 265/30/19 and 235/35/19. Please enjoy the only 2 pictures Continue reading
I’m that much closer to completing the E34 with the addition of these AC Schnitzer 19″ Type IIs. Here they are raw from storage. Pretty filthy from the pictures and there are also some chips and curb marks, but they are still pretty much virgins in terms of not being painted on, ever. I have intentions of getting them powder coated but have yet to find a shop that does it.
The parts are being bolted as i post this. I have been running the E34 with my old E30 3:73 LSD mounted on the older, smaller E34 rear subframe. How, you ask?, well that’s because i’ve also been using the M20 long-shaft and most other rear drive parts, including the driveshafts, brakes. That is unacceptable but good enough until now. So I recently found a guy who supplied me with the 540i rear axle complete with:
A trip up to Genting Highlands with Ryan (Z4 MCoupe) and Shaun (S2000) ended at the outdoor parking area where we chilled out for a bit in the chilly and wet weather. The wet and cold surface calls for some donuts and by the 6th and a half baked donut, the V12 spews smoke. Popped the bonnet and more oil sprinkles up and everywhere being flicked from the radiator fan. The V12 is now caramalized from the oil glaze. As for what went wrong, it was an oil hose failure.
Finally. Here are some pictures of the 550i’s latest progress. Sorry i did have the car washed 2 days ago but today’s rain ruined everything. Since i’m bringing it to the workshop later, I’ll leave it for now. The guys at the shop will get the finer details sorted out. What’s lacking currently:
Yup, i have been driving it that way for the last week. I have also had the exhaust connected to just the center section for now(again). It’s pretty loud, but just not anywhere near refined. With just the center section now, it has that subtle burbling like a turbo would but dominated by the creamy V12′s nice growling howl. I’m planning for a more final exhaust system soon.
Parts of the engine are pretty much as-in from the donor, oxidized, roasted. I’ll get it all detailed and painted soon.I may even put in the metal mesh air filter pods.
As i’ve mentioned, the old V12 was replaced with a more complete 750i swap. So, again, it’s essentially a 750iAl with an E34 shell(maybe). A Far cry from the then, manual transmission and throttles. It’s just so much more tamer now. So much so, that it’s completely soften the intentions of a wild V12 project. Though i’m kept happy with other attributes that make the 750i such a fine cruiser. But i’m determined to hack it as far as i can.
The magnificent V12 is a sight to behold. Did i mention i had the whole bay degreased in Simple Green? My all-time favourite multi-purpose cleaner. Know where the oil is filled? The central oil filler made my buy that little more worth it. Most 750is in existence now have got their oil filler near the firewall, which doesn’t look nearly as good as the central ones on the 850is. Try browing pics of my late V12. I have also got used to the central expansion tank that were only on the Bigger fives and sevens. looks good in there too. Continue reading
