So its 2012, a new year and a new look for the E34. A substantial change to the BM for a decade. The AC Schnitzer Type IIs have been sold and replaced with this set of DPE S10 in 20X9.5 and 20X10.5 stretched on 245/30/20 and 245/35/20. It was bought used from an E60 that ordered his set in the deepest dish possible.

Still getting used to the size of the new wheels, especially being my first set of 20s. I felt they gel better with the new body colour more than the Black ACS Type II

In its custom offset which i have yet to find out, and as it seems, DPE and most custom wheels manufacturers hardly reveals dimension numbers. Surprisingly it fits with no major problems. The offset seems pretty spot on though a minimal, say 5-10mm spacer might be useful if I do stretch on smaller tyres in the future.

Not a great deal of poke from the wheels, but good enough for something unplanned. No close ups for now. The wheels are yet to be refurbished, pending decision to paint or polish

The rear need some more slamming and would definitely incur some rubbing and exhaust getting more intimate with the humps, as it already is.

Fills the Arches perfectly.

Top down view

Finally, la pièce de résistance

Remember my favourite E34 from Japan? It’s got Schnitzer everything and a particular front splitter-thing attached to the S5 bumper. I didn’t know the origins of it so i assumed it was a generic one. A friend of mine told me it was in fact from AC Schnitzer and he’s recently made replicas of them. The picture above shows the prototype fitted. If you ever had mixed feelings of the existing S5 bumper not making enough an impact, this lip spoiler should provide that needed ground effect.

If you are considering going for that razor-sharp look, then the good thing is it wouldn’t create much of a height clearance issue IF you are not already running that barely-skimming-the-ramp low. The existing short overhang of the S5 bumper makes it the all-time ramp friendly yet stance provoking choice especially if you’re going really low.

Moulded off the authentic item dismantled from an authentic bumper, it should bolt right on to all S5 bumpers. There might be gap issues when installed on replica S5 bumpers.

It can look really really good, also updates the front.

Now you should see the difference

My recent trip to Koh Samui island turned out to be much more than a perfect holiday. I didn’t expect to see any real cars there, let alone an Euro scene in Samui. Within my 5 minute bus trip to the Baan Talay Resort (which is in my opinion the best in accomodation experience, The Talay rooms.), I’ve already laid my eyes on this Schnitzer, above. People there actually ferry their cars from mainland Thailand considering, there pretty much isn’t any flat roads to drive on the small island.

Later that day, I rented a Cub bike (or kap cai) and came back here to take some pictures. I concluded a few days later that he must run a business in that market area. A sticker in the rear also mentioned BMWE34Club.com, a prominent Thai BMW E34 club site. He must be a local a local Euro carboy. Touring the Samui Island in my rental bike for 5 days also made it easier to absorb the experience. The slower speed gives you more time to see, the ease of a bike also allows you stop or detour at any time (almost). You can even ride without helmets.

Petrol, or Gasoline as is more commonly known there, is available anywhere, not just everywhere. There is no way you’ll ever run out. Occasionally, you’ll see a petrol station. But what’s everywhere are the part-time gasoline sellers.  Operated outside of sundry shops or houses or anything, just 1 or 2 generic barrel drums, a manual pump, a funnel a sign that says Gasoline and you have a Gasoline Stall. They sell by the litres bottled. Fuel quality is very questionable. My bike didn’t run as smoothly or had double the mileage with these bottled petrol compared to the more better quality fuel sold by the real petrol stations there.

Here’s an occasion riding on the inner roads of Samui. I bought petrol from a gasoline stall there. I chose to stop at this stall because it had an E34 and an E30 parked at the porch. Again, some pics.

Moving on, riding to find some roadside stall for lunch, I found this E30 right after digesting my bowl of noodles. I found it dumped on the side. No history available on this and the nearby shop doesn’t own it.

As I walked around it, I found this picture below. By now, you should realize that, many if not most done up old Euros like these, do not run on any M40, M20, M50 engines anymore.

I’ll be posting a part 2 on this as I chat up with 2 local car boys who shares their thoughs on the local car scene and their transvest-euros.

This is one of my all-time favorite E34. Though not much information or other pictures of it can be found, i managed to find pics of it by searching for “Schnitt E34″ I found the car’s profile here. Other known information is that it’s a late model E34 525i and is obviously based in Japan and is associated with a German car club named NKV – Norden Kanto Verbnd

It’s pretty obvious, what’s been done on the outside. The classic AC Schnitzer Type II Racings in 19×9 and 19×10, with 235/30 and 265/30 for sufficient stretch and everything else Schnitzer, including the antique Type 1 mirrors. I have painstakingly collected a series of pictures after the jump

Have been searching forever for a set of AC Schnitzer Type II in 19s from the E39 and up.  And here they are! It’s in 8.5″ and 9.5″. It may not look like any change at all from my current 18″ type IIs but believe me, they are, in both size and design.

As pictured, the 19X9.5 rear alongside the 18×8.5s on the car. Can’t wait to collect them real soon

What you’re seeing above is my third attempt at the exhaust for the V12. (tips weren’t welded) A good change from my mangled AC Schnitzer exhaust. (it’s for sale now). The system above started with just 4 pieces of cylindrical silencers. Sounds really great but was just way too loud.

Then I had the end silencers removed and fitted the rectangular ones you see in the picture at the end. both Vertically fitted for clearance purposes. The rectangular muffler also had a restrictor fitted to further quiet it down.  Sounds More muffled but just doesn’t sound right. Looks real ugly too.

This time, the 3rd time visiting the shop, I got the rectangulars welded to the front, then the little cylindrical silencers, then the X-pipe and then the longer cylindricals. This time, i’m happy. More pictures and sound video to come

Some specs of my custom exhaust:

1. 2.5″ galvanized Pipes
2. Stainless Steel Silencers
   • 2 x Rectangular muffler + Restrictor
   • 2 x Long cylindrical muffler
   • 2 x Short cylindrical muffler
3. X-Pipe
4. 2 x 4″ Tail pipes

Nothing like this of course.

Took some quick pics of the new interior after a week plus rolling out of the shop. i’ll take better shots soon and provide a detailed introduction to my new interior. Real leather, fake alcantara, lotsa diamonds, all stitched up. these pics were taken five minutes ago and uploaded directly. my apologies if there are flaws, i didn’t even cleap the car..

The shop sent some more updates of some completed parts. He’s done the door cards, the seats and the floor lining. I think the pillars’ done too. What’s left now is the custom roof lining that’s going to be done in Red sides and Black suede with diamond stitches running through the center. 

Yes, Red is aplenty Please Enjoy

Red Leather + Diamond stitching

Black Suede + red stitching

Remodeled rear seats