ChrisO

Real promising start here, took me 3 seconds to see the crank position sensor wires are cut clean in half, not sure how or why that happened. Also I've noticed inside of the oil cap, the head has a nice creamy sludge pooled at the bottom off the head bellow the cams in those pockets. It's pretty thick gunk... I know moisture can cause stuff like this but it's pretty thick. PO told me he changed the oil last year when he tried to get it to run, and the oil in the pan looks perfect (although very thick). One observation I made is the oil is way overfilled. I wonder if the motor was filled with sludge that wouldn't drain completely when he added 8 quarts of fresh oil?

Under no circumstances does it seem normal to me, but I might be mistaken? the car did sit with the same oil in it for 10 years... I can't run most of the blown headgasket tests thanks to the car being a no start, and the cooling system being completely dry/ probably not holding pressure due to old hoses. I can do a leak down and compression test. Opinions? When I have more time I'm going to pull the valve cover gasket to better get a look at the inside of the head. 
also I discovered some subs and a amp under all the garbage in the trunk 😂

Looks like it has some kind of custom box for e34's, if anyone wants it all for super cheap let me know haha

I feel pretty good about it, my expenses are just over what you had him at. I just really wanted the full aero and wheels, no matter what direction this goes I'm holding on to them!

Well I ended up putting in a offer on the 93 M5 @Jdesign had found last year and yesterday after class I went to pick it up
the drive was about 2 1/2 hours from Eau Claire, I rented a U-Haul pickup and trailer and it was a perfect day for the drive down. It was my first time towing anything ever and it was super easy, even with a 4000lb car on the back. Everything felt very planted. It was a great deal I thought at $220 for the 24 hours and 300 miles I had it.

Everywhere south of Arcadia, WI had some pretty impressive roads, hills and bluffs, especially closer to the Mississippi River. I’m definitely driving down that way this summer.
The seller was a great dude and was a huge help getting the car on the trailer
Its a 93, Schwartz II with a less desirable dove type interior. The only option it has is power seats, everything else is standard. The car is dead, but has around 190k miles on it



The full rig

I got back to Eau Claire around 9pm and unloaded the car, it then took my roommate and I two hours to push it 8 feet into my garage because the entire parking lot was ice. It was horrible, zero traction to push

secured in the garage

I haven’t even had the chance to look at it yet, this afternoon after class I’m going to dig in. A few things I’ve noticed so far, the car has no severe rust except for a area up front by the driver fender in the floor pan, a hole about the size of a ping pong ball. It’s surprisingly clean, rust wise. Honestly tho the car is beat to shit. It’s been sitting for 11 years, it last ran in 2008. The coolant reservoir is empty, and the oil almost seems sticky... maybe it’s just 20w50 in 19° weather? Just about every rubber line and hose in the engine bay is dried out.
This car/thread could go a few different ways
1. The motor hasn’t suffered some kind of catastrophic failure and I get it to run and drive and enjoy it 
2. The motor has suffered catastrophic failure and a s50 gets swapped in or something  (eh)
3. I part the car out, keep the wheels, mirrors, bumpers, skirts and rear trunk panel to put on a 530i/540i that I’ll daily (this is probably going to be the winning option)
Im pretty much looking to replace my Passat as my daily driver. Either way I want it to be a e34. For now I’ll post me messing around with the m5 and all my findings 

Well I ended up putting in a offer on the 93 M5 @Jdesign had found last year and yesterday after class I went to pick it up
the drive was about 2 1/2 hours from Eau Claire, I rented a U-Haul pickup and trailer and it was a perfect day for the drive down. It was my first time towing anything ever and it was super easy, even with a 4000lb car on the back. Everything felt very planted. It was a great deal I thought at $220 for the 24 hours and 300 miles I had it.

Everywhere south of Arcadia, WI had some pretty impressive roads, hills and bluffs, especially closer to the Mississippi River. I’m definitely driving down that way this summer.
The seller was a great dude and was a huge help getting the car on the trailer
Its a 93, Schwartz II with a less desirable dove type interior. The only option it has is power seats, everything else is standard. The car is dead, but has around 190k miles on it



The full rig

I got back to Eau Claire around 9pm and unloaded the car, it then took my roommate and I two hours to push it 8 feet into my garage because the entire parking lot was ice. It was horrible, zero traction to push

secured in the garage

I haven’t even had the chance to look at it yet, this afternoon after class I’m going to dig in. A few things I’ve noticed so far, the car has no severe rust except for a area up front by the driver fender in the floor pan, a hole about the size of a ping pong ball. It’s surprisingly clean, rust wise. Honestly tho the car is beat to shit. It’s been sitting for 11 years, it last ran in 2008. The coolant reservoir is empty, and the oil almost seems sticky... maybe it’s just 20w50 in 19° weather? Just about every rubber line and hose in the engine bay is dried out.
This car/thread could go a few different ways
1. The motor hasn’t suffered some kind of catastrophic failure and I get it to run and drive and enjoy it 
2. The motor has suffered catastrophic failure and a s50 gets swapped in or something  (eh)
3. I part the car out, keep the wheels, mirrors, bumpers, skirts and rear trunk panel to put on a 530i/540i that I’ll daily (this is probably going to be the winning option)
Im pretty much looking to replace my Passat as my daily driver. Either way I want it to be a e34. For now I’ll post me messing around with the m5 and all my findings 

Well I ended up putting in a offer on the 93 M5 @Jdesign had found last year and yesterday after class I went to pick it up
the drive was about 2 1/2 hours from Eau Claire, I rented a U-Haul pickup and trailer and it was a perfect day for the drive down. It was my first time towing anything ever and it was super easy, even with a 4000lb car on the back. Everything felt very planted. It was a great deal I thought at $220 for the 24 hours and 300 miles I had it.

Everywhere south of Arcadia, WI had some pretty impressive roads, hills and bluffs, especially closer to the Mississippi River. I’m definitely driving down that way this summer.
The seller was a great dude and was a huge help getting the car on the trailer
Its a 93, Schwartz II with a less desirable dove type interior. The only option it has is power seats, everything else is standard. The car is dead, but has around 190k miles on it



The full rig

I got back to Eau Claire around 9pm and unloaded the car, it then took my roommate and I two hours to push it 8 feet into my garage because the entire parking lot was ice. It was horrible, zero traction to push

secured in the garage

I haven’t even had the chance to look at it yet, this afternoon after class I’m going to dig in. A few things I’ve noticed so far, the car has no severe rust except for a area up front by the driver fender in the floor pan, a hole about the size of a ping pong ball. It’s surprisingly clean, rust wise. Honestly tho the car is beat to shit. It’s been sitting for 11 years, it last ran in 2008. The coolant reservoir is empty, and the oil almost seems sticky... maybe it’s just 20w50 in 19° weather? Just about every rubber line and hose in the engine bay is dried out.
This car/thread could go a few different ways
1. The motor hasn’t suffered some kind of catastrophic failure and I get it to run and drive and enjoy it 
2. The motor has suffered catastrophic failure and a s50 gets swapped in or something  (eh)
3. I part the car out, keep the wheels, mirrors, bumpers, skirts and rear trunk panel to put on a 530i/540i that I’ll daily (this is probably going to be the winning option)
Im pretty much looking to replace my Passat as my daily driver. Either way I want it to be a e34. For now I’ll post me messing around with the m5 and all my findings 

very very cool.  i do hope you can get it running. and if you DD it, I hope you have deep pockets!

Well I ended up putting in a offer on the 93 M5 @Jdesign had found last year and yesterday after class I went to pick it up
the drive was about 2 1/2 hours from Eau Claire, I rented a U-Haul pickup and trailer and it was a perfect day for the drive down. It was my first time towing anything ever and it was super easy, even with a 4000lb car on the back. Everything felt very planted. It was a great deal I thought at $220 for the 24 hours and 300 miles I had it.

Everywhere south of Arcadia, WI had some pretty impressive roads, hills and bluffs, especially closer to the Mississippi River. I’m definitely driving down that way this summer.
The seller was a great dude and was a huge help getting the car on the trailer
Its a 93, Schwartz II with a less desirable dove type interior. The only option it has is power seats, everything else is standard. The car is dead, but has around 190k miles on it



The full rig

I got back to Eau Claire around 9pm and unloaded the car, it then took my roommate and I two hours to push it 8 feet into my garage because the entire parking lot was ice. It was horrible, zero traction to push

secured in the garage

I haven’t even had the chance to look at it yet, this afternoon after class I’m going to dig in. A few things I’ve noticed so far, the car has no severe rust except for a area up front by the driver fender in the floor pan, a hole about the size of a ping pong ball. It’s surprisingly clean, rust wise. Honestly tho the car is beat to shit. It’s been sitting for 11 years, it last ran in 2008. The coolant reservoir is empty, and the oil almost seems sticky... maybe it’s just 20w50 in 19° weather? Just about every rubber line and hose in the engine bay is dried out.
This car/thread could go a few different ways
1. The motor hasn’t suffered some kind of catastrophic failure and I get it to run and drive and enjoy it 
2. The motor has suffered catastrophic failure and a s50 gets swapped in or something  (eh)
3. I part the car out, keep the wheels, mirrors, bumpers, skirts and rear trunk panel to put on a 530i/540i that I’ll daily (this is probably going to be the winning option)
Im pretty much looking to replace my Passat as my daily driver. Either way I want it to be a e34. For now I’ll post me messing around with the m5 and all my findings 

SO MUCH YES!! I assume you got a killer deal on it since its been sitting for so long and needs so much work.  
CONGRATS!!

Well I ended up putting in a offer on the 93 M5 @Jdesign had found last year and yesterday after class I went to pick it up
the drive was about 2 1/2 hours from Eau Claire, I rented a U-Haul pickup and trailer and it was a perfect day for the drive down. It was my first time towing anything ever and it was super easy, even with a 4000lb car on the back. Everything felt very planted. It was a great deal I thought at $220 for the 24 hours and 300 miles I had it.

Everywhere south of Arcadia, WI had some pretty impressive roads, hills and bluffs, especially closer to the Mississippi River. I’m definitely driving down that way this summer.
The seller was a great dude and was a huge help getting the car on the trailer
Its a 93, Schwartz II with a less desirable dove type interior. The only option it has is power seats, everything else is standard. The car is dead, but has around 190k miles on it



The full rig

I got back to Eau Claire around 9pm and unloaded the car, it then took my roommate and I two hours to push it 8 feet into my garage because the entire parking lot was ice. It was horrible, zero traction to push

secured in the garage

I haven’t even had the chance to look at it yet, this afternoon after class I’m going to dig in. A few things I’ve noticed so far, the car has no severe rust except for a area up front by the driver fender in the floor pan, a hole about the size of a ping pong ball. It’s surprisingly clean, rust wise. Honestly tho the car is beat to shit. It’s been sitting for 11 years, it last ran in 2008. The coolant reservoir is empty, and the oil almost seems sticky... maybe it’s just 20w50 in 19° weather? Just about every rubber line and hose in the engine bay is dried out.
This car/thread could go a few different ways
1. The motor hasn’t suffered some kind of catastrophic failure and I get it to run and drive and enjoy it 
2. The motor has suffered catastrophic failure and a s50 gets swapped in or something  (eh)
3. I part the car out, keep the wheels, mirrors, bumpers, skirts and rear trunk panel to put on a 530i/540i that I’ll daily (this is probably going to be the winning option)
Im pretty much looking to replace my Passat as my daily driver. Either way I want it to be a e34. For now I’ll post me messing around with the m5 and all my findings 

Well I ended up putting in a offer on the 93 M5 @Jdesign had found last year and yesterday after class I went to pick it up
the drive was about 2 1/2 hours from Eau Claire, I rented a U-Haul pickup and trailer and it was a perfect day for the drive down. It was my first time towing anything ever and it was super easy, even with a 4000lb car on the back. Everything felt very planted. It was a great deal I thought at $220 for the 24 hours and 300 miles I had it.

Everywhere south of Arcadia, WI had some pretty impressive roads, hills and bluffs, especially closer to the Mississippi River. I’m definitely driving down that way this summer.
The seller was a great dude and was a huge help getting the car on the trailer
Its a 93, Schwartz II with a less desirable dove type interior. The only option it has is power seats, everything else is standard. The car is dead, but has around 190k miles on it



The full rig

I got back to Eau Claire around 9pm and unloaded the car, it then took my roommate and I two hours to push it 8 feet into my garage because the entire parking lot was ice. It was horrible, zero traction to push

secured in the garage

I haven’t even had the chance to look at it yet, this afternoon after class I’m going to dig in. A few things I’ve noticed so far, the car has no severe rust except for a area up front by the driver fender in the floor pan, a hole about the size of a ping pong ball. It’s surprisingly clean, rust wise. Honestly tho the car is beat to shit. It’s been sitting for 11 years, it last ran in 2008. The coolant reservoir is empty, and the oil almost seems sticky... maybe it’s just 20w50 in 19° weather? Just about every rubber line and hose in the engine bay is dried out.
This car/thread could go a few different ways
1. The motor hasn’t suffered some kind of catastrophic failure and I get it to run and drive and enjoy it 
2. The motor has suffered catastrophic failure and a s50 gets swapped in or something  (eh)
3. I part the car out, keep the wheels, mirrors, bumpers, skirts and rear trunk panel to put on a 530i/540i that I’ll daily (this is probably going to be the winning option)
Im pretty much looking to replace my Passat as my daily driver. Either way I want it to be a e34. For now I’ll post me messing around with the m5 and all my findings 

At the rate of how slow I do things on my car, building something like this would probably take me 25 years 😐
also, I worked out a deal on that e34 M5 and will be picking it up sometime next week!

Will do! Fingers crossed, I'm really hoping I can get it to run so I can daily it this summer! Chances are the motor is damaged though, will be exploring other options... I don't exactly want to take this one off the road for good

At the rate of how slow I do things on my car, building something like this would probably take me 25 years 😐
also, I worked out a deal on that e34 M5 and will be picking it up sometime next week!

Will do! Fingers crossed, I'm really hoping I can get it to run so I can daily it this summer! Chances are the motor is damaged though, will be exploring other options... I don't exactly want to take this one off the road for good

At the rate of how slow I do things on my car, building something like this would probably take me 25 years 😐
also, I worked out a deal on that e34 M5 and will be picking it up sometime next week!

CONGRATS!!!
Please share once you pick it up!

At the rate of how slow I do things on my car, building something like this would probably take me 25 years 😐
also, I worked out a deal on that e34 M5 and will be picking it up sometime next week!

At the rate of how slow I do things on my car, building something like this would probably take me 25 years 😐
also, I worked out a deal on that e34 M5 and will be picking it up sometime next week!

At the rate of how slow I do things on my car, building something like this would probably take me 25 years 😐
also, I worked out a deal on that e34 M5 and will be picking it up sometime next week!

If you have that kind of money to spend on a 16 year old car then you have 3 to 5 other cars and this one will be cool to tell your friends about.  You want this, you want it now and you want to drive it right away with minimum time invested.  $17k for the M5 donor on top of 6 months to a year of hours and hours doing the swap yourself.  If you're paying a shop its still a month or so worth of work plus $10k-ish in labor.  Unless its a WIbimmers member then figure a 2-5 year swap... I'm not saying this is some great value if it goes for $45k but it makes sense to the right person.

It's at $31k with 5 days left... Is this really going to sell for upwards of $40,000?? Come on... doesn't it just start to not make sense? 
Let's pretend the cumulative value of all of the parts swapped over is worth the going rate of a nice, well maintained e39 M5 ($16-17k?). 
So it's at $31,000 (currently), If this thing was a stock 540it M-sport with 105k miles and accident history it would be going for $15k with 5 days left at auction already...
I can''t wait to see someone pay $45,000 for this
ps: sick car tho
 
@SteelBlue If only you wouldn't have scrapped the m3 shell, check out the going rate of ones with watermelon sized rust holes in the quarters and floor pans in Chicago
https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/for/d/plano-e36-m3-sedan-rolling-shell/6831510421.html

😑

Hard pass.

It’s pretty far away and is one of those all in, or all out situations. You could make some easy money on it, but it’s hard to part out a car that could be fixed and made drivable fairly easy. 

The M5 will get you way more no doubt. The prices are hyper inflated and everything is NLA. No doubt there is $6000 easy in parts