E34 540i/A DD

[jimmk1]

I've picked up this as my new daily.
96 540i auto with 90k on clock, its a clean car and untouched just needs a good detail.

After carrying out a service on the car as its been sitting for a year i only need to sort a few things
firstly it needs inner TCA bushes so a power-flex kit is on it way.
I have ordered BC racing coilovers which i have to wait a week for but will be on it soon enough.

and lastly for the moment I'm going to look at a set of style 95 7 series wheels tomorrow so hopefully that should finish off the look I'm after.






more pics to follow??

[Jazzy Jeff]

Nice.. always loved a 34, this car looks familiar, maybe i'd been looking at it for sale haha

[jimmk1]

new wheels. need a tidy up but in general pretty good condition. coilovers arrived today also picks to follow

wheel teaser (ignore tyres there a little to large )

[Dutch]

I wish my postie delivered this early and as for the car, love it. e34's are god. makes me miss mine!

[Kinghorn]

oh sweeeeet! Looks like a clean 540i, but make sure you keep up on maintenance with the b40.
I didn't know the 96's came with 540i ducts... weird, but none the less damn. style 95's too, and BC's?
You a baller huh

[jimmk1]

small update

coilovers are here now the fun begins.
going to document install for these as when searching there isnt much info out there?

[Kinghorn]

Not sure if you've realized yet or not, but you cant just bolt coil overs into the e34... They need to be properly welded into the strut, its weird. Usually BC offers to do the welding of the coils onto a strut for an extra charge, but either way, congrats! Look nice!....... and expensive lol

[jimmk1]

Not sure if you've realized yet or not, but you cant just bolt coil overs into the e34... They need to be properly welded into the strut, its weird. Usually BC offers to do the welding of the coils onto a strut for an extra charge, but either way, congrats! Look nice!....... and expensive lol

yes im aware this is the case like a lot of early bmws as they have strut and hub as one unit. weren't to bad picked them up for 670 delivered!!
bc usa do offer this but i purchased it through a seperate dealer in uk which only supply the part as i tried going through uk main agent and they were useless. still advertise this kit as seperate rear shock and spring assembly with no top mount, which quite clearly isnt the case lol.
not a problem though as i will get one of the welders at work to weld it up. will post pics of this all once its done.

[jimmk1]

finally started on suspension yesterday. i noticed that there isnt much info or if there is its quite sparce about these installs (at least i couldnt find them) so i apologise if this is a bit drawn out.

Rears: all thats needed is a 22mm socket 13mm socket,

LOWER: lower shock bolt 22mm removed there is a spigot on the bottom of the shock which locates in the hole in the rear hub assembly this needs to be soaked in wd40 or similar. once bolt is removed i found the easiest way to pop it out was putting a ball joint splitter in the gap and giving it a good hit (please note i wasn't bothered about damaging the shock as im replacing the whole thing although i did remove both sides without damaging anything but my thumb!!). once this is removed its on to the top.

UPPER: remove rear seats. if you have headrest remove by lifting surround around the headrest arm then undo the retaining clips in the seat back plastic cover quarter turn, 4 in total. give the headrest a good wiggle while pulling up and they pop right out.
pop out parcel shelf clips and remove c pillar trim. there are 4 bolts on c pillar holding shelf down undo and shelf will become loose. i didnt remove completely just lifted up enough to remove strut top cover and get to 3 x 13mm nuts



then simply remove old shock


i then brushed off 90k worth of road grime, i will clean the inner arches up properly when i detail the car.


old vs new


then install new coilover in reverse order, so upper first then lower


Fronts: 19mm socket 22mm socket 16mm socket and spanner, 13mm socket,
undo all electrical connections first. soak everything in wd40 or similar.
remove brake caliper and carrier 19mm, which i then cable tied to a slot in inner wing so not to have it hanging on the brakeline of course. undo retaing screw for brake disc and removed.

then undo anti-roll bar tie link 16mm socket and spanner (spanner to stop thread from spinning in joint). Then vehicle speed sensor which is fastened to back of hub.
I then removed the upper trailing arm ball joint 22mm to get it out the way. then undo the other 3x19mm bolts holding lower arm bracket to hub/shock assembly give it a tug and it came off leaving lower arm and steering rod end connected to lower plate.

undo 3x13mm nuts on strut top and removed shock

(PICS TO FOLLOW)

got to disassemble shock ready to be cut and welded

[Frode D]

Great start.

Pretty excited to see how Style 95s fit the old E34.

[jimmk1]

fronts are now complete. and fitted . also poly-bushed upper suspension arms

shocks dismantled and removed





cut to 40mm as spec'd by BC


new shocks and sleave


welded up


installed

[Dutch]

Wheres the assembled shots :O the side shots, rolling shots, fuck it, i just want moar pics of this beauty!

[gearheaded]

Ditto, i want to see this thing back on it's feet!

[jimmk1]

Wheres the assembled shots :O the side shots, rolling shots, fuck it, i just want moar pics of this beauty!

hahaha all in good time.

it will be down on the old wheels unfortunately as the style 95s are being refurbished and need different tyres. plus i cant put the fronts on yet as im still waiting for my spacers to be delivered

[gearheaded]

know the feeling