My E12, M535i Turbo project

[E12 535i Turbo]

Hi there. Just over a year ago, I decided to do something different. I wanted to build a street racer and what better car could I use than the original E12 M535i? The body was heavy but extremely strong. The motor was a gem and it was bullet proof. The motor was capable of delivering huge amounts of power and torque when a turbo was added.

I started looking around and to my surprise I found this ex Tony Viana 535i. This car was one of only a hundred an twenty, light weight models ever build. It came standard without the luxuries like aircon, power steering and electric windows. It had a special lower dash.

I decided to buy the car but I must mention that it was in a terrible state. It was still running strong, but the body was shot! I stripped everything and today the car is almost finish. I have the odd change to do here and there like removing the M colour stripes. I am not happy with the results and think it is a bit of an over kill. The car will return to a plain white in due corse!

Here are some pictures of my project.

Fitting the bonnet ducts and the E36 spoiler

Just after the primer coat

After the base coat

Putting on the M stripes (Mistake)

Finishing the stripes and putting on the clear coat

The only person who helped me on this project, my son Brandon

Stiffening the rear chassis and tightning the rear axle

Almost there

Nearly there

Thanks and regards

E12 M535i Turbo

 

[clutchplate]

WA DAMNNNN !!!!!

post some vids !! this thing should sound MEannn !!!

would Love to hear it :excited: :excited: :excited: !!!!!

 

[1two5guy]

Car looks awesome though, good job! I do agree the M stripes kinda kill it,also don't like the 535i turbo stickers..

Yeah Post vids! I wanna hear it :thumbsup:

 

[Gandalf038]

nice one! :thumbsup:

have to agree on the stripes though... bit much...

 

[Julz]

Wow,well done on that project.it looks great.can you elaborate more on the engine,what exactly did you do to it and some specs plz.

 

[freerider]

Looks like a lot of hard work went into that car, I would love to build up a E36 like this. :thumbsup:

I'm also very interested in the engine, did you buy it turbo'd, or did you do the conversion?

 

[siraaj]

Well done. A true fanatic

 

[E12 535i Turbo]

I bought the car with the turbo conversion. As I already mentioned, this car belonged to the late Tony Viana and was ment for the race track. Tony however never took it to the track and used the car as his personal transport. When Tony got sick, he sold the car to his aprentice.

His aprentice, a guy called Phillip (Protune devellopments) imported the turbo kit from Germany and did the conversion. He used the 535i block, lowered the compression using the stock Mahley pistons. The rods and crank is standard. The 535i came standard with a steel crank.

He used the intake manifold and head from the 635csi as it came with bigger valves and bigger inlet ports. The head was flowed and cc'd.

The puffer is a T61 Garrett blowing through a large enough Intercooler. The external waste gate comes from Turbosmart. Keeping the turbo spinning between gear changes is done by two turbosmart dump valves. Fueling comes from six, sixhundred cc injectors.Fuel management comer from Mr Turbo.

I have now entered the second stage of my project whereby the following will be done. The M stripes and all signature will be removed. I have already removed the engine whereby it will be completely rebuild. I will replace the turbo manifold with a new custom made manifold. The engine bay must be a show case!!

I will post more pictures as I progress.

Thanks

E12 535i Turbo

 

[Julz]

Ok kewl.in the future i want 2 put that engine in a boxshape and turbo it.ive had 2 m535's already,they're really bullet proof.have u had it on the dyno?what problems have u encountered with that turbo'd engine?you should leave the stripes on the side thou.

 

[Jandre]

WA DAMNNNN !!!!!

post some vids !! this thing should sound MEannn !!!

would Love to hear it :excited: :excited: :excited: !!!!!

+1 from me as well. Looks great.

 

[Twinz]

I am with Julz...keep stripes on side AND sticker...what an amazing project. Yes, you sitting with the rarest of gems...Well done to you and son:thumbsup: In last picture the car appears lowered? Great! :thumbsup: If the car was designed for the track and you intend to track it make it stand out...love the white and stripes and rims...and the whole damn car:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Look forward to the inside pics

 

[freerider]

Wow, I see you shoot the paint yourself, are you in the industry or just doing that as a hobby?
I admire your workmanship, that car really looks great. :thumbsup:

 

[E12 535i Turbo]

WOW guys, thanks for the response! To answer all of you questions. I am a chemical engineer and have never spray painted a thing in my life. Initially I got this panel beater to do the project for me. To say the least, I chased this guy away after just one week. I then decided to go and buy all the tools and do the work myself.

I have gone through a lot of trial and error and wasted a lot of money, especially on paint. Have painted the car and then took it all off a couple of times. R22K later, (just spend on paint), I was happy with the result. Today I can help myself with a spray gun, and I am proud of it!!

I have dyno'd the car and it pushed 292kw and 620nm at the wheels. Part of the second phase of my project is to install a 100HP nitrous kit for just in case.

The engine in this car ran for close to six years without any major problems. From what I have heard, It blew head gasket once. I however decided to rebuild the engine. On opening the engine, I found all the ring glands to be cracked and I know why. I had an excursion with a Suzuki TL 1000 one night and I dettonated slightly. I now have to replace all the pistons. The TL lost the race by the way!!

Other extras on the car is as follows.
Angel eye's
18" Merit racing wheels with 225 rubber
Bilstein suspension
Upgraded brake system
Evo Racing seats with Evo racing harnasses
38 lt fuel cell with HP fuel pumps
TNT Exhaust
100mm F1X tailpiece

I do have a video clip somewhere. Will look for it and post it.

Thanks and regards

E12 535i Turbo

Some more pictures

 

[freerider]

Amazing, I can imagine it must be quite a hand full in corners

That is a hell of a lot of work that you accomplished in the space of a year. It inspires me to get my ass into gear and do something of my own

 

[Twinz]

Sjoe :dropjaw: speechless!

Interesting four legged jack:thumbsup:

 

[Hellas]

Very nice build! :thumbsup:

 

[Gizmo]

:throwup: Tony would turn over in his grave if he saw that...

Let me guess, you bought everything at MST... The wheels, fart-can exhaust, front fibreglass bumper and the dodgy riveted vents have to go...Besides that, it looks pretty good.
Sad to see limited edition BMWs get butchered up like this, Im not the only one who thinks so...

 

[freerider]

shoo, Giz did you have a bad weekend

 

[Gizmo]

Naa, Anthony and I discussed it on saturday. I guess im just a purist. :mmm:
If you gonna mod, make it look like it came from the factory like that...

In fact, I had an awesome weekend. Shot lots of people playing paintball yesterday...hehe

 

[Twinz]

Gizmo had taken too many paintball hits. Are the cars in your signature the benchmark for modding???