2016
In March of 2016, the roads cleared enough for me to take the car into the shop. The plans had grown though. Not only was it getting a rebuilt 2002 engine and 2003 differential, but a full driveline, brake, gear linkage, and suspension refresh. Anything under the car that wasn’t set for at least 100,000 miles was to be rebuilt/replaced.
The engine work had been going on since January. The heads were sent out to a machine shop to be cleaned, and have new valve seals fitted. The valve clearances were checked, and they were all like new. The block was also sent out for cleaning and a polish. It came back like new too. Anything that is wearable inside the engine was replaced (minus the piston rings). Every seal, gasket, tensioner, washer, bolt, nut, etc. Hundreds of parts were replaced while re-constructing this engine. The VANOS system went to Dr. VANOS for new o-rings, cleaning, testing, and to have the helical gears machined so it’ll be as quiet as possible.
While all of this was going on, the rear end and drive line was worked on. New parts include:
Subframe bushings
Differential with PowerFlex differential bushings
Porsche nickel-copper alloy brake lines
Rear wheel bearings and hubs
Rear brake dust shields
Rear axles
Rear upper and lower control arms
Rear integral links
Driveshaft guibo
Pressure plate, flywheel, clutch disc, throw out bearing
Driveshaft CV joint
Driveshaft center support bearing
E60 545i short shifter, UUC DSSR, all shifter bushings
Transmission selector rod shaft seal
This totally refreshed my rear suspension, rear subframe, all brakes, shifter-linkage, and driveline. While the rear subframe was down, I also had the differential mount reinforced with aluminum tig welds.
The engine build took about 4 months start to finish. When it was done being built, I moved the original plenum to the new engine before installation. I used the alternator and AC compressor from the 2002 engine (less miles and newer than my original), but replaced the starter motor with a new Bosch unit. The engine was finally installed in late April, filled with BMW 5w-30 oil (just for break-in), and started for the first time. The lifters ticked like crazy in the beginning, as expected, but quieted down quickly. No service engine soon light.
I got the car back to my house with pretty much every mechanical component refreshed on May 25th, 2016. TimmayFest was just a few weeks away, and I needed miles on this engine for break-in asap. I couldn’t put it on the highway for a few hours until it was properly broken in. In the course of a few weeks, I put 1,000 city miles on the car, and changed the oil (back to Castrol TWS 10w-60).
I made it to TimmayFest just fine, and enjoyed what was the best TimmayFest weekend to date!
January, 2016
Disassembly of 2002 engine. (122,732 miles)
February, 2017
What a contrast to last year! I was able to get the car out and put a few miles on in February this year. I also found a good deal on the 1:18 model on Ebay, to match to the smaller 1:43 model that Kennan gave me years ago. The blue-print looking graphic is just that. It’s from BlackArtGraphic, back when they did custom BMW models. It’s laser-etched on a piece of black aluminum, custom-made for my car, it’s very cool.
March, 2017
Block back from cleaning.
Heads back from cleaning with new valve seals.
Piston and connecting rod
VANOS, block, and heads have returned, and are ready to be assembled.
March, 2017
Prepped and ready for rebuild.
Time to get the car to the shop! I had driven it just enough this year so far to achieve 192,000 miles exactly- as I pulled into the shop. This way, I’ll always know exactly how many miles it has been since the rebuild!
March-May, 2016
My cars company: an E24 M6 and E46 M3.
Rotating assembly assembled!
Rod caps, crankshaft, timing chain, timing cover, and pistons installed.
Head gasket.
Heads on!
Re-enforced differential mount.
Rear bearings and hubs.
Water pump.
Rear axles.
Full exhaust system removed.
Subframe out.
Rear subframe.
Poly rear differential bushings.
Rear subframe back in after reinforcement, fears bushings, control arms, etc.
Rebuilt engine ready for installation.
Original engine dropped out the bottom.
Standing in my engine bay… this was weird.
Two S62s!
Flywheel and clutch removed. These had ~84,000 miles on them.
Fresh flywheel.
Fresh clutch.
May, 2016
Home.
Home! A 0-mile S62 is kind of a cool thing. I suppose it isn’t really 0 miles, but all of the important parts are brand new. I just had to drive it carefully, and keep the revs low.
June, 2016
This is the time of year that I live for, and this year was special. The mechanicals are done for the foreseeable future, so it was time to get a fresh coat of wax on the M5, and then enjoy it in the nicer weather.
I had to let the girlfriend experience the M5! Well done, Megan.
November, 2016
Time to do something fun! My friend Geoff had just installed the Euro-dash on his 2001 M5. After seeing his, I knew I had to do mine. The European dashboard is different than the one that the United States got. The lower portion is much thinner, and matches the door panels a lot better. It also allows for more leg room, no lost glovebox storage space, and a little cubby pocket by the driver’s left knee. Please excuse the low-quality iPhone night pictures.
December, 2016
I graduated from college this month. Due to being so busy with exams, I never made true steps to winterize the M5. I parked in the garage, full of gas, cleaned it up, plugged it in, and left it. No plastic tarp this year, not even a cover. I was able to drive it once or twice in December, but then not again until February of 2017.
Videos
I did a 3 part video series on the engine rebuild, starting in late 2015. Click to see Part I, Part II, and Part III.
2016 Summary:
Ctek battery charger
Blackvue DR650GW dash-cam setup
Rebuilt 2002 engine installed
Entire driveline rebuilt
Rear suspension rebuilt
Rear subframe reinforced
Shift linkage/carrier rebuilt
Motor mounts, transmission mounts
Parking brake cables
All engine sensors/electronics
Water pump
Thermostat
Rear axles
Dr. VANOS VANOS rebuilt and machined
Alignment
Fresh fluids (all)
European dashboard kit