Well gents, at long last and in between too many projects, a deal I couldn't pass up dropped in my lap. CX00416 became available under 50 miles from me with a hydrolocked engine.

Will be picking up the roller chassis in a week or so without fenders, hood, or headlight (already parted prior to my acquisition).

As some of you know, I'm a long time M5 owner and a have a business on side working with M5/M6 engines, repairs, and parts, so my goal is build a truly unique vehicle for North America.

I already have subframes, suspension corners, s85 block and internals, all M5 modules and wire harnesses, so getting this together will hopefully move along fairly quickly.

There are a few things I'm still undecided on, such as using OEM EDC dampers (I have a source for them and the airbags overseas), and which transmission to go with. I'm a fan of the SMG having worked on them and rebuilt scores of them, but also considering 6MT or DCT from an E9x (an ongoing side project).

She isn't much to look at so far, but will be coming in at 214k miles and will get a complete teardown and loving.

 

 

awesome! good luck with your project.

 

214K miles! Damn, must have been a commuter car.

Go for the 6 speed manual, make it as pure as possible.

 

6 speed manual!

 

I would like to, but I have numerous SMGs already and a DCT as well. I want to fulfill the DCT idea eventually and it would be significantly more work to switch back from 6MT to DCT than SMG to DCT with pedals, hydraulic lines, etc.

 

Picked up a 6MT M5 rear cradle on ebay for cheap. Same part number as the E61 M5 oddly and it even has E61 M5 stamped on it. Don't know what the difference is from the normal E61, but will compare when it comes in to find out. It will all have to be dropped anyway to get to the gas tank. I suspect the gas tank will be ok to retain the E61s, but I have several E60 M5 tanks to compare to as well.

My handicap going in is I know only one car, the M5. I have no idea about the E61s at all.

Moving the DSC into the driver's fender well should be interesting too.

 

This looks fun, please document with tons of photos.

 

Requesting info from the experts.

These are pictures sent to me from Latvia where I sourced the OEM rear wheel hubs from an E61 M5. The part numbers are difference for the wheel hubs and pulse generators, but I'm wondering if anyone can take a look at them and see any difference from the non-M E61 hubs.