Evan's E61 Build: Pics, Updates, and Wagon Love for All
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Columbus OH
My Ride: '08 535 xiT, '11 K1300S
New Members
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
My Ride: 535xi touring
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
Update: These rear brakes are a pain.
Changing the hubs has proven to be a real challenge; removing them takes some special tools (hub puller) and working in awkward positions (the hub is held on by 4 bolts which much be removed from the inside of the steering knuckle).
My father and I tried building our own hub puller with a small 2-ton floor jack, a steel bar and some chains. The end result was slightly bent/compressed threads on the 1/2 shaft, the hub was content staying where it was. A 12-ton puller from Harbor Freight saved the day, with me (6'8" 250lbs) putting all my muscle into pumping the jack and my father shocking the hub with a small sledge - we became successful.
We now have to re-thread the damaged shaft, replace a bearing has some play in it and appears to be damaged (probably damaged during it's previous removal.... I understand), service and readjust the parking brake, and we will be good to go.
Here are some pictures of this month-long weekend project. I included some shots of the stock E61 hub and M5 replacement which is required to have the rotor and caliper properly align. There is a roughly a 1" difference between the 2 units.
Evan
Changing the hubs has proven to be a real challenge; removing them takes some special tools (hub puller) and working in awkward positions (the hub is held on by 4 bolts which much be removed from the inside of the steering knuckle).
My father and I tried building our own hub puller with a small 2-ton floor jack, a steel bar and some chains. The end result was slightly bent/compressed threads on the 1/2 shaft, the hub was content staying where it was. A 12-ton puller from Harbor Freight saved the day, with me (6'8" 250lbs) putting all my muscle into pumping the jack and my father shocking the hub with a small sledge - we became successful.
We now have to re-thread the damaged shaft, replace a bearing has some play in it and appears to be damaged (probably damaged during it's previous removal.... I understand), service and readjust the parking brake, and we will be good to go.
Here are some pictures of this month-long weekend project. I included some shots of the stock E61 hub and M5 replacement which is required to have the rotor and caliper properly align. There is a roughly a 1" difference between the 2 units.
Evan
Thread Starter
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Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 901
Likes: 16
From: San Diego
My Ride: E61 with all the mods
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
If M5 brakes were mounted directly to the stock xi hubs they would not align with the brake caliper. The stock rotors are offset inward from the mounting mount to compensate for this.
The options are to change xi --> M5 hubs to get the M5 brakes aligned with the stock caliper bracket position OR get some custom caliper brackets made that would compensate for the offset (but this is not really an option as the strength of the braking system would be compromised, I just used it as an example to further clarify the situation).
Evan
The options are to change xi --> M5 hubs to get the M5 brakes aligned with the stock caliper bracket position OR get some custom caliper brackets made that would compensate for the offset (but this is not really an option as the strength of the braking system would be compromised, I just used it as an example to further clarify the situation).
Evan
Members
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
From: Finland
My Ride: E61 LCI 535dA SportEdition 2010
Wow, you've done your car really nice! 
Did I understand correctly that you are driving now, on the latest pics, with OEM M5 fenders? Where the vents are?
ps. Wheels are sick! Unfortunately they get too expensive to get them to finland...
edit. Ok, i did find the answer from stanceworks topic.. you have "fill them up"
Did I understand correctly that you are driving now, on the latest pics, with OEM M5 fenders? Where the vents are?
ps. Wheels are sick! Unfortunately they get too expensive to get them to finland...
edit. Ok, i did find the answer from stanceworks topic.. you have "fill them up"
Last edited by Matson^; Feb 6, 2014 at 07:47 AM.
Thread Starter
Members
Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 901
Likes: 16
From: San Diego
My Ride: E61 with all the mods
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
I like keeping a low profile with the aesthetics on my cars. I didn't see the functionality of having the vents with my n54 engine and I prefer to have a clean look on the body. Vents, scoops, wings, etc. rarely do it for me so I had them filled in prior to painting the fenders.
In addition to having smooth body aesthetics, I like mods that will be overlooked by civilians and make an enthusiast double-take; in this case: noticing the beefy stance or wondering how I fit 19x9.5 wheels on the front of an xi. On the surface it looks normal but once you dive deeper there is more to it.
Evan
In addition to having smooth body aesthetics, I like mods that will be overlooked by civilians and make an enthusiast double-take; in this case: noticing the beefy stance or wondering how I fit 19x9.5 wheels on the front of an xi. On the surface it looks normal but once you dive deeper there is more to it.
Evan
Wow, you've done your car really nice!
Did I understand correctly that you are driving now, on the latest pics, with OEM M5 fenders? Where the vents are?
ps. Wheels are sick! Unfortunately they get too expensive to get them to finland...
edit. Ok, i did find the answer from stanceworks topic.. you have "fill them up"
Did I understand correctly that you are driving now, on the latest pics, with OEM M5 fenders? Where the vents are?
ps. Wheels are sick! Unfortunately they get too expensive to get them to finland...
edit. Ok, i did find the answer from stanceworks topic.. you have "fill them up"
Members
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
From: Finland
My Ride: E61 LCI 535dA SportEdition 2010
I like keeping a low profile with the aesthetics on my cars. I didn't see the functionality of having the vents with my n54 engine and I prefer to have a clean look on the body. Vents, scoops, wings, etc. rarely do it for me so I had them filled in prior to painting the fenders.
In addition to having smooth body aesthetics, I like mods that will be overlooked by civilians and make an enthusiast double-take; in this case: noticing the beefy stance or wondering how I fit 19x9.5 wheels on the front of an xi. On the surface it looks normal but once you dive deeper there is more to it.
Evan
In addition to having smooth body aesthetics, I like mods that will be overlooked by civilians and make an enthusiast double-take; in this case: noticing the beefy stance or wondering how I fit 19x9.5 wheels on the front of an xi. On the surface it looks normal but once you dive deeper there is more to it.
Evan
Respect 
New Members
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 216
Likes: 6
From: Boston
My Ride: 535xi Wagon
Model Year: 2010
My front wheels are back after being remachined by Forgestar, Rubber is mounted and wheels are installed! As a refresher:
Forgestar F14 SDC - Textured Gunmetal
FRONT: 19x9.5 et23ish Hankook V12 245/40
REAR: 19x10 et30ish Hankook V12 275/35
Since the rear M5 hubs changed my offsets by about 20mm (ordered wheels before brake upgrade
) There is a 12mm spacer on the rear but I am swapping them out to a 20mm.
Thread Starter
Members
Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 901
Likes: 16
From: San Diego
My Ride: E61 with all the mods
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
