Fixing a Totaled BMW E34 535i for $500 in Just 2 Days!

In today's episode we introduce my new 1990 BMW 535i 5 speed E34. Finished in Schwarz 1 with a touch of a totaled front end! 535/5 speeds are becoming increasingly rare and desirable these days so this car deserves a second chance. So follow along as I show you guys how to fix a totaled E34 with no special tools, in my driveway. All you need is a ratchet strap, some sockets, a hammer, oh and a tree to make this car look brand new!

[@trentpeters7436]

That’s my old car. Sad to see it crashed. Glad to see her back rippin that lsd never gets old👍🏼

[@cameronfish6623]

Had to do something very similar to my 540 recently. A chevy ran over the front left corner of my car while it was parked. Needed a new hood, bumper, nose piece, left fender and had to straighten the fender support as well. Not nearly this bad, but similar. Did it in about the same time too. Spent the day after the accident driving to Houston getting all of the parts, slapped it all back together the next day. Love seeing this stuff.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

It seems to be an e34 right of passage hahah. Luckily these front ends are nearly completely replaceable! I think I remember seeing your posts!

[@PinkGuy120]

Another E34 saved and back on the road, love to see it!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yesssir! Saving the best cars!

[@M30b35]

I am from Germany Bavaria and I love your show on KZbin. I have a 1988 535i in Bronzitbeigemet, 5 speed manual, AC and leather natur and the washerhorns on the front bumper, with 300.000 km on it. That’s a real rare version in Germany and I love this car. I appreciate your videos and have a great day! Oliver

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you so much Oliver! I appreciate that! Sounds like a beautiful car! Enjoy it!!

[@pellepp9628]

Great car, I also have a 535 88 here in sweden. 300.000 something km😅silver, electrical m5 seats in leather, lover this car, bought it 2007.

[@danylee7237]

I have 1991 535i in Asia. Love your video. Have you encountered a problem like low compression in single cylinder and other 5 still good ?;

[@Germanshepherdbrothers]

My father restored his old E34 525i in a similar manner 👍👍. Classic BMWs really are the best!

[@billdiaz3041]

I'm glad you made videos on this topic as I have seen many brand new and old bmw cars in the junk yard and was not sure if I should take the chance to by one. I have 4 bmw's 1991 bmw 525Iwith 240,000 miles, 1994 bmw 530I with 265,000 miles, 1999 bmw 740il with 230,000 miles and 2007 bmw with 137,000 plus miles and they run strong as long you take care of your cars they will last a lifetime!! My cousin had a 1987 528IE and it had 360,000 plus miles until someone rear end him and it totaled his car. Thanks again!!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

They are durable cars man!

[@stevenvilardi8626]

A great video and an exact duplicate of my 1989 black 535i 5speed. 175000 and still strong. I have a number of minor issues but I love the way the car drives and feels.

[@tun1034]

THESE FILLER VIDS UNTIL ANOTHER E28 EPISODE ARE MUCH NEEDED! KEEP THEM COMING

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Gonna need more at the rate the e28 project is going:(

[@tun1034]

@@m3nameisjosh464 we’ll all be here patiently waiting, we ain’t going nowhere!

[@bmrone]

Awesome video Josh! I use to have a ‘95 525i years ago that I sold and I still miss that car, they are beautiful machines! A classic never dies…

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!! A classic truly never dies!

[@massimilianomusaro4481]

Good job !!! unthinkable to look at how it was reduced at the beginning. the tree with dime bench function made the difference... the force of nature 🌳🌳🌳

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Nature heals all!

[@stevenvilardi8626]

The tree didn’t do anything, it was the come along with good old yankee ingenuity ! Keep them rolling.

[@asobeeto6224]

This was definitely a great watch. I love the simple filming format, subbed!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you man!!

[@alpinevicemotorsports1805]

Glad the radiator worked out!! Nice work

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Worked out flawlesslyyy🤝

[@emilejoseph1996]

Dude! Just found your channel recently. Very inspiring bro! E34 My Favorite 5 Series Shape from the 90s!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@emilejoseph1996 thank you!!!

[@Idk-rz8pr]

Another timeless car saved glad to see videos like this pop up currently working on 2 e46s got one running perfectly some family just had it sitting we’re about to scrap it but it only has 160k miles with a 5 speed rwd started right up after a couple hundred dollars bought another one for $700 was tore apart by a twerker made a joke to my dad it would catch on fire started it up and it started smokin in the engine pretty bad but next cars gonna be a e30 hopefully to restore also want a e34 and e36 car to restore after the 2 e46s

[@substitor]

Just as I saw "Coming up.." instant m539 restorations vibes. Own one of these as well hope to see more content with this beast

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hes my inspiration!!! Hahah

[@Anirossa]

If you have a piece of metal and bend it 180 degrees back and fourth it snaps in half, if you bend it while holding a touch to the point being bendt so its glowing, you can bend it without it breaking for a good while as you don't create any big internal rifts in the material. If metal has been bends pretty badly you could heat it up and let the metal recrystalize a little and then slowly cool it so it doesn't get brittle, might get it a little further from the point of snapping in half, but then again, at that point it's less of a hazzle welding on a new piece..

[@jonenpelit857]

Always a good thing to get another e34 back on the road!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Oh yeah!

[@Exekutioncro]

I was in a similar crash, luckilx I hit something only in the bottom, so no need for new hood, I fixed it in less than a day, those E34s are amazing

[@justinkababik]

The standard diff for the 535i manual is the 3.46 open. Only cars specified with the winter package would have gotten the limited slip and they're uncommon, at least for the early ones and the later ones got optional traction control. The only way to tell is to run the VIN or look as the diff and see if it starts with an "S" for sport. Even cars from places that get snow didn't come with them, speaking from experience here. They'll still step out with an open diff and they're very controllable with the throttle.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Ever 535 I had had an LSD HAHA. Lucky draw I guess

[@iVzQs]

Lol when You had the coming up text in the start, I automatically heard it in my head with M539Restorations’ voice. Awesome job with the car!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

You’re not the only person to say that! Hahah thanks man!

[@dasbmv]

Another solid Video Josh, inspiring work man. Keep it up, love watching these videos!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you man!!

[@friguy4444]

LOL! That's exactly what I have done to repair a couple cars in the past. No professional pullers or frame straighteners (Not that I wouldn't love to use them if I could afford it etc) just get a good tow rope or chain and connect it to a power pole and YOINK! LOL. Then some well strategized pulls with another car or truck and away ya go! "Some Zip Ties and some Self Tappers and Boom" LOL. Couldn't have said it better myself! Great fun video thanks!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hahah whatever gets the job done!! Thanks for watching!

[@PEED535]

Great find Josh, 535's are the best!!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

535s are awesome!

[@Anirossa]

Glad you saving it, not enough 535i left as it is :)

[@andrewg2322]

The tree give life and take away life of all bmws

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hahahsh true

[@MrSkoda105s]

Dude this is epic! Well done. Greetings from The Netherlands.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you my friend!

[@bricklawson9745]

nice job! keeping a 535 alive! very cool

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you sir!

[@SilverArrowAutomotive]

Hey man looks like you did a great job! I laughed at the part where the fender meets the rocker panel is rusty. Exact same thing with my wagon and I managed to zip tie the bottom of it well enough.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I used self tappers😭

[@SilverArrowAutomotive]

@@m3nameisjosh464 Made it work!

[@georgekern6528]

You have large stones my friend! Saved another e34! Cheers, George

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hahaha i try:)

[@fuelman2265]

So jealous of you! Living my dream life😍

[@RothBeyondTheGrave]

Seriously underrated channel. Older Benz's are somewhat plentiful around me, but pre vanos BMW's of any sort are something I'm beyond in love with but virtually NEVER see. If I do, they're beyond gone or total showroom & are priced absurdly. You're doing God's work here imo. Respect!!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you so much man! I appreciate this!

[@fritzmueller6759]

It's shocking to see how much rust is on there. My 525i failed German TÜV and compared with this it is nearly rust free

[@m3nameisjosh464]

America doesn’t have inspections. Car can have no floors and still be driven

[@RothBeyondTheGrave]

We used to have legit inspections here in NJ back in the day, (once failed because my horn didn't work), but these days they just do an emissions check. Just like you said, you can literally have no floors which is ridiculous & why driving in the US kinda socks. People rolling around on bald tires, dead suspension, & metal on metal brakes having accidents just because it's wet out & they actually had to come to a stop from 40mph hahaha

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@RothBeyondTheGrave A crazy concept hahah

[@MrBecker666]

I had my e34 got rear ended &totaled bought it back from the insurance was about to fix it but I heard I will never run the same &I was on a really busy time I gave it back to the insurance looking back I think I should’ve kept it&fix it

[@daviss9260]

would like to see a in depth video of u parting out a car like a e36. Love the vids and nice collection as always👌

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Ive always wanted to but mann an extensive part out takes a long time, filming it doubles it😭

[@potathooo]

Have you ever tackled cutting/welding new metal for rusty jackpoints & rocker panels on these cars?

[@fritzmueller6759]

I did this for my 525i, it's been a lot of work compared with other cars

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I would enjoy the car as is or look for a cleaner one to be honest. Never cared to put that much effort in

[@nextphase7481]

Congratulations on saving a 535i 5 speed! I had read that only 6439 were sold in North America. I wonder how many of those are still around......

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I saw that too! Pretty rare car man!

[@Mark-th1gn]

Bro u talented. But u drive this car with tires like that visible at 18:28 in the rain, that is how cars get damage. Stay safe and restore this beast! Good job on this vid, I like it.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I replaced tires before driving! Haha. Thank you!

[@anz2554]

I bought a e36 with damn near the exact same damage, surprisingly easy fix

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Right!

[@viperocco]

Nice work mad scientist!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

👨🏽‍🔬👨🏽‍🔬👨🏽‍🔬👨🏽‍🔬

[@Khan_Art_]

And that's what the glasses are for 😂😂😂 Josh a collision specialist now 👊🏽

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hahahah a ppe is expert🤝

[@cosmopolitanranks3996]

Like your skills and the knowledge. Most people would have written it off and gone for scrap

[@m3nameisjosh464]

We save em over here man!!

[@dylanrc2994]

I like the e34 535i. There was one like this, only with automatic. I would like to buy more, but they are rare now.. On Car Gurus, there are only two cars and the prices are high.. But the car is super😊

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Places like that overprice them, best to just go on the E34 facebook group and buy from a fellow member. Much cheaper!

[@dylanrc2994]

@@m3nameisjosh464 Well, yes. I think so too)

[@Top_LineR_Music]

verry nice, good job, i have a question,i wonder if stay al day to rebuild or repear your cars what you do foe living? money to repeair this cars?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

This is what I do for a living. This car was sold and profited on

[@Top_LineR_Music]

@@m3nameisjosh464 thx for answer

[@ThatOneCatNyx]

One of my neighbors has an E46 like this. Wish that I didn't dent my 1st E46s quarter panel- I have to completely cut it out and reweld a new one to fix it :(

[@benfidar]

Hey, what about a Spring Meet in Chicago somewhere?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I would like to but the logistics give me a headache haha

[@ЛюбомирДикий]

Nice work 👍👍👍, the way you fiksed that 535, is the most popular in Ukraine 😂😂😂👍👍👍

[@Lamerguezerie]

great save. No wonders it's going to slide. Just look at the tires.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hahahha no I replaced those tires before driving. Im not that dumb!

[@Lamerguezerie]

@@m3nameisjosh464 hahaha well you never know some guys don't give a shit especially for short test drives especially for drifting hahaha

[@benfidar]

When you sell it on, you should include all of the inner fender parts that you are just hammering back into shape, should a new owner wish to easily weld them in.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Good idea!

[@LateNightRituals]

I did not know 535s came w lsd's. N now i want em even more

[@Andre-be2rz]

hell yea man, living the dream

[@trulekskrpa8888]

great concent keepp push broo !!!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man!

[@Nobody-dh3bm]

Looks very similar to a 91 I almost bought in Illinois like 5 years ago.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Could very well be that car

[@Nobody-dh3bm]

@@m3nameisjosh464 nah I ran the plate on that one you got, it's a 90. I remember vividly it being a 91. it was 3k, manual, black on black, winter package so heated seats and LSD, 150k miles. Should've bought it but parents overrided even tho I had the money. Would like to have one now, but prices have gone way up.

[@meowut69]

that black m3 in the garage for sale??

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Has a rod ejected from block currently. Once new s54 is installed it will be

[@DannysGarage]

Not all 535i/5's got an LSD, that might just be because you live in a cold place where a lot of cars got optioned with the cold weather package (aka LSD and heated seats). Here in the southwest, I rarely ever see E34's with LSD's or heated seats, like I've personally worked on half a dozen 535i/5's with open diffs.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Oh wow good to know. Id bet your right, most cars here are winter package haha

[@DannysGarage]

@@m3nameisjosh464 you've got winter package and rust, I've got no paint and open diffs but no rust- you win some, you lose some. I've never owned an E34 with an LSD, and I've had 7 of them. Actually amongst all the BMW's I've owned, only 3 had LSD's, and those were all M cars were it was standard (two E36 M3's and one E39 M5).

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@DannysGarageDefinitely win some and lose some. I never realized Ive taken all my LSD equipped cars for granted.

[@BOASTEMS]

great video as always

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you sir!

[@MirceaD28]

These cars are becoming rare. Save as many as you can.

[@blue_lancer_es]

Are all 535 equiped with lsd? I have a 525t with a manual swap. Dont know what rear end it has but I know it isnt lsd. Theres a few 535 autos for parts. So should I get one of those?

[@BOASTEMS]

The autos dont have them to my knowledge, if they do its very rare

[@Lamerguezerie]

No they aren't. Also driveshafts are different between 525 and 535. LSD will not be compatible without modification.

[@blue_lancer_es]

@@Lamerguezerie so... 525 uses big case? Not medium like my 525?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I believe just manual 535s but im unsure. 535/525/530 are medium case diffs

[@Lamerguezerie]

@@blue_lancer_es this I don't know in detail. But check to get the right size, it's not as simple as getting any part

[@tonychamoun2970]

Good job and nice video..

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you sir!

[@tmutt9er1]

youre a legend

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you bro!

[@Kabisov_erik]

Это не тотальный удар

[@pricepolice834]

Is this the one selling for 3.5k?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yesssir

[@Nobody-dh3bm]

ALL 535is had the LSD? I thought it was only winter package cars

[@m3nameisjosh464]

535/ 5 speeds. Maybe just winter cars, maybe all. Im not sure to be honest. Ive had 2, both LSD cars

[@40pike96]

looks ok to me

[@bongah69]

From the intro I saw what I think is a F30/F80 , I think

[@raitshots]

Oyeee remmember rebuild before crash bmw e34 wagon

[@johnzervoudakis2835]

Reaper....

[@penio78]

No belt? Man, don't give bad example!

[@GalvanizedGreatness]

This goes to show it’s possible but I hope it doesn’t come to that for anybody

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yessir🤝

[@GearheadologyGarage]

Ouch smh 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@Gniecior]

No wonder why somebody had crashed this BMW with bad alignment and bald tires.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hahaha right