Restoring a Blower Motor Fire Victim BMW E34 From Total Loss to Roadworthy Again!

Today we have a long and action packed episode. A project that has been on the back burner(no pun intended) for quite some time. Today we tackle the restoration of the most feared BMW E34 Fatality. The infamous blower motor fire. An issue so prominent in the community, yet almost certainly writes a car off, well I am determined to revive this car from this incident and get it roadworthy again!

[@johnanderson2711]

Sick that you made this all one video. Most KZbinrs would've made this a 10 part series 😂

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I figured if someone wants to watch the process they wanna watch it, not have to come back to a different video in a week

[@graffie]

Project Binky would have taken 23 years for just this project.

[@michaelurena7324]

I prefer 10 part series haha.

[@Cattywhampus]

Got my first bmw recently. E34 535 Watching you has kept me fighting the good fight.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Love to hear that!

[@sheaarnold]

Amazing as always, Josh. Your love and respect for BMWs is infectious, and has made me more appreciative of my own. Been working on repairing my dad’s ‘95 525i, and watching what you do inspires me to keep going. Thanks for everything!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I absolutely love to hear this! Thank you man! Have fun wrenching!

[@kayomagalhaes3988]

our josh is oficially the e34 master, great job dude

[@m3nameisjosh464]

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🫡🫡

[@berwhaletheavenger]

E34 wiring looms are a pain unless you get exactly the right year. On just the M50 cars there is 90-91, 90-92, 92 on with vanos and another change around 1994. Older ones have the plugs in the loom for cruise control etc but later ones are like E36's where each look had the correct plugs and nothing more. Then........M50 Vanos 520i and 525i engine harness ECU plugs are different as the 520i is Siemens and 525i is Bosch........aaand on it goes. Coding plus should work but you can't swap one from an earlier white back cluster (89-90) into a '91 onwards blue back because it won't physically plug in. Good save though - those are always worth resurrecting!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yeah especially 91 being the weird transition year from front battery to rear battery and all the other minute differences makes it a hassle. This car and the donor car both 91s! What’s crazy is the production dates within that same year were enough to change things!

[@tonik.5767]

Had a 1991 E34 😀 Your work is awesome, man! 🙂

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!

[@rjauto7215]

i knew you could do it josh .you have so much talent for a young man .pat your self on the back well done

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!!!!

[@MikeBMW]

Wow! This is a heckuva task, Josh. Quite interesting and informative. Well done! You certainly deserve some recognition for this from BMW.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks Mike!!! It was daunting for sure!!

[@3cats1house23]

Your channel is absolutely one of the best!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you! I really really appreciate this!

[@juancorrea9037]

You just proved that you do know your stuff on E34 once again. That was no easy task and I wish I knew half of that. That's why I follow your channel, to learn. I do have a question, where is the place to go for E34 parts? Can't believe that such a small part could cause so much damage. It looks awesome compared to what it was. Thanx for the content like always. You're the man Josh!!!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you Juan!! I appreciate that!! For e34 parts I go to myself! I stockpile parts for projects like this and usually buy a donor car specifically for the parts Ill need

[@ShWaGG]

Congratulations on the E9 itll be crazy to see what you own and where you are in 10 years

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you man!!!!! Only up from here!

[@electricw3irdo]

Man I had a 1992 e34 all white, with black interior. It went into limp mode and stumped many mechanics...I wish I had of kept it because I loved the way it drove especially after following your channel.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Ahhh man:((

[@aarondavidsmith208]

You're crazy man. Lol I've pulled so many dashes, carpet, hvac boxes and and what not but I would never attempt this. Truly ambitious and noble of you. Great job!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!!! It took a while to gather the courage lol

[@seanscott685]

What a huge job! Well done for tackling this disaster 😢

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you Sean!

[@seanscott685]

@@m3nameisjosh464Super proud of you Josh! You did the impossible 🎉

[@MrSkoda105s]

Josh you are a true hero! Well done. Absolutely loved your video. I’d did look like the elephant feet down in de melted reactor. You are so talented, you definitely inspire me. Thank you!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Glad someone caught my reference! Thank you my friend!

[@pvt_weed]

Wow... what a great episode! Looks like fun!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Lots of fun!!;)

[@Punked4everr]

Another great video, you are extremely talented my friend. Keep up the great work that you do, cannot wait to own an e34 one day.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man!!!

[@baccarraslen4464]

You gived me a hope to work on my care agin thank you so much for this type of videos wish you the best 🔥❤️

[@teamspaceman]

Hell yeah dude love the channel! I’m an e30 guy myself but you’re starting to make my love all older bimmers

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Love to hear that!!

[@moh2502]

Well done for restoring this beaut 👌 she deserves to be on the road...

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man!

[@JonWildermusic]

wow what a save! great video man!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!

[@mikesphoenix_e46m3]

great video yet again and was even more excited for this being a longer video ☺

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you Mike! Glad people are liking the long videos!

[@mikesphoenix_e46m3]

@@m3nameisjosh464 yes mate deffo something to look into from time to time i found it really interesting 👍

[@mariosnikolaou5212]

Awesome job, really good result. Greeting from Greece.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you my friend!

[@Exekutioncro]

Thank you for rescuing this E34

[@m3nameisjosh464]

My pleasure🤌🏽

[@eyesinthehillz247]

i got the same blue cloth interior in my 91 525i factory 5 speed and ive never seen another one love the video 💪

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Super rare to come by! Thanks man!

[@lukeyduke9]

47 minutes of pure gold! I really enjoy those kinds of videos. Will you ever start an E39 project tho, although it might not fit the direction you're currently headed into with the older classic BMWs?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed. But i really just have no desire for anything e39 related. I dont like them enough:(

[@MichaelGeiger]

Absolutely amazing bro, I’ve torn out e30 dashes but this looked 10x more complicated 🤯 It must feel so great to prove such a great skill to yourself, congrats!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you bro! Definitely felt accomplished after this one!

[@fordgt9t]

Just came across your channel last night, already subscribed! I have a 95 Calypso i daily drive. I need to do the blower motor/resistor replacement. Also needs a headgasket :(

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Oh man lots of work!!

[@zvonimirbelic]

Another amazing job by Josh ! 🤜🤛

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you my man!

[@naiart82]

Beautiful colour on that Bimmer.

[@justinlawrence4562]

Hi Josh great job bud these Oldies need guys like you to keep them around. I worked for BMW in South Africa for 24 year's. I have the third last e34 525i to roll of the Rosslyn line here in SA and was registered in 96. It's manual, limited slip diff and Mtech suspension with full leather dash included. The OBCs can be tricky there are 2 types a dumb version for the 518i and 520i and the the higher version which requires the info from the coding plug. You mentioned you olug didnt work perhaps that may be the fault? If you ever need help I have the etms for these cars. One again awesome job Bro.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man!!! Good catch!! I didn’t even think about that, could be a connected problem! Thank you for the info!!

[@jotighe2]

loved the project. you are really doing great these days

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man!!

[@thegenius46m]

Hell yeah dude! Glad you saved it

[@btootoo]

Nice Work Josh E34s for life

[@Tonygee160]

You good Josh I give you that if I had energy like ke that my car will be together but it really takes to have money and connections to have those resources bro but keep up the good work 👍👍

[@olifs8083]

I lost my appetite when I saw that "German spaghetti". You have nerves of steel Josh.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@olifs8083 hahahahha

[@reportingbadstaff]

Fantastic work !!! 🙏🏽

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!

[@georgekern6528]

Greetings! Is there any leftover burnt wiring smell?? You have some really large stones to even attempt this and I admire your tenacity! Cheers, George

[@m3nameisjosh464]

No leftover smells at all!!!

[@bm-garage]

Simply lovely, great work man! 🙇🏻‍♂️

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man!!

[@jessekeasler4278]

Hell yeah love when you post man!!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks for watching bro!

[@vigneshpuru2469]

Best KZbin content

[@Tonygee160]

If the people could see that car they be in shock to see it again with the work you put into it to bring it back lol ke you said in your video and you done that Josh thank 👍👍

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks Tony!

[@jeffhammond8969]

Love that you took this on. However, not a fan of using butt connectors. Much better to solder and heat shrink tubing.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Ive spoken to lots of people in the automotive industry and they swear by butt connectors over solder, in either way soldering would have taken me 3x the amount of time this project already took me

[@viperocco]

Fantastic job homie

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you bro!

[@slomosht]

Hey Loving the videos. Any tips on windows and wipers working only on the highest setting on a 93 E34 touring. Already tried new general module no difference.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Could be the wiper stalk itseld

[@banelethabede4871]

Man I love This Car seeing it like this 😢😢😢. Happy for the car

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man! Im happy for it too

[@CarloCopyConcept]

That was amazing. Cudos to saving another E34.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

🍻🍻

[@westonstonehocker8785]

Well done mate

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks Weston!!

[@johnanderson2711]

Very satisfying video. Hell yea

[@Bierlogistiker]

You should get the OBC (Check Control) to work, when you connect Pin 9 with Pin 17 of the connector from the harness to the OBC. The root cause of this problem should be Pin 17 is lacking current.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Good to know! Cars been sold unfortunately

[@szlewi]

great job. how did you end up mounting the windshield trim back? i notice you had to ditch the brittle plastic part of it the same way i had to

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Used the windshield sealant for trim too

[@Cos3Kamikaze]

Nice work bro

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you sir!

[@AkeemlmeekA]

It’s already been a year 😅 this is amazing

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Time flies lol

[@Moocow444]

My inspiration to start a YT good shit man

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Go for it!!!!

[@carlwentline1263]

Hey bro ! I was just curious how you gained all the knowledge to to do all the work you do on these cars? I’m 33 so I’m a late bloomer but I’d love to be able to do all this type of mechanical work myself too. Thanks for sharing your knowledge in these videos bro I have a clean 97 328i and want to do what I can to keep it forever haha.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Just learned by doing man!

[@carlwentline1263]

@@m3nameisjosh464 mad props to you dude! You definitely need patience to do this.This video blew my mind. Seeing you pull this off definitely gives me more motivation to do shit like this myself. All the German Spaghetti and wires everywhere just would make me feel overwhelmed and discourage me a little hahah. Good Luck with your future goals bro. Thanks for the video on changing the fuel pump in the e36 as well 👌🏻

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@carlwentline1263 thank you brotha!!!

[@khobathami5337]

Another E34, let's go!!

[@blockpartyvintage1568]

These videos are great. You should have gotten that windshield out first! More room

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks man! And I know right, foolish lol

[@blockpartyvintage1568]

@m3nameisjosh464 I just bought an m50 swapped e30 and your videos are awesome man. Ty

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@blockpartyvintage1568 i appreciate it!!!

[@nopuesgg9473]

Hi Josh, I was thinking about restoring an e34 535i that sells for $900 and it is very destroyed. and I'm thinking if it's a good idea or not to do it and if it could be, where do you get all your parts for e34? I live in Mexico and I can find some but if the cyl head is bad, I think there is no way to get a new one nowadays, at least here. I would greatly appreciate your opinion

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I part out car so have my own collection for these cars, unfortunately down there it is probably pretty difficult to get parts:(

[@Wordsley]

17:53 How was it working with that latch?

[@Exekutioncro]

Dashboard had changes in September 1990

[@m3nameisjosh464]

91 car 91 donor dash

[@naiart82]

What is the bar that’s clipped to the roof in the front door openings?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

My light

[@naiart82]

@@m3nameisjosh464thank you

[@nimanthagunawardana7661]

so in my 520i, the fuse was blown and has melted actually, and some guy has put a fan control module for the ac separately has disconnected automatic AC controls, it seems to be that the old owner has put the resistor outside near the driver side clutch pedal , is there any solution? i got my leg burnt man. lol

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Id remove all that stuff and go back to oem parts. That sounds insane lol

[@nimanthagunawardana7661]

ik man, im trying to find stuff, its freaking expensive here in Sri Lanka lol@@m3nameisjosh464

[@gusvecin]

was it the blower motor resister that causes this?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yes

[@Wilantonjakov]

28:56 nice haircut

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Had to look clean for my bday 😉

[@Wilantonjakov]

@@m3nameisjosh464 it was probably a while ago you filmed it, but regardless; Happy birthday mate.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@Wilantonjakov thank you!!

[@JB91710]

Why? Parts car! What about the smell?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

No leftover smells. Why be a parts car? It functions and looks as good as it was

[@jpeg3933]

letss gooooooooooooooo NEW VIDEEOOOOO

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yessssir!!

[@Tonyk24]

Another e34 saved

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yessir!

[@aydinkov]

Hi you are looking for first comment

[@aydinkov]

Congratulations you won WMB 34E with broken head

[@aydinkov]

double it and give it to next person