I have always been a sucker for wagons. The 95 cream yellow Volvo T5-R estate was my dream car for the longest time. To this day, I still look out for a reasonably priced example. I have built a number of nice cars over the years. A 95 silvia conversion, 72 Datsun 510, 92 BMW E34 turbo, 85 VW cabriolet for the wife and now, the BMW and Volvo. My last car was a 375 RWHP BMW E34 5 series with a 2.8L engine swap & M3 cams and a Garret GT3076R turbo. That was my project for the last 7 years. It all ended when I friend of mine swapped an LS1 with a supercharger into a BMW 3 series. Having always been an LS swap nayasayer, I was hooked from the first ride/drive. The sound and torque changed me. I decided to start looking for either a Volvo 240 wagon or a BMW E39 touring. In the end it was the latter as I really love the styling, interior and handling. I had considered building an M5 wagon but it was too costly and not enough power. The plan was to search for a white car with black interior but after listing and selling my car on Bringatrailer in 2 days, I stumbled across this car the day I received funds. It's a 99 528it that was custom ordered from the factory in Mojave metallic brown. It had tan interior which had originally been a deal breaker in my searches but I loved the exterior color too much to pass it up. I had to have it and drove down to SC to pick it up. The goal was to create the ultimate wagon. It has a Thomson GMPP LSX 427. 7.0L/427 cubic inch LS7 rotating mass in an iron block built to withstand 1500hp (specifically made for boost/nitrous). Titanium rods & intake valves, sodium filled exhaust valves, heat treated crank, LS7 intake manifold and heads. Upgrades to the motor include, comp cam, dual valve springs and new rockers. A BMW forum member makes the long tube headers, engine and trans mounts. He also built the dual fan shroud that utilizes dual Chevy Malibu electric fans on the stock radiator. My local fabricator did the exhaust with dual 3" stainless all the way back. 3" X pipe and twin Borla XR-1 mufflers. The transmission is a Tremec T56 Magnum with custom bellhousing adapter to fit the LS9/ZR1 dual clutch and flywheel. The differential is an M5 210mm with the 3.15 ring and pinion gear removed in favor of a 3.62 from an E46 M3. I also had the LSD carrier cover machined to fit a 3rd clutch/disc for 40% lock. M5 axles and M5 driveshaft modified with a GM slip yoke. Suspension is custom one off Fortune Auto coilovers with a Shroeder 1.25" stock car sway bar. Other mods include M5 front/rear bumpers, facelift headlights with Nissan Murano projectors and 60 LED angel eyes. Euro Celis LED tailights, M5 trim, piano black window trim, black interior swap, Technical graphite trim, black alcantara headliner and pillars, E38 7 series sport seats. Wheels are Varrstoen Volk TE37 replicas in 19x9.5/10.5 with 245/275 tires. The next upgrade will be 6 piston calipers front and rear with 388mm/360mm front/rear 2 piece rotors. Dyno specs are below as well. My DD is a Volvo V70R which I will picture below the BMW. It's a 2004 and I custom built the headlights. Also installed an IPD grill, powdercoated the wheels gunmetal and then tinted the windows. I added a killer stereo to top it off. I haven't done any real suspension or engine mods since it's the DD. It has a rear subframe reinforcement and front poly subframe bushings. 074 by RVAE34, on Flickr 079 by RVAE34, on Flickr Aftermarket 2nd gen E39 lights breakdown by RVAE34, on Flickr image-15 by RVAE34, on Flickr Old vs new angel eyes. by RVAE34, on Flickr 018 by RVAE34, on Flickr 012 by RVAE34, on Flickr 028 by RVAE34, on Flickr Cleaned up and sway bar removed by RVAE34, on Flickr 007 by RVAE34, on Flickr 052 by RVAE34, on Flickr 001 by RVAE34, on Flickr 021 by RVAE34, on Flickr 021 by RVAE34, on Flickr Custom built Tremec Magnum 6 speed by RVAE34, on Flickr BMW E38 7 series sport seat by RVAE34, on Flickr 003 by RVAE34, on Flickr 017 by RVAE34, on Flickr LSX 427 BMW E39 Touring first dyno run by RVAE34, on Flickr
Wow - nice job on the BMW! That's got to be a hoot to drive! The Volvo is sharp too! Welcome to the forum and thanks for the intro.
I think I'll have to call you Mr. Swagon. I'm particularly enamored with the V70R. You see, I test-drove one once........ Welcome to the SWF! Marshall
Thanks, everyone! The BMW is extremely quick. It can spin the tires well into 3rd gear The Volvo is a nice car but both this one and the 850R I had a while back have been plagued with annoying issues. I can say that this will be the last Volvo I buy unless I find a clean 95 T5-R in cream yellow..