Restoring my 1999 E38 735i

[fuxxo]

Hi guys,
long time visitor here, but i didnt post much.. however, i started the restoration project of my E38, so if someone is interested, i am documenting it on my channel :-)

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...VNJRHVsLfEz6P6

I appreciate all the feedback, thank you

[overcoil]

Tell me if you think this tale is correct: The E38 7-series was the last BMW designed from a clay buck as opposed to CNC machined styling so that the right side of the car is actually not a identical mirror shape of the left side ?

[IcewaterPete]

I always have thought that was one of the most beautiful designs for a sedan. I will be following your progress. I also love that car phone! You have to keep that in there.

[fuxxo]

Originally Posted by Caravaggio

Tell me if you think this tale is correct: The E38 7-series was the last BMW designed from a clay buck as opposed to CNC machined styling so that the right side of the car is actually not a identical mirror shape of the left side ?

wow you got me there! i actually have no idea, but just from the looks of it, there isnt really any visible difference :-D

Originally Posted by IcewaterPete

I always have thought that was one of the most beautiful designs for a sedan. I will be following your progress. I also love that car phone! You have to keep that in there.

I 100% agree on the design, i wanted this car for very long time, because of how it looks, but after driving it, i can appreciate the comfort and ride quality aswell, on the EDC suspension, not even G11 on airride can touch it :-O
the phone, i actually was thinking about removing it, because it gets in the way of your arm when you drive, BUT i changed my mind pretty quick. its oem, its period correct, so it stays :-)

[Mani59]

What a stunner! Thanks for sharing and look forward to some progress photos!

Watching the videos is seriously tempting me back into a E38!

[fuxxo]

thank you vey much, i appreciate it :-)

[Wolf 335]

E38 the icon, the legend.

Nice Channel by the way.

[fuxxo]

thank you wolf! :-)

not really E38 related, but i thought i share this one too.. Merry Christmas everybody :-)

[audi355]

Looks great! What is the size of your garage?

[fuxxo]

Originally Posted by audi355

Looks great! What is the size of your garage?

thank you, its 10x16 meters, usable height is around 2.85 meters

[StradaRedlands]

I love the E38 chassis... they are so aggressive and sinister looking with the raked profile and smaller grill. All horizontal! What kept me away from them was the V8 with its terrible timing guide and other problems. I have driven them though, and just loved them! Glad you are able to keep such a beauty as a driver!!!

[Jbrown7403]

Great looking garage and looking forward to following your progress! Totally agree that you must keep the phone

[MPOWER5266]

Very cool. I really miss my e38.

[fuxxo]

Thank you guys!

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I love the E38 chassis... they are so aggressive and sinister looking with the raked profile and smaller grill. All horizontal! What kept me away from them was the V8 with its terrible timing guide and other problems. I have driven them though, and just loved them! Glad you are able to keep such a beauty as a driver!!!

100% agreed, sinister is absolutely spot on word for it :-)
thankfully timing chains are sorted on this one..

[Tejas1836]

Oh man, that phone!

[onTheRoad]

Cool channel and garage. E38 was my first BMW, been a fan ever since.

[fuxxo]

thank you!

there should be an update soon on the engine, but everything is going so slow with the holidays, i had to source another set of valve cover gaskets, and another set of injectors too, and it takes weeks to sort it out :-/ but i am determined!

[IcewaterPete]

Impressive garage! Looks like a great place to work on your E38. Construction projects are the same the world over…guys commit to a job and then don’t show up, prices quoted are too cheap, etc. I’m willing to bet that even though it was a headache to find a new roofer in short order and it was more money it was probably for the best. The end result looks solid. I’m looking forward to future updates.

[fuxxo]

thank you very much, and you are 1000% correct too! it really was worth it, and in bigger scheme of things, i was only re-skinning my roof with same materials in fall 2022, and only re-skinning cost more than whole roofjob on the garage (with similar size).. so its all good :-)

[fuxxo]

Hey guys!
so finally some update on this one, it took way longer than i expected, because of multiple reasons; after i removed the covers i noticed some cracks which i didnt like, so i was looking for another set, that would be good, that was quite a challenge to find, and after i found christmas came :-) so another delay, and after christmas my buddy told me he got a new machine from santa :-D so i wanted him to try it out on my covers, so i had to wait again, till he sets it up,etc. however, thursday we did it, and i got it all on video. Valve covers are going in, and next video should be up soon after this one.

[fuxxo]

Hello!
so i have another update, the engine/engine bay is finally finished, and i have to say i am very pleased with the outcome, how the enginebay looks now, and especially how the engine runs, i really cannot tell if its running or not, when i sit in the car, or even standing next to the car..
i did complete overhaul over last 3 episodes, to pick out some of things that i did: auxiliary belts & pulleys & tensioners replaced, new water pump, new viscous fan, restored and re-sealed valve covers and oil pan, complete air plenum overhaul & cleanup, vacuum hoses replaced, two new coils, refurbished injectors, new spark plugs, new oils and coolant, new plastic bits, etc. you can see everything in the videos on my channel, and here is the latest one, with all completed and put together :-) so here you go:

and few before/after photos too..

[P1]

Now that's a tidy looking engine bay!