Reader Ride: Sir Montalbon’s 540iT

Time for another edition of Daily Turismo’s Reader Rides, where reading or riding are optional and discouraged.  Today’s subject comes to us from a regular DT commenter who goes by the name Sir Montalbon and has earned his title from an engine/trans swap in a long roof BMW.  Sir Mont’s ride is a 1995 BMW 530i automatic wagon into which he swapped a 540i engine and 6-speed manual gearbox.

In his own words:

Year / Make / Model / Trim ? 1995 BMW 530iA touring, swapped to a 540i 6spd

How long have you owned it? About 5 years

Why did you buy it? I’d had always owned BMW’s and had a desire to work on them, but only having one car I was never able learn for fear of getting stuck and not having a car to get me to work.  After

getting burned by a lemon e39, I bought a cheap Mazda Millenia and started saving for my first project.  (P.S.  I bought a house to complete this project since doing it in my aprtment parking lot didn’t

look too feasible.  I like to think this was logical, but others don’t seem to follow my line of thinking?)

What do you use it for (commute, fun, racing…etc)?  I usually drive it to work once a week, or to haul anything.  I travel a good bit and it is my roadtrip car of choice.

Is it stock or modified? If modified, please list some modifications. Swapped to a M60B40 and 6spd on coilovers.  Too many mods to remember. Big ones are the already mentinoed drivetrain swap, and visually, it is pretty much a Euro model after adding the headlight washers, Euro headlights, side trim, and plate.

What was the most memorable day in your car (proposed to wife, 3rd child born in back seat…etc)?  Probably the moment it moved under its own power after the swap.  It was the last day the DIY shop was

ever going to be open and I had about 2hrs before closing time. Driving it into the parking lot with open headers was pretty BA.  Second place goes to 2012 Petite LeMans.  I was blown away by the amount of attention it got.  Up to that point, I just figured I was the weird guy who thought Euro sport wagons were cool.

What was the most catastrophic failure of parts/components?  It has been pretty solid during my ownership.  If I had to pick, I’d say it was this past December when the guibo exploded, taking out and

shorting my o2 wiring, thus requiring a tow. 

What makes you want to keep owning this car?  The fact that the e34 is one of the last BMW tanks, in my opinioin, and that it was one of the last BMWs with the classic 4 headlight front end styling.  Also, that

the e34 wagon is one of the best looking longroofs I’ve ever seen.

Will you ever sell it?  Haha, not if I have anything to do with it.

Got your own ride and want to share? Send us some pics. You can just free form your words,
or follow this questionaire.

Year / Make / Model / Trim ?

How long have you owned it?

Why did you buy it?

What do you use it for (commute, fun, racing…etc)?

Is it stock or modified? If modified, please list some modifications.

What was the most memorable day in your car (proposed to wife, 3rd child born in back seat…etc)?

What was the most catastrophic failure of parts/components?

What makes you want to keep owning this car?

Will you ever sell it?

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