BMW 5-Series E34 is hands-down one of the most iconic BMW models of the late 80s – early 2000s. With its incredibly balanced shape and sophisticated design, it became the quintessence of BMW styling that is appreciated by car people around the world.
While sedan was the most popular body style of the E34, Touring models were not as widespread even in Europe, although they had that unique wagon vibe that made them really special.
E34 Touring Build
This beautiful stanced BMW 5-Series E34 Touring is owned and modified by Kiyoto Furuyama from Japan. Despite the clean OEM+ look of the car, it has a lot of stylish and functional upgrades.
Engine
The car started life as a base 540i, but was later converted into a real M5. The original engine was swapped with an iconic S38B38 M5 3.8L inline 6-cylinder motor that produces pretty decent performance of 340HP, which makes this wagon feel light and nimble.
Exterior
Like any real M5 it features the M bumpers all around. The optics were swapped with American-style amber turn signal, reflectors, and red tail lights. Black pinstriping inspired by Alpina graphics, and a glance grey paint make the wagon look even more period-correct, although the carbon fiber hood and low flushed-to-the-ground stance give it a trendy modern touch.
Wheels & Suspension
The station wagon sits low on Air Lift air suspension and a set of staggered 18” BBS RS rims with step lips that proved to be the best wheel choice for the BMW E34. Interesting fact, the original modular BBS RS rims came in the 16” and were converted to 18” with a help of new step lip outer barrel.
Interior
The interior is mostly OEM, refinished with light-grey Alcantara on the steering wheel, dash, and door panels. The anatomic seats are boasting the Recaro name and awesome-looking seat belts in contrasting red color.
List of Modifications
Engine
- 3.8L l6 M5 Engine Swap (capable of 340HP)
Suspension
- Air Lift air suspension
Rims
- Custom 16″ BBS RS rims with polished 18” outer rings
Exterior
- Complete M5 body conversion (front/rear bumpers, side skirts)
- Carbon fiber hood
- American-spec amber turn signals
- American-spec red tail lights
- American-spec side reflectors
- Custom glance grey paint
- Black Alpina-inspired pinstriping
- M5-style mirror caps
Interior
- Reupholstered interior
- Recaro seats
- Renown steering wheel
Conclusion
This E34 Touring build represents a masterful blend of classic BMW engineering and modern modifications. By combining the legendary S38B38 M5 engine with the Touring wagon body style, Kiyoto Furuyama has created a unique vehicle, that would have been a cool addition to the BMW’s model line up of the 90s.
The attention to detail – from the custom-sized BBS RS wheels to the Alcantara interior refinements – demonstrates a thoughtful approach to modification that enhances rather than overshadows the E34’s iconic design.
| Parts Category | Difficulty Rating* |
|---|---|
| Suspension Mods: | 8/10 |
| Performance Mods: | 10/10 |
| Exterior Mods: | 8/10 |
| Interior Mods: | 6/10 |
* Based on our build difficulty evaluation system ⓘ
The E34 Touring build demonstrates the most extensive modifications in the exterior category, featuring a complete M5 body conversion complemented by period-correct lighting upgrades and carbon fiber additions.
In terms of scoring, the suspension setup leads with 8 points thanks to its comprehensive Air Lift system, while the performance category nets 10 points for the S38B38 engine swap, and the interior scores 6 points highlighted by the full Alcantara reupholstery.
Watch the progress and find out more about this E34 BMW M5 project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @kiyoto_e34s38!
Photography by Ryo Kato @ryo_photograph0105
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