Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
Every so often something rolls through the lot that’s so badass we just have to get photos. That’s the case with Evan Patak’s wild RWD converted E61 BMW 535xi Touring. While at first glance, this may just appear to be “a white station wagon”, BMW enthusiasts will notice all the details that went into this remarkable build.
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
From the moment you see that OEM M5 Front Bumper for BMW E60/E61 on this E61, you know something’s up. You might notice the car’s sitting on Super Deep Concave wheels on all 4 corners – that’s something that’s not normally possible on non-M cars. And that’s because the rest of the front end has been M5 converted as well, boasting a set of M5 Front Fenders that have had the M5 fender grilles “shaved” for a cleaner look – and the Matte Black Kidney Grilles for BMW E60/E61 tie it all together. This E61 has more than just good looks – it has the power to match. Boasting power well into the 500’s, this N54-powered 535xi moves faster than it has any right to… but we’ll get to that later.
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
This car is a textbook example on how to do a clean build – everything looks like it’s supposed to be there. We’ll start with the exterior… From this angle you can also appreciate the BMW E60 M5 side mirrors that have been swapped over in place of the bland standard mirrors, further enhancing the sport look.
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
Sitting low on KW V3 Coilovers, this 535xi has had the front drivetrain removed to send all the power to the rear wheels. Keeping the balance of the car mid-corner stable is a set of RD Sport Sways, paired with Ultra Racing strut braces – front upper, rear upper and rear lower, this big wagon carves corners faster than it has any right to – and unlike many builds these days, Evan’s put an emphasis on function and performance.
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
An M-Sport Style Rear Bumper for BMW E60/E61 and Carbon Fiber M-Sport Style BMW E60 Rear Diffuser insert complete the look out back – a set of custom slash cut exhaust tips peek out from underneath the car, offering some hint as to just what this “station wagon” might really be packing. Evan’s something of a builder, having completely redone the headlights and tail lights – the tails have been painted black and white on the interior, giving the tails a look akin to BMW “Blackline” parts.
From this angle we can see the car’s custom 3in single exhaust. Mandrel bent and tig welded, this isn’t something cobbled together by a random muffler shop- this is a quality piece.
Up front, a VRSF 7in Front Mount Intercooler for BMW N54 peeks out from behind the lower grille of the M5 front bumper. While this VRSF intercooler was MADE to fit this E60, it will not fit any other E60 without doing a LOT of work hacking up the car to MAKE IT FIT. By no means was this a direct fit.
At first glance, under the hood you might just notice the intake…
Given the heavily customized nature of his build, Evan built his own Custom Turbo Inlet system to feed the Hexon Autowerks RR550 Hybrid Turbos, all managed by a BMS JB4 for BMW 535i. The Automatic has also been reworked slightly with an SAT Transmission flash, though Evan tells us a 6MT Swap with a Spec Stage 2+ clutch, MFactory SMFW and BMS Short Shift Kit is in the cards for the future.
Feeding the N54 is an Evolution Racewerks N54 Chargepipe with Tial BOV supplemented by a Fuel-It Stg 2 low pressure fuel pump and throttle body injection – the auxiliary fuel helps almost totally eliminate the need for walnut blasting the BMW N54 engine every 30,000 miles, though it’s still fitted with a BMS Oil Catch Can just in case.
With all that under the hood, this beast makes some serious power – see for yourself on the dyno graph above.
The interior has been reworked significantly as well – the door panels are from an M5, but retain the 535i beige accents. The steering wheel has been replaced by an E63/E64 BMW M6, which also adds flappy paddle shifters.
Here’s another look – the center console has been swapped over along with most of the interior of an M5, the black and beige contrast really gives the car a luxurious look.
Evan hasn’t skimped on the rear, either – the seatbacks have also been converted.
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
From further away it’s easy to appreciate the effect the custom tail lights and reverse lights have on the car overall. It “was a 535xi” because it was converted to RWD and retrofitted with the complete M5 drivetrain. Evan also rebuilt and replaced a blown motor and swapped the AT for a proper manual transmission. For good measure, Evan relocated the ABS/DSC pump to the M5 location to clean up the engine bay. Lots of other goodies as well. The car’s going back to the N54, as the S85 just doesn’t have the torque of the turbo six.
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
The roof has also been custom vinyl wrapped gloss black, perfectly complimenting the sunroof.
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
Up front, the headlights have been reworked significantly by retrofitting a second projector in place of the driving lamps, and deleted the “Angel Eyes”, giving the car an even more aggressive look and lending to the black/white contrast.
Forgestar F14 Textured Gunmetal 19×9.5 SDC / 19×11 SDC on 245/40-19 275/35-19 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 Tires on KW V3 Coilovers
Special thanks to Evan for sharing his build with us – follow him on instagram: @hoburger We love the way this E61 Touring looks and hope to see it back again in the future.
Have questions about modding your BMW E61 or E60 535i? Want to know how to build big power with an E60 BMW 535i? Ask our team of Mod Experts and BMW Specialists for their advice – Call 714-582-3330, chat live at ModBargains.com, or just stop by the ModAuto showroom in La Habra, CA during business hours.
Need something installed? Our shop, Mod Auto, offers full service installations – if it’s aftermarket and bolt on, odds are we can install it for you. Call 714-582-3330 or CLICK HERE to Use Our Online Appointment Scheduling System
Story & Photos Nick Gregson