Finally decided to start a project thread... :up:
I bought my euro spec 1985 E28 525e in early February '15 from a Mexican in Yakima. I had found the car on craigslist and immediately fell in love. I had to have it. My boss and I picked it up and trailered it back to Seattle.
This car is my first manual transmission BMW. I was worried for the longest time about daily driving a clutch with my prosthetic leg... but after a few days of seat time I am 100% confident now.
The car is a rust free base model originally sold in Germany. The Mexican had bought it off the original owner as a project, but never did anything with it. I am technically the third owner. I have a box full of paperwork relating to the car, including hand-written letters to the broker in Germany prior to its importation, and original receipts for the mudflaps :) It is bronzit-beige metallic over Nutria, and since it is a base model features manual windows, sunroof, and seats. The only factory options on the car were central locking and the euro bronze glass. Unfortunately some miscreants in Yakima had thrown rocks through the original front and rear windscreens... so they are no longer bronze :hitler:
The first thing I did when we got it back to the shop was swap off the dry rotted 14's for my 17x8.5 BBS RK. I checked the timing belt and drove it for a week or so without doing anything to the car. I eventually rolled the rear fenders to fit the BBS, though I pulled them slightly too much and cracked the paint a little… oh well the car needs a respray anyways. I also installed my Yakima setup right away.
After a few weeks of driving got to this point...
My first parts order was just tuneup parts: fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, door lock strikers, trunk seal gasket, hood struts, etc. Lots of good stuff :up: I also had the cat cut out as one of the first priorities. Also replaced the telescoping radio antenna and added my E39 all weather floor mats.
The engine on this car is extraordinary and is one the best running original m20's I have seen. Under the hood of this car is spotless and it purrs at 650rpm no problem.
A picture or two from the first few weeks of ownership.
I went to Albany, Oregon on a whim and picked up my birthday present to myself... RONAL TURBOS!!! I am in the process of refinishing them for Summer.
I was tired of the worn out shifter, so I planned to retrofit a BMW aluminum style shift carrier, nope. My G260 is too early and doesnt have the "ears" on the trans for that. Back to the drawing board...
I ended up just replacing all the bushings with factory parts and installing a e60 shift lever. My selector rod seal had been weeping for years it looked like so I replaced that and the trans output seal too. At this time I also installed a clutch stop, replaced the trans mounts with E21 320i ones and filled the transmission up with Redline MTL. Combined with my Jaffster shift knob, the throws are perfect!
I had to grind the trans brace for the new mounts, was really proud of the basic fab I did.
I got tired of the RK and swapped on my staggered, naked m-systems. They looked bomb, but the tires were too big so I didnt run them for more than a month or so (245/45/r17).
You can also see in those pics that I had a custom exhaust installed. It is a y pipe to 2.25 single with a vibrant ultra quiet resonator to a Ducati 996 muffler. Super quiet and refined tone, sounds slightly better than stock. The exhaust has a 3 bolt flange at the y pipe and another near the subframe. Removal takes no time at all and is incredibly easy to do alone. TOTALLY WORTH IT!
Then my brother bought his E28, a 1986 535i 5 speed. Cosmoblau Metallic on PerlBeige. Slight body damage but great interior, despite the car having damn near 270,000 miles. The odometer broke at 245k, but he bought the car from a female european indy shop mechanic who took really good care of it. His car has been a strong runner since day one and he is slowly learning how to wrench on the car. I gave him a leatherless mtech steering wheel, clutch stop and Z3 short shift lever that I had lying around. Im really happy for you bro, youre off to a good start!
I had some pretty minty E34 weaves in storage so I combined them with the tires off my 240sx s13 flip project (they were the perfect size). I like the small tires, keeps the car really fun to drive and MPG's up. They are 85% Federal Formoza 205/60r15 with 15mm spacer up front, 20mm out back.
Last month (April '15) we travelled to Vancouver WA for loads of parts for both of our cars. Shoutouts to LuckyHenriksen and 3UROBOY for hooking it up mega!!! Highlights of the goodies included a coarse spline 385mm Mtech I steering wheel, low miles Bilsteins + H&Rs and a 3.25 LSD for my car. My brother picked up new window motors and other interior bits for his car. Even with my trunk laden with heavy parts, the back seat filled with camping gear, and the roof rack loaded up my eta still managed 21-22mpg over the 450 mile trip :D good maintenance pays off.
some pictures from that weekend. We camped at Ape Cave near Mount St Helens (really cool spot).
I then polished my new set of tail lights and my brothers. They look fricken sweet
This last weekend I installed the new suspension and differential. My rear diff mount was seized so I grabbed a new one from the local picknpull. The parts swap went super smooth. I put the rear bilsteins on the middle perch and used E90 drop hats up front (still have all spring pads all around). Have Redline 75w90 in the diff and it feels great!
I went out that night and hammered on the car. Good news: the 3.25 really woke the car up and the billies ride awesome. Bad news: my driveshaft finally took a shit. The rear ujoint had massive amounts of play before but was still drive-able.. not anymore :(. I am waiting on my new driveshaft from Blunt now. Blunt is the best resource for parts on these cars. Look no further.
Most recent pics. I love the OEM+ look I am rocking right now. This car has loads of character and I plan to keep it original and drive it a very long time. After I get this new driveshaft it should be solid as a rock for Summer time! Planning on taking her on an ambitious 2000 mile roadtrip.
I bought my euro spec 1985 E28 525e in early February '15 from a Mexican in Yakima. I had found the car on craigslist and immediately fell in love. I had to have it. My boss and I picked it up and trailered it back to Seattle.
This car is my first manual transmission BMW. I was worried for the longest time about daily driving a clutch with my prosthetic leg... but after a few days of seat time I am 100% confident now.
The car is a rust free base model originally sold in Germany. The Mexican had bought it off the original owner as a project, but never did anything with it. I am technically the third owner. I have a box full of paperwork relating to the car, including hand-written letters to the broker in Germany prior to its importation, and original receipts for the mudflaps :) It is bronzit-beige metallic over Nutria, and since it is a base model features manual windows, sunroof, and seats. The only factory options on the car were central locking and the euro bronze glass. Unfortunately some miscreants in Yakima had thrown rocks through the original front and rear windscreens... so they are no longer bronze :hitler:
The first thing I did when we got it back to the shop was swap off the dry rotted 14's for my 17x8.5 BBS RK. I checked the timing belt and drove it for a week or so without doing anything to the car. I eventually rolled the rear fenders to fit the BBS, though I pulled them slightly too much and cracked the paint a little… oh well the car needs a respray anyways. I also installed my Yakima setup right away.
After a few weeks of driving got to this point...
My first parts order was just tuneup parts: fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, door lock strikers, trunk seal gasket, hood struts, etc. Lots of good stuff :up: I also had the cat cut out as one of the first priorities. Also replaced the telescoping radio antenna and added my E39 all weather floor mats.
The engine on this car is extraordinary and is one the best running original m20's I have seen. Under the hood of this car is spotless and it purrs at 650rpm no problem.
A picture or two from the first few weeks of ownership.
I went to Albany, Oregon on a whim and picked up my birthday present to myself... RONAL TURBOS!!! I am in the process of refinishing them for Summer.
I was tired of the worn out shifter, so I planned to retrofit a BMW aluminum style shift carrier, nope. My G260 is too early and doesnt have the "ears" on the trans for that. Back to the drawing board...
I ended up just replacing all the bushings with factory parts and installing a e60 shift lever. My selector rod seal had been weeping for years it looked like so I replaced that and the trans output seal too. At this time I also installed a clutch stop, replaced the trans mounts with E21 320i ones and filled the transmission up with Redline MTL. Combined with my Jaffster shift knob, the throws are perfect!
I had to grind the trans brace for the new mounts, was really proud of the basic fab I did.
I got tired of the RK and swapped on my staggered, naked m-systems. They looked bomb, but the tires were too big so I didnt run them for more than a month or so (245/45/r17).
You can also see in those pics that I had a custom exhaust installed. It is a y pipe to 2.25 single with a vibrant ultra quiet resonator to a Ducati 996 muffler. Super quiet and refined tone, sounds slightly better than stock. The exhaust has a 3 bolt flange at the y pipe and another near the subframe. Removal takes no time at all and is incredibly easy to do alone. TOTALLY WORTH IT!
Then my brother bought his E28, a 1986 535i 5 speed. Cosmoblau Metallic on PerlBeige. Slight body damage but great interior, despite the car having damn near 270,000 miles. The odometer broke at 245k, but he bought the car from a female european indy shop mechanic who took really good care of it. His car has been a strong runner since day one and he is slowly learning how to wrench on the car. I gave him a leatherless mtech steering wheel, clutch stop and Z3 short shift lever that I had lying around. Im really happy for you bro, youre off to a good start!
I had some pretty minty E34 weaves in storage so I combined them with the tires off my 240sx s13 flip project (they were the perfect size). I like the small tires, keeps the car really fun to drive and MPG's up. They are 85% Federal Formoza 205/60r15 with 15mm spacer up front, 20mm out back.
Last month (April '15) we travelled to Vancouver WA for loads of parts for both of our cars. Shoutouts to LuckyHenriksen and 3UROBOY for hooking it up mega!!! Highlights of the goodies included a coarse spline 385mm Mtech I steering wheel, low miles Bilsteins + H&Rs and a 3.25 LSD for my car. My brother picked up new window motors and other interior bits for his car. Even with my trunk laden with heavy parts, the back seat filled with camping gear, and the roof rack loaded up my eta still managed 21-22mpg over the 450 mile trip :D good maintenance pays off.
some pictures from that weekend. We camped at Ape Cave near Mount St Helens (really cool spot).
I then polished my new set of tail lights and my brothers. They look fricken sweet
This last weekend I installed the new suspension and differential. My rear diff mount was seized so I grabbed a new one from the local picknpull. The parts swap went super smooth. I put the rear bilsteins on the middle perch and used E90 drop hats up front (still have all spring pads all around). Have Redline 75w90 in the diff and it feels great!
I went out that night and hammered on the car. Good news: the 3.25 really woke the car up and the billies ride awesome. Bad news: my driveshaft finally took a shit. The rear ujoint had massive amounts of play before but was still drive-able.. not anymore :(. I am waiting on my new driveshaft from Blunt now. Blunt is the best resource for parts on these cars. Look no further.
Most recent pics. I love the OEM+ look I am rocking right now. This car has loads of character and I plan to keep it original and drive it a very long time. After I get this new driveshaft it should be solid as a rock for Summer time! Planning on taking her on an ambitious 2000 mile roadtrip.
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