Since I sold my 318is I've been craving to get back into another BMW. This time I wanted something that's already in good condition and is comfortable to drive the long distance to work. Cue the E34....
It's an 89 535i with 190k kilometres (118k miles), a host of options and is overall in really good condition. Plans are to do general maintenance to keep it reliable, fix up a few small issues - mostly with the interior, and then to get it low on a nice set of wheels.
First up in Victoria (Australia not Texas) when you sell a car it needs to get a roadworthy certificate, which is an inspection from an authorised mechanic. I bought it without the certificate and when I took it in to get one I got a few instructions for stuff to fix. Just a few simple things including new front bump stops and new front tyres. Annoying considering I want to go to coil overs and bigger wheels but I don't have the cash for those things at the moment.
The last person to put the wheel nuts back on must have been angry, and had arms the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger's thighs, and used a v8 powered rattle gun. They were was so tight that I couldn't get them off, even using a battery battle gun I borrowed from a builder across the street. That's when I got angry and took to them with a giant metal pole.
Whilst I have a small garage in my new apartment (which is better than no garage like my last apartment) it's nothing like the big shed I had when I worked on the 318is. The car has to sit in the lane and I get to sit on the floor in the garage - unfortunately I don't have benches anymore. This means I get rained on and also don't have any lights. :(
Poor mans breaker bar. (I do really need to get one)
I soon learnt that 2 spring compressors aren't enough to get the stock length springs back on. An hour of struggling later I went out and bought another pair.
Old vs new.
And all back together.
Unfortunately I could only get one side finished because the drivers side has two bolts which I couldn't get undone no matter what I did. I'll have to find someone with a proper rattle gun to help me. Curse my lack of tools! And my lack of money for tools! And my lack of money for parts!
To be continued..
It's an 89 535i with 190k kilometres (118k miles), a host of options and is overall in really good condition. Plans are to do general maintenance to keep it reliable, fix up a few small issues - mostly with the interior, and then to get it low on a nice set of wheels.
First up in Victoria (Australia not Texas) when you sell a car it needs to get a roadworthy certificate, which is an inspection from an authorised mechanic. I bought it without the certificate and when I took it in to get one I got a few instructions for stuff to fix. Just a few simple things including new front bump stops and new front tyres. Annoying considering I want to go to coil overs and bigger wheels but I don't have the cash for those things at the moment.
The last person to put the wheel nuts back on must have been angry, and had arms the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger's thighs, and used a v8 powered rattle gun. They were was so tight that I couldn't get them off, even using a battery battle gun I borrowed from a builder across the street. That's when I got angry and took to them with a giant metal pole.
Whilst I have a small garage in my new apartment (which is better than no garage like my last apartment) it's nothing like the big shed I had when I worked on the 318is. The car has to sit in the lane and I get to sit on the floor in the garage - unfortunately I don't have benches anymore. This means I get rained on and also don't have any lights. :(
Poor mans breaker bar. (I do really need to get one)
I soon learnt that 2 spring compressors aren't enough to get the stock length springs back on. An hour of struggling later I went out and bought another pair.
Old vs new.
And all back together.
Unfortunately I could only get one side finished because the drivers side has two bolts which I couldn't get undone no matter what I did. I'll have to find someone with a proper rattle gun to help me. Curse my lack of tools! And my lack of money for tools! And my lack of money for parts!
To be continued..