An Emerald in the Rough - 12/1986 Dinan M5

[LateFan]

Unfortunately, this came at a pretty inopportune time for me,

Just park it in a "cool dry place" for now. No hurry. It's safe and you have the title. We can wait.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I must have skipped that part. I started reading thread and then got busy and came back to it

[e30austin]

Thanks guys! I will be sure to keep you all updated along the way with what happens. Very excited to start digging into it, but this will suck up all my money for a while.

Unfortunately, this came at a pretty inopportune time for me, as I'm balls deep on my M-Tech cabrio, which was supposed to be a fairly "simple respray", and it has quickly turned into a minor restoration...so, short of getting this car running and drivable, the cabrio absolutely needs to get finished up first :(

What a find! I'm loving the paint!!

My boss has the the same Dinan Turbo setup in his E28 M5. He actually put it together when the car was new. PM me if you have any questions you'd like me to run by him. I'm sure he'd be happy to help!

Paolo, I think your boss and I will be new best buddies. It would be great to have someone with a perfectly stock setup that I could take notes from. Thanks for the information!

Lets hope its just a blown head gasket too and not in need of valves or a new head

Did you read the story? Does not have a blown head gasket, after being inspected by a shop in 2010. Needs the engine harness replaced and a new DME or a standalone unit installed.

Of course, it's all hearsay until I actually get it running, though I doubt it, based on the reports of the shop owner, who's opinion I know and trust.

I'd *gasp* pull the turbo parts off and get it back a bit closer to OEM+

Honestly, you read my mind. I think it would be fun as shit to go drive a few times, but I would rather the S38 in pure, NA form. The way the Dinan setups were, was a high compression, low boost setup. Sounds a bit like a recipe for disaster to me, but I'm always open for an adventure :)

[Julien]

I'd *gasp* pull the turbo parts off and get it back a bit closer to OEM+

[squidmaster]

Nice find! Looking forward to seeing it restored

[ArtFoodBMW]

I'm excited to see what you do with this Austin!

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Lets hope its just a blown head gasket too and not in need of valves or a new head

[parkerbink]

Congratulations, so jealous!

[MC Hammered]

you scooped a dinan turbo e28 m5 with a perfect interior.

you sick fuck.

My thoughts exactly!

My head is still spinning at how it ended up in your hands and isn't hacked apart.

[kid325e]

What a find! I'm loving the paint!!

My boss has the the same Dinan Turbo setup in his E28 M5. He actually put it together when the car was new. PM me if you have any questions you'd like me to run by him. I'm sure he'd be happy to help!

[LateFan]

So explain that system a bit to a noob...

Does it have a sealed plenum box that's then clamped onto, and blows through, the ITBs?



Does anyone have any old road test reports or data from when it was new? Don't know if that would help you or not.

[TimeMachinE30]

Oh Lord Baby Jesus. I hope one of these stories is mine o e day.

I LOVE Dinan cars. That is definitely Dinan, signature orange fittings. Pictures of gauge (s)? Is it rotated?

Getting a hold of Steve is super tough. Been trying for a while. He stayed at Ganassi racing a short time. I wish je could be more involved in the preservation of these older cars. Unless you have paperwork, there likely wont be a thing to fall back on. Even my E34, they had no record of. This early in the game, I am not sure how big or of at all Dinan was allowing other shops to do the work or if this really was done in Morgan Hill, CA.

Awesome. I want an older Dinan car to drive and love.

[kts]

you scooped a dinan turbo e28 m5 with a perfect interior.

you sick fuck.

my thoughts 1000%. so jealous!

can't wait to see what's next. personally i like the green and would keep it.

[LJ851]

Hole E. Shit

[Mike36]

This is too cool, I'm actually very curious to know how much you picked it up for. I love hearing these kind of stories!