2/85 E28 M5 Project - 10-16-18 Update

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wkohler
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2/85 E28 M5 Project - 10-16-18 Update

Post by wkohler »

I'd like to introduce the latest acquisition. I never thought this would become a reality. I actually had given up on the possibility, but the opportunity presented itself again a few weeks ago and this car finally showed up late Wednesday.

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It's a 2/85 DC91 M5. 1018046

Diamantschwarz/Schwarz leather, air conditioning, rear headrests, power windows front and rear and power sunroof. It has intensive wash as well.

The car has about 140k on it and I have quite a few service records dating back to the early 1990s. It's currently sitting on Hartge springs, Bilsteins, Suspension Techniques sway bars and has a Billy Boat exhaust. It is going to be a pretty big project, but I'm going to go pretty slowly with it since the E12 M535i needs to be finished first and this is pretty intense. It's actually pretty amazing to realize how much you don't know about something and how annoying you can be to people who do know about it.

So far, I've swapped the alternator (easier than replacing the bushings which were glue), put another set of wheels on for the time being and put a couple of other things back to stock, or at least close to it.

Anyway, more photos:

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Trunk carpeting is different than the US M5. Same cut pile, but there are some differences. No first aid kit on left side, no cover for the warning triangle and no cargo net. Trunk lid liner is grey too, like standard E28s.
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Forged TRX wheel made by ALCOA! Note the 'wood' attached to the carpet instead of the separate wood piece.
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Tool kit was only missing the big pliers. Well, and most of the foam, which has glued itself to the tools.
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Here's the office:
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Last edited by wkohler on Oct 16, 2018 9:56 PM, edited 3 times in total.
travisj
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by travisj »

Wow, nice score! Unless there are mechanical issues, it doesn't look like too big of a project cosmetically. Though, I know that is determined by the beholder and retentiveness.
tig
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by tig »

You sly dog, you.

Get that coolant overflow tank replaced, stat! ;-)
Drew in NYC
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Drew in NYC »

Very happy to see this. Congratulations!
MicahO
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by MicahO »

Out-freakin-standing! Congrats!
pldlnr
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by pldlnr »

Congratulations! A true euro m5 is the pinnacle, as far as I am concerned. What an amazing find. I look forward to seeing what you do with this car as time goes on.
vinceg101
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by vinceg101 »

Holy Hot Hell, Chris. Congratulations.
I'd love to sit down and hear the back-story soon.
vinceg101
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by vinceg101 »

pldlnr wrote:Congratulations! A true euro m5 is the pinnacle, as far as I am concerned. What an amazing find. I look forward to seeing what you do with this car as time goes on.
x200
I have been asked before what would make me sell my M535i; well one of these would be it: a real Euro M5.
Can't wait to see it in person.
Karl Grau
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Karl Grau »

The trunk badge looks crooked. I'll show you the secret M5 owner's handshake in Van Nuys next month.
tig
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by tig »

Karl Grau wrote:The trunk badge looks crooked. I'll show you the secret M5 owner's handshake in Van Nuys next month.
Will cucumber sandwiches be served too?

BTW, I very much dig the color combination of this car.
oldskool
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by oldskool »

Someone done stole yurr windshield wipers son, . . . and fix the cigarette lighter.
Karl Grau
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Karl Grau »

cek wrote:
Karl Grau wrote:The trunk badge looks crooked. I'll show you the secret M5 owner's handshake in Van Nuys next month.
Will cucumber sandwiches be served too?
Yes, with the crusts removed.

wkohler wrote:No first aid kit on left side, no cover for the warning triangle and no cargo net.
It looks like a trunk net would be an easy, reversible retrofit. Where does the first aid kit go?

Can we assume that B & B cat-back will be for sale soon? :)
I can't believe you took out the mobile phone and custom seatbelts. :?

2015 – The year of living dangerously.

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5280 JB
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by 5280 JB »

Nice, Chris! Like others, a Euro spec E28 M5 is my ultimate unicorn.

Love the smooth rear deck lid without a spoiler on these - just adds to the M5 "stealth" factor. :cool:

Jim
Kyle in NO
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Kyle in NO »

This car would look great in my sun room.
Mark 88/M5 Houston
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Mark 88/M5 Houston »

Very nice looking M5 Chris. Good luck with getting it to your standards.
geordi
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by geordi »

And you didn't let me take a peek when I was in town Thursday??? :cry:

Congrats on the acquisition! Does this mean the B7 is chopped liver? ;)
wkohler
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by wkohler »

Thanks for the comments. Also, thanks to those who have offered support and assistance privately. It's appreciated. I think this car has a ton of potential and I'm pretty excited (and if I'm honest a bit scared) of the journey to come but I think it will be worthwhile and rewarding nonetheless. I think the biggest negative is the amount of time before I'll be comfortable digging into this one. I feel confident with the E28, but I'm a bit out of my element under the hood on this car. I'm confident we will get there, though. I've had lots of help so far with various questions and scenarios, so for that I'm definitely grateful.
5280 JB wrote:Nice, Chris! Like others, a Euro spec E28 M5 is my ultimate unicorn.

Love the smooth rear deck lid without a spoiler on these - just adds to the M5 "stealth" factor. :cool:

Jim
I have to say I really like the fact this car doesn't have the trunk spoiler. All three of the other E28s have it and it's really one of my favorite lines on the car. It, along with the lack of superfluous ///M badging helps maintain that Q-ship factor which is further cemented by the exhaust.

geordi wrote:And you didn't let me take a peek when I was in town Thursday??? :cry:

Congrats on the acquisition! Does this mean the B7 is chopped liver? ;)
Well, given that storage is a nearly 40 mile round trip from my house, I hadn't even seen it in the light and we both had tight schedules, that wasn't going to work. I wouldn't worry about the B7. Nothing can really replace that car, so it will be pretty cool to experience both. Maybe even compare them.
m-racer
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by m-racer »

Wonderful. Make sure the valve spring upgrade was done during the recall. My former Euro M5, shiny as it was, had never had the valve springs done. Can be a grenade. Also, the obvious issue on the simplex chain. My mechanic can walk you through the duplex chain conversion, assuming you want to take that on at some point. Very exciting!!!
dsmith
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by dsmith »

Very cool! Now I know who can use my leftover M88 valve cover gasket.

Hopefully, it's not too crusty.
Cactus
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Cactus »

Winning.
Drew in NYC
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Drew in NYC »

Cactus wrote:Winning.
Won?
Cactus
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Cactus »

Who needs tiger blood when you have euro m5 headers?
Chimi-Changa
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Chimi-Changa »

You keep blazing the trail Chris, and we'll keep driving in your dust!

Another amazing aquisition, and worthy of your steward-ship

(Oh and dibs on the Hartge springs if you ever pull them plz!)
kzolee
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by kzolee »

Holy shit! What will be the next one? A South African 745i? An E30 333i? One of the four silver M1s? ;)

Congrats!
mgoblue
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by mgoblue »

How did you come across this beauty? Because you know, it's all about the chase!
austin8753
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by austin8753 »

Yes, yes, and hell fucking yes. Congrats!
bkbimmer
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by bkbimmer »

It always makes me happy when things find the right home, congratulations sir!
Adam W in MN
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by Adam W in MN »

Excellent acquisition to a deserving owner! I can't believe the depth of your 5-series stable...

When will Kohler's garage launch as a channel on youtube?
kamukat
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by kamukat »

Unbelievably delicious. What a gorgeous find. Congratulations!

:ohyeah:
leadphut
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Re: Another project. E28 M5.

Post by leadphut »

Congrats Man! Beautiful!
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