Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

[tig]

Every time I look at your car it makes me want to take mine to the crusher and video tape its fitting demise.

Ditto.

[leadphut]

Every time I look at your car it makes me want to take mine to the crusher and video tape its fitting demise.

Ditto.

you want Brent to crush his car?

[vandiesel]

Charlie, Given the varied conflicting information on acquiring everything to do the job can you detail how you got that awesome pile of parts together?

[tig]

Charlie, Given the varied conflicting information on acquiring everything to do the job can you detail how you got that awesome pile of parts together?

Yes.

1. I sent an email to Steve at BluntTech with a spreadsheet with all the parts listed.
2. I also provided a scan of the title to a Euro car that I just happened to have owned at that very moment, but no longer own.
3. He charged my credit card a big fucking amount.
4. I waited a few weeks.
5. I took the above picture.
6. Another box containing the lower spoiler and a Euro M5 windshield showed up the next day. But I didn't bother to take another picture.

Said spreadsheet is available for your pleasure here:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=E ... ile%2cxlsx

[lizard]

Yes.

1. I sent an email to Steve at BluntTech with a spreadsheet with all the parts listed.
2. I also provided a scan of the title to a Euro car that I just happened to have owned at that very moment, but no longer own.
3. He charged my credit card a big fucking amount.
4. I waited a few weeks.
5. I took the above picture.
6. Another box containing the lower spoiler and a Euro M5 windshield showed up the next day. But I didn't bother to take another picture.

Said spreadsheet is available for your pleasure here:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=E ... ile%2cxlsx

Thanks for sharing.

A couple of questions for clarification:

1) Steve can order the parts from Germany as long as his customer provides title to a Euro car?
2) Is the proof just for Steve or the gubment?

[bkbimmer]

Nice spreadsheet, you are a helpful sir.

[1st 5er]

... Is the proof just for Steve or the gubment?

BMW NA

[wkohler]

As far as I'm concerned, they can go fuck themselves. I have been waiting over a month for two parts that showed available in U.S. and I have 100% legit documentation for.

[tig]

This weekend, between bouts of power washing the driveway, I started pulling the diving boards off.



ZMOG.







I had noticed it from underneath before, but it's pretty clear a PO had bonked the front of the car on a curb, or set of curbs.





For sail?









The soft coupling on the PS cooling line has been seeping. It looks like it'll be a bear to replace, but I may just do it while I have this all apart.

Washed for two reasons: 1) My paint guy gave me shit about having too much wax on Maytag; I plan on using P21S HD Cleanse to ensure I get all wax off before taking it in, and 2) what other chance will I get to really get all this clean?



Pretty clean, but I didn't have a ton of time, so I'm going to get in there again once I have it back on the lift and really get all the nooks & crannies clean. I will also use this oppt to finally clean the insides of the fenders...and replace the plastic fender shields as they are cracked. I bought a set last year...








Dems tailpipes gonna be way too long. I'm gonna get a new exhaust anywho.

[1st 5er]

She's gonna be beautiful.

[harrypalmer]

It would be immensely appreciated and helpful (to me) and maybe everyone else if you could document in detail the front US brackets removal / front Euro brackets install, so if you can please do; mainly because the uncertainty of the CORRECT WAY front procedure; having the Euro brackets go in a bit lower when tack welded, etc. Anyhow, thank you for these pictures.

[wkohler]

You should take care of that power steering leak right away. You already have the power steering cooler unbolted on the bottom, so it isn't going to get much easier. Get the right hose from the dealer and you already have the fancy pants clamp tool. Make sure you pull the headlight wiring harness out from behind the bottom of the grille support so your guy doesn't melt it when he starts the welding. I'd just pull it through and put it by the battery. I think you can leave the horns connected and the aux fan. Can't remember as it's been a while since I've done this on a US E28. You will also be short two speed nuts and screws for the Euro valance as the US one is notched to go around the gusseting from the frame rail horn to the grille support.

This was one of my favorite photos of my old car:



That's kinda odd that they didn't paint the lower part of your front valance black. They had done that on my car even though it was a 535is. A really early one, though. Interestingly, I didn't even notice it looking at your photos of the valance, rather the lack of overspray on the core support. I thought you cleaned it off. Wait, nope. Haha.

[tig]

You should take care of that power steering leak right away. You already have the power steering cooler unbolted on the bottom, so it isn't going to get much easier. Get the right hose from the dealer and you already have the fancy pants clamp tool.

Yes, sir!

Make sure you pull the headlight wiring harness out from behind the bottom of the grille support so your guy doesn't melt it when he starts the welding. I'd just pull it through and put it by the battery. I think you can leave the horns connected and the aux fan. Can't remember as it's been a while since I've done this on a US E28.

Good call on the wiring harness. Getting the aux fan out looked tricky because of the AC lines, which I really don't want to disconnect.

You will also be short two speed nuts and screws for the Euro valance as the US one is notched to go around the gusseting from the frame rail horn to the grille support.

Speed nuts being those plastic ones?

You have an amazing memory, and I'm tankful for that.

[tig]

It would be immensely appreciated and helpful (to me) and maybe everyone else if you could document in detail the front US brackets removal / front Euro brackets install, so if you can please do; mainly because the uncertainty of the CORRECT WAY front procedure; having the Euro brackets go in a bit lower when tack welded, etc. Anyhow, thank you for these pictures.

Well, seeing that I have no idea what I'm doing, and have struggled to find good pictures myself, we shall see.

What do you mean "Euro brackets go in a bit lower"? First I've heard that.

[bkbimmer]

You have a lot to obsess about, congrats on a big step in the right direction.

[harrypalmer]

What do you mean "Euro brackets go in a bit lower"? First I've heard that.

I apologize. My bad with English being my second language I meant to share this with you instead.

The install is easy when you use common sense and have the Euro mount (called "console") in hand and the car in front of you. Under the US frame rail is the tow hook. The base flange of the US tow hook that is tack welded to the front support is shaped exactly like the base flange of the console. When you see this, you will know exactly where the console mounts. You need to remove the US tow hook either completely, including the original flanges, or cut and ground flat so the console flange will mount on top of the US flanges (stacked). In Euro cars, the frame rail is shorter and open on the bottom. To best match the Euro version, the US frame rail needs to be cut back to about a half inch or so forward of the panel that the console is mounted on. The console is then tacked to the panel, and tacked where it touches the remainder of the frame rail for added security.

[tig]

You should take care of that power steering leak right away. You already have the power steering cooler unbolted on the bottom, so it isn't going to get much easier. Get the right hose from the dealer and you already have the fancy pants clamp tool.

Yes, sir!

Egads, for a 2.5" long piece of hose:

$29.16 Aftermarket
$34.59 OE

[wkohler]

It's not just used there. One meter should get you those pieces, and both return hoses.

[tig]

Got the euro frame rails via Ivo. Now I'm more confused than before.

First, they are bent. I suppose the car they came off of was hit.



I put the valance in place and I can see where it needs to be trimmed: To fit around those little triangle brackets that bridge the frame rails to the core support. Right?


Where do I cut off the old frame rail ends? Do I use the old tow hooks or new?

[wkohler]

You cut the frame rail horn off flush with the core support. That triangular piece gets removed as well. You would use the tow hooks that are attached to the brackets.

Basically, you need to remove everything that doesn't look like this:

[tig]

Thanks Chris. I buy that. Wish I were more comfortable cutting/shaping/welding metal.

Anyone have a pic of what this looks like when done, either a real euro car or one done using the refit brackets Chris showed?

[tig]

Ken is going to come by with his welder and tools Monday night to do the metal work at my house!

Pulled the rear window.



Found that the rust is not bad. About the same as it was on Maytag (just on the other side).



Right side is good.





Now I gotta get the PS cooling lines pulled and the soft bits replaced. Not looking forward to that...fluid's gonna go everywhere.

[harrypalmer]

You cut the frame rail horn off flush with the core support. That triangular piece gets removed as well. You would use the tow hooks that are attached to the brackets. Basically, you need to remove everything that doesn't look like this:

I just had to thank you for this. So THANK YOU!

[5280 JB]

Anyone have a pic of what this looks like when done, either a real euro car or one done using the refit brackets Chris showed?

Not sure if these will help you, but I'll post them up in case they do. This is a Euro spec M535i's brackets, taken when I was doing some refresh work back in 2010:









** Yes, they are on Photobucket, but I uploaded them before I read your rant about the evils of that site

Also, a link to a write up on M535i.org on converting US spec bumpers to Euro's, including some bracket modification details (which you likely may have already seen):

http://m535i.org/officers/ra/frame.html

Jim

[greymarket]

Worth a look?
http://speed.academy/bmw-e28-euro-bumpe ... -part-1/4/