What did you do to your E28 today?

General conversations about BMW E28s and the people who own them.
stuartinmn
Posts: 9472
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Minneapolis

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by stuartinmn »

Today I backed my car into my motorcycle, and cracked one of the taillights. :x They're shadowline taillights as well, so it will be fun trying to find a good one.
wkohler
Posts: 50924
Joined: Oct 05, 2006 11:04 PM
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by wkohler »

Oh shit! That really sucks, Stuart. Not only are they shadowline tail lights, they're EURO shadowline tail lights. Took me three years to find a "decent" set that I will still need to re paint.

You didn't damage the paintwork or anything, did you? :(

Motorcycles are dangerous.
davintosh
Posts: 13948
Joined: Jan 28, 2009 1:05 AM
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by davintosh »

stuartinmn wrote:Today I backed my car into my motorcycle, and cracked one of the taillights. :x They're shadowline taillights as well, so it will be fun trying to find a good one.
Bummer. Hope the motorcycle's owner wasn't any more upset with you than you are with you.

Anyway, it could've been worse:

Image
12valves
Posts: 407
Joined: Aug 03, 2009 9:29 PM
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by 12valves »

I was wondering why my car is increasingly loud as of late, and finally determined that the gaping holes along the passenger's floor/rocker might be letting noise in. I started poking around, took the fender off, and decided the inner fender needs some patching also.
Image
Image
Image
Image
I've already dealt with similar on the other side of the car a year or two ago. I actually beefed-up the area where the bottom of the fender meets the rocker panel and floor, so I would have a decent spot for the floor jack.
stuartinmn
Posts: 9472
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Minneapolis

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by stuartinmn »

wkohler wrote:Oh shit! That really sucks, Stuart. Not only are they shadowline tail lights, they're EURO shadowline tail lights. Took me three years to find a "decent" set that I will still need to re paint.

You didn't damage the paintwork or anything, did you? :(

Motorcycles are dangerous.
No paint damage, just a little hole in the amber part of the lens with some hairline cracks around it. I have another broken taillight sitting on the shelf; I was thinking about whether I could take a piece of lens off that one, heat it up until it melts into a glob, and then use it to fill the hole.
wkohler
Posts: 50924
Joined: Oct 05, 2006 11:04 PM
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by wkohler »

Well, the positive thing about this is that if there's a lens to break, it's that one. There might be someone out there considering doing the clear turn lenses, so it might make a good candidate to trade, perhaps. Which side do you need? I can keep an eye out.
stuartinmn
Posts: 9472
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Minneapolis

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by stuartinmn »

It's the driver's side. Thanks.
yodman
Posts: 85
Joined: May 22, 2015 10:21 AM
Location: Flint, MI

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by yodman »

Today, the rear suspension was finished up, brakes done, dog bones changed, and tires re-mounted.

So the rear half is complete, other than discovering completely destroyed subframe bushings.

Having serious trouble getting the thrust arm bolts out after thirty years under there, as well as getting the old strut insert out of the front tube.

Suggestions?
dsmith
Posts: 2362
Joined: Jan 20, 2012 12:52 AM
Location: Charleston, SC

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by dsmith »

yodman wrote: Having serious trouble getting the thrust arm bolts out after thirty years under there, as well as getting the old strut insert out of the front tube.

Suggestions?
Bring it to Toledo and I'll fix 'er up.
yodman
Posts: 85
Joined: May 22, 2015 10:21 AM
Location: Flint, MI

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by yodman »

dsmith wrote:
yodman wrote: Having serious trouble getting the thrust arm bolts out after thirty years under there, as well as getting the old strut insert out of the front tube.

Suggestions?
Bring it to Toledo and I'll fix 'er up.
Thanks sir, but a different approach on working smart and not hard got the stubborn bolt out. should've videoed the method we used to pull the old strut from the front housing tube.

My old Beetle and a friend's S1 Scirocco pulled the old strut cartridge out. Looked pretty janky and redneck.
2 5's and a 7
Posts: 653
Joined: Jul 08, 2014 2:32 PM
Location: Fayetteville AR

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by 2 5's and a 7 »

davintosh wrote:I finally found the spot in my garage where I hid the center caps for the wheels on the e28, and went to put them on; they are e34 Style 5s. Apparently I never had these wheels on the 528e before because I couldn't get the center caps on the fronts. They went on the back just fine, but the fronts... Not so much. Turns out this is a known problem. And I've probably read that FAQ once or twice before, but...

:facepalm:

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=53909

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=74975

At least I didn't post another question about it. :banana:
Time to buy some late dust caps
Sapotorito
Posts: 323
Joined: Apr 18, 2014 10:31 AM
Location: Chandler, Arizona

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by Sapotorito »

Working on my drivers side door, it just wouldn't unlock all of the sudden... Yes, I had to get in thru the passenger side door and that was a pain :? Should be taken care of soon...

Image
Image

I will also be working on the turn signal switch I just got in the mail from Andy... Looks in great shape...

Image
geordi
Posts: 1415
Joined: Jan 26, 2012 12:17 AM
Location: WYOKA

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by geordi »

Image

Finally got around to polishing the new paint (Griot's 4) and a coat of Zymol wax. It was an all dayer and worth a few :beer:

Now I can start finishing up the exterior trim work.
wkohler
Posts: 50924
Joined: Oct 05, 2006 11:04 PM
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by wkohler »

I drove my M535i today.
crispy
Posts: 231
Joined: Jan 03, 2007 4:04 PM
Location: Yamhill, OR, USA

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by crispy »

Sapotorito wrote:Working on my drivers side door, it just wouldn't unlock all of the sudden... Yes, I had to get in thru the passenger side door and that was a pain :? Should be taken care of soon...
Mine did that a year or two ago. As long as I didn't pull up on the handle before unlocking, everything was fine, otherwise - enter thru the passenger side. Just a broken spring. I think I made one. I sure got good at getting the door panel off while seated, and then using a screwdriver to move the piece that the spring was supposed to move.
Sapotorito
Posts: 323
Joined: Apr 18, 2014 10:31 AM
Location: Chandler, Arizona

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by Sapotorito »

crispy wrote:
Sapotorito wrote:Working on my drivers side door, it just wouldn't unlock all of the sudden... Yes, I had to get in thru the passenger side door and that was a pain :? Should be taken care of soon...
Mine did that a year or two ago. As long as I didn't pull up on the handle before unlocking, everything was fine, otherwise - enter thru the passenger side. Just a broken spring. I think I made one. I sure got good at getting the door panel off while seated, and then using a screwdriver to move the piece that the spring was supposed to move.
That was exactly the same problem, the spring broke and had to use a screwdriver to let the latch loose then finally open the door.. I too had to install a new spring pulling the piece back so the mechanism would work... It's all fixed now...
e28Sean
Posts: 986
Joined: Nov 23, 2007 2:07 PM
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by e28Sean »

Currently flogging it at BMW's Performance Center in Spartanburg SC. Video to follow.
foolish
Posts: 432
Joined: Apr 08, 2010 2:21 PM
Location: Western Mass

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by foolish »

Replaced all of the 29 year old cooling hoses (with a $99 kit from Bavauto) as well as the t-stat for peace of mind.
LarryM
Posts: 1244
Joined: Feb 01, 2008 11:40 AM
Location: SoCal

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by LarryM »

Yesterday I joined the SoCal Vintage club on a cruise up Topanga Canyon and then westward on a Mulholland Drive tour through the Santa Monica mountains. Really gave the car a good workout and had a chance to try out my new Conti tires and the M-tech springs/shocks plus sway bars I installed last year. Also the 3.64 diff keeps the revs in the sweet spot and makes the car very responsive on the short straights. Great fun...the way the car was meant to be driven! I really expected to see a few other E28 guys there, but I was the only one. Marc Norris was kind enough to host us for a catered lunch at his Bavarian Workshop in West Hills...one of the top BMW shops in the L.A. area (true enough, and a plug for him :D ).
tig
Posts: 9297
Joined: Mar 18, 2013 6:25 PM
Location: Durango
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by tig »

Gave it it's first detail, inside and out.

Image

Image

Image

Also, Vlad got these installed.
Image
dsmith
Posts: 2362
Joined: Jan 20, 2012 12:52 AM
Location: Charleston, SC

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by dsmith »

cek wrote:Gave it it's first detail, inside and out.

Image

Image
OMG, no ABS! You're gonna crash and die! Don't forget to replace the heater core.
tig
Posts: 9297
Joined: Mar 18, 2013 6:25 PM
Location: Durango
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by tig »

It will have abs when I'm done. And a new heater core
86GT635
Posts: 1897
Joined: Mar 11, 2009 12:09 PM
Location: Kentucky USA

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by 86GT635 »

Finally finished the radio. The tape deck was inoperable, so I went to a vintage audio repair shop and got a belt for the ejection for $4. Cleaned all the old melted belt off of the drive pulleys and then noticed the playback/head belts were also melted. Had to improvise and used some a/c o-rings. Go to put it all back together and notice the transport was physically bent. No problem, I have a spare. Get it all cleaned up, swap belts over. Put it in the car and the tape head won't move to the tape. That's no good but not too big of a issue as I have a second spare that I'll clean up and swap the belts over to. The belt melts to the pulleys and required a lot of q-tips/ toothpicks and denatured alcohol. Probably spent a half hour on each one wiping out rubber goo that sticks to everything.

So, I get the second spare cleaned up and belts switched, install and only the left channel is working. I start thinking.. My main objective is to be able to use my ipod so I research on how to add aux in. Nobody has successfully documented how for the radio I have KE-83bzm so I wing it. I desolder the tape head from the board and solder on a 3.5mm RCA. Go to hook it up and the signal from the mp3 player is too strong and it sounds horrible. I try another spot on a daughterboard and still, no dice. I think about it some more, get on ebay and find a radio with no code or indication of condition. Make a offer that's countered and I hold off, I figure I can swap the head between 2 of the tape transports. There's circlips that fit on a 1mm shaft but I get it done. Finally, success- the tape transport works great. I probably took the transport out of the radios 50 times.

Then, the antenna has been stuck in the raised position for at least the 2 1/2 years I've owned it. I got it broke all of the way down and soaked it all and scrubbed it/re-greased. Put it back together and it works. It's nice seeing the antenna down for the first time. The mast was just corroded into place. I have at least 20 hours into the stock radio and it's all working. I let a Neil Young tape play through 3 times on both sides and it gave no problems. Ipod actually sounds really nice. I'm using a antique Aiwa tape adapter that has a pcb board in it with integrated diodes. I didn't expect the stock radio to sound as nice as it does. The subwoofer signal I pulled from the rear channel really added depth to the system. I've impressed myself this time.
Bcbp14
Posts: 305
Joined: Mar 21, 2011 12:30 AM
Location: Dirty Jersey

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by Bcbp14 »

Car stalled out a mile from work. I Resolderd my ecu while on break at work. Luckily it worked and I was able to drive back home. :cool:
Neel
Posts: 243
Joined: Apr 17, 2009 11:21 PM
Location: South western Colorado and NY

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by Neel »

Bought an M30 B35 a couple of weeks ago.. I looked at it today and cursed at the motor.
Acid House
Posts: 580
Joined: Dec 04, 2012 2:06 AM

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by Acid House »

New control arms and tie rods/center link plus an alignment and some new tires in the front, Pittman's in the back.

Drives like a new car, miles better than my old e28 ever was.

It still LOOKS like shit, but it's starting to really drive pretty nice. :rofl:
kzolee
Posts: 346
Joined: Jan 12, 2011 5:10 AM
Location: Hungary
Contact:

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by kzolee »

Replaced the sport seat struts.

First, tried the one hand ratcheting clamp. No luck. On the 350N passed away...

Image

Next, the bar clamp. The 500N was too much for it...

Image

The only working solution was the spring compressor.

Image

Image
vandiesel
Posts: 172
Joined: Jan 02, 2012 4:16 PM
Location: Portland, OR

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by vandiesel »

Tried to charge the r12. No luck as there was too much air in it. Found a shop that will vac it and put my own r12 in Monday. Can't wait. It's been HOT out west.
Karl Grau
Posts: 9717
Joined: Mar 10, 2006 7:34 PM
Location: Sandy Eggo

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by Karl Grau »

kzolee wrote:Replaced the sport seat struts.
I was able to to do it using the "Kohler Method" but it was pretty scary.

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=3& ... =#p1044287
LarryM
Posts: 1244
Joined: Feb 01, 2008 11:40 AM
Location: SoCal

Re: What did you do to your E28 today?

Post by LarryM »

vandiesel wrote:Tried to charge the r12. No luck as there was too much air in it. Found a shop that will vac it and put my own r12 in Monday. Can't wait. It's been HOT out west.
My E24's A/C has been a little weak lately. I've owned it 15 years and it's never been recharged so It'll probably need more R12. Where did you buy yours? I'm thinking of stocking up for the future.
Post Reply