E28 M5: Bringing it back to life (UPDATED 8/14/16)

[EventuallyAyrton]

Everything looks incredible. Those yellow calipers are going to go really well with the blue of the car

[MilanoFc]

Everything looks incredible. Those yellow calipers are going to go really well with the blue of the car

Thanks! That is what I figured, plus with the suspension parts being yellow as well i thought adding another color would just be too much going on.

[MilanoFc]

Quick update. Friday I got my parts from BMW. It consist of the gas tank and most of the seals and weatherstrips that go on the vehicle. I painted the fenders and trunk, so I would say 95% of the vehicle is painted with the misc parts left behind. Today I went in to blast the engine to get started on it this coming up week. I will be painting the block first and I was thinking of using POR 15 on it, but I want the finish to be more of a matte black like it is originally so I need to do some research to see what are my options. All I can say is that I am glad I bought the portable soda blaster. It really saved me a lot of time and hassle of attempting to clean with liquids and a brush, plus all the other tasks it has come in handy for. (P.S. please ignore the VW logo )

[Cooperman]

Nice project.

Questions: Where did you get the headers? They do not appear to be OEM euro headers. I have seen stainless sets like yours on ebay.de for a good amount less than a set of the BMW ones.

As seen here: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Headers-for-BMW- ... Sw2XFUleql

[MilanoFc]

Nice project.

Questions: Where did you get the headers? They do not appear to be OEM euro headers. I have seen stainless sets like yours on ebay.de for a good amount less than a set of the BMW ones.

As seen here: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Headers-for-BMW- ... Sw2XFUleql

Interesting link, they do look similar. I purchased them from someone on the forums that contacted me directly to my email back when I had posted a WTB thread. You are correct, they aren't OE headers. When I purchased them I did the mistake not to read his discription correctly. I thought I was getting OEs, but when I went back to my emails with him, he did explain they were replicas he had mocked up from the originals. I am still debating if I should run them or not since the front section does not line up. I am going to attempt to get them straighten out and get them inspected by a local fabricator. If they check out I will run them, else I will have to source some and learn from my mistake.

[Cooperman]

I contacted the seller of the ebay headers to get the specs, but have not heard back from them. Do you know the tubing diameters and what gauge steel yours are? Just curious.

[MilanoFc]

I contacted the seller of the ebay headers to get the specs, but have not heard back from them. Do you know the tubing diameters and what gauge steel yours are? Just curious.

This is what I found from my emails with him. "I used to reproduce those headers long time ago but I stop the fabrication due to the huge amount of labor involved and the cost of materials.
The set I have left is from the last round is mandrel bent with 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel. "

The tubing size I can get once I get to the shop after work... Tubing size is 1.5"

[MilanoFc]

Here is the final look of the engine after primer and paint!

[Cooperman]

Thanks for the info. Engine looks great.

[MilanoFc]

Not much has been going on since I am at a stand still. Due to my bad planning and last minute decisions I have to wait to get the important pieces that I thought could've been done last minute back from outside vendors. My plan was to buff around the windshield opening and back glass to install the headliner, dash, and glass to protect the interior once I had started to put it together. Well that plan has backfired because just last week I called my upholstery guy to get started on it. Dash cannot go in since I need to go to Sherman's backyard and source the center air vents that is NLA, which hopefully I will be able to do tomorrow.

My next priority was to get engine ready to put in, well that did was a no go either since I decided to send all the bolts to get zinc coated and the headers ceramic coated. I should expect to get those mid next week hopefully.

So only advancements I've done so far was install door latches, brake bomb with new hoses, and the timing chain/tensioners installed. I'm in a time crunch as we are already in July and have only a month really to get this close to completed. Being in the middle of a car restoration, wedding, and now add a home purchase will really drain you out. I'm still staying positive that I can get it done but also will not rush it to get it completed since I don't think it would be wise after all the time and money that has been put into it.

Happy 4th everyone!

[1st 5er]

See ya tomorrow.

[wkohler]

What is your deadline for?

Good luck!

[MilanoFc]

What is your deadline for?

Good luck!

Our Wedding day, Aug 27th. I do have a little over a month, but don't want to depend on a week before the wedding as I know attention will have to go towards it.

Thanks! it's much needed.

[MilanoFc]

So after taking a break last weekend, I got to rest and go over the project as a whole to manage to get this done for my deadline. I must say that was much needed since you feel you aren't getting anywhere when you want to do all of it at once. I get a call from the uployster mid week that he was ready! I was very happy to hear that news, so since I'm still waiting on the hardware and headers to come back, my priority was the inside. The second the headliner was installed I was ready to rock! I plan to get the interior done by Tuesday, so hopefully than the other stuff are ready and I can get back to working on the engine. Now to pics, enjoy!

Floorboard insulation done



Headliner:





Crack free dash in!

[tig]

Looking great!!!

[MilanoFc]

Sorry fellas for not updating, I'm sure some think I probably threw in the towel and left this resto alone. But not at all, I have just been so focused on it trying my best from every angle to get as much as I can possible and of course with the help of my brother, father, and friends. At this stage, if I get stuck in one area because of parts I can focus on another task or area.

So far engine is almost ready to go in as my brother has been working on it during the day, still waiting on the headers, their polisher broke down so a week has turned into three. Hopefully I get them this week as I am really pushing to get the engine in before this month ends and have a running vehicle. *fingers crossed*.

I went ahead and buffed the doors so we can install them on the car as the interior is 75% done. I want to have all glass installed before seats go in to make sure they are not ruined by the shop environment, so far only front glass is in but should have the rear in this week and the door glass installed once the door are on.

Rear end of the car should be completed by tomorrow. All lines have been installed and with the help of Sherman and Pavel I got the parts and guide needed to install the single fuel pump mod. Axles and stab bar was put in today with only the fuel tank and brakes pending for tomorrow to go in.

Special thanks to Ivo for the shipment, he sourced all my new lights and I cannot wait to install them! I am sure there is a lot more but Ill let the pics do the talking now!

[MilanoFc]

So officially tomorrow I am 27 days away from the big day. Which means I truly have 3 weeks, since I should not be counting the wedding week, as I'm sure I will be busy with preparations and what not. Thursday I officially became a homeowner so that is done with and the car has a home once its completed. Now I think I feel comfortable of being able to finish it in time with that pressure out of the way. Doors, lock mechanisms, and front seats have been put in. I was going to install the door glass and wrap the doors up today but found out I never ordered the pillar trims on the door frames. So tomorrow I need to call the dealer and hopefully they are available within the country and not Germany, else Im screwed. My original plan was to have the engine in by the ends month and that backfired as I am still waiting on the headers. Last I spoke with them my set was next and should see them Tuesday/ Weds, so lets hope thats the case. Other than that I plan to assemble what I can so in case I need a part I can still have time to source it. Other than that it is finally looking like a e28!

[Adam W in MN]

There's so much inspiration in the eye candy section lately, maybe someday I'll bump my resto.

When the time comes I may have some questions for you regarding the firewall and floor padding insulation that you did. I have a firewall insulation piece but sadly the old rubber was two brittle and cracked in half when it was shipped. But it could be used as a template. I may have a lead on carpet padding from a forum member but it's always good to have alternatives in case that doesn't work out.

[86GT635]

There is some serious hustling going on with this project. Building a m5 from the ground up along with custom touches in a few months.. wow.

I'm happy for you- a lot going on and that's awesome. Great work. Car looks awesome too. If you can't find the a pillars I'm sure someone here will let you borrow theirs.

[MilanoFc]

There's so much inspiration in the eye candy section lately, maybe someday I'll bump my resto.

When the time comes I may have some questions for you regarding the firewall and floor padding insulation that you did. I have a firewall insulation piece but sadly the old rubber was two brittle and cracked in half when it was shipped. But it could be used as a template. I may have a lead on carpet padding from a forum member but it's always good to have alternatives in case that doesn't work out.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I used some foam like wrap that bumpers come in to make the template and I think I still have the ones I used. I will have to make sure of that tomorrow as they will probably come handy in the future. The final product was pretty spot on, only trimming I had to do when I started to install the dash and components was around the pedal bracket, but just enough to get it to mount flush on the firewall.

There is some serious hustling going on with this project. Building a m5 from the ground up along with custom touches in a few months.. wow.

I'm happy for you- a lot going on and that's awesome. Great work. Car looks awesome too. If you can't find the a pillars I'm sure someone here will let you borrow theirs.

Thanks for the kind words! It has been non stop since November, but I couldn't have gone this far if it wasn't with the help I've been getting from my father, brothers and friends and lets not forget the amounts of info on MyE28. Any helping hand comes a long way. Especially with having the 2 biggest changes of my life happening at the same time.

[86GT635]

I'm smiling over here.

I think this thread is one of the best I've read. MORE DETAILS DUDE SHOW US YOUR WORK

It's inspiring how quick you're doing it, I am super pumped that you're gonna take your awesome Bride out for your honeymoon in a classic M5 you've been talking about for all these years- that's fucking awesome. The icing on the cake is that you're actually gonna do it. Damn dude, that's the spirit.

Get it Dude!!!!

[Pavel]

I haven't checked in recently on your thread! Lots of progress!

Let me know if you need any other help. It was nice to see you this weekend.

[MilanoFc]

I haven't checked in recently on your thread! Lots of progress!

Let me know if you need any other help. It was nice to see you this weekend.

Haha! told you I've been on it. Thanks for letting me come over and looking over yours for my doubt of where things run.

I'm smiling over here.

I think this thread is one of the best I've read. MORE DETAILS DUDE SHOW US YOUR WORK

It's inspiring how quick you're doing it, I am super pumped that you're gonna take your awesome Bride out for your honeymoon in a classic M5 you've been talking about for all these years- that's fucking awesome. The icing on the cake is that you're actually gonna do it. Damn dude, that's the spirit.

Get it Dude!!!!

Thanks! I try to update as much as I can of the progress but working 7-5 M-F and than going over to the shop to work on the E28 after-hours and on weekends is a beating. But I think it can be done!

[MilanoFc]

Mission accomplished! The engine and transmission is in and hopefully it gets to live this week. Still needing to source a couple parts but all should be available locally, with the exception of the radiator being the only task at the moment. For some reason I thought I had mines, which I probably did, but after all these years who knows if we ended up scrapping it thinking it was for another car. So know I need to hunt one down and hope I can get it by ends week. So Saturday the drivetrain went in with help of friends that are rooting for me to get this completed in time, Sunday I went to connect the remaining of the sensors and what not, and today my brother and I installed the front brakes.

[tig]

Love.

[1st 5er]

... with the exception of the radiator being the only task at the moment. For some reason I thought I had mines, which I probably did, but after all these years who knows if we ended up scrapping it thinking it was for another car. So know I need to hunt one down and hope I can get it by ends week...

I've got my OEM one setting in a box in my garage.
It was in good working order,
replaced an all aluminum one because group buy.
Holler if interested.

[tschultz]

Love that bundle of snakes! Out of the car you actually get to see them!

[wkohler]

... with the exception of the radiator being the only task at the moment. For some reason I thought I had mines, which I probably did, but after all these years who knows if we ended up scrapping it thinking it was for another car. So know I need to hunt one down and hope I can get it by ends week...

I've got my OEM one setting in a box in my garage.
It was in good working order,
replaced an all aluminum one because group buy.
Holler if interested.

If it's been setting empty for any length of time, it's not a good one now unless it's resealed.

[1st 5er]

... with the exception of the radiator being the only task at the moment. For some reason I thought I had mines, which I probably did, but after all these years who knows if we ended up scrapping it thinking it was for another car. So know I need to hunt one down and hope I can get it by ends week...

I've got my OEM one setting in a box in my garage.
It was in good working order,
replaced an all aluminum one because group buy.
Holler if interested.

If it's been setting empty for any length of time, it's not a good one now unless it's resealed.

Swap was done about 90 days ago.

[Dubs]

killer thread, thanks for taking so many inspiring pics.

Dubs