New member post

[Apexnlv]

Hello,

I recently picked up a 1987 535is (or claimed as “is”) not sure how I figure that out. It came with euro grill and lights, and front and rear fiberglass bumpers I’d like to learn more about the car and how to work on it. My goals are bringing it up to par for a fun streetable car. I’m not so worried about all out performance- I have a fast car for that. I want it balanced and we’ll sorted for daily driving enjoyment.

So far I’ve changed the wheels, lowered it with Bilstein B8 and H&R sports, axles, clear turn indicators, replaced majority of the fluids and general fixes to try to get it running better and looking nicer inside.

I am super motivated on this car so sending thanks in advance for all the questions I may have!



https://photos.app.goo.gl/24TaZ6SuaMr7hC3AA

[vinceg101]

Welcome!
Nice looking car from the photo. It looks like they did a EU bumper conversion and installed BMW M-Tech Front & Rear Valences.
I will let others chime in on how one might go about identifying a car as an 'IS'.

Looking forward to following your progress.

[Mike W.]

Welcome to the group, looks nice.

There's at least one guy here who has access to is data and can tell you if it is or was, but most of us can't.

[Shawn D.]

Welcome! Please read and heed the Forum and Tech FAQ sections and you'll be off to a good start!

[tseohs]

Great looking, well-appointed car. Really liking the color combo and the blacked-out wheel centers. Nice work.

[gwb72tii]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=157214

[Mdreamer]

Welcome to the fold! Your car looks like a lachs/cardinal 535is that I had some years ago. It's a bit tricky determining if your car is a genuine "is" without the front and rear spoilers, but some ways that you can go with without resorting to a VIN search are the following:

- Sport seats
- Premium audio (tweeter pods in the A pillars, "components" in the rear deck and amplifier in the trunk)
- Color combination of lachs/cardinal

The latter is more of a memory and having been around the cars for a long time thing. It is one of the later combinations that BMW equipped the cars with that I've only really seen with "is" packages, going back to when they were on the showroom floor. While I would not be surprised to learn of a car or three that goes against this observation (simply because BMW has done some interesting things over time--"experts" have even tried to tell me that my own car is not as the factory built it, though I have been with it since it arrived in 1985), I, personally, have not seen any to contradict the notion.

Whatever the case, thanks for sharing your 5er with us and for contributing to the group. I look forward to following your adventures with your new-to-you car.

[Grande Royal]

One good indicator is the harness for the power sport seats. Sport seats have an extra connection for the power thigh extension (can’t remember what the correct term is at the moment) comfort seats do not. If you want them in a non iS car you have to splice that into the non iS power harness ( or rig up your own plug). I always made sure I harvested that part of the harness when removing the sport seats out of an iS. Highly doubt someone would go though the trouble to change out the whole harness under the carpet into a non iS car. But who knows! It’s a starting point…. BTW great job acquiring a sweet e28 no mater what it’s pedigree.