What did you do to your E28 today?

Das_Prachtstrasse · Post by **Das_Prachtstrasse** » Mar 11, 2012 6:46 AM

Thrashed the guts out of it. Fun times.

davintosh · Post by **davintosh** » Mar 11, 2012 9:15 AM

Das_Prachtstraße wrote:Thrashed the guts out of it. Fun times.

So now your car is gutless?

(we know better!)

rmiddendorf wrote:
davintosh wrote:Put a new battery in it. Since when did the least expensive battery for these cars go over $100?
That's news to me...

Sad but true. I got the $113.99 for the "Gold" 3-year, 660CCA battery at Advance Auto. They had another that was $104.99, 2-year, 550CCA, but I figured the better battery was worth splurging. There was O'Reilly's prices were similar, but the only one they had in stock was ~$140. Also stopped at Sears, but they didn't even have any battery fitment info for the e28 and the ditzy chick they had on staff yesterday thought that BMWs needed "something special" for a battery... "It's a car battery; it's a big plastic brick-type thing with the two posts on top..."

I was in no mood to suffer fools so didn't pursue it.

I did learn a helpful bit of info at Advance though; the counter guy at asked me if I'd ever served in the military... Yup. 10% discount on all parts for past or present military members. Not sure if it's just that store or chain-wide, but it's pretty darned cool if you ask me.

ldsbeaker · Post by **ldsbeaker** » Mar 11, 2012 9:39 AM

davintosh wrote: I did learn a helpful bit of info at Advance though; the counter guy at asked me if I'd ever served in the military... Yup. 10% discount on all parts for past or present military members. Not sure if it's just that store or chain-wide, but it's pretty darned cool if you ask me.

Yup, autozone, too. My experience has been that i need to show my ID, but I would just go with the hookup.

Post by **Jeremy** » Mar 11, 2012 10:31 AM

davintosh wrote:Also stopped at Sears, but they didn't even have any battery fitment info for the e28 and the ditzy chick they had on staff yesterday thought that BMWs needed "something special" for a battery... "It's a car battery; it's a big plastic brick-type thing with the two posts on top..." Rolling Eyes I was in no mood to suffer fools so didn't pursue it.

BMW batteries have the post polarity reversed compared to a "standard" top post battery IIRC. They're not the only car like that. There is a Die Hard that'll fit the e28, but Sears has never listed it in their fitment guide under e28 for some reason.

rmiddendorf · Post by **rmiddendorf** » Mar 11, 2012 12:41 PM

I replaced the trunk gasket with using the 3M weatherstripping adhesive. You'll want at least two tubes, probably three. I used two and you'll need a significant amount to fill the groove in the gasket. Test fit the gasket first. The don't make the same mistake I did- start in the front or remove the trunk lid entirely. I left the trunk lid on and then left the front for last. The back is the most difficult. You'll have to do it in sections. The front and back are two sections and each side can be treated as its own. I may have even done the back as three. You'll put a significant amount on the gasket and then put a similar amount on the body of the car. Let it set up and get tacky- really only a minute or two- and then push the two together. But you'll want to try to not get it on the body of the car, but I was told it can be removed with paint thinner. Do that at your own risk though.

This week I'm doing a valve adjustment and- possibly- a new fuel pump. Doesn't like to start when warm.

I've also discovered that I think we're leaking coolant. The tank was down about a quart this year after sitting for 6 months. I ran him every few months but never noticed that he was burning anything. Unless he went through that much coolant when idling for a combined total of 50 minutes its getting out somewhere. This concerns me a bit.

But anyway I'm looking forward to actually driving Bandit this week sometime... then probably up for sale.

1st 5er · Post by **1st 5er** » Mar 11, 2012 12:47 PM

rmiddendorf wrote: This week I'm doing a valve adjustment and- possibly- a new fuel pump. Doesn't like to start when warm.

Try a new temp switch (the blue one).

rmiddendorf · Post by **rmiddendorf** » Mar 11, 2012 1:19 PM

1st 5er wrote:
rmiddendorf wrote: This week I'm doing a valve adjustment and- possibly- a new fuel pump. Doesn't like to start when warm.
Try a new temp switch (the blue one).

I shall add that to my order!

wkohler · Post by **wkohler** » Mar 11, 2012 1:40 PM

Jeremy wrote:
davintosh wrote:Also stopped at Sears, but they didn't even have any battery fitment info for the e28 and the ditzy chick they had on staff yesterday thought that BMWs needed "something special" for a battery... "It's a car battery; it's a big plastic brick-type thing with the two posts on top..." Rolling Eyes I was in no mood to suffer fools so didn't pursue it.
BMW batteries have the post polarity reversed compared to a "standard" top post battery IIRC. They're not the only car like that. There is a Die Hard that'll fit the e28, but Sears has never listed it in their fitment guide under e28 for some reason.

Three years ago, I had a Die Hard International group 48 in my 533 (came to me in the 535). It crapped out, so I took it back. They wouldn't do anything with it. A new one was $183 after tax, so I put the one that came with the car back in and just took it out when the red car was parted out. 5-year-old Optima in the car now.

briansmith · Post by **briansmith** » Mar 11, 2012 6:34 PM

I used the brighter upgrade Ebay part....
A quick and easy job, and the brightness seems just right!
Wish I hadn't waited a couple of months to do this job, but the hydraulic pump reservoir is now again (finally) maintaining its level after a new pump (leaked past shaft seals, no bearing adjustment possible so new pump time) and a new upper pressure switch, so there was nothing pressing to do to the car again...ahhh...
Sat in about 30 cars at a retail car show over the weekend, evaluating outward visibility and rear seat headroom...very happy to get into the e28 to drive home after that ordeal.

rmiddendorf · Post by **rmiddendorf** » Mar 12, 2012 9:13 PM

In the last few days I've fixed the trunk springs (I think, fingers crossed, so far so good), have the coolant temp gauge working more often now, I did a valve adjustment and put in new spark plugs. He still idles a little low after first starting but after he warms up he seems fine. I additionally ordered the temperature switch that Sherman suggested and a new intake boot as the current one is showing some wear and probably leaking. That could be the source of my erratic idle.

Only one trip to get a part I lost- one of those 10mm nuts that hold down the air filter box. Probably down in the frame somewhere.

And I was going to do an oil change but the current oil only has 800 miles on it and looks great. So I may just hold off on that.

He did, interestingly enough start fine when warm today to add to my confusion. I'll probably do a wash later this week and a current photo shoot to prep him for sale. Although I am looking forward to driving him in a week or so. Man these cars have character- just sitting in the driver's seat with him idling makes me want to go for a drive!

ldsbeaker · Post by **ldsbeaker** » Mar 12, 2012 9:39 PM

Got home today and sent Blake across the street to the park.

My euro lights have been messed up when switching to high beams. The driver's side lights both light up as they are supposed to, the passenger side lights are both out. Hmmmm... I changed bulbs, etc. Nothing. Finally, I switched the relay out with the horn relay. I have 4 lights with high beams, yess!!

My driver's side rear door has been bugging the crap out of me. It sticks out when fully seated. It's a little loose, too. So loose, that the interior light switch thingy in the door frame was doing the herky jerky light strobe thing while driving down the road. I didn't have time to mess with it, so I pulled the switch and put it in the toolkit. I replaced the door buffer, and still loose. I SURCHED, and found info about the door catch maybe being out of position. So I adjusted it in a little, and the door closes FLUSH now. Love it. Then I spent 20 minutes and quite a few swear words pulling the connector for the interior light switch back out so that I could plug it in.

I also took the chance to clean out all 4 door jambs. Just a little thing, but I won't have to clean it so hard next time.

Still chasing down no gauge cluster lights, no passenger rear marker, no passenger reverse light, and no license plate lights... hrm...

rmiddendorf · Post by **rmiddendorf** » Mar 12, 2012 9:50 PM

ldsbeaker wrote:Still chasing down no gauge cluster lights, no passenger rear marker, no passenger reverse light, and no license plate lights... hrm...

Have you checked all the connections at the fusebox?

wkohler · Post by **wkohler** » Mar 12, 2012 10:00 PM

I will bet you have something shorted in your radio wiring, etc. you can reconnect the door switch easily with the rear seat out. When I bought my red car, neither we're connected. That's when I figured out it was hit. They were painted red.

shagrath · Post by **shagrath** » Mar 13, 2012 8:47 AM

Spent from 430 to 930 last night (with a one hour dinner/kid break) changing out shocks and springs. I also changed out sway bar links and front bearings and rear mounts. ALL my shocks were blown to bits and leaking. No more clunking in front though.

w0014170 · Post by **w0014170** » Mar 13, 2012 10:35 AM

Been awhile, but then such is life, I gave the 88 535to my son. It now resides in Richmond Hill.

I'm out of the BMW world for now having replaced the BMW with two Mercedes, a V8 sedan & a station wagon for grocery duties.

Still eating lots of fresh tuna btw

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1st 5er · Post by **1st 5er** » Mar 13, 2012 1:32 PM

w0014170 wrote: Still eating lots of fresh tuna btw

Welcome back.

Nater · Post by **Nater** » Mar 14, 2012 8:29 PM

Replaced fog light bulb and then put new switches on driver's window and sunroof. Great news and feeling good to have all those fixed! Now if only this damn rain would stop...

rmiddendorf · Post by **rmiddendorf** » Mar 15, 2012 9:48 PM

New intake boot and temp switch. Why the heck do these cars need four- yes THREE coolant temperature sensors all located in the same darn spot? Seriously? Couldn't they just have had one and sent that signal to the computer to have the computer spit out the proper signals to the other components?

Anyway he seemed to idle much better after all that. Still dips down after about 45 seconds, but then pops back to normal now which is a huge improvement. I looked that the intake boot though and for as cracked as it looks on the outside it looks pretty decent on the inside. I couldn't see sunlight through the spots I checked. Am I the only one that can't throw away old parts because they might just come in handy someday?

Next Tuesday we go from storage insurance to driving insurance. The child seat shall be moved to Bandit!

1st 5er · Post by **1st 5er** » Mar 15, 2012 9:55 PM

rmiddendorf wrote:Am I the only one that can't throw away old parts because they might just come in handy someday?

If you were, you'd be the weird one.

Cory · Post by **Cory** » Mar 15, 2012 11:19 PM

spark plugs
both ABS sensors

davintosh · Post by **davintosh** » Mar 15, 2012 11:27 PM

1st 5er wrote:
rmiddendorf wrote:Am I the only one that can't throw away old parts because they might just come in handy someday?
If you were, you'd be the weird one.

You guys have no idea how comforting it is to hear that.

davintosh · Post by **davintosh** » Mar 16, 2012 6:43 PM

I had the Ride of Shame in it today. My son was working on it at school and broke it, so I had to come to his rescue. Couldn't fix it there, and didn't want to leave it there for the weekend so we towed it home behind the e32. "Nerve-wracking" describes the experience, being towed home through daytime traffic with an 18-yr-old driving tug for the first time in his life.

I felt bad for the kid -- on top of feeling terrible about the car not starting after working on it, he was nervous about the whole towing thing. He made mistakes, which made him more nervous, which made him make more mistakes...

Two nights ago at the dinner table he was complaining that the car would start hard when warm, and was planning to take the car into shop class the next day to pull the injectors to "have a look at them". I told him it wasn't a good idea, and it was possible he could end up with it running worse by mucking around with the injectors. After the last brake issue he had following shop time, and after the chat I had with his teacher, I would much rather be supervising any work he does on the car. I thought I made that pretty clear to him, but apparently the message went sailing right on through.

Now, to figure out what he screwed up. Dang.

mithrites · Post by **mithrites** » Mar 16, 2012 6:51 PM

Cleaned and replaced my ICV and installed new intake boot...Brakes tomorrow

Ted in T.O. · Post by **Ted in T.O.** » Mar 16, 2012 8:03 PM

Its the earliest I have ever put the summer tires back onto the daily driver.

Temps in the low 20C till end of next week. Didn't want to wear out the tread on the snows.

1st 5er · Post by **1st 5er** » Mar 16, 2012 9:20 PM

Please don't tell Snob, but I thought about selling her.

Ozarkhillbilly · Post by **Ozarkhillbilly** » Mar 16, 2012 9:37 PM

Timing belt, water pump and drive belts.

a · Post by a » Mar 17, 2012 10:58 AM

Nothing, but a RR left ajar mimicked the previous battery drain. But cooler heads prevailed. I charged the flat, less than 2 volts, battery over night. Then I put the ammeter in between the positive post and the cable. 2.30 A draw. WTF, that is a light bulb. Sure enough. I shut the drivers door. Still got the drawer and the interior light is still on. The RR door was ajar. Doh.! B6II needs door condoms

rmiddendorf · Post by **rmiddendorf** » Mar 17, 2012 12:02 PM

Bought it.

Eta power · Post by **Eta power** » Mar 17, 2012 12:06 PM

rmiddendorf wrote:Bought it.

Care to expand on that?

eurominded2 · Post by **eurominded2** » Mar 17, 2012 12:37 PM

Replace A/c compressor, installed org rebuilt alternator, all drive belts. Charged a/c system.

A/C works for now ready for summer.

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

What did you do to your E28 today?

obc light bar