MyE28.com

Thought I would join the fray and post a thread about my newly acquired Alpine/Pearl '88 535is. My 5th BMW in the last 25 years, this one has come at a stage in my life where I am trying to simplify things and get away from the rat-race of big city life. Spending most of my life in Arizona, my family and I decided to move to the mountains of western North Carolina. I lived here about 20 years ago on an invite from a friend. Fixed computers for folks and rode my mountain bike during the day and waited tables at night. It was a fun couple of years before a job offer took me back to Phoenix and back to technology.

This was my car 20 years ago:



Bought her in Tucson while attending UA with 75,000 miles and ended up driving her for the next 5 years all over the country until I finally sold her with almost 200k miles on the clock. Great car!

Fast forward to 2018... After living in WNC for almost a year, I decided to pick up an e30 convertible for fun drives on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Found one in Yuma, AZ and arranged for it to be shipped back east. I had truly forgotten what fun these 80's BMW were!



These days, I work from home and travel out of state from time to time when I am not working at home, so my need for a commuting car is no longer a necessity. I finally decided to get off the train of upgrading to a new car every 2-3 years. The lease is up on my current car early next year and I would find an older BMW as my 'new daily driver'.

That's when I remembered finding an older 535is during my search for the e30 convertible. It was a 2 owner Arizona car that looked unmolested and rust free. I knew they were somewhat hard to come by and that piqued my interest enough to message the seller. It had been over 8 months since I had, for pure curiousity, inquired about the car. Did he still have it? I messaged him and sure enough, he kept it and was not actively trying to sell it. After a week of slow messaging and some photos, I made my offer. He countered once and so did I. The deal was struck and I would be the new owner, sight unseen!

I arranged a transport and she was on her way to the mountains!



Before she arrived, I knew I had my work cut out for me. She was in need of a deep cleaning and several cosmetic and mechanical refreshments! The 3 mile drive from the parking lot to my house I discovered a leaking fuel injector, a broken seat, and suspension that rode worse than my old Jeep before I restored it 10 years ago! See ancient thread if interested: (https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/boom ... t-1085653/)

But it was mine and I was ready for the work in store....



Within the first hours of ownership, I had the interior out. The carpet was shot from a past clutch cylinder failure and the dash had more than enough of the Arizona sun!







Sourced a good dash and some better wheels BEFORE the car was delivered:





32 year old paint cleaned up nicely and with new shoes, the car is beginning to take a pleasing shape!



Under the hood, it was time to begin baselining... New ignition parts, new exhaust, change the fluids, belts, hoses and still much more to do.



Getting there for sure, but more to come!

As for the title of my thread? During my search on this forum, I discovered that ironically this car was almost purchased by a fella who also lives in WNC. He had a PPI done in AZ that came back with over 2k of work to be done and seller wouldn't budge on his original price, so he decided it wasn't for him. I sent him a PM to chat, but the only thing I got from him regarding the car was "No bueno". I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure, eh? I'll take my chances!



I've been a member of mye28.com for over a month now and I must say this is a great group of enthusiasts! Very helpful and welcoming. I hope I can reciprocate and pay it forward. -Richie

Great story and what an excellent rescue so far. Keep going and take us along for the journey!

ps - how challenging was the dash replacement?

+1 This is a great story. Do keep sharing, especially those perfect pictures.

Dove in head first with that dash! Great progress on a great foundation. Keep updating.

Suspension and drivetrain mount refresh on deck!

Awesome! Just did the same on my '86 535i. Night and day difference!

Looks more like Muy Bueno to me. Keep the pics and updates coming!

PowerSax wrote:+1 This is a great story. Do keep sharing, especially those perfect pictures.

Thanks, will do!!

Bonsaibacker wrote:Dove in head first with that dash! Great progress on a great foundation. Keep updating.

Thanks, brother! I appreciate all the amazing deals you have extended to me during this build up! Looking forward to meeting up with you in a few weeks!

code wrote:Awesome! Just did the same on my '86 535i. Night and day difference!

Thanks! I am hoping for the same outcome. The bits underneath are feeling worn and loose! Should make a world of difference!

muleskinner wrote:Looks more like Muy Bueno to me. Keep the pics and updates coming!

Ha! Thanks, I agree!

VZehn wrote:Great story and what an excellent rescue so far. Keep going and take us along for the journey!

ps - how challenging was the dash replacement?

Thanks. Dash replacement was difficult, but might have been easier with another set of hands and the windshield removed. It’s not a task I want to repeat anytime soon. Dash work in general is a PITA.

Looking good! Thanks for keeping us updated with your progress.

Loving the white.

Nice work in the engine bay !

Major changes in progress. Complete suspension refresh, drivetrain mounts, CSB, Guibo, transmission seals and A/C recharge. Should make a world of difference in the way this car handles and rides!



Completed many tasks in the 6 weeks of ownership. Should be a reliable and solid e28 after next week!

All of it on my own save for this giant upgrade and shifter bushings:

Odometer gears
Instrument panel bulbs
Headlight switch
Headlight/Fog light surround bracket trim cover
Injector service
Oil Change
Oil Filter
Spark Plugs
Spark Plug wires
Distributor cap
Rotor
Fuel Filter
Belts
Cat back exhaust
Dash
Tires
Wheels
Sourced used carpet (pressure washed)
Sourced console HVAC surround
New head unit
Sourced rear speaker
Steering wheel
Leather shift boot
Window switches
Replaced rear driver marker light bulb
Installed OEM foglights (assemblies, lenses, bulbs)
Front license plate delete plate
Hood Roundel
Front Speaker grills
Replaced all fuses
Transmission fluid changed (Redline MT-90 1.8 quarts)
Diff fluid flush (Redline 75w90 1.7 quarts)
Replaced headlight/foglight switch dash bulbs
Air Filter
License plate frame
Differential mount (m535 style)
A/C Belt
Coolant flush/hoses/thermostat/cap/water pump
Accelerator pedal
New drain plugs drivers front
New outside weather stripping bottom drivers front window
Door latch buffers
Washer nozzles
Shifter bushing kit
Keyless Remote Locks
Paintless Dent Repair
Greased driver’s door lock, all door hinges, hood/trunk hinges
Fixed driver’s seat headrest
MWrench Steering Reinforcement
Hella Headlight H4 low/high halogen

• Removed dash, consoles, front/rear seats, and carpet to deep clean cabin and install sourced dash/carpet

• Cleaned exterior paint and waxed. Treated leather with cleaner/conditioner

She's feeling the love next to the E30 Convertible!

Gracias for documenting this! Sub'd.

Made much progress this week thanks to my shop-partner-in-crime, Koppinger Perfromance in Black Mountain, NC. Matthew Koppi, the owner, and his top gun, Cameron took great care of me. The suspension and drivetrain refresh was a project I decided to ask them to complete due to my overall lack of experience and my lack of a lift, which makes the job so much easier. No regrets. They did a fantastic job and I highly recommend them if you are anywhere near western North Carolina!

Work completed as follows:

REAR:

CV Axle boots rebuilt
Subframe Bushings
H&R Springs
Bilstein Sport Shocks
Swaybar links
Stabilizer bushings
Trailing Arm bushings
Trailing Arm Support (Pitman Arms)

Drivetrain:

CSB
Guibo
Tranmission ouput shaft seal
Transmission shift shaft seal
Transmission mounts
Engine mounts
O2 Sensor

Front:

H&R Springs
Bilstein Sport Shocks
Control Arms
Stabilizer Bar
Steering Tie Rods
Steering Idler Arm
Center Link
Stabilizer bushings

What a HUGE difference in overall handling/ride/stance. The car now feels transformed from the way it felt driving it home from the supermarket parking lot where the transport unloaded it. Baselining is almost complete!

Car looks great and ready to daily. So much effort put into that car already- looking forward to future updates. Thanks for sharing!

Excellent!

This will be a minty all around driver!! Looks very "bueno" to me

Spent a good part of the day putting the interior back together. Special thanks to Bonsaibacker for the great deals on some dash pieces, rear speaker, and most of all a minty carpet from a 535is parts car he had. Not only a great seller, but a great guy, too! He's shown me what a cool brotherhood the e28 community is. I'm happy to be a 'new' part of it!

I've had the car for 8 weeks as of yesterday. I've put too much time and work into this car in that short amount of time. Will now sit back and tackle small projects as they come along. It's not yet a daily driver, as the lease on my Acura is not up until early next year. It's going to be hard not to want to take her out though!

boomvader wrote:Spent a good part of the day putting the interior back together. Special thanks to Bonsaibacker for the great deals on some dash pieces, rear speaker, and most of all a minty carpet from a 535is parts car he had. Not only a great seller, but a great guy, too! He's shown me what a cool brotherhood the e28 community is. I'm happy to be a 'new' part of it!

Aw shucks man... Just proud to be a member here and try to contribute- it is a great community!

And you should VERUY proud of that car- Lesley JR nailed it- MINTY!

Car is almost done, as far as I want to take it anyway... Went through a spot of bother trying to source an OEM windshield from Europe. Time and money involved in that endeavor wasn't pretty, but the end result sure is. Nice to have all around OEM glass and all original VIN matching body panels!







Car is very stable and would trust it enough to take it on a long road trip. Fun to drive, but I am thinking I might want to go after an '88 M5 soon. List of tasks to date, all performed in the last 4 months of ownership:

COMPLETED between approximately 175,000-177,000 miles (Used BMW OEM parts where available, otherwise the best OE alternative):

Bentley Manual
Odometer gears
Instrument panel bulbs
Headlight switch
Headlight/Fog light surround bracket trim cover
Injector service
Oil Change
Oil Filter
Spark Plugs
Spark Plug wires
Distributor cap
Rotor
Fuel Filter
Belts
Cat back exhaust
Dash
Tires
Wheels
Sourced used carpet (pressure washed)
Sourced console HVAC surround
New head unit
Sourced rear speaker
Steering wheel
Leather shift boot
Window switches
Replaced rear driver marker light bulb
Installed OEM fog lights (assemblies, lenses, bulbs)
Front license plate delete plate
Hood Roundel
Front Speaker grills
Replaced all fuses
Transmission fluid changed (Redline MT-90 1.8 quarts)
Diff fluid flush (Redline 75w90 1.7 quarts)
Replaced headlight/foglight switch dash bulbs
Air Filter
License plate frame
Differential mount (m535 style)
A/C Belt
Coolant flush/hoses/thermostat/cap/water pump
Accelerator pedal
New drain plugs drivers front
New outside weather stripping bottom drivers and passenger front windows
Door latch buffers
Washer nozzles
Shifter bushing kit
Keyless Remote
Paintless Dent Repair
Greased driver’s door lock, all door hinges, hood/trunk hinges
Fixed driver’s seat headrest
MWrench Steering Reinforcement
Hella Headlight H4 low/high halogen
Complete suspension refresh H&R springs, Bilstein shocks, all arms/links/bushings, etc.
Motor Mounts
Transmission mounts
CV Axle Boots rebuilt
Guibo
CSB
O2 Sensor
A/C Leak test and recharge
Transmission leak (Shifter and output seals replaced)
M-tech 1 Steering Wheel
Glovebox straps and pins
Rear view mirror w/ Maplight
Air Flow Meter
SS Exhaust tips
Speed Senor
Crankshaft Sensor
Trunk Seal
Taillight gaskets
Trunk hinges
Trunk / Gas door actuators
Chrome windshield lock strips F/R
Front Windshield OEM
Rear Windshield OEM

Very sharp! The new glass really helps give the car a fresh, well kept look.

BTW, did you reuse your original chrome trim pieces along the base of the windshield and rear glass or are those new?

HayekFan wrote:Very sharp! The new glass really helps give the car a fresh, well kept look.

BTW, did you reuse your original chrome trim pieces along the lower windshield opening or are those new?

Thanks! What a difference the new glass made! The windshield that was in there was not OEM and badly pitted from the Arizona desert.

Yes, reused the lower 3 chrome pieces. They were in good shape.

Good to hear. My car is in the shop for paint and I'm hoping to reuse those too.

HayekFan wrote:Good to hear. My car is in the shop for paint and I'm hoping to reuse those too.

Do you have a build thread? Would love to see some before & after photos and backstory.

No build thread as of yet but I'll probably post some pics when the paint's done...

This is one of my favorite cars on this forum. Beautiful!

Wow! Wonderful build and commitment. This makes me want an e28 in the absolute worst way.

Dan

Picked up a somewhat rare 1982 320is in San Diego last week. Planned to be in Phoenix for work anyway, so it wasn't much of a stretch to redirect my flight from PHX to SAN and to also change it from a round trip to a one-way ticket. Yep, Rob's book 'Ran When Parked' had me jonesing for a cross country trip with a car I hardly knew! Mid-life crisis, perhaps....

She was in dire need of some TLC, but appeared to be straight. Her Recaro seats were near perfect and interior unmolested. I took her for an initial test drive. Paid the seller and drove away. I stopped shortly after and gave it a once over before heading east to Phoenix. Once there, I would juggle my work responsibilities and in my 'free' time, I would get her ready for the 2000 mile trek to Asheville. Luckily, my dad lives there and I was able to work on the car at his place. Fluids, belts, alternator bushings, filters and a quick wash was all I did to it before heading home. I also used the car all week for work, save money on rental, and build trust in the car's current condition. On Sunday, October 13th, I hit the highway. While not a speed demon back when it was new, it was down right slow by today's standards. Climbing up the hill to Flagstaff was a bit slow, but it made it without issue. I was amazed how well the car drove and how almost everything still worked. Not bad for a car with 302,000 miles!! 3 days on the road and I made it home! Day 1 PHX-Amarillo, Day 2 Amarillo to Memphis, Day 3 Memphis to Asheville. No problems save for a warm restart issue that I believe to be the in-tank fuel pump. Good times overall and I highly recommend the experience! Although, it would be could possibly be a little bit more comfortable on my old bones in a an e28!

Yesterday morning, I jumped in my e28 and drove my son to school. WOW, what a treat to ride in that car after spending more than a week driving the e21! I think the e21 might get a bike rack and be used to shuttle me and my MTB to the trailhead and back. It's a fun little car!

Congrats Boom!

The differences between the E21 and E28 are insane. I love both of mine and they serve different purposes. Thank god for a 2 car garage! Wait- you need more space!

Gonna need to cage your signature to reflect your collection...

The e21 was unfairly bashed for being underpowered compared with its predecessor. Anyone who has ever driven one knows It's still a blast to drive.

Nice work on the 535is, looks great.

Thanks for all the kind comments! Driving the e21 is fun, but it has made me really appreciate the solid feel of the e28!

Sold the e21.

That didn't last long

Adam W in MN wrote:That didn't last long

It was fun, but a bit underwhelming, especially up here in the mountains.

My car is now for sale. Best reasonable offer takes her home. Clean title. Not many around in this condition. Come get her!