Following is a high level summary of what was done:
- Replaced headlights with all new OEM euro parts including all hardware and adjusters. The car had e-code lights installed when I bought it, but the harness and connectors (modified when the car was originally imported) were in bad shape with corrosion and multiple bad connections resulting in ground issues. This required re-building of the original euro harness with sections of new wiring, new terminals, connector blocks and sealing boots. I’d like to thank local member stuartinmn for allowing me to reference his factory correct euro car in the middle of a cold Minnesota winter! This helped ensure everything was reverted to the original configuration.
- Replaced front turn signals, fog light assemblies and license plate lights.
- Repainted the front bumper cover, replaced loose fitting tow hook covers with new parts.
- Replaced ambient air temp sensor.
- Removed aftermarket air filter and replaced factory original air cleaner assembly.
- Replaced spark plugs and plug leads.
- Replaced all fluids.
- Replaced exhaust hangers.
- Converted air conditioning to R134a.
- Refinished original 16’’ Alpina staggered wheels, including correct black centers. Installed new Alpina center caps and lug bolts.
- Replaced seized OEM manual antenna. It was quite the challenge to source a manual Hirschmann antenna!
- Replaced windshield with new OEM item.
- Replaced faded locking strips around windshield and rear window with new chrome items.
- Repaired door seals (fuzzies had separated from rubber seal) on both rear doors as new OEM items are NLA.
- Replaced stained trunk carpet.
- Resolved non-functional cruise control and OBC with repair of bad connections on back of instrument cluster. Rebuilt the cluster with new SI board and bulbs. Decided to replace the odo gears while I had the cluster out even though the originals were still functional.
- Repaired non-functional oil temp gauge.
- Replaced check control panel with correct German language version.
- Replaced worn power window / sunroof switches with later lighted switches.
- Replaced 90’s era aftermarket head unit with a period correct BMW radio / cassette player.
- Recovered “mushroom” shaped original shift know in new leather as replacement part is NLA. Installed new shift pattern emblem.
- Installed new Alpina steering wheel.
After all of that, the car received some rock chip touch ups on the hood and a thorough interior and exterior detail. There are some minor leaks to be addressed in the near future, but for the most part, the car is pretty much where I want it to be at this point.
My wife and I drove out to Colorado for O’fest last month, racking up about 2.5k miles in the course of the week. The car performed flawlessly and we are looking forward to many more road trips with the car.
Anyway, here are some recent photos, some from Colorado, and some from here in Minnesota. Enjoy!
The car looks great!
Hope to be out for the "Grand German Adventure" toward the end of September, although we'll have a 1.5-ish month old by then and I'm not sure we'll be rolling in our e12 M535i. The e46 wagon is more likely. Would love to see this there!
