What did you do to your E28 today?

[Dubs]

I like white light in my cars and so last night I installed some HID's.
On the quick look I had on the road last night I dont think I like the vision or spread of the beam - further invvestigation tonight.

Has anyone tried Osram Night Breakers in their e28? Recommendations?



Dubs

[e28Sean]

HIDs in reflector housings are just going to shit photons every which way and blind oncoming traffic.

[al525i]

I like white light in my cars and so last night I installed some HID's.
On the quick look I had on the road last night I dont think I like the vision or spread of the beam - further invvestigation tonight.

Has anyone tried Osram Night Breakers in their e28? Recommendations?



Dubs

I have the night breakers in my low beams and they are absolutely amazing.

[EventuallyAyrton]

Sat for 2 hours on the side of the road waiting for AAA to tow me to a trusted garage due to an immediate and unsuspected coolant loss. Blown HG I think. Someone else had the same leak and it was a rotted gasket. I guess I found that tiny mystery coolant leak

[dsmith]

Sat for 2 hours on the side of the road waiting for AAA to tow me to a trusted garage due to an immediate and unsuspected coolant loss. Blown HG I think. Someone else had the same leak and it was a rotted gasket. I guess I found that tiny mystery coolant leak

Unfortunately, I think head gaskets are becoming the next chain rail preventative item. Best to pick an opportune time and do it all.

[byf_42]

Just finished installing the M Tech 1 steering wheel. Thanks for a nice part at a good price, Steve 87 535is!

Steering wheel didn't come with the little "M flash" thingy that clips/glues onto the bottom spoke, so I've ordered that and it should be here on Monday or Tuesday.

Next Friday I'll order the "M stripe" shift emblem for the OEM e28 shift knob. That's the only 'M' logo stuff this car is gonna get. I want it primarily to "match" my e30 318is that has the M Tech 1 steering wheel (that I installed). I have installed the M Tech 1 rear trunk lid spoiler, and I do plan on acquiring some black leather power sport seats for the car sometime next year... I plan on leaving the "535i" badge alone, though.

I will replace the OEM leather shift knob in the e30 as it's pretty ratty now, but I'm having trouble finding the correct oval shaped emblem with just the "M stripes" that is used for the same type of shift knob. Seems the only one that is widely available is the one with the "///M" in the middle of the shift pattern. I had no trouble finding the round M stripe shift emblem for the "mushroom" shaped plastic OEM shift knob that's in my e28...

First World problems!

[MisterFixit]

I like white light in my cars and so last night I installed some HID's. On the quick look I had on the road last night I dont think I like the vision or spread of the beam - further investigation tonight.

Has anyone tried Osram Night Breakers in their e28? Recommendations?

Dubs

I had a low beam bulb fail, so I sprung for a pair of NB - yes, they are a tad brighter than Narva RangePower 50+ (RP50) lamps, which are half the cost. For the money, not that much brighter. It is noticeable, but not a huge difference. Not like "old Sylvanias - to - HID" noticeable, and I do not like the fact they are tinted slightly blue-ish. I like clear glass. They are tinted on part of the envelope, up front and not over the filament; so I was able to justify giving them a whirl.

I have four CSR Lights, so they utilize any bulb well, and have a great beam pattern without any stray light ... but of course this is meaningless since they are NLA.

And yes, they do have protective film on them. Bumper-proof, so to speak. They saved my light from a truck bumper one night. Parking lot low speed mash-up, but still ... the guy who backed into me told me the next day, which solved the 'tree-top surveillance' effect it caused by caving in the headlight bucket.

He gave me $50 for a new bucket, which I gladly accepted.

[bkbimmer]

I did a peel out, my rear tires are nearly running on cords now. That's the price you pay for being a colossal douchebag.

I also posted it on cl.

[tig]

I did a peel out, my rear tires are nearly running on cords now. That's the price you pay for being a colossal douchebag.

I also posted it on cl.

Share CL link, please.

[bkbimmer]

I did a peel out, my rear tires are nearly running on cords now. That's the price you pay for being a colossal douchebag.

I also posted it on cl.

Share CL link, please.

No thanks.

[davintosh]

Lookit, Mom! It followed me home; can I keep it? Please? I promise to take really, really good care of it!

[10Asians]

I reassembled my console post A/C overhaul. The most annoying part...reattaching the hinges on the glove box. You might have heard some expletives had you been within earshot.

Before:


After:

[Karl Grau]

Put the cat on in preparation for its biannual smog test.





It's Not Easy Being Green

[Mike W.]

Put the cat on in preparation for its biannual smog test.

I've got to hand it to you Charles, it's one thing to do it once and intend to do it every other year, but to actually do it is another thing.

[Karl Grau]

I've got to hand it to you Charles, it's one thing to do it once and intend to do it every other year, but to actually do it is another thing.

Mike, I have it down to a science. This will be my 5th (?) time since I've owned the car. I inaugurated my new toy, a cordless ratchet for this year's swap. I had always used an air ratchet in the past but Carl at LJI swears by the cordless so I gave it a try. I have to say, it is great!
As far as changing the Cat out every two years, it's more because the Cat section is so restrictive. I can't bear to have the engine choked down like that even though I don't drive it much.

[Dubs]

I freshened up some black trim and decided to paint the horns on my bronzit beast.

after





Dubs

[white chocolate]

Lookit, Mom! It followed me home; can I keep it? Please? I promise to take really, really good care of it!

[1st 5er]

Lookit, Mom! It followed me home; can I keep it? Please? I promise to take really, really good care of it!

[dhdrums]

Replaced the oil level sender (Thanks Andy!) and gave the car it's finally oil change before the odometer officially rolls in to the 200k mile range.
Notice the difference?

[86GT635]

Lookit, Mom! It followed me home; can I keep it? Please? I promise to take really, really good care of it!

Did you do it man? That's awesome! More pics...

[milarsky]

Finally installed new rear seat and back (Thanks TCD!) in the M5. Picked these up last summer and only now getting to it. The previous owner ruined the seat and back by reupholstering it terribly, and in fact the installer bend the mounting tabs, didn't line things up correctly and used a terrible quality leather. These seats are original M5 Natur leather. I cleaned the crap out of them with some deep cleaner and Leatherique and they look amazing. The amazing fit is what thrills me the most. Like a glove.
Later this week, replacing front vinyl headliner with a beautiful original piece. My vinyl has pulled back and shrunk under the rearview mirror. I tried last summer to pull it and re-glue. It looked better, but still couldn't get it back to factory look.

Lastly, gonna drive her all over New Mexico.....

best,
jeff

[1st 5er]

She actually did it.

https://youtu.be/cODZaGNVwaU

[davintosh]

Lookit, Mom! It followed me home; can I keep it? Please? I promise to take really, really good care of it!

Did you do it man? That's awesome! More pics...

Yup. Just got home after the ~1300 km trip (that included a few detours & side trips) from Ivo's e28 paradise. It's dirty as all get-out right now, and I only have a few pics so far, so more pics later. Ivo has a couple of 360° images on Google Maps, and my car is front & center in front of the shop in this one.

[Mike W.]

So what is it, the M535i (presumably) shown in the foreground? Or something else with a body kit?

[travisj]

Very nice there David. Waiting for more photos, but I checked out your link and looked at all of Ivo's photos and that 360 photo thing is awesome. You can even go into the shop and see Ivo working his equipment

[BRRV]

Rabbit hole: car is as disassembled as I've ever seen it: dash, interior HVAC, windshield, consoles. All out either being rebuilt with new components or replaced outright. After pulling the condenser I discovered the mother of all oil leaks coming from the front crank seal (been there awhile; I was in denial) so while I was there might as well do cam seal, timing cover gaskets, guide rails, thermostat, water pump, and who knows what else. I've decided to simply stop removing things in the hopes that I will eventually have a running car again.

So today I'm in the hunt for a new AC pressure switch (everyone wants to sell me 64 53 1 386 971 when the book calls for 64 53 8 363 859) finally got one at a "real auto parts store" that had a working machine shop in the back. Beyond that, scraping off old gaskets and cleaning AC hard lines made my day. I've had to perform resuscitation on any number of old fasteners/bolts, etc., especially from the water pump & thermostat, AC dryer & lines; first with Evapo-Rust and then with Metal Prep. I'll install these with a heavy coating of anti-seize next time. Normally I replace but I'm trying to re-use everything that I can if I can make it serviceable - the parts bill for this is approaching $2K.

Tomorrow, more part orders, and continued prep before I get the rental tools. Have to start disassembly of the HVAC boxes for new evaporator, heater core, resistors, sensors, foam...

[dsmith]

I put new Billy sports, Dinan springs and camber plates, Moosehead ucabs, 850 front brakes (324 mm) and brake lines on this weekend on the 535is. Love it! Getting ready for the trip to PVGP.

[e28Sean]

Took the front seats out to give them a proper cleaning & conditioning. But it's about 105F in my garage, so, taking a bit of a break.

It's so roomy in here with no seats!



Before / During



See spot...



... see spot go!



Here's what was learking in the depths under the seat:

- Euro Auto Fest 2014 flyer
- Nearly $1 in change
- An invoice for new tires
- An unopened bag of zip ties!

[white chocolate]

- An unopened bag of zip ties!

Man, some guys have all the luck.

[e28Sean]

Man, some guys have all the luck.

Hahaha!

I dunno about "luck". I paid for those zip ties at some point in the past.

Another before / Aftah:


And the finished product, ready to be bolted back in: