FUBAR 528e, Gauging Condition of the M90

[1st 5er]

... Kindve wish I kept stock for engine, feeling up with 93 is getting expensive.

Maybe dad will swap you for the Burgundy.

[LeiseyJr]

... Kindve wish I kept stock for engine, feeling up with 93 is getting expensive.

Maybe dad will swap you for the Burgundy.

Would love my car to be that color... Tempting...

[LeiseyJr]

Untitled by samleisey, on Flickr
Untitled by samleisey, on Flickr'

Untitled by samleisey, on Flickr
Threw on the shift knob from my dad's old car. For Good Luck

Untitled by samleisey, on Flickr
Did amazing on track! Great Learning car, and it was just a blast. Need some sticky tires and some not stock brake pads and it will be shit tons of fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi6L5oAAEog
Had no exit speed coming out onto the straight

Almost at 200K (199,025) and running on empty, but I love driving it. Fixed a lot of little things this weekend, and all is well so far.

[LeiseyJr]

After my backload excursions at 100+Mph the flying box could use some help being planted, need to get an 535is read spoiler at min. Car just gets a lot lighter, and that is not that fun on an bumpy road. I'll hopefully source another air dam. Gave mine away to BBRV, was for a good cause though so no regrets. Also need to grow up and put my front bumper back on, for the safety of my vehicle. So that's next on the list.

I'll probably end up pulling the entire motor and tranny back out soon as well. There's STILL an small oil leak and it's killing me, REseal tranny, also need to clean the entire engine bay and add some gussets to the steering box mount. I think I have downs, beCause every seal my father and I touch appears to always leak worse. Just need to get the Bugundrot on the road soon so I got something to get me to work and school. I probably don't need to, just really need to put it on the lift and give it some quality TLC.

To Do:
Power Antenna fucking jammed
Fix LR door again
Get aero sorted out
Front Bumper on
Rebuild Shift Linkgae with Condor Bushings
Get Rid of my extra Chromosome
Get up on the lift one weekend and just take my time going through everything again, STOP RUSHING through important jobs



In reality though the only thing this car needs to be not a piece of horse shit is bumpers of US or European desccent and paint. Really just some leaks and little things mechanically speaking are wrong, so in that aspect I'm very happy to say its almost all new under the old man beige.

[1st 5er]

100+
On a closed track w/ professional driver, of course.

[LeiseyJr]

100+
On a closed track w/ professional driver, of course.

Anyone would close the road down for the stig...

[LeiseyJr]

Hit 200K, and tracked it again. Is awesome, way more fun than the E46.
Working on replacing RTAB's tire, they're shot now.

[LeiseyJr]

https://youtu.be/8iAq6KeRTTY
RTAB done, car feel night and day in the back. Love it!

[LeiseyJr]

Non SI board from '82 installed. "Unleaded Gas Only", suprised it doesnt say fuel. Bought a rear M-Tech spoiler.... So theres a spoiler alert for a future update.

[LeiseyJr]

Car is still living, I broke both rocker arms on cyl. #1 at another "last weekend" at Texas World Speedway before Harvey. Spent the next week removing head and replacing, those and I rear ended someone a bit. Car is still kicking though, even the junkyard dogleg keeps on going. I need to remember Flickr password and do a real update.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wImv6VTAmY&t=197s
E28 is a really good practice car, that helped me apply a lot in the E46.

[tschultz]

Your videos make me want to get back to the track. hoping to take a car in a few weeks.. .I just have to get the valves replaced and reassemble.

[LeiseyJr]

Your videos make me want to get back to the track. hoping to take a car in a few weeks.. .I just have to get the valves replaced and reassemble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzb1Ey3yFgY

I have Go-Pro Helmet mount now, if I would've had this I could've had some great footage before TWS was gone.

[LeiseyJr]

Stay Tuned for Video Updates as they are easier and hoonage stuff

[thugginrobby]

Time to replace that 528e badge with a 535i

[LeiseyJr]

Time to replace that 528e badge with a 535i

535e maybe but never 535i, it will always be an eta in my heart.

[LeiseyJr]

So a lot has happened to this car, and I'm almost 18. Figured it was time to grow up and sit down and capture what's been done to this thing, might be taking a couple steps back but here is what happened to the car and where it has taken me.

Car had finished swap, I had my license dealing with the usual Houston traffic.

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

It's been taking me to school
Morning by samleisey, on Flickr

Used the skills learned from this car to make some money pulling parts at Sherman's even did a full 5spd swap in 3 days
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Made some money too pulling parts at the local LKQ
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Got in my first car collision, US bumpers saved the day!
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Than I got a 535is spoiler from Nick Sartor, this one is a bit dear to heart because I always loved it on his car and now I have his. Also got a crack free rear bumper
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Fixed rust in truck while I was there

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Went to Tex-Fest my father and I drove it in the canyons was pretty fun

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Around beginning 2017 met my friend Blake and found a late night drive buddy

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Shortly after car begin to clunk to when turning. Good 'Ol steering box mount broke, so subframe needed to come out to fix it as well as to fix oil leak (though it was oil pan). So dad machined a new mount and welded it in
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Got car back together, and I decided that was a good time to install dogleg from junkyard find Euro 635csi
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Car still leaked oil, but steering mount wasn't going anywhere. The dogleg transformed the car especially with the cam, made it so much more fun to drive. Highway cruising though has suffered, especially with the S3.46 diff
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Summer was pretty boring, just going to work everyday, a bunch of weird things broke
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Than at the end of summer I got my finale with my childhood home being shut down RIP TWS, was pushing car hard trying to keep up with 70's 911 broke a rocker arm. Car was incredible though for what it is an old sedan on lowering spring with sway-bars on summer tires, was able to keep up with some spec miatas. Helped a lot to practice in this car and then go out in E46 M3, got laps down to 1:57 in E46 M3 and it wouldn't have been without this car. Also really fun to mess with these newer stock 500HP mustangs and camaros in the turns and get right on their bumper, but then they walk me on streets. Also got in a accident before this event so my car's face was crushed as well to add to my misery, no U.S bumper to save me this time.

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

So I did head had a lot of practice from working at a BMW shop did a N54 head. Also discovered this who knows how long this motor mount was bad.

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Fixed accident damage as well with dads help
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Then Harvey came, nothing got flooded but we were in zone X and got a foot of water. Fucking insane amounts of water, some places by house had 40ft of water. X5 making a run to my girlfriends to get her generator

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr


Than after that car was driven daily until I finally got Euro headlights from Sherman and non-destroyed grills
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

I added tape because high beams are cracked, and I like the look. Went to Tex- Fest as well with Dad, both cars did fine. His car blew a hose though, luckily Gary Alling had an extra.
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Didn't really get any pics with dad because we brought two different cars and drove different routes.

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Made a Friend at Tex-Fest named John he was navigator
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Picked up a free George Graves narrowband from Jim Moffit as well and installed that I love this little gadget.

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Car now has full Pearl Beige inteior and M-Tech very happy with how car is just miss a racetrack. I truly do love my 1987 528e, it's a lot differnent than where it started but has been a trooper. I have put around 30K on it and just keeps going and taking a beating, has brought me so many opportunities and memories. I hope to go on some more road trips with.
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

It may not be the prettiest, but knowing that I swapped a motor, that has working A/C and I can drive everyday still blows my mind.
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

It has come quite far from its beginning.

Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr


It may not be perfect
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

But it has helped make a lot of good memories
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

I'm sure I missed some little stories along the way, but these are the main bits. Thank You for reading and
Update 12/17 by samleisey, on Flickr

[1st 5er]

Time to replace that 528e badge with a 535i

535e maybe but never 535i, it will always be an eta in my heart.

[tig]

Freaking awesome. Thanks for posting all this. Really fine seeing all your adventures.

[LeiseyJr]

Freaking awesome. Thanks for posting all this. Really fine seeing all your adventures.

No problemo, hope to have many more to share, so stay tuned!

[LeiseyJr]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzb1Ey3yFgY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QPHVocB3vY&t=7s
Some vids saved of car, haven't found good back-road or track event for daytime go pro footage since TWS closed down. I actually hate drifitng unless it's raining it just breaks shit.

[sail_or_drive]

What a great story! Props for doing the engine swap, that's big time courageous for a first car.

[thugginrobby]

Time to replace that 528e badge with a 535i

535e maybe but never 535i, it will always be an eta in my heart.

How long did the swap from an m20 to m30 take you? Was there anything major about the swap? Very interesting build thread

[LeiseyJr]

Time to replace that 528e badge with a 535i

535e maybe but never 535i, it will always be an eta in my heart.

How long did the swap from an m20 to m30 take you? Was there anything major about the swap? Very interesting build thread

It didn't take too long if you have all part it is a easy weekend job. It took us awhile because, we had to Frankenstein a transmission. The major part about the swap is you need a 535i, basically. It hurts we parted out a good 535i, if I were to do it next time I would part one in a wreck or a rotted out one. The next major things are tapping the intake manifold as well as welding the correct coolant tank expansion bracket. The swap is essentially plug n' play, need to make a sticky.

[LeiseyJr]

I've had a fairly loud rumbling in my transmission, and Christmas night at like 11pm ish the layshaft bearin blew up. Pretty funny stuff, in my transmission that cost about triple what I own right now. Anyway though, I dropped mi novia off and then was driving home and a straight cut gear sound started happening intermittently, then BOOM. Pics of carnage below

Fluid:
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr

Drain Plug:
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr

5th Gear basically tried to eat the bearing and yeah...
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr

TRans is Fubar, all it needs is layshaft and input shaft. Everything else is perfect, but chances of finding dogleg core are slim.


LUCKILY I HAVE A $5 SPARE, and it is being assembled and we will see how it does.
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr

[knunger]

That's one helluva set of sacks you're swingin' there, son.

Keep it comin'

[LeiseyJr]

So yeah blew up dogleg. I have had a core dogleg, that I have been slacking to fix, and now of course I am forced to fix my spare. This was the 1st dogleg I happened to find, the guy I got it from said it was a G262/5 and would trade for a M50 dipstick tube and dipstick. The guy put no effort into trying to figure out what he had and I gladly made the trade. It is actually believed to be from my fathers E30 M3 many years ago and was traded around and forgotten about. Anyway, when I ended up with it, time had happened and it wouldn't go into reverse and the mounting tab was broken. A month or two after I stumbled on the Euro E24 adn acquired the dogleg, bell-housing shifter, and D/S to put in my car. Since that trans went through all the gears I through it all in straight from junkyard 180K, and out put fresh fluid. As you can imagine someone that junked a slicktop euro E24 with cloth recorders, dirty motor, lsd and dogleg probably didn't do frequent transmission fluid changes. Despite this I used it like I stole it, tracked it, drifted it, clutch kicked it, and it was leaking some fluid. I stayed on top of that, but none the less the notorious dogleg rumble came and went away when I put the clutch in. I told myself it was input shaft bearing and normal getrag rattle. It went on 11pm of Christmas night, had to get towed.

So my spare transmission needed to get fixed. I printed out factory service manual, put it in binder and got to work. This would't have been possible though without dad as he has manufactured a couple special tools. I also learned to weld, he designed stand and I welded it together. This was the first step to work on these boxes properly.

Degleg Rebuild by samleisey, on Flickr

Than to verify damage to my junkyard special
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr

Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr

*sigh* Yeah dogleg has been Fubar'd.

Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr

The front case had already been taken off my spare, when I started to rebuild it but then stopped. So all I needed to do was remove back case, fix reverse, 3rd was acting up now and get tab welded on, through the grapevine I found a small restoration shop that would do it. Dad machined a tab and the guy at the shop would do his magic.

Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr
Degleg Adventure by samleisey, on Flickr

That is much better, than it was just a matter of reassembly. Reverse was messed up because trans was sitting around so moisture froze up reverse detent and 3rd gear syncro just got a little jammed up fro us moving it around. So those were pretty simple

Degleg Rebuild by samleisey, on Flickr

This is very tricky as you have to hold down ball bearings and spring through a tiny hole, while pushing in case on to and making sure reverse idler spacer thingie is lined up AND making sure guide pins Dad machined don't bind up. Didn't really get pics, as I was focusing.

This is what it looks like on paper with shift rods and detent, ball bearings are highlighted in black dots.
Fun stuff by samleisey, on Flickr

This is what real life looks like, As you can see there is not a lot of room to maneuver and you have to push balls all the way down and then push case at same time.

Degleg Rebuild by samleisey, on Flickr

That was fun, once that was done, I was very happily to see that all 5 gear worked. I hate RTV and gasket was sketchy. So I unfortunately had to use RTV, as my Nana says, "If a little is good, than a lot is great."
Degleg Rebuild by samleisey, on Flickr

Now I am waiting on input shaft and layshaft bearings, in the meantime I installed a new chip and strut brace.

Degleg Rebuild by samleisey, on Flickr
Degleg Rebuild by samleisey, on Flickr

Car is almost running again, and if anyone knows of a core dogleg let me know.

[tig]

You are a lucky boy. Growing mad skills. Thanks for letting us follow along.

[tschultz]

Let us know how you like SSSquid's B34 chip...

[LeiseyJr]

Let us know how you like SSSquid's B34 chip...

Well finally put car together and breaking in trans, the new chip seems to run a lot smoother through the whole rpm range. Not sure if it pulls as hard, but that might be beacuse powerband is so smooth that on cam feeling a I use to have is gone so. Overall though a lot smooher to just drive around.

[LeiseyJr]

Dogleg is working!!! Did 160ish miles tody so far so good just trying to gently break in the bearings, it shifts nice and is quiet, gonna change trans fluid soon and than really test chip at WOT.

Strut Bar made a big differernce as well even passengers noticed rides smoother less crashy over bumps and feels different cornering.