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More dissection on the Grape . Removed the Lach silber hood and fenders. Rehung the dinged bergundrot sheet metal on a total of 8 screws. Ran a doubled up piece of baling wire through the abs sensor hole,around the 4x6 pounded in a spike to hang it, then through the top brake carrier hole. I plan to turn it around so it can be winched onto a ramp truck. It has no steering linkage. but I 'll just lash in something to hold it straight. Snagged the brake booster and the starter . And a FIRST for me, I unscrewed the AC unit instead demolishing it for the motor . I'm a bit confused, it looks to have a Behr motor. I expect it to have a Sofica. But, the H and AC are separate units so.. I have most of the AC parts harvested mostly for practice. I grabbed all the 88 window switches. Sherman, I would use a board and balin' wire. Or forget it entirely. just cram some wood scraps between the block and the inner fenders. or throw a 2 by across the fenders and and hang the engine on a piece of rope. The engine is going, 25 yr old M20 with ~ 250k on it. The oil was on the line and for grins I pulled a plug. It was perfect. The engine was running fine when I got it going last summer. I have no use for it. The tranny fluid was dark brown like tawny port, but didnt smell burnt. It too is going, so is a decent guibo-less DS and an open 2.93 diff. The Grape got 30+ MPG on the highway and high 20s 'round town. But the shell is rotted beyond all repair. The rotors are keepers, The rears are better than the ones on B6II. Got the glove box and the 007 ECU.

Installed a Memphis audio amp in Deiter. Adjusted the settings and rocked out in the driveway.

Had windshield and seal replaced couple of weeks back.
Swapped out winter's 10w40 for summer's 20w50 today.
Took her for a jaunt down UBC, Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach... on a cool, gray afternoon... was a nice run.

finished up installing new subframe bushing....started monday after work for about 2 hrs a day using DIY tool(not fun)...finished friday night including new valve cover gasket and rubber plugs...next up guibo and center bearings

Waxed it! Didn't hardly recognize it at all.

Finally completed the install of the re-finished headlight buckets that were done over the Winter, and then put in a fresh set of headlamps (thanks Brian).

Installed the trim panel that goes along the right side of the front console (and along side the left side of the glove box). Had to trim it up a bit to accommodate the A/C hose that was in the way and to get the glove box to open and close properly... that Dremel tool comes in handy! Also replaced the plastic flap (mine was torn) that hangs down in the glove box and hides the ECU... that was a pain!

Lastly, installed a Hella third brake light.... LED bright... very nice!!

She's ready for the first Spring ride today:D

-RoyW

I installed the alternator today. It seems I was under volt for some time this cured so many ailments include a flat spot in the power curve. She now pulls smoothly all the way to 6600rpm oh and 3rd gear will quickly exceed the ton mark, much quicker than I thought she could.

Drove him for the first time in 6 months!



At first he ran rough- and wouldn't go past 5000 rpm. I was worried that I was having some issue. I went to the grocery store and back and he almost wouldn't start at Kroger with a trunkload of food. But after some prodding and patience he turned over and then seemed to run fine. He even re-started fine when I got home.

So I tossed my tools in the trunk and drove the Scioto Rover Valley north to near Marion, then headed out towards Marysville, then the long way down to Plain City, then back to C-Bus. Bandit and I were out for about 4 good hours and 130 miles. It was a great day!

I even came across yet another covered bridge but only had my phone with me this time so please excuse the quality:



I only noticed a few quirks on the drive, one is that sometimes the drivers side window motor seems to have a dead spot so you have to push the up button first for it to move down. And there was a little moisture in the trunk.

Driving season is open!

Brake bomb went out.


It never just rains, it pours....

Tunes!

I finally got tired of the worn out shocks in the front of my '86 535i/A. I installed new Koni sport inserts and RD Sport springs. I also installed a set of NOS Koni anti-roll bars with adjustable stabilizer links. I used 9mm upper spring seats and the ride height is perfect, not too low or high. The clunking sound I had when hitting bumps is now gone.

Tomorrow I'll attack the rear suspension and refresh it with SPAX adjustable shocks and the RD Sport / Koni parts for the rear.

Rich

I finally put on coilovers! I had been piecing together a kit - rebuilt/revalved Bilstein sports, Vorshlag camber plates, and IE perches. Took a couple of hours yesterday and this whole afternoon, but it was worth it. 500 lb springs up front and 450 out back feel great, and should be perfect for the track.

Yesterday I realigned a gas gauge needle that had been bumped out of place by the previous owner (Bought the car last month - the gauge only read 1/2 tank after a fill up and on E would still have half tank full).

Today I pulled the DME to see how many pins on the stock chip. Then I ordered the popular E.A.T. chip from Mark D'Sylva. Can't wait to get it installed!!

I'm also awaiting the arrival of some cardinal red sport seats. Now I just need to find matching rear seat and door panels.

It's fun to see what all of you are doing with your cars. This is the best forum I have ever been a member of!

Euro bumpers, turns and fogs in today.
Everything went together pretty smoothly.

this was over the weekend:

got the power antenna harness from bimmerparts, changed plugs, changed oil, fixed passenger door, fixed cruise control and pulled the heater blower for a cleaning and lubrication.

Over the weekend, another round of tranny and diffy juice - it's all running squeaky clean now.

With the car up in the air and a subframe bushing tool arriving Wednesday, I loosened everything up and busted the pins out of the body on both sides. The bushings on BOTH sides were sheared. I knew the rear end was loose, though I didn't think they were both shot?!? When I lost just one SFB on the 535 it had made a horrendous racket. This just felt very squidgy, but no bonking noises.

Anyhow, I'll have a nice tight ass for next weekend

Fitted a set of metric weaves on the wife's car. Tire size 240/45/415.

FAIL.

Relished in the sea of new parts I've put on the car in the last few months(rsb's, diff mount, steering linkages, control arms, sway links, tires, dogbones, cap/rotor/plugs/belts/fanclutch, brake pressure switch) and then discovered a new THUNK noise from god knows where, accompanied by an elusive vibration and something that sounds like debris stuck in a tire....

The saga continues

brkinshiz wrote:Relished in the sea of new parts I've put on the car in the last few months(rsb's, diff mount, steering linkages, control arms, sway links, tires, dogbones, cap/rotor/plugs/belts/fanclutch, brake pressure switch) and then discovered a new THUNK noise from god knows where, accompanied by an elusive vibration and something that sounds like debris stuck in a tire....

The saga continues

Tis the cost of owning a 25 year old Ultimate Driving Machine....

I went trolling in the wrecking yard today and found these.




just for fun

Rich Euro M5 wrote:I finally got tired of the worn out shocks in the front of my '86 535i/A. I installed new Koni sport inserts and RD Sport springs. I also installed a set of NOS Koni anti-roll bars with adjustable stabilizer links. I used 9mm upper spring seats and the ride height is perfect, not too low or high. The clunking sound I had when hitting bumps is now gone.

Tomorrow I'll attack the rear suspension and refresh it with SPAX adjustable shocks and the RD Sport / Koni parts for the rear.

Rich

Installed the new double adjustable SPAX shocks I purchased from Moosehead Engineering. I built them up using all new parts from "Da Parts Pimp". Unlike some on the forum that seem to have problems getting the old shocks to separate from the trailing arms, the original shocks came loose with a bump from a blow hammer. I suppose having a completely rust free undercarriage helped.

I initially set the shocks at 12 clicks, seemed a bit too much for the street, not harsh enough to loosen your fillings but pretty firm. I backed them off to 10 clicks, and this wasn't quite enough. I finally settled on 11 clicks for now, and this is a nice compromise for street driving. As in the front, I installed the thick upper spring pads. I also installed the rear Koni anti-roll bar with adjustable end links.

I'm extremely satisfied with the combination of parts I used. My 535i now handles like a proper BMW, and doesn't roll like an old Buick in turns.

Rich

Drove her to the gas station.

I opened a big box of M50 parts, along with trans and diff oil.

Nothing. 100% sorted.

Got a new screw for the leg bar on my sport seats. For the first time in 4 months, it finally works again!

Cory you are lucky.

Reinstalled stock 14" bottle caps with proper tires.

ldsbeaker wrote:Euro bumpers, turns and fogs in today.
Everything went together pretty smoothly.

This post is worthless without pics!

I did not torch mine in a suspicious garage fire.

Jake D wrote:I did not torch mine in a suspicious garage fire.