Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

[wkohler]

I think the wheels are overpriced for having no center caps. The right set will come around with caps. If the set available was anywhere near a decent deal, they'd have sold by now.

They wouldn't look as good as this.

[tig]

Ever since i had basketweaves on my '95 540iA I have hated them. But that was mostly due to how hard they were to keep clean. The brake pads on Vlad are basically dust free (!) and this is why the Style 8's have grown on me.

RZs with polished lips and black centers might look pretty nice. PM sent.

Oh, the other issue I have with basket weaves is my car has red painted calipers. The style 8's don't show them off and tighter basket weaves will hide them more. I kinda like the red-caliper look...

But I'm just being picky and oddly anal. Thanks to all of you for letting me air this all out here

[wkohler]

You could find a set of 16" Racing Dynamics wheels, too. A somewhat cool wheel and they're 5-spoke.

[tig]

You could find a set of 16" Racing Dynamics wheels, too. A somewhat cool wheel and they're 5-spoke.

Nah, considered those. I think it's the roundness of the spokes that turns me off. They also remind me of wheels that belong on a slammed Civic.

[wkohler]

There's a different style that's covered lug I can't find a photo of. Apparently, popular in 15" 4x100 sizes though.

What about the style 9? Dimensionally the same as your style 8, nearly every brake upgrade will fit, they're light, forged and side-specific. I know someone in your neck of the woods with a set.

[tig]

There's a different style that's covered lug I can't find a photo of. Apparently, popular in 15" 4x100 sizes though.

What about the style 9? Dimensionally the same as your style 8, nearly every brake upgrade will fit, they're light, forged and side-specific. I know someone in your neck of the woods with a set.

I always thought the Style 9s were interesting. They, for some reason, remind me of the Porsche 959. But I'm not a fan of them for Vlad.

[tig]

I was reviewing all the mods that have been done to Vlad and decided it'd be nice to have the all in one place online, so I updated the first post of this thread with them.

Here's what I added:

Car details:

• 1987 BMW 535is - Built September 9, 1986
• WBADC7401H0964420
• Zinnoberrot (Cinnabar) on black
• Delivered to first owner in Orange, CA February 27, 1988
• Sold to 2nd owner in Santa Barbara, CA October 6, 2000 @ 87,525 miles
• Sold to 3rd owner (me) in Bellevue, WA April 5, 2013 @ 171,000 miles

Updates/Tweaks:

• Conforti chip
• 740iL calipers (painted red), ATE power rotors, 740iL master cylinder, Akebono ceramic pads, stainless hoses
• 3.23 limited slip differential (from a 2003 M Coupe)
• Style 8 wheels (16x7.5" ET15) from an 840ci
• 225/50-R16 RE760 tires
• Rolled rear fenders
• Cibie headlights, H4 80/100w, H1 100w, with upgraded wiring, relays and fuses
• Motorsport Series strut brace
• H&R Springs
• Bilstein Sport shocks
• K-MAC Stage 1 street front adjustable camber kit
• K-MAC Rear camber & toe kit
• Powerflex rear subframe bushings
• Custom installed 2-port USB power plugs
• Custom hard-wired Valentine 1 radar detector install
• Pioneer CD/MP3/Bluetooth head unit, big ass amplifier, and subwoofer (PO)
• ///M shift knob
• Shadowline conversion (in progress)

In progress or planned:

• Bavarian Auto ceramic coated headers (acquired, waiting to be installed).
• Ireland Engineering exhaust (acquired, waiting to be installed)
• M30B35 motor from an '88 735i (acquired, currently rebuilding for funzies).
• Pelican Parts clutch kit (incl. Sachs clutch; acquired; will go in with M30B35)
• Lightweight flywheel (WTB)
• Another set of 16" wheels (See thread below for what I'm looking for).
• E34 or E36 Sport seats; will recover with black & red leather (WTB)
• Upgrade of dash, center console, etc... with black leather and red stitching.
• Euro bumper conversion (WTB)

For reference: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=115049

[tig]

Is there something in the water here?

I started this journey absolutely convinced I hated basket weave wheels.

I'm now seriously considering a set of 16" BBS RS 2-piece wheels that look like these (17" from another thread). (Why do some people call these Style 5?)



I love the black centered, polished lip look of my Fuchs:



Imagine how nice Vlad would look next to the 911 with wheels like this on it.

Help me find some. I'm totally willing (and eager) to do the re-finishing work myself.

I'd probably do the little bolts stainless though instead of black.

Maybe the set of RZ's moosehead mentioned would fit the bill here too, given their lips can be polished. Moosehead: Please send me an email (you have a PM).

[wkohler]

Those are 17" Style 5s, which aren't RSs but are called RCs, which never made much sense to me since they look nothing like the real RC. The RS, which is a proper 3-piece wheel are different. I've got two sets of 16" RSs that would fit the bill for you if you're so inclined. A set of five 16x8 ET20 and a set of four 16x7 ET11.

Of course, since you happened to mention it...

[tig]

Of course, since you happened to mention it...

Which ones are those? They look tucked so I'm assuming they are the ET20s?

[Drew in NYC]

Oh geez

[Mike in Seattle]

In progress or planned:

E34 or E36 Sport seats; will recover with black & red leather (WTB)

Charlie,

I thought of you when I saw this. No pictures, but it might be worth checking out!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/3850033454.html

[wkohler]

Of course, since you happened to mention it...

Which ones are those? They look tucked so I'm assuming they are the ET20s?

Those are the 17x8 ET20 style 5s with 245/40/17s. My RSs had silver centers. The 16x8s are on my 528i right now.

[Drew in NYC]

In progress or planned:

E34 or E36 Sport seats

Why not E28 or E30 sport seats? More 'correct' IMO. Apologies if I missed your explanation somewhere.

[tig]

In progress or planned:

E34 or E36 Sport seats

Why not E28 or E30 sport seats? More 'correct' IMO. Apologies if I missed your explanation somewhere.

One, I want/need more lumbar support and the adjustable lumbar on the sport seats I had in my E34 '95 540 M-Sport made me happy.

Two, I like the horizontal pad look and feel over the vertical layout of the E28 seats. Especially if I'm going to make the center sections red with the outer black.

Three, I want heated seats.

[tig]

In progress or planned:

E34 or E36 Sport seats; will recover with black & red leather (WTB)

Charlie,

I thought of you when I saw this. No pictures, but it might be worth checking out!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/3850033454.html

Thanks. I think the Sand is a deal killer because while you can dye the leather, you can't recolor the accompanying plastic.

[Dave McLaren]

(Why do some people call these Style 5?)

BMW has style number designations for all of their wheels. Style 5 is used for all cross-spoke (mesh) variants, not only the 17x8" ET20 RC090 2-piece wheels which came standard on the E39 528i sport, but others like the 16x8" mesh wheel found on the majority of non-sport E38 740i and 740iL models.

As enthusiasts started getting hold of RC090 wheels to use on a variety of models, as well as other rarer RC versons, the street name associated with the RC wheels was simply "Style 5." Although all RC wheels are Style 5, not all Style 5 wheels are RC.

Still, anytime someone says Style 5 with no qualifier, they're referring to RCs.

My E30 has RCs. I forgot the numbers, but the fronts are 17x8" ET20 and the rears are 17x9" ET26 as optional on E32s. I believe the E31s were offered with the same fronts but ET19 rears.

Dave

[wkohler]

Actually, most RCs aren't "style 5s."



Best wheels ever made right there.

[WilNJ]

Actually, most RCs aren't "style 5s."



Best wheels ever made right there.

I've wanted those for my VW, available as 18's from the GLI, but this past winter disabused me of any notion of going with a lower profile tire.

[tig]

Today's Job: Install this


Step one is to take off air filter housing.


Which reminds me that the PO had told me he'd failed to replace the fuel lines that go to the fuel cooler when he'd replaced the rest of the lines last year (he said he ran out of tubing).


Lucky me, I'd already acquired some new lines. And for my Porsche I had bought an Oetker ear clamp kit. If you're gonna do it...do it right.




Lifted the car up on the lift and got to work on the bolts attaching the manifolds to the downpipe. I only have deep impact sockets so I could only get 4 of the 6 bolts off. Now need to run to go buy a set of shallow impact sockets... A little more PB Blaster on there while I'm gone for the assist.

[tig]

Question for the experts:

When the headers are installed, the front one is going to almost be touching this AC line to the fuel cooler.

Should I get a heat shield fabricated or reroute it?

Or just not worry?

[leadphut]

These might interest you. NA

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=117452

[Mike in Seattle]

Question for the experts:

When the headers are installed, the front one is going to almost be touching this AC line to the fuel cooler.

Should I get a heat shield fabricated or reroute it?

Or just not worry?

I would fab up a heat shield. You shouldn't need to relocate any of those lines.

[tig]

We didn't get finished yesterday. Getting the headers in was more challenging that I anticipated.

First, we made the mistake of not removing the crossbar under the engine and turning the steering to the left to get the linkage out of the way. Then, I thought it would be easier to install if I had the studs out (on the front ports). But I discovered that there's no way to install the studs when the header is in place (the pipes are in the way).



We got close before heading to the Sounders game last night (they won in dramatic fashion. EBFG) and should have it done quickly this morning.



One thing I discovered under the car is that both of these bolts were really loose. I checked all other bolts under the car because of this.

[tig]

Whoo-hoo!

Got the exhaust all buttoned up and just got back from a nice test drive. I stopped by a buddy's house so he could drive the car while I watched (and listened). I'll post the video asap.

I need to do some work on the hangers; The one by the tranny is not connected at all because the orignal bolt is not long enough and the bracket isn't the right size anyway. I'll go pick up a longer bolt later today.

One of the rubber hangers is shot and needs to be replaced. But is serviceable for now.









The muffler is a tad crooked; too far to the left. It is touching the spare tire well. It is also just barely touching the valance. I'll fab up an adapter to move it slightly to the right and down.



I had a spare manifold gasket and figured it would make a reasonable temporary heat shield for the fuel cooler. Heck it might even be a reasonable permanent shield :-).



Not quite sure why people think headers look that great. You can't see them anyway once the air filter is on.



It sounds ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. A nice deep throaty rumble at idle and a deep growl under acceleration. We'll see what my wife says, but I don't think it's TOO loud.

Video to come....