What did you do to your E28 today?

[tn535i]

There is a way to remove the batteries and the SI card or light board and have everything work except NO SI reminders. Ask me if I care about that function or ever followed it.

I'm a little clearer on how I do this with an e30 where I had to put in a jumper to pass the temp signal... but I know there is a way on an e28 also. Someone may chime in or ask in Tech Talk.

EDIT: What I don't remember is IF this had an impact on the Econometer. My 535 IC has another issue now so Speedo and Econometer are not working right at the moment.

[jca]

I can report that my new accelerator cable, bushings, grommets and bits ( see above post) resulted in a noticeable improvement in driveability. The whole diy job can be done for about $50 in parts. There have to be lots of e28's out there with now absent linkage bushings, etc., just like mine was.

[amagansa]

Yesterday I did a hard launch and the instrument cluster popped out

[e28Sean]

Installed these:

[foamy]

had it towed home after the transmission decided it did not want the fluid inside of it anymore.

[tn535i]

Not today but labor day weekend I did a few things to my old 535. It hasn't had much if any attention in a long time.

New cat back which is always a pain an doesn't seem to line up correctly. One of the hangers ahead of the subframe I had to improvise. But it's quiet and smoother through range again. I think this motor needs that little bit of backpressure.

Adjusted the strike on the passengers door and the hood latches as they have never been right since my son tweaked that side of the car years ago. Both much better but I need new door latch buffers, probably all around. It freaked me out when the drivers side of the hood popped open at about 70 mph recently but the safety catch got it.

Checked out why the rear doors don't lock/unlock and why one wouldn't lock at all. Both actuators appear dead so I took them out and fixed the problem with the lock. My backseat gets used about 1x per year so they can stay locked.

Ordered some new tires with the labor day sale at DTD. My son has had good experience with the GMax AS-05's (aka poor man's DWS). No hurry but need to go on before winter gets here as my current tires are about 7-8 years old.

I wish my old 5er was worth painting and restoring like so many others have done but it just isn't. A couple big (liek the right from frame pushed up) and way too many little things to fix or replace.

It still needs some front UCA bushings as the wobble has been back and a couple more small things but at over 300k miles it still runs great and makes a good everyday car with very little trouble in approx 15 years I've owned it. I've even had more than a few younger people (20-30 ish) tell me they like this older car, so there is some who appreciate the e28 in the next generation

[topher800]

I've even had more than a few younger people (20-30 ish) tell me they like this older car, so there is some who appreciate the e28 in the next generation

Whenever my wife drives mine, every teen/college boy is pawing at her.

Wiper linkage recently broke...getting that done today.

Finally got the stereo finished. Some ridiculously expensive Focals for the front (tweeters & floor). Average speakers for the rear. Kenwood KDC-X500 head that I can set the color, and it has orange! So glad to have the PO's sub-woofer thing out of the trunk

[Bonsaibacker]

Took out the floating cigarette lighter and installed a USB charge port with switch. Had a spare AC grill cover with unbroken slats- been wanting to swap that in for a while. The switch I chose fits between the slats so no cuts necessary.

[SeattleGuy]

Put a new clutch in at 165K. In progress now. I look forward to picking her up this evening. My buddy and I had done the hydrualics ed of it last year so that will save a little time/money but it is... what it is.

[adm750]

Not today...but over the weekend....trying to pick away at some things on this 86 528e that I just picked up the other weekend.

Have been working to address a loss of power (bogs down like a bad flat spot, then surges under accel) only when cold, and erratic high idle at times. Been checking for vac leaks (all forum searches mentioned this as prime cause...) and none were found although I do not have access to a smoke machine.
Stumbled on an old R3V thread about a missing bolt holding the cold start valve into the manifold....and sure enough I was missing two !! Pulled the valve out, applied a very small amount of gasket sealer (suzuki vc gasket sealant) and fit new bolts. Surging gone, and driveability was actually pretty smooth.

Also read about a restrictor in the vac line that routes from the manifold port to the HVAC cabin air sampling sucking thingy under the driver's side dashboard kick panel. The hard pipe to it was stuffed in the end of a piece of std rubber vac line and attached to the port on the manifold. Sooo...I cut tabs off a small bore vac line connector I had and stuffed it inside the std black vac line to act as a reducer. May be unrelated but I have a flat spot that has returned under cold accel. No surging, but def flat on power since doing that. Completely gone when engine starts to warm...like 2-3 miles tops.

Adjusted the throttle cable...very loose

Fixed the wiring to the low and high speed aux fan control switches

Replaced several missing fasteners for the interior bits...Rattling has been reduced to a dull roar now...

Lubed sunroof tracks... it works fantastic...just wanting to keep it that way

Attempted to remove the hose from the intake boot to the ICV and cut off the badly cracked end at the ICV...only failing to understand that end was flared as you e28 pros know. Needless to say I could not get that cut-down hose back onto the ICV. With the car "out of service" now, a midnight recon run to my storage shed netted a small length of garden hose which fit right nicely to the ICV and the port on the boot. Seems to run fine and should do till I get the new hose. (engine flat on power occurred prior to this...it's what led me to think the cracked end may be leaking and still giving me an issue...)

I do have the Bentley manual for it...and you all...so thank goodness. Lots of component testing to come but work, night classes, and kids, make time limited.

tony

[DMnTX]

Put $150 worth of relays and today going to try to get fire

[cyclist]

Adjusted valves, oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket along with the thermostat housing gasket

[amagansa]

Removed the old, purple, and bubbly window tint. The rear was getting really bad and it was getting harder to see out of. TurtleWax sticker remover from AutoZone, a spray bottle with soapy water, and a non-scratch abrasive got rid of the excess glue on the rear.

[MattC]

Swapped out my red radiator fan for a newer black one that I had in my parts stash. The red one had a slight wobble due to the metal backing plate being a little out of shape. Not sure if it would've affected my water pump long term, but I don't want to find out.

I had already tried beating it flat but obviously didn't get it perfect...maybe I'll keep trying. Would love to have the ever-so-sought-after red fan back on the car someday. We'll see...

[stuartinmn]

Parked my car for the winter today. It may turn out I did it earlier than necessary, but the forecast is for cold and wet weather for the next couple weeks, and once we're into November all bets are off for any more good weather.

[Shawn D.]

Continued scrapping/parting out my '86.

[richardb]

Did my first oil change!

https://youtu.be/8aLSbbrgWxs

[Beemernut]

Got my exhaust gaskets, fan clutch, and brake bomb all done. All were badly needed.

It's crazy how much better the thing idles with those manifold to pipe gaskets fixed. Could be my imagination but I think it pulls harder too.

AND NOW I HAVE STRONG BRAKES for the first time in my 3 years of ownership.

[MattC]

Received my newly wrapped leather steering wheel from Chris Scow at Leatherwheels.com.

I'd highly recommend his work, which is both affordable and very well done! Turnaround time is quick as well (only a couple days).

[dsw99a]

Yep, Chris does a rocking good job. Looks good!!

[amagansa]

I come out to drive the thing, CLS not working. Strange. Key on, no power. Weird, it's a good battery. Pop the hood and my positive battery terminal end had come clean off the terminal. Admittedly I hadn't checked tightness of the terminal in a while, but to get moved like that? That's something.

Also, I curbed my wheel the other day aka died inside a little.

[bafbaf]

Time to go into hibernation for winter.

[lswoboda]

[quote="bafbaf"]Time to go into hibernation for winter.


What size Quick Jack are you using, and why are you using the length of wood?

Thanks!

[bafbaf]

It's the bl-5000slx. I didn't have time to order the pinch weld blocks (plus the gas line runs just inside the pinch weld so you have to be careful not to crush the line if you're using the blocks) so the wood's there to spread out the load.

[BDKawey]

grabbed some 540i calipers over the weekend, full set for a hundred bucks. they've got midwestern rot but ill clean them up and throw some new seals in them. feel like its not a bad deal at all.

this car has unassisted brakes, am open for pad suggestions.

[amagansa]

My car keeps blowing the fuse for the tach, CLS, etc. So now I've got to figure out what's broken. Also I really need a new diff mount. Can't even spin tires in the rain anymore lol.

[amagansa]

I "fixed" my fuse 5 blowing problem AKA disconnected the OBC connector next to driver strut tower. Never worked since the day I bought it anyway. At least I narrowed it down a little.

[RonW]

Commuted with it, 65 miles each way. My 535i is now a permanent lawn ornament, and the E46 325Ci needs coils and plugs, so I'm driving the 535is for the first time in a long time. The E46 has been my daily driver for a few years now, and after that and various new spaceship-like rental cars on business travel, the E28 is simple, genteel, and stately. Driving it is so bereft of distractions that you become consciously aware of a peacefulness of the experience that is lacking in modern cars.

How could this simple car with 180 horsepower have been considered an expensive and luxurious "ultimate driving machine" in 1987? Considering this paradox - this koan - makes driving the 535is not just peaceful, but zen-like.

[amagansa]

Finally got around to replacing my odometer gears. I was worried about screwing it up, but actually one of the easiest repair jobs i've done on the car. Besides running to Lowes to get a pair of dykes, it was essentially a 20 minute job. According to a carfax I had when I bought it, the odometer has been stuck at 239k since at least 2010 I'd say mileage is probably around 280-290 based on averages.

[SeattleGuy]

Commuted with it, 65 miles each way. My 535i is now a permanent lawn ornament, and the E46 325Ci needs coils and plugs, so I'm driving the 535is for the first time in a long time. The E46 has been my daily driver for a few years now, and after that and various new spaceship-like rental cars on business travel, the E28 is simple, genteel, and stately. Driving it is so bereft of distractions that you become consciously aware of a peacefulness of the experience that is lacking in modern cars.

How could this simple car with 180 horsepower have been considered an expensive and luxurious "ultimate driving machine" in 1987? Considering this paradox - this koan - makes driving the 535is not just peaceful, but zen-like.

Yah buddy. I always argue in FB with a friend of mine who likes the E32, E34 and E36.

Car Talk Today Part Deux: Best BMW of All Time (BOAT)

I know Mladen will show up to throw some shade well bring it on dude. The Bottom Line on saloons is this:
https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/reco ... aloon-cars

The E28 is overall the best sedan driving experience on a day-to-day basis you will ever have. Even today still top-rated. My point is I don't need nor want all of that new shit on my car. Airbags are nice but if I'm in an accident that bad where my E28 doesn't have my back it was probably my time to go right.

My ideal day to day would be the impeccably-modded E28 Euro in the picture but not even necessarily with its degree of refinement. It's ultra high-end and upwards of $45K. I'd settle for mine with $5-8K resto and call it a day.

And you don't need a damn M5 to enjoy the fun. A good running M30 is fine enough, even stock.

So Mladen Micic I'm waiting for ya bro. I've owned or driven so many nice cars I can't even remember. Sometimes I take Maxine for granted. Sometimes but not often that is. You want new shit? Go and get it bro. Newer and cheaper cars like base VW Golf as quicker cars? OK fine go and get one then. They are certainly nice cars. And they are on every street corner. I go for MONTHS without seeing another E28 these days much less one as nice as Maxine.

At the End of the Day I know what the Best is. And the Best is the E28. Take your Merc 123/124.... great cars too but try to find a stick in the 124 in America right. Not happening Brotha'. Take your Alfa Milano/75 too... love them but OMG maintenance nightmare by comparison and those are more akin to an E30, right. Right.

What else ya got?

An E39 540 6sp to keep the miles down on the E28? Fine. I'll go for that.

Other than that you just got a whole lotta nothing

**************

BTW to sorta stay on point, last week:

1. New Clutch and full hyrdraulics
2. New plugs (the old ones still looked decent just my annual thing)
3. New Paper Air Filter -- K&N was pulled. Eventually I'll get around to ordering the cleaning agent and oil LOL
4. Fresh coolant flush and thermostat
5. Fresh oil 1K ago.

Really just needs a blower motor for now, in a year or so starts the suspension refresh and shocks but she rides fine now and not horrible on-center slop still responsive and nice.