What did you do to your E28 today?

[HayekFan]

Water pump. Minor coolant leak had been evading me but I finally caught the water pump in the act, leaking from the weep hole. Replaced it with a HEPU brand aftermarket pump. Straightforward job, used the Permatex 80019 non hardening sealant on the gasket.

[sixseries]

Redid the color on the rear deck (carpet behind the rear seats). See below and after. It's lighter in the middle as the carpet was basically fully disintegrated in that area. Originally color is nutria (brown).

[austin8753]

drove my M5 to Redmond, WA, yesterday. my back is screaming at me, but the car did very well. this was the longest consecutive trip i've taken in the thing.

[tig]

drove my M5 to Redmond, WA, yesterday. my back is screaming at me, but the car did very well. this was the longest consecutive trip i've taken in the thing.

You should have reached out and stopped by!

[dsmith]

I am waiting on parts for my 528e manual trans swap, so I threw in my M5 steering box, since I have the steering column out. Figured I would get ALL of the ATF out of the car at one time. I found a new p/s filter and enough new hoses to replace it all. Fuel hose is BMW, so that probably needs to be replaced. I swear the oil pan gasket was original. New gasket coming for that also. Also found a long tear in the throttle body boot. Probably a cause of an idle issue that is getting worse. Also installing Powerflex subframe bushings and might as well put in an LSD, while the driveshaft is out. Does it ever end?

Well, completed yesterday, drives great, but massive trans leak from the rear. I replaced the shift shaft seal, so rear seal has been ordered. Super fun.

[dsmith]

I am waiting on parts for my 528e manual trans swap, so I threw in my M5 steering box, since I have the steering column out. Figured I would get ALL of the ATF out of the car at one time. I found a new p/s filter and enough new hoses to replace it all. Fuel hose is BMW, so that probably needs to be replaced. I swear the oil pan gasket was original. New gasket coming for that also. Also found a long tear in the throttle body boot. Probably a cause of an idle issue that is getting worse. Also installing Powerflex subframe bushings and might as well put in an LSD, while the driveshaft is out. Does it ever end?

Well, completed yesterday, drives great, but massive trans leak from the rear. I replaced the shift shaft seal, so rear seal has been ordered. Super fun.

Replaced the shift shaft seal again and the rear trans seal and no leaks! Happy day. Just received my cheap leather shift boot and then I can call the conversion completed.

[topher800]

It was 88F outside, so not blistering. AC was upgraded with Austin's kit

[cbumga11]

Pulled sport seats, consoles and carpet out and vacuumed tired worn out deadening material and put new foam in. Replaced with new carpet. Pulled the dash which looked as if an IED had gone off inside. Started swapping out items onto new dash. Pics to come.

[Philo]

Took all 4 door cards off and cleaned/re-greased the runners and pivot points. Also greased hinges, no more squeaks.

[sixseries]

Pulled sport seats, consoles and carpet out and vacuumed tired worn out deadening material and put new foam in. Replaced with new carpet. Pulled the dash which looked as if an IED had gone off inside. Started swapping out items onto new dash. Pics to come.

What did you use for the new foam and how did you install it? When I pulled my carpet, it seemed like the carpet and foam were one piece

[tig]

I am waiting on parts for my 528e manual trans swap, so I threw in my M5 steering box, since I have the steering column out. Figured I would get ALL of the ATF out of the car at one time. I found a new p/s filter and enough new hoses to replace it all. Fuel hose is BMW, so that probably needs to be replaced. I swear the oil pan gasket was original. New gasket coming for that also. Also found a long tear in the throttle body boot. Probably a cause of an idle issue that is getting worse. Also installing Powerflex subframe bushings and might as well put in an LSD, while the driveshaft is out. Does it ever end?

Rhetorical question.

[sixseries]

Resprayed those weird carpet inserts on our door cards, and I really like how it turned out. Was super easy to do too. Just used SEM Color Coat spray paint that's made for carpet, viny, etc. Similar to what I did for the rear deck.

[BDKawey]

Resprayed those weird carpet inserts on our door cards, and I really like how it turned out. Was super easy to do too. Just used SEM Color Coat spray paint that's made for carpet, viny, etc. Similar to what I did for the rear deck.

nice little cheap improvement!

[cbumga11]

Pulled sport seats, consoles and carpet out and vacuumed tired worn out deadening material and put new foam in. Replaced with new carpet. Pulled the dash which looked as if an IED had gone off inside. Started swapping out items onto new dash. Pics to come.

What did you use for the new foam and how did you install it? When I pulled my carpet, it seemed like the carpet and foam were one piece

I used a sound proofing material similar, Kilmat 80m. My carpet was an older, non-carpeted back. I'm a little disappointed because it does not fit perfectly. Seeing as how its an OEM carpet, I'm sure its something I'm doing wrong, but its not fitting onto the door and foot dead pedal areas like i'd like.

[funkycharms]

I heard my horn for the first time in my 2 years of ownership. Yesterday morning I heard it buzzing randomly out the blue so I pulled the battery. The car came with an aftermarket steering wheel and an inoperable horn button.

[Gary Collins]

Rebuilt my AFM ..!! Much better -
We need a drive soon ...!!!

[vinceg101]

Got the registration renewal last week:


So long, 2020!
(Don't let the door hit you in the a** on the way out)

[Zeuropa]

Today I replaced the "window guide" rubber in my passenger rear door. I snagged the apparently NLA part off a junk yard car a few weeks ago. The one in my car was badly cracked due to sun damage. The junk yard part is in remarkable shape, considering it is probably original too. Anyway, swapping the guide was also remarkably easy and rewarding. I think I paid $6 for the part. I have new guides for the other 3 doors & I think I've spent $300 combined for them. I'm pretty sure putting them in won't be quite as satisfying...

Happy Holidays y'all

[Mike W.]

Got the registration renewal last week:


So long, 2020!
(Don't let the door hit you in the a** on the way out)

Cool. You've been talking about this for some time haven't you? Wondering if it will bring the rumored lack of required biannual smog test. Regardless, looks good, albeit not quite as good as the euro plate underneath.

Diverging a bit... I remember when I was in college and a cousin bought a '47 Cadillac. Nice car, good to very good condition. At the time it was 25 years old and therefore considered an antique car. It was neat, but it was clearly old. He made a couple of trips of several hundred miles in it and made it home, but there would have been no thought of going cross country in it. Contrast that to E28s with an average age now of 35. Sure, they're not new, but a well sorted, and I don't mean pristine low mileage or fully restored, just in good shape, would not give me a moments pause about a cross country trip. Or the return trip. OK, the front end might start to shimmy, but oil or coolant shouldn't be a problem, except maybe a quart of oil, even 6K miles, and if it was the check control would let you know.

Cars are profoundly better and longer lasting than they used to be, but how many people would be comfortable in any pre 2010 car cross country. And back? Hell, probably pre 2015 would have most people cars at their limit, comfort wise.

[vinceg101]

Cool. You've been talking about this for some time haven't you? Wondering if it will bring the rumored lack of required biannual smog test. Regardless, looks good, albeit not quite as good as the euro plate underneath.

I actually did the plate switch back in 2014: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=122801&hilit=historic+plates
While it did allow me to stay under the CA DMV's radar for quite a few years (almost 6), they finally caught up with me for the 2020 renewal. I guess this was a precursor of what 2020 had in store for us.
So after some consternation about alternate registration options, I broke down and created a compliant exhaust & emissions system consisting of my old exhaust system, a new DEC Cat I had in storage, a new O2 sensor, charcoal canister (for visuals only), and an 059 ECU that goes in for the SMOG test, then promptly comes out. The exhaust system hangs from the ceiling of The Hangar waiting for the next time I need it.
It's still not a full-proof method since (supposedly) the CHP is performing rolling emissions tests at their discretion at the behest of the DMV; these plates might start to feel like a target. But I am less concerned around Los Angeles as the CHP has WAAYY more to worry about.

I will see what next November's renewal notice brings and what my plan of action will be.

[davintosh]

I just put the renewed tags on mine as well. And discovered an issue while putting the registration slip away; noticed that one of the window switch lights wasn't lit, so I tapped on it (because that's the first step of troubleshooting) and the window moved!

The key was in my pocket, so I don't think that's supposed to happen.

Looks like I have some troubleshooting ahead of me.

[Mike W.]

I just put the renewed tags on mine as well. And discovered an issue while putting the registration slip away; noticed that one of the window switch lights wasn't lit, so I tapped on it (because that's the first step of troubleshooting) and the window moved!

The key was in my pocket, so I don't think that's supposed to happen.

Looks like I have some troubleshooting ahead of me.

Au contraire. Even US cars were wired to allow key off window operation with the drivers door open if you retrieved some wires and plugged in a relay. I would guess euro cars came that way stock. I think it was RonW who figured that out way back when and posted about it. Might have even been in the Roadfly days.

[travisj]

I just put the renewed tags on mine as well. And discovered an issue while putting the registration slip away; noticed that one of the window switch lights wasn't lit, so I tapped on it (because that's the first step of troubleshooting) and the window moved!

The key was in my pocket, so I don't think that's supposed to happen.

Looks like I have some troubleshooting ahead of me.

Au contraire. Even US cars were wired to allow key off window operation with the drivers door open if you retrieved some wires and plugged in a relay. I would guess euro cars came that way stock. I think it was RonW who figured that out way back when and posted about it. Might have even been in the Roadfly days.

Dave, my M535 does this as well. Window operation with key out and door open.

[davintosh]

I just put the renewed tags on mine as well. And discovered an issue while putting the registration slip away; noticed that one of the window switch lights wasn't lit, so I tapped on it (because that's the first step of troubleshooting) and the window moved!

The key was in my pocket, so I don't think that's supposed to happen.

Looks like I have some troubleshooting ahead of me.

Au contraire. Even US cars were wired to allow key off window operation with the drivers door open if you retrieved some wires and plugged in a relay. I would guess euro cars came that way stock. I think it was RonW who figured that out way back when and posted about it. Might have even been in the Roadfly days.

Dave, my M535 does this as well. Window operation with key out and door open.

Well now... I learned something new today; thanks, guys! I guess that means I can go home now.

But I still have some troubleshooting to do on it; something on fuse 5 is making the battery go flat if its left for a couple days.

[tig]

But I still have some troubleshooting to do on it; something on fuse 5 is making the battery go flat if its left for a couple days.

Probably the interior lights relay.

[topher800]

@ 186k
Replaced factory clutch - resurfaced flywheel - associated seals.
Replaced factory starter while in there...with a 1990 535

Flushed brake & clutch tar, er fluid.

16" Style 29's went on this fall...went form 225 on the M5 rims to 205 on these. And summer to all-season tires...much plusher ride.

[LarryM]

Pulled all the Heyco tools from my trunk one-by-one and cleaned up any light surface rust with some steel wool. Then I wiped them with a thin coat of Birchwood Casey "Rig Universal Gun Grease" which had been suggested by someone in an older thread. Did the same with the tools in my E24.

It's a light grease that's mostly used to prevent rust and corrosion in firearms so it should be pretty effective. I have a hunch it offers better protection than WD-40, but we'll see.

[jimoreno]

This weekend I started to disassemble the whole rear end. Now I know what spending most of its life in NJ means! It was supposed to be a simple rear sub-frame bushing replacement (I've had the Powerflex for like 8 years now!) but after looking at the rust on everything (plus the two "pins" don't want to come out but that's another story) I decided to bring it all down take it all apart, clean it up and make it look pretty. I'll be ordering all parking brake stuff, backing plates, bearings, rotors, pads, dog bones and axle shafts. Also need to clean and seal the differential as it looks wet. I replaced the exhaust with a Boysen seven years ago and its rusting so it also needs clean up and painting. Driveshaft was replaced about three years back also. We'll see how deep the rabbit hole is! I'm going to try Eastwood's 2K Ceramic Chassis Stain Black on the components.

[glowell222]

I installed all new steering column switch-gear. What a huge improvement to the driving experience. I hadn't realized how worn the old switches were and how sloppy all of it felt. I used NOS for the wipers and turn signals-couldn't find any for the cruise, so I used the new part number. Among my favorite updates so far.

[Dale3783]

I installed all new steering column switch-gear. What a huge improvement to the driving experience. I hadn't realized how worn the old switches were and how sloppy all of it felt. I used NOS for the wipers and turn signals-couldn't find any for the cruise, so I used the new part number. Among my favorite updates so far.

Wow, interesting. Now I have to go pay attention to how sloppy mine are. Never considered this. Thanks!