MyE28.com

Last year, one of our nwBMWclub members needed to clear some space in the garage. He was tired of looking at his old Alpine '83 633csi 5sp, so he called me up and said, "Bring a trailer and the car is yours." How could I resist.
Loading it up...

Curbside...

Lovely mocha/gobi interior...

Yikes...

Found under the seat...


SO, fast forward to now.
The car runs, but has a power drain and kills a battery in about 2 days. It leaks brake fluid in a bad way, so right now it has no brakes. Seems to be coming out of the top of the master cylinder at the line connection. I'm hoping I can just replace that line and not have to do the WHOLE system. Also lots of little interior and exterior bits that need some attention.

I'll be changing the appearance, but I want to preserve the original paint and trim, so I'll be utilizing vinyl wrap and plastidip. I will be replacing the wheels with a set of 17" style65 reps that I picked up with tires for $200 after tax. (another budget build) Wrap should be here Tuesday.

My plan is to get this road worthy and drive it down to 5erWest in July.

Nice score!

Good luck

DAMN...the only shit I get for free are diseases.

What an incredible score. Good luck.

Vinyl wrap material has been acquired. Keep telling myself that $400 is cheaper than a respray and I'll end up a totally unique looking 6er.

Jake D wrote:Vinyl wrap material has been acquired. Keep telling myself that $400 is cheaper than a respray and I'll end up a totally unique looking 6er.

Looks like a great start. What brand/type of wrap are you getting?

bavarianautowrks wrote:

Jake D wrote:Vinyl wrap material has been acquired. Keep telling myself that $400 is cheaper than a respray and I'll end up a totally unique looking 6er.

Looks like a great start. What brand/type of wrap are you getting?

I got the 3M 1080 in Matte Military Green.

A couple updates, for now.
I just picked up a Zender rear deck spoiler and a rough front airdam. I'll need to patch up some cracks in it, but it was only a few bucks, a trip to Pullman and some wrench turning.
Any tips/advice for repairing the front spoiler would be helpful!

Leaky clutch master cylinder and parts replaced. Glad I ordered a pair of reservoir gaskets. One of them was tore up.

Learned the correct sequence for replacing this unit.

1. install new soft line on the new elbow connector.
2. install elbow connector into master cyl.
3. slide other end of hose out thru the firewall from the inside.
4. position the MS into place, but don't bolt it in yet.
5. re-install hard line. Not quite finger tight. Leave a little slack so the end can rotate a bit. Do not let the MS rotate.
5. CAREFULLY bolt the MS onto the bracket.
(optional: hook up pedal to the MS pump.
6. (with reservoir removed) replace the reservoir seat gaskets.
7. Trim the soft line to proper length and install onto reservoir.
8. Re-install reservoir into the new gaskets. A bit of hydro fluid makes it slide in a bit easier.
9. Hook up clutch pedal to the MS pump.

Now, I'm off to the store to pick up some more fluid and pressure bleed the entire system. If I find new leaks... (fingers x'd) I'll address those bastards next.

Congrats Jake. Not sure how I missed this. Looks like a nice score.

leadphut wrote:Congrats Jake. Not sure how I missed this. Looks like a nice score.

Thanks. I'm having fun in spite of all the little issues. I just wish all the fixes were free, too.

Speaking of, I put everything back together and filled the reservoir. I pumped the clutch and brake pedal a bit then went and inspected the dry rag that I placed under the brake cyl. It was wet. I have another leak. I grabbed a mirror and inspected the underside of the master cyl. Brake fluid was dripping out of the space between the two units. Damn. Looks like I'll be fixing/replacing that next.

Local parts yard had an euro '77 e12 (Karmen) 633 so I was able to score some goodies. Euro headlights w/ wipers and ONE front turn lens. Still need the pass side.

Put new clutch master cyl into the car tonight.... Hmmm.

Need photo updates with the euro goodies!

tschultz wrote:Need photo updates with the euro goodies!

Got the car stuffed into my overfilled garage, so not much is going on there. I need to get the brakes working reliably before I put much more time or $ into it. Luckily, the new master cyl is in and seems to be holding fluid. I'll push it out of the garage and bleed the system.
I'm not sure what euro parts will be going onto the car, but it will probably, at least, get the H1/H4 buckets and lamps. If I can find a euro pass side turn lens, then those too.

Brakes work! Car actually drives fantastic!

Sheetmetal shift console is next.

Shifter console fixed. New brackets required. One was completely destroyed and the other cracked. Fun stuff. The PO must have looooooooved JB Weld.

Relocating 3-gauge pod to stereo opening. No faceplate on an aftermarket CD player is useless. Should look cool. Wiring is not my strong point... as is trying to figure out how to secure the damn things when the backing rings don't actually fit THRU the opening. Time to get creative. Good thing the HVAC control is out.

Got the dash put back together and relocated the gauges with a bit of a stereo delete. The outer rings on the gauges got soaked with brake fluid so ruined the black paint on the bezel. I was pleasantly surprised to find shiny brass underneath. I think it really looks good with the Gobi interior.

Before...


After...

Shadowlining has begun. No going back now. John Deere Blitz Black is awesome stuff. I even did an Arizona personalized plate that I found under the seat.

Before...




AFTER!

Jake D wrote:Got the dash put back together and relocated the gauges with a bit of a stereo delete. The outer rings on the gauges got soaked with brake fluid so ruined the black paint on the bezel. I was pleasantly surprised to find shiny brass underneath. I think it really looks good with the Gobi interior.

Before...


After...

Good move Jake. The sheet metal on that gauge cluster looks sharp enough to chop off your left leg in a wreck. Why in the world did the PO mount it there? Yes, it belongs in the center console.

Nice work so far. Radios are for pussies.

Thanks. It's amazing how much work just the little stuff can be....

Headlight buckets before...


After about an hour on each...


Assembly...



I also made my first attempt at applying the vinyl wrap to the nose panel. It's a small part, but with the curvature, maybe the most complicated. It did not go at all well.

At least you started the project at the right price point.

Looking good so far and will stay posted for updates.

Nice work, Jake. Those headlight buckets look a lot better.

Sexy headlights!

Teaser....

That looks tits, Jake.

Jake D wrote:Teaser....

Please tell me everything below the belt line trim is purple and you will give this car the "Incredible Hulk Theme???"

"Here comes Jake in the Hulk. Don't piss it off!"

No, I didn't go "HULK" mode. I went for something.... different.

Laid the graphics today. Tomorrow, aero.