MyE28.com

Hey Guys, new guy here on the forum! I have somewhat been given a 1985 535i that has either been converted to an M 535i or a M5 (not sure which) The car ran great except for an electrical gremlin in 2003-04 and has been garage kept and not touched since it rolled in and parked. So now it is in my garage and I am going through things trying to get it ready to bring back to life!

I have been working on cars, trucks, bikes (anything with an engine and wheels) for about 11 or so years so I know my way around a wrench. However I am not familiar at all with any European much less German automobiles but nuts are nuts and bolts are bolts so I am confident I can figure it out!

I am about to go through and replace all the fluids. All the lines and rubber feels good and not brittle. The car itself is in awesome awesome shape inside and out. It has a serialized Fittipaldi steering wheel, 3 piece BBS wheels, some sort of lowering springs and various other odds and ends. The car is originally from New York and was bought as a 535 then converted to either an M 535 or M5 (I haven't read the differences and or how to tell).

Anyway I wanted to introduce myself and See if there was anyone in or near Houston that might want to stop by or anyone who has any advice and or things to look for that I might miss. Seems as my first post is a novel I will add pictures on my second post I hope to hear from yall and maybe meet a few!

Thanks

If you feel cursed by it, give me the car.

If you post pics of the car we can tell you what has been done to it.

My best guess says its been converted to an m535i since there are no m5 badges just an m535i badge on the rear decklid. I have been wrong before...once! I know the pictures are terrible but its all I have for the moment I will take better pictures tomorrow in the daylight for yalls viewing pleasure.

Looks like the conversion to an M535i consisted of gluing an ///M badge in front of the 535i.

In other words, that's just a 535i.

tsmall07 wrote:Looks like the conversion to an M535i consisted of gluing an ///M badge in front of the 535i.

In other words, that's just a 535i.

I was starting to think that was the case however it never hurts to ask.

tsmall07 wrote:Looks like the conversion to an M535i consisted of gluing an ///M badge in front of the 535i.

In other words, that's just a 535i.

Ditto

That car is converted to neither a M535i, M5, 535is, nor anything else...

What they said. Nice wheels though.

mooseheadm5 wrote:What they said. Nice wheels though.

haha no joke I think that has been established!

Thanks I quite like the wheels myself but like the rest of the car there is years of dirt and grime on them so I need to take some time and polish them up!

I'm in the northwest.

Welcome to the board.

You'll find everything you need here, and some, as you've already experienced.

A Bentley will be your friend and searching will answer most questions.

PM'ed.

yea thats def NOT an M5!

good luck, they are great cars to have!

While nothing more than a 535i, it looks like a very nice car. Welcome to the board.

Big Bronze Rim wrote:While nothing more than a 535i, it looks like a very nice car. Welcome to the board.

I agree. Looks like a very nice starting point.

Welcome.. I'm in SW, pretty much straight down from Swatter. I'll still working on my 535's little foibles but there's plenty of us in town you can fire questions off to.

Thanks its nice to see some locals that are willing to help out and offer some advice! I hope to get some work done this weekend after turkey day!

Well we started draining the fluids today got the oil, coolant, and about 5 gallons of gas drained Will have more progress later on...

Totally forgot I had started this thread. I will have to re-add the pictures as I have organized my photobucket account. I am back to working on this damn car as I will call it till I can drive it!


I am working on getting fuel and spark. Picking up a multimeter so that I can start to diagnose things like making sure 12v are getting to the coil. Any one want to come and help? I have beer and burgers!

Yeah-- now to find that gremlin. I bet it's minor, review the other recent no start issues for pointers.

With one knowledgeable assistant from this board you may have her running in an hour.

Do a fuel pressure test-- check for spark. My money is on no spark.

I know I'm getting no spark. And I doubt I'm getting fuel so I am kind of at a loss as to where to go next. Fuses look ok, relays are clicking and the starter/engine spin freely. I guess next is to drop the tank and look at the fuel pump?

If you know you're not getting any spark, I would'nt go to the fuel system yet. Most non spark issues on these cars are either reference sensor or bad solder joints inside the ecu (computer). FX...

PM sent...

Have spent the last couple of hours at Michael's trying to diagnose no spark issue.

We replaced with known working parts, the following:
Reference and Speed Sensors
ECU
AFM
Main Relay
Fuel Pump Relay
Ignition Coil

Jumpered the OBC relay several different ways.

Ignition switch is bad, so we're going straight from the battery to the solenoid, with the key in the run position, to attempt starts.

Still no spark, HELP!!!

If you're going straight from the battery to the starter and still getting nothing, that sounds like a seized starter.

CSBolger wrote:If you're going straight from the battery to the starter and still getting nothing, that sounds like a seized starter.

the motor turns over perfectly. We are simply not getting spark.

If the ignition switch is bad, you may not be getting power to the ECU either. Jumper out the main relay and try again. If not, you may have a broken off TDC stud on the flywheel.

mooseheadm5 wrote:If the ignition switch is bad, you may not be getting power to the ECU either. Jumper out the main relay and try again. If not, you may have a broken off TDC stud on the flywheel.

The flywheel has the stud. What pins do we put the jumper on?

Mail relay terminal 30 to both terminal 87s. That should also put power to the fuel pump relay (though the fuel pump won't power up until the ECU provides ground to the FP relay.)

If still no spark, check for power at the coil. If there is power, check that the ECU is pulsing the ground to the coil (a test light across the coil + and - terminals will flash if the ECU is telling it to spark.)

If you had ears, you could hear, it running!!!

Thanks...

So, next job is replacing the ignition switch.

Thanks again...

I cannot thank you enough Sherman you went way way way above and beyond!!!!!

The car is running as smooth as glass! which aint to bad considering it hadn't run in 6 or so years!!! Now I get to go through and get it road ready maybe in time for the meet! I'll keep my fingers crossed.