E30 Zone

I'm contemplating buying an e28 that's been garaged unmoved for about 15 years. How much work will it need to make it usable? Can I use it a bit day to day while I'm sorting it out?

Some people say you've got to replace every seal in the car, every bit of rubber, etc, in a case like this, and others seem to think it's easier than that. What's the e30zone advice?

What E28 is it?

The brakes will probably need stripping and rebuilding, and the clutch might be stuck too if it'a manual.

The least you'll need to do is replace all the fluids, and probably the tires..

Brakes will be seized and probably the clutch too.

15 years is a very long time and the chances are that all of the fuel, brake, coolant lines etc will need replacing, just to be on the safe side.

inlovewithRWD wrote:Brakes will be seized and probably the clutch too.

15 years is a very long time and the chances are that all of the fuel, brake, coolant lines etc will need replacing, just to be on the safe side.

That's the kind of thing I was talking about. Are we talking monumental hassle and expense or enjoyable weekend project?

Lee, it's a 528.

I would say that it's be a pretty big job to do it properly...but if it's in good nick and you're getting it for a good price then it'll be worth the hassle.

Depends on how dry the garage was; damp storage means seized parts and rust just about anywhere. And why was it left there to begin with?

He describes it as coming with loads of spare parts. Why would that be I wonder?

The parts stash could be due to work the previous owner knew was on the horizon, or maybe he couldn't resist a bargain and bought them 'just in case'...whatever the reason, it's good news for you cos you may need them.

The amount of work required to get her going again will also be determined by whether the car was properly prepared for a long storage, or just parked and forgotten.

Where is this car? Only a good look will find out what needs doing.

P.S I am asking not to steal it from you but if its near me I could help you take a look. I own an E28.

Most rubber bushes will start to crumble when you use it

all fluids will need changing, brakes my need overhaul, a big inspection II service or equvilent

It's in Northern Ireland, just outside Belfast...

It really comes down to the price your paying. Good E28's are very thin on the ground now so it could be a good investment...

tomson wrote:It really comes down to the price your paying. Good E28's are very thin on the ground now so it could be a good investment...

+1

Ok, so the battery tray is rotted out and needs a new one welded in. Apparently they're available aftermarket...

The A-pillar has a hole in it where the paint was scratched and moisture got in. Otherwise the bodywork is good. I've a mate with a bodyshop so that should be doable.

It needs a new exhaust, or a repair on the existing one. Realistically, a new exhaust is probably the better idea.

The guy who's selling it did some of the fuel line work and put a new fuel pump in.

The tyres look ok, but probably need to go just in case.

Any thoughts?

If the A-pillar is holed, also check the sills very carefully. But if you can buy it cheap enough, then it's probably worth a crack.

He says the sills are rock solid and the rest of the bodywork is similar - that's why he bought it in the first place..

I'll go and look and it tomorrow most likely and will be able to give a better picture then.

Take pics to post up on here.

snakebrain wrote:Ok, so the battery tray is rotted out and needs a new one welded in. Apparently they're available aftermarket...

The A-pillar has a hole in it where the paint was scratched and moisture got in. Otherwise the bodywork is good. I've a mate with a bodyshop so that should be doable.

I'd forget it, if it were a M535i or M5 then if may be worth it or if you get it free.
An A piller repair done properly will cost and then there is the rest of the problems...

The a-pillar is apparently doable by my mate with the bodyshop. He shouldn't charge me too much for it, and ought to do a reasonably good job.

The tricky bit is currently the battery tray - it's rusted out and needs to be replaced, but that's going to mean either a machine shop, finding a 528 that's being broken, so I can cut the battery tray out and weld it into mine, or a bodge with a bit of 1/16" plate welded in there and some kind of fix to attach the battery.

It worries me though. Apparently it's common and related to coolant leakage or something like that that corrodes the tray, but I still don't like it. He's assured me that the bodywork is generally in very good nick though. I shall have to see tomorrow.

So if it's those two jobs and the exhaust to make it roadworthy, which isn't too disastrous, then I can get on with the rest of it in my own good time. It's a bit of a gamble, but I'd quite like to rescue this one. I'll probably end up cursing myself for ever taking it on!!

Run the battery into the boot

snakebrain wrote:The a-pillar is apparently doable by my mate with the bodyshop. He shouldn't charge me too much for it, and ought to do a reasonably good job.

And he's comfirmed this with out either of you seeing the car ? !

tomson wrote:

snakebrain wrote:The a-pillar is apparently doable by my mate with the bodyshop. He shouldn't charge me too much for it, and ought to do a reasonably good job.

And he's comfirmed this with out either of you seeing the car ? !

He had a lengthy chat with the seller and reckons he's able to do it. I'm way out of my depth there, so I just left the two of them to it!

snakebrain wrote:

tomson wrote:

snakebrain wrote:The a-pillar is apparently doable by my mate with the bodyshop. He shouldn't charge me too much for it, and ought to do a reasonably good job.

And he's comfirmed this with out either of you seeing the car ? !

He had a lengthy chat with the seller and reckons he's able to do it. I'm way out of my depth there, so I just left the two of them to it!

I dont know any repair people that will say yes or no without seeing the job first, me included!

I know, I know, but he's going to be having a look at it before I buy in any case. He reckons it sounds doable though. Maybe not. We'll see.

I like the battery in the boot idea though! Might save a lot of trouble..

Just have a good look ALL round the car and don't let the seller tell you what is what - check for yourself. You will know if its right or not, good luck

So where's the best place to get an exhaust for an e28 528? BMW dealers are quoting £500 + vat for an complete new exhaust system, or Ireland Engineering do a SS rear system for about $500. The rear bit is all I really need, but I thought I might as well replace the lot while I'm at it.

We think an e30 battery tray might well fit, so that's an option. Otherwise a breaker with an e28 is going to have to be found. The battery in the boot idea would work, but the tray will have to be welded up one way or another as it's structural and won't pass an MOT without being sorted, so might as well sort it right..

The a-pillar has been inspected and found repairable.

The fuel lines have already been done by the seller, along with a new fuel pump. That leaves the brake lines as the next major job. Discs and pads I'm assuming I'll need, and I can do those myself. Can I, a more or less inexperienced mechanic, even contemplate doing the brake lines myself, or should I just bite the bullet and pay someone to do it? I'd like to do as much as I can myself, partly to save ££s, and partly to know what's going on under the skin of this beastie!

I've replaced brake lines before and it's not difficult, but unless you've got the flanging tools you'll be better off buying ready made lines...

snakebrain wrote:So where's the best place to get an exhaust for an e28 528? BMW dealers are quoting £500 + vat for an complete new exhaust system, or Ireland Engineering do a SS rear system for about $500. The rear bit is all I really need, but I thought I might as well replace the lot while I'm at it.

We think an e30 battery tray might well fit, so that's an option. Otherwise a breaker with an e28 is going to have to be found. The battery in the boot idea would work, but the tray will have to be welded up one way or another as it's structural and won't pass an MOT without being sorted, so might as well sort it right..

The a-pillar has been inspected and found repairable.

The fuel lines have already been done by the seller, along with a new fuel pump. That leaves the brake lines as the next major job. Discs and pads I'm assuming I'll need, and I can do those myself. Can I, a more or less inexperienced mechanic, even contemplate doing the brake lines myself, or should I just bite the bullet and pay someone to do it? I'd like to do as much as I can myself, partly to save ££s, and partly to know what's going on under the skin of this beastie!

Good news then
On an E30 the brake lines are a relatively easy job once you've dropped the fuel tank, I would think its a similar job on an E28.

If you buy the line from BMW its around £15 and is the right length, easy enough to use the old one to get your bends in the right places.

After 15 years you definitely need new tyres, nomatter what the tread looks like.

am i missing something here? are battery trays not available from bmw?

Nope, on an e28 they're part of the structure and as such, a new one will have to be sourced and welded in (and the old one cut out with an angle-grinder or suchlike...). It's not a matter of buying a part and bolting it in unfortunately.

The joys of classic cars, eh?!

Morat, I couldn't agree more!

^^^^ thats the same as an E30, weld in, but the repair panel is available from BMW still

Hmmmmmm, according to my local BMW garage the e28 battery tray was never available as a part. Am I misinformed?

Ah right, that may be the case for the E28, it's deffo available for the E30

I'd have a look through here to double check - realoem.com