E28 M535i Powered Drifter - Getting there!

Fri Apr 25, 2014 3:20 pm

Thanks speedtouch, I've done just that and its not working whereas a spare fan I tested worked fine. The wires directly off the fan are quite short and the join to longer wires is hidden underneath the lights, I'm going to take the fan off and test it properly on Sunday.

Fri Apr 25, 2014 4:19 pm

It may be possible to carefully remove the back of the motor (beware of springs that may fly out!) and check the brushes.

Sun May 25, 2014 7:18 pm

How is your progress guys?

I just finished to convert my M30b34 (from e28) to Motronic 1.3 , from e32

All works fine, so if you have any questions, just ask.

The biggest issue is that the b34 has CR 10:1, and B35 from e32 has 9:1
So it's required to adjust the ignition timing.
The cheapest way is to make some changes to CPS bracket, so we can move the sensor up and down.

Tue May 27, 2014 9:27 am

My main issue is getting the time to work on it

I'm averaging about 3-4 hours a week, when fixing niggley issues it's not enough.

I had to bin that electric fan in the end, I got another E39 fan and it works. Someone did say that the 3 speed fan works (new one) and the other (the original) does not with just a straight 12v, whether thats true or not or the original was just duff who knows. I re-made the fan brackets as I wasn't happy with the gap between the fan and radiator, it's now right up to it and totally solid, much happier with it now.

I've had more running issues and I've had to bin off another loom. I had found that my mate had left off a vac hose underneath the inlet, plugged that back on and it ran beautifully... Almost instantly the serious running issues returned. I had another look at the injector loom plug again and lo and behold the wires which were deemed OK last time had pulled out the plug! I cut the plug out and tried my hand at soldering. I still had the same issues so I ordered a new loom. This has arrived and I need to fit it. After this I hope everything is OK!

Wed Jun 04, 2014 1:20 pm

This is getting boring.... I'd just like to drive the car please!

So I fitted the new loom and boom, the engine's firing on 6! However it's idling way to high but it's consistent, so that'll do for now. The revs don't drop off as quickly as they should if you blip the throttle (out of gear). Getting it running has taken so long that I'm moooooooving on!

I bled it again last night as I had the cooling system to bits again, I don't know why but it was an absolute pig to bleed up. Every BMW has been a piece of cake until this one.

With the engine out of the way I can get back to finishing this. My list is looking like...

Bleed clutch
Finish welding the drivers footwell (ran out of gas...)
Protect both footwell various welds
Fit bonnet pin set
Tune in the electric fan controller on temp
Strip hubs/brakes off the front end
Fit to the Gaz coilovers, fit Gaz coilovers
Refit interior
Refit road wheels
MOT prep
Insure
MOT
DRIVE

I'm booked in for a Snetterton drift day in July, the car might be ready but not sure if it's wise to go!

Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:20 pm

Things are getting better

After my last post I've had even more running trouble but all is resolved!! When I thought I had more loom/injectors failing to fire problems I had run out of fuel

When it was at full throttle the engine was trying to idle, M20 TPS DOES NOT WORK ON M30s!!

Not much left to do, MOT is booked 25th of June

Protect both footwell various welds
Strip hubs/brakes off the front end
Fit to the Gaz coilovers, fit Gaz coilovers
Refit interior
Refit road wheels
MOT prep
Insure
MOT
DRIVE

Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:31 pm

Great news mate, nice one

Did you find out what was holding the revs up when you lifted off?

Cheers

Fri Jun 13, 2014 3:39 pm

In that video? The throttle cable slipped out when I rev'd it with my hand! It's perfect now except a bit slow RPM on idle, but then again I'm using a lighter flywheel/clutch and it's management for a 9.0 compression and this is higher compression so I'm not worried if it's not perfectly smooth.

It was holding revs up until recently but then again the TPS was wrong, the loom has been broken multiple times etc

Fri Jun 13, 2014 4:17 pm

Yer, only the m30 TPS will fit, m20 switches the other way round

Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:49 pm

SO it's insured and the big day (MOT) is on Wednesday morning! Hopefully it will pass. The car's pretty much done so to celebrate here's Paddy on the bonnet

Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:51 pm

Looking good. Best of luck with the MOT...

Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:22 pm

Insured, MOT'd (after a faff with the MiMs inner rims being too close to the track rod ends), taxed. It's running really well finally!

A friend taking it out with his dad...

Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:54 pm

good job mate, RESPECT !!

Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:18 pm

Nice one. Sounds good.

Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:32 am

The car is awesome, exactly what I wanted it to be. So good I got too carried away at a Snetterton drift day on Saturday.

The cars not too bad, just need to pull out the front panel, straighten replace the wing, lights, grill, rad and fan!

Here's me not crashing

Mon Jul 14, 2014 11:17 am

Sorry to see that, Rob - what did you hit to cause such damage; the marker thing at 0'40" in the first clip?

Mon Jul 14, 2014 11:40 am

Oh dear, glad you are ok Rob,

Mon Jul 14, 2014 11:55 am

Yeah it was that red white striped tyre wall on the inside of the corner (Hamiltons). Flicked it in too early and hard in 4th gear and it was unavoidable, I knew I was going to hit it but I didn't it would have been as bad.

It hasn't tweaked the chassis and suspension points so really it's only cosmetic. Getting the light, radiator and fan to align back up is going to be a bitch! Physically I'm none the wiser, it wasn't a huge hit.

Me and Edd (BMW/crash specialist) are having a go tonight! As soon as it's relatively straight looking it will be back on the road.

If anyone has a cheap E28 radiator then I'm all ears!

Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:03 pm

Some bending and fresh parts later.... Edd got the car much more straighter!

Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:13 pm

Good too see that, dude.

Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:20 pm

Looks good as new mate.

Got to love this thread, proper old school engineering, reminds me of watching scrap heap challenge (in a good way)

Nice one Rob

Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:06 pm

If I could be bothered to replace the valance and the bumper I think it would be perfect! I could just as easy do it again so I probably won't. The bonnet is going to black too so I might see about spraying that and the wing as well on the cheap.

Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:42 pm

PS I need a new E28 radiator if one is going....

Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:34 pm

Finished fixing the car mid August and then took it to the Retro Rides Gathering at Shelsley Walsh

I took it along with my E23 730 and Rich took his E28, Simon took duties in driving the E30 there and back

Of course I took it up the hill! AWESOME

Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:50 pm

Great pics, love the alloys