e28 m535i

[MattTheHat325]

i'm guessing there are a few of you guys who know the crack when it comes to these. I've been thinking of getting one lately, a thought which has rapidly snowballed into an obsession about getting one
First of all, first choice would be a non-m 535i with all the chrome trimmings, but on searching, they seem to be like hens teeth. Its looking like it would be far easier to find an m535i but i've always preferred the bare look of the non-m so my questions are as follows:
1: Would it be a sacrilege to buy an m535i and ditch the kit? I would most certainly make sure it stayed with the car for as long as i had it should it ever need to go back on
2: on removal of the kit, would i be left with any unsightly holes etc? if so i wouldn't do it
3: on the bare bodied note, i would quite happily settle for a 528i if it was immaculate, begging the question, is it really a 'nut and bolt' walk in the park to slip a b35 in one of these as i have heard?

[Jhonno]

1. You'd ditch the kit to reveal air conditioning.. Of the iron oxide type.

2. See above

3. Yes I believe so.

[MattTheHat325]

crikey that was quick! hmmm good point well raised, i guess its a similar story to our beloved tech2's. well that was short and sweet! the search for a naked big 6er continues.....

Anybody else with any helpful pointers about e28's feel free to jump in. I want to bag a good un as i don't want to have to rebuild 2 thirds of the car like i did with my e30, and its role will be one of regular use!

[sweep]

A recently landed breaker

[MattTheHat325]

i have gathered that the front wings on these things are horror areas. Is that an M? it has the front spoiler but no skirts?

[sweep]

Its not a m.

[MattTheHat325]

looks cool though! do you work there?

[sweep]

Yes thats my unit.

[MattTheHat325]

what's up with that one mate? apart from the obvious tattiness. do you see many e28's? what are the common achilles heels?

[sweep]

Not that much really ,its been stood 6 years but its really solid,both front doors are rotten around the section where the check strap goes in to the doors and the nearside door bottoms and a small rot patch on the nearside inner wing under the bonnet,and the nearside wing is dented..but the engine sounds sweet,
I have 2 nice e30s rather than ploughing money into this im afraid

[MattTheHat325]

so in general they are pretty robust? the way i see it is that if i bag a solid straight tidy example it will be relatively easy to keep on top of it, rather than constant spending trying to get it up to scratch while constantly using it. i keep trying to justify it to myself but i just can't find any reason not to get one. nobody really has much negative to say about them! watch somebody come along and prove me wrong now........

[sweep]

Yeah underneath this is like a tank

[bmw-mad]

As long as there not rusty they are cool cars. They rot in almost the same places as e30's so just make sure you check the usual areas, sunroof,scuttle,inner wings,sills etc

If you find a good one i would'nt think twice. I prefer dechromed metal bumpered e28's

[cecotto479]

I planned to de-kit this one, but I need it gone before I frag it - I've even got a chrome front bumper for it :-



The de-kit is easy enough. I've done a couple. Remove front bumper - even easier on the one above. Fit front valance and foglights. Remove rear bumper. Fit new bumpers. Job done. If you take the skirts off, you'd be better grinding off the jacking point extensions too. I think I'd leave the skirts on. They are not as bad as the E30 for rust behind the skirts. Great cars. Much better than an E30.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :MESELX:IT

[rob0r]

If you don't mind a 528i auto this is very cheap. Looks good too!
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... read=96359

Very tempted myself but the sensible hat is on!

[Blitz]

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=85&t=67027

[daimlerman]

Only real downside to an E28 is the steering,they use a steering box instead of the rack and pinion as fitted to E30. So the steering is just not quite as pleasant and sharp as E30.

I ran an E28(520i) for about 6 years a while back,I almost wept when I sold it.

Happy memories of driving the thing to Spain with a very young rubber-duck89 bouncing on his booster seat in the back and commenting,'Mummy,daddy's doing over a hundred....again....'

[d1mkaz]

My m535i, is rust and kit free..

beautiful car...

[bss325i]

Pacerpete has a limited edtion 528iSE Auto for sale.

Diamond schwartz, dechrome, taurus red leather sport seats, bilstein M technic suspension.

No kit, just an M technic boot spoiler

Its a tidy car for not a lot of money and has a good spec.

Ripe for an M30B35 and a manual box plug and play conversion!

Or an S38 if your feeling flush!

[cecotto_singh]

Check my bros out

[eta]

Buy an E28 on condition first, model next and everything else third, that is is if you plan keeping it. If you end up with a;
518i you can always drop in an more powerful engine M30(?),
if it's a 520i and M50 fits easily (a damm sight more striaght forward than an in E30),
if it a 525e fit an 885/731 head and everything else and ditch the auto
and if you get a 528i or 535i then your done or fit an s38!

Daimlerman has pointed out the only down side to owning an E28 (apart form rust) is the steering. E34 540i brakes are a cheapish upgrade and really allow an E28 to stop. Bilstein B8's or B6's on H&R or Fritz's replica Ebaich spring sort out the handling as in stock form they are a little soft and roll in the corners particularly on track days. I own two E28's a 525e gone manual with the e2i conversion and it works well with brake and suspension mods and it fun on track days. The other a 520i which I keeping original. I drive the 527i over 25000 miles last year. they are very reliable if you look after them.

Buy on body condition and then considier the quality of the mechanicals. Everything else is a bonus as like E30's these cars like to rust everywhere if not looked after.

Some pics for inspiration.



A recent meet.

[jonny323i]

have you seen this one too http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1985-BMW-520-TAXD ... 3a62f98880

[e30topless]

Pacerpete has a limited edtion 528iSE Auto for sale.

Diamond schwartz, dechrome, taurus red leather sport seats, bilstein M technic suspension.

No kit, just an M technic boot spoiler

Its a tidy car for not a lot of money and has a good spec.

Ripe for an M30B35 and a manual box plug and play conversion!

Or an S38 if your feeling flush!

I didn't realize he was parting with that !

will make a lovely car that ,I do have a thing for black E28's

[bss325i]

Pacerpete has a limited edtion 528iSE Auto for sale.

Diamond schwartz, dechrome, taurus red leather sport seats, bilstein M technic suspension.

No kit, just an M technic boot spoiler

Its a tidy car for not a lot of money and has a good spec.

Ripe for an M30B35 and a manual box plug and play conversion!

Or an S38 if your feeling flush!

I didn't realize he was parting with that !

will make a lovely car that ,I do have a thing for black E28's

Yep, and the price aint bad either!

[Andyboy]

Yep, and the price aint bad either!

Spit or swallow?

[david106]

Any links for pacerpete's car

[sweep]

Mine is slowly getting broken up.

[MattTheHat325]

a black one would be my number one choice if i'm honest. How much is pacer after for it just out of interest? i would be needing to shift on my e36 first but it needs a couple of jobs doing first. would he cry if i changed it?

cecotto, thats a lovely looking 28 he's got there, seems like quite a wheelman too!

[cecotto_singh]

Unfortunately he just recently broke it for parts. He's got a even better alpina in White which I'm sure hel b having fun in.

[cecotto479]

The white one has gone. I've no more E28s at the moment, but an appointment to view another next weekend. It's an unfinished project and I'm told that all the bodywork is done, the interior is done and mechanically it's perfect. It just needs "assembled"! We'll see. If I buy it, I'll stick pics up in this thread.

[Andyboy]

a black one would be my number one choice if i'm honest. How much is pacer after for it just out of interest? i would be needing to shift on my e36 first but it needs a couple of jobs doing first. would he cry if i changed it?

I think it's in the 12-1300 quid region. I went to pick it up with him and it does drive superbly. I was half expecting the usual E28 - rattly top end, 55 mph shimmy and steering that shakes like a shitting Dog under braking but no, it was proper.

[MattTheHat325]

that is cheap! wouldn't mind seeing a few pics! can't stop thinking about these beasts

[bss325i]

that is cheap! wouldn't mind seeing a few pics! can't stop thinking about these beasts

If your serious, drop him a pm to get the ball rolling.