Fresh Arizona Garage Find

[Das_Prachtstrasse]

Put some new roundels on those wheel center caps and that car will look almost brand new in the photos. Nice job.

[wkohler]

For some reason, I have always loved the green/yellow Roundels. It just says original vs restored. I get excited.

[Stuboski]

I started looking at the photos, which were terrible (the owner was standing in front of the car in the listing photo, which is a clear sign they didn't know how to sell a car).

This is a great photo!



Congrats again on the purchase. They spent some serious money on those tires!

Yes, too bad they are dry-rotted, whence why I have 16" style 5's with new Kumho's going on next week.

[Stuboski]

My buddy Matt and I did a tune-up last night. Seems to idle a lot smoother now. Haven't had the chance to drive it to see if there's any huge difference in power, but I assume there will be. I tidied-up the engine bay as well. Next up is an oil and fuel filter service, and I want to check out all of the suspension bits when we have it on the lift. I also need to look at the steering box to see if that needs the reinforcement work that seems to be common on these cars. Now if I can get the dent repair guy to return my phone calls, I'll be able to finish up the exterior detailing. Seeing as my 530xi wagon has now been tagged twice in parking lots in the past 6 months, I can understand why those guys are so busy!

[Ted in T.O.]

I along with many others would love to know how you found this car. The back story is usually pretty interesting and the fact that you are in Pennsylvania and the car came from out west where many experts on this board live is beyond intriguing. I love the fact that you plan to keep it original and not euro convert it.

Found her on Ebay. I was at the local Legion with my wife one evening about two weeks ago, looking at "car porn" on my cell phone while she was off playing a poker machine. So I typed in a general search for a 535is, and amongst a bunch of parts listings, this car pops up. I started looking at the photos, which were terrible (the owner was standing in front of the car in the listing photo, which is a clear sign they didn't know how to sell a car). There was about 7 grainy photos obviously taken with a cell phone, and just some basic information. It also dawned on me that they had the listing in Parts for Sale, not Cars for Sale.

So, I e-mailed the seller later that night. I got a return e-mail from what turned out to be the owner's son the next day. He was able to provide some additional background on the car, and also gave me his father's phone number. So, I called the father and left a message on his answering machine. The owner called me back later that day, and we had a nice discussion. I was unable to get any additional photos than those on the Ebay listing as the owner did not use a computer, and his son lived several hours away. Everything sounded very legit, I had my SA at my local BMW dealer verify that the car was a true "is" and not a clone, and I did some other vehicle research to help verify the mileage and such. So, with my wife's trust and blessing, I sat down that evening an formulated an offer. Got home the next afternoon, and lo and behold, they accepted it! No counter offer (which kind of made me uneasy in a way, as it only added to the too-good-to-be-true aspect of everything). So, money was wired (against the advice of my bank), transportation arranged, and I spent an anxious 5 days waiting to see what sort of mistake I had just made. My first inspection of the car was looking at its' pristine, rust-free belly sitting up on the car carrier. I finally breathed a sigh of relief knowing this car was the real deal. Everything checked out as promised.

So, that's the story on how I stumbled into e28 ownership. The first BMW I ever drove was a blue '84 528e my uncle had taken on consignment for a lawyer friend of his. We had a Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth dealership back then, so a used BMW sitting on a car lot in the middle of our rural farm community was not a hot item. I drove it around the lot as I still didn't have my license at the time. Even a 10-year old BMW sedan was a cool car to me back then. A 22-year itch finally scratched.

Looking forward to showing it off at the Pittsburgh Vintage GP this summer. It's been a joy just working on it.

Didn't mean to give you a book about it, but that's he story.

- Stu

See you at PVGP this year Stuart.

[Stuboski]

Sounds good, Ted. Look me up in the parking lot of the Double Tree Thursday evening....I'll be throwing back some adult beverages. Looking forward to meeting some of the e28 community in person.

[Stuboski]

Was a productive car day for a Tuesday! Finally got the PDR guy in to take care of 28-years of parking lot dings. Man, that guy was good! Next we'll be on to painting the hood, as that is a bit mismatched from a poor color match by the P.O. Then I got the car over to my uncle's garage for an oil service. That also provided me a closer inspection of the undercarriage. Appears I'll be doing some exhaust work in the near future, indicative of this cars many years of duty as a retirement community golf cart. Seems it may need tie rod ends as well. The rest of the suspension appears tight. On we go....

[Stuboski]

Completed my second official "mod" tonight, after the Style 5 wheels. The old girl has her first taste of Red Bull courtesy of Mr. Mark D. Next up is an Ireland Engineering exhaust, but that's as far as I'm going for now. She came from too good of a family to violate beyond recognition.

[wkohler]

Please don't ruin this car with the Ireland exhaust.

[Stuboski]

Please don't ruin this car with the Ireland exhaust.

Um, ok, can you please elaborate? Is it that exhaust you don't like in particular, or you think I should leave the car as stock?

[LeiseyJr]

Idk what your budget is, but I would get an M5 exhaust since this car is nice and OEM.
http://youtu.be/yH8Jsps6XtI

[Stuboski]

Idk what your budget is, but I would get an M5 exhaust since this car is nice and OEM.
http://youtu.be/yH8Jsps6XtI

Ok, I appreciate that. Frankly I've never in my life bought an aftermarket exhaust for a car, so I'm going off of what I've read on this forum and elsewhere. I read good things about the Ireland exhaust and it was reasonably priced. Was by no means looking for one of those fart cans the kids put on their Lambo wanna-be Honda's or some other dumb shit. Just something a little "throatier".

[Nick C.]

Idk what your budget is, but I would get an M5 exhaust since this car is nice and OEM.
http://youtu.be/yH8Jsps6XtI

Ok, I appreciate that. Frankly I've never in my life bought an aftermarket exhaust for a car, so I'm going off of what I've read on this forum and elsewhere. I read good things about the Ireland exhaust and it was reasonably priced. Was by no means looking for one of those fart cans the kids put on their Lambo wanna-be Honda's or some other dumb shit. Just something a little "throatier".

Unless you were to buy a fart can, anything you order isnt going to be a fart can. I had a B&B on my old 535 (10 years ago). It was nice. Built well and looked good but kind of on the quiet side.

If I do it again Id try a Stebro this time. They seem to be a little louder than B&B. Magnaflow put a cat-back out but I haven't seen anyone with it.

FWIW i agree with above. Ireland looks crappy in person and sounds muffled. Their E36 exhausts are straight garbage (looks and sound). Just opinion though. Nice car btw.

[tig]

Where'd you read good things about the IE exhaust on these forums?

Actually, build quality and sound is not bad. But fitment sucks chartreuse donkey balls.

I'm ripping mine out and going torally custom as soon as I find a good fabricator and time.

I do like my bav auto headers.

[OcCoupe]

Where'd you read good things about the IE exhaust on these forums?

Actually, build quality and sound is not bad. But fitment sucks chartreuse donkey balls.

I'm ripping mine out and going totally custom as soon as I find a good fabricator and time.

I do like my bav auto headers.

So I see you are a fan of fiberglass flying out the tailpipe and vortex-ing on to the back of your car/bumper. Fitment is crap and it will start to rust even if you don't drive your car in the rain. I am a fan of the factory exhaust. Unfortunately I had to learn the hard way.

[wkohler]

It's your car. Do what you want. Not sure why I even care.

[Sapotorito]

It also dawned on me that they had the listing in Parts for Sale, not Cars for Sale.

unmolested, low miles, manual, zinno/black interior, no rust AND in my own back yard I guess I've been searching for this exact car the wrong way all along...

Man, that was quite a find there... I am happy for you

[Stuboski]

It also dawned on me that they had the listing in Parts for Sale, not Cars for Sale.

unmolested, low miles, manual, zinno/black interior, no rust AND in my own back yard I guess I've been searching for this exact car the wrong way all along...

Man, that was quite a find there... I am happy for you

Thanks, I still want to be one of those people who buys something at a yard sale for 20 bucks and Antiques Roadshow tells them it's worth $20k! Doubt that will ever happen 'cause I only sell shit at yard sales.

[BRRV]

I'm envious of this car, it's my favorite color.

You do what you want, obviously. I can tell you if driving this car forever, and leaving it to someone else when you are done, as in stewardship, is your interest, then you'll only put a correct, factory exhaust system on it.

I know it's a purist thing, but maybe not: I've had two factory exhausts on mine, and I'll be springing for a third sometime in the next 12-24 months. There's no substitute, overall. They are that good.

[Stuboski]

I'm envious of this car, it's my favorite color.

You do what you want, obviously. I can tell you if driving this car forever, and leaving it to someone else when you are done, as in stewardship, is your interest, then you'll only put a correct, factory exhaust system on it.

I know it's a purist thing, but maybe not: I've had two factory exhausts on mine, and I'll be springing for a third sometime in the next 12-24 months. There's no substitute, overall. They are that good.

Well, the exhaust was bought and delivered before I even mentioned the exhaust. I'm kind of already committed and I don't feel like losing a bunch of money on shipping costs, plus potentially a restocking fee, to ship it all back. So, we shall see if I, too, end up an IE exhaust hater or I love it as some others have on here (yes I found the post on here that led me down this particular path). It's nothing that can't be changed back to original some day.

True, I'm only the current care-taker of this car. The wheels, chip, floor mats, and the exhaust will be the extent of my modifications. I plan to leave it otherwise stock (ok, maybe some new speakers, but nothing crazy). I'll probably put less than 1,000 miles a year on it. It will share sunny day drive duty and a car show or two with "Princess" the M3.

Hoping to finish the last of the sanding and buffing on the respray work on the hood and the driver's front fender tomorrow, then we have to replace the pinstripe. We swapped-out the front bumper trim that I picked up between here and CL the other night. Updated photos to follow....

Oh, and I "cleaned" the power antenna with one of the BMW antenna wipes the PO left for me in the glove box. The little wipe reminded of the term "dry as a popcorn fart". I assume it had been infused with some sort of lubricant before it evaporated into the Arizona desert. I think their shelf life went out with the first (and hopefully only) Clinton administration.

[wkohler]

I can't believe you opened that.

[Stuboski]

I can't believe you opened that.

The antenna wipe?

[wkohler]

Yes. They aren't meant to be used at this age. They belong in the tool kit.

[Stuboski]

I think there's three or four more of them in there. Will add those to the tool kit per your advice. What's the prescribed lube for the antenna then? Speaking of the tool kit, what is the little blue BMW cloth for?

[BRRV]

Well said. Best of luck to you on this great car, and I hope you get as many great drives with this car as I've had in mine.

The little blue BMW cloth is factory-designed for instant envy.

[Stuboski]

Well said. Best of luck to you on this great car, and I hope you get as many great drives with this car as I've had in mine.

The little blue BMW cloth is factory-designed for instant envy.

Thanks, BRRV. Yes I'm looking forward to putting a few miles on it outside the confines of E'ville. So what is the blue cloth for? I promise I won't use it for said purpose. It's a little too small to be a good tourniquet or a blind fold.

[BRRV]

That little blue cloth is the subject of much envy because they are so hard to find! Someone who's name escapes me actually used to sell replicas (so far as I could tell) of the little blue cloth for folks who didn't have one.

It's for use in the tool kit; it completes it. I've only seen a couple; I don't have one, and I have a complete tool kit save for that.

Whatever you do - don't use it for anything! Best to save it for the awe factor.

Lube for the antenna - many will say WD40; I use that, but... It works better as a cleaner than a lube. Now, my antenna shaft is worn; I can begin to see the brass show through in a few places. I need to use silicone spray on mine. I like to clean with WD40, wipe it off, allow the solvent to flash, and then spray it with a little silicone spray. That works for me; if your antenna is in good shape, WD40 might be all you need. Work the antenna up and down a few times as you lube it.

In Germany, years ago, they always had little packets of antenna cleaner at the gas stations, I think it was mostly IPA...

[Stuboski]

Very cool, I learn something new every time I tune in here. Will keep my eye on my little blue BMW cloth. Sounds as though it was just a courtesy shop rag, so I can understand that not many are still around. Mine is still folded in the corner of the tool kit, never used as far as I can tell. All the spare fuses are still in their holders as well. My antenna seems to work well. I'll give it some WD-40 tomorrow.

[BRRV]

Take care of her! She sounds really nice. Best, Rick

[Sapotorito]

Talk about being unmolested...wow...