Justin_FL's 1988 535is

[Justin_FL]

Not sure if I ever posted some photos of this car. I've had it for over 3 years. Haven't done much with the car yet, but it's a decent example of the 535is.

Took these pics at a natural area parking lot on the way home from work last month with my smartphone. The front of the car actually has a layer of grime but you can't see it. I might detail the car for a upcoming car show in April.

On with the pics:

[tig]

Hawt. Very.

[Sebambam]

looks decent and clean
i personaly appreciate the BBS/BMW caps on the style 5's, put em on

further i would lower the car more, but thats just me

[wkohler]

That's a beautiful car. Keep it stock!

[tig]

Justin, I'd love to see some pics of the interior. How many miles are on it?

[Justin_FL]

That's a beautiful car. Keep it stock!

I am tormented about converting the car to Euro bumpers. You won't find me arguing that Euro bumpers are somehow less pleasing to the eye, but when the US bumpers and trim are in good shape they are less objectionable. And there is something I like about the chunky look of the iS/M5 airdam on a bright color. Since I wasn't raised in Europe, the car looks the way I always remember seeing them as a kid

i personaly appreciate the BBS/BMW caps on the style 5's, put em on

I would put the caps on, however, my caps are OE silver and not matched to the gold centers. Silver caps would look worse than no caps at all. Personally I'd like to refinish the centers as gold isn't my favorite, although a high percentage of people that I've asked like the gold wheels. This particular gold color does look more appealing in these pictures than in real life, with the warm, late afternoon sun making them look better with the red.

further i would lower the car more, but thats just me

It has H&R springs on there now. A 1/2" lower in front would be OK with me if I cared enough to cut the springs, but otherwise I'm fine with the "stance". It will probably end up sitting slightly higher after I put a Dinan suspension on it with camber plates. I want a little more balance between comfort and handling so I feel this is a good direction to go with regard to the Dinan bits.

Hawt. Very.

Thanks!

[wkohler]

I'm with you on the bumpers. I think one of the mistakes I made with my 535is was doing the Euro conversion. I bought a 535is because I wanted a 535is, not so I could turn it into something else that it isn't. Unfortunately, at the time I didn't realize that. It's becoming increasingly uncommon to find a nice 535is. I have great appreciation for those that try to maintain them with a stock appearance, just as I do with the M5s. A car is only original once!

[Adam W in MN]

What a great looking specimen. I agree, do not lower it further, it's perfect as it sits. And I like the no center cap wheels, it's different.

Nothing wrong with keeping US bumpers on that are in such great shape.

[Justin_FL]

Justin, I'd love to see some pics of the interior. How many miles are on it?

Charlie, the car has 136K. The interior is nice, I added two old photos taken shortly after I bought the car to my Flickr album, but don't have anything taken recently. Seems impossible to get image links while using a mobile device. They should show in my photostream, though.

Only real flaw is wear to the drivers seat. I've not looked in earnest, but if I could find a nice pearl passenger sport seat to harvest good leather that would be just peachy. The idea would be to have an end result that matches the other seats. If all else fails, I'll probably steal the lower leather skin off my M5's passenger seat and redye to pearl. The M5 needs a full interior job anyway and the passenger seat is about the only salvageable part of the car.

[Kyle in NO]

Is this the same 535is you had at 5er Fest in Chattanooga? (or South Bend...don't remember)

[Justin_FL]

Is this the same 535is you had at 5er Fest in Chattanooga? (or South Bend...don't remember)

Funny you should ask-- no, I own two red/pearl 535is. The first one I took to South Bend was bought in 2005 and isn't in as nice of condition, plus it is an auto (which aren't as bad as people make them out to be). With a 3.91 or 3.73 diff they are pretty nice, IMO, especially on uninspiring flat roads.

Anyway, I didn't feel that particular 535is was the best for me to splurge and make my own, so over years I halfheartedly looked for a better E28. Coincidentally, a good 535is came up for sale in 2011 and it was the same exact color combo, so there you go. A quick AM flight to ATL right before X-mas and I was on my way home that afternoon. I honestly would never pick a red E28, but unmolested ones don't grow on trees and the price was right.

I need to fix up my '87 535isA and sell it, but it is as low priority. Too little time and I'm wanting to get the 518i roadworthy for the Vintage in May.

[Karl Grau]

Beautiful car! Did it come with the license plate filler or is it something you had in your parts stash?

[Justin_FL]

The filler strip was on the car, I'm sure the PO (Russ) added it quite some time ago. He owned the car for 18-19 years and should get the credit for keeping the car nice!

BTW, for anyone with the original 5er Fest 2005 group photo, the car was on the front row.

[NAH]

Great looking car!
Have always been a sucker for a nice red e28

[kzolee]

Those original US is bumpers are soooooo sexy, for my Euro eye.... Not to mention the red paint.

One day I will want badly one of those here in Europe....

Justin, your car is amazing, thanks for sharing the pictures.

[1st 5er]

Two!!!

[Justin_FL]

Was out at the race track today, for a mostly vintage race car event (pics here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk86ksky).

Figured I'd post these since even my 10 year old digital SLR handily beats a camera phone for image quality. Here are the ones of the 535is that I took in the paddock:







And a couple interior shots (cleaned the carpet last weekend but I haven't re-installed the trim piece underneath the steering column yet).

[wkohler]

Phenomenal. I'd love that car.

[Justin_FL]

Haven't done anything but just drive this car, have an extra 2K miles on it now

But I did something and picked up a set of BBS RS 198s, 17x8.5 ET13 from a forum member. I was planning to refinish the gold centers on my Style 5s in the same color and upgrade them with a set of the Spinfab BBS RS style "waffles" and hex nuts, though these wheels were for sale and I thought, "what the hell". Haven't had a set of old BBS RS yet. The step lips look pretty neat and are what I remember seeing in the late 80s and early 90s on BMWs here in South Florida as a kid.









Too bad I pulled the wheels off immediately after taking the photo. My rear fender lip has a pretty nasty interference with the tires. Will need to remedy that situation

I might pick up a set of half-height hex nuts and black BBS logo caps and see how those look on these wheels.

[tig]

Looks great. Love the zinno+chrome.

[Justin_FL]

Thanks! I've thought about doing shadow line like your 535is because it looks more aggressive, but with a set of polished wheels the bits of bright work on the car are appealing.

[tig]

Thanks! I've thought about doing shadow line like your 535is because it looks more aggressive, but with a set of polished wheels the bits of bright work on the car are appealing.

I love shadowline, for sure. But I don't think all cars need to be shadowlined.

[TurboE28]

That paint, that shine.. wow!

[the_illermiller]

You won't regret the half height caps. The wheels I just bought have them and they make the polished lips stand out a bit more. I've been in the same boat going back and forth between shadow-lining the trim (or in my case, finding new shiny bits) as the chrome trim does tie in the polished wheels. Looks great though even 3 years after the original photos!

[tschultz]

Spend some time rolling the fenders and they should fit in the rear if you don't have too wide of tires. Personally I think the 17" might be too much bling with those big lips, but they are certainly rare!

I think Zinno is my favorite color on a 535is. I looked at one a few years back but it just needed too much work and I just wanted to see what it was. Curiously the same color doesn't look as good on the E24 with big US bumpers.

[1st 5er]

Happy to see this thread get bumped.
I'd forgotten about this car.

[thugginrobby]

Are you ever going euro bumpers? If you ever do, ill buy the bmw license plate filler strip from you!

[Justin_FL]

Are you ever going euro bumpers? If you ever do, ill buy the bmw license plate filler strip from you!

Pretty sure I'll just keep this one original with US bumpers. The car is too nice to screw around with paint, welding, etc as is required to do it 100% correct.

I'm actually considering putting the entire car up for sale as the market seems strong for clean E28s right now. The filler strip would go with the car

And it is mostly because I just don't enjoy driving this car. Without question this is the nicest E28 I have owned and there is nothing wrong with it, but with the way people drive around here and wanting to keep the car accident-free means I stress more than enjoy my time behind the wheel, if that makes any sense. There are no fun roads to take it out on the weekend, which is just another item on a very long list of reasons why South Florida is a terrible place.

[thugginrobby]

Are you ever going euro bumpers? If you ever do, ill buy the bmw license plate filler strip from you!

Pretty sure I'll just keep this one original with US bumpers. The car is too nice to screw around with paint, welding, etc as is required to do it 100% correct.

I'm actually considering putting the entire car up for sale as the market seems strong for clean E28s right now. The filler strip would go with the car

And it is mostly because I just don't enjoy driving this car. Without question this is the nicest E28 I have owned and there is nothing wrong with it, but with the way people drive around here and wanting to keep the car accident-free means I stress more than enjoy my time behind the wheel, if that makes any sense. There are no fun roads to take it out on the weekend, which is just another item on a very long list of reasons why South Florida is a terrible place.

Darn! I’ve been in the market for one. Thanks though.