A preview of what has come....

[cddallara]

On the Darwin sign-maybe try a hair dryer to loosen the glue and some fishing line to cut through it, followed by some goof off for the residue.
I've never needed the fishing line, just heat n peel, but I've heard it suggested so I thought I'd toss it in.
Car is looking great!

[Matt in SC]

On the Darwin sign-maybe try a hair dryer to loosen the glue and some fishing line to cut through it, followed by some goof off for the residue.
I've never needed the fishing line, just heat n peel, but I've heard it suggested so I thought I'd toss it in.
Car is looking great!

Thanks for this suggestion. I will be sure to try it out.

[Matt in SC]

Nice looking ride. What is the brand of your rear apron?

Thanks. I mentioned the brand on the first page in my description……but to save you time, it is a Pfeba.

[rhouse181]

some fishing line to cut through it

Dental floss works well too...

[belitwo]

Really nice and clean look. Thanks. Do you know how I may source one. Thanks

[Matt in SC]

Really nice and clean look. Thanks. Do you know how I may source one. Thanks

I got mine from ovide who is over in the Netherlands.

[Matt in SC]

So I had my headers and exhaust installed and finished today. When I got home I starting hearing a noise around the outside rear of the car (car was parked and running), thinking it was something wrong with the exhaust job. Turns out it is more than likely the fuel pump, as I can hear it more clear in the trunk and when I'm in the back seat.

I think the IE exhaust was so loud that I never heard it. Now the exhaust sounds pretty damn good I think. I can hear that M30 engine purr without a loud drone in the car, and it still sounds like a performance exhaust. It feels like it shifts so much smoother and better at higher RPM.

Stebro w/dual resonator, IE headers are in the box.



A little peek-a-boo of the headers.



At first I didn't like the tips sticking out that much, but the look is growing on me.



I need to get pics of the headers bolted on and some shots from underneath.

[greymarket]

Wow! That car looks great!! Drool...

[Matt in SC]

I received a beautiful set of staggered style 5s from Todd yesterday and had to snap a few shots right out of the box. I did play with edit on my iPhone so hopefully you like them.

17x9

[leadphut]

it's coming along nicely. the exhaust was a big improvement and the wheels will look ass well. Now...for the rear badging...ooof.

[MIK911]

Looking awesome! Great job.
Post up a sound bite or youtube vid of your exhaust--would love to hear it purrrr.

[Slow_Ballin']

Before jacking the car, roll it up on a couple 2x6s or similar. It works well.

Hmmm. Makes sense. I will have to start doing that now. Thanks.

I do the same thing except I use two 2x8's stacked. One is 3' and the other is 1.5' and they are screwed together. I have to keep one in the trunk in case I get a flat lol

[Matt in SC]

Looking awesome! Great job.
Post up a sound bite or youtube vid of your exhaust--would love to hear it purrrr.

Thanks.

I will post up some videos once I complete my rear end work. I purchased a set of rebuilt axle shafts from Paul and had a set of newer condition trailing arms sitting around that I figured I would replace while I was doing it. I also purchased new e-brake kits.

Since I pretty much replaced everything on the front end, I figured I should go ahead to do the rear as well. Now I just need a good set of sway bars to complement the work....oh....and eventually a LSD swap.

I never thought I would put the amount of money into this thing that I have so far, but it is becoming an addiction that I am fine with. I just wish that it was an M5 instead.

[leadphut]

replacement motaaah! that car would be an excellent candidate for an M5 engine...and...you'd be one of the few with a red M5.

[BMWM5Lover]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing!

[Matt in SC]

replacement motaaah! that car would be an excellent candidate for an M5 engine...and...you'd be one of the few with a red M5.

I've actually been thinking about that but the last M5 engine I came across they wanted like $4k....and I don't have that kind of money right now for that.

If anyone knows of an M5 engine that is decent please let me know.

If I did go this route, would I need to swap out anything else?

[wkohler]

replacement motaaah! that car would be an excellent candidate for an M5 engine...and...you'd be one of the few with a red M5.

He wouldn't have a red M5. He'd have a 535i with an S38 in it.

I have to say I'm surprised at how that paint has held up. Maybe it looks better in photos but its hard to believe its a Maaco job.

[Matt in SC]

He wouldn't have a red M5. He'd have a 535i with an S38 in it.


I have to say I'm surprised at how that paint has held up. Maybe it looks better in photos but its hard to believe its a Maaco job.

Leave it to this guy to always have something to say.

The paint definitely looks better in the photos, especially after I edit some of them. It shows it's flaws in person, but like you said, it has still held up pretty well since being painted in 2008. I will get it repainted soon, just don't know what route to take on that yet.

[wkohler]

Is there a problem? The paint looks good. I was surprised when Lee first posted photos.

[Matt in SC]

No problem here.

[Matt in SC]

Here is what she looks like with 18's. I like how they look but it just doesn't drive like 17's do.

[ldsbeaker]

I totally missed that this was Lee in MD's car.

The car is looking great.

[Adam W in MN]

Such a clean car and great color. That car deserves cooler wheels in my opinion (I know, sort of a back-handed compliment). There are very few 18" wheels that I think look good on an E28, I think 17"'s are the ticket anyway. And there are some great choices that don't begin with the word "style".

[wkohler]

What happened to the staggered style 5s? These 18s are horrible.

[grahamular]

There are very few 18" wheels that I think look good on an E28, I think 17"'s are the ticket anyway.

I'll go one step further and say that there are NO 18" wheels that look good on an e28.

This is the first time I've looked at this thread, but IMHO the other wheels that are pictured on the car in prior updates all look pretty darn good. Also, if you decide to de-Darwin-ize the rear valance, while you're at it I'd suggest removing the "535i" that was attached way too high up, probably when it was repainted. I don't think I ever saw this car when it was in MD, but it's looking really good.

-Graham

[mgoblue]

errrrr, yeah, where did those style 5's go?

[Matt in SC]

Thanks all for the compliments thus far. The car looks a lot better in the pictures than it does up close. I'll get some interior shots and post them soon as the interior is still in decent shape, I think.

I bought these 18's from bimmerman78 a while back when I was working on my 535is. I liked the way his car looked with them. The amount of work the 535is needed turned out to not be worth my time anymore so these were just sitting around. I figured I would put them on to see how they look with the euro bumpers. I happen to have a different opinion when it comes to 18" wheels and like the look of these on the car, but they won't be the final shoes that she wears.

I still have the staggered style 5s and plan to put them on as the final set. I just haven't taken them to have the new tires put on them yet. I probably won't put them on until I finish working on the rear suspension. I still need to do the rear driver side.

To be honest, I would have never known that the 535i badge was placed too high. I looked at my 535is and can see the difference. I will either completely remove it or have it placed in the right spot when/if I get it repainted.

[trevmmeister]

Matt that thing is a beauty. Those 18's look so fly.

[e28Sean]

One word, dude: Fap-worthy.

[trevmmeister]

One word, dude: Fap-worthy.