E28 "mock 5" M5 build

[Das_Prachtstrasse]

All that work, and you didn't replace the rusted bonnet?

[Thatguy087]

All that work, and you didn't replace the rusted bonnet?

Tried to find one but they were all rusted. Will get the rust cut out and some new metal welded on and then a paint touch-up. Its on the to-do list

[Das_Prachtstrasse]

All that work, and you didn't replace the rusted bonnet?

Tried to find one but they were all rusted. Will get the rust cut out and some new metal welded on and then a paint touch-up. Its on the to-do list

I inquired recently as to the price of a new one from BMW, and they're pretty affordable and available at around $350.

Car's coming up nicely, will be great once it's done!

[gtstarped]

Incredible dedication and budget mate, starting to look the part :-)

I'm downunder too, in Auckland. I have a similar project bubbling away in the garage, you might have seen it http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=120825. More or less complete and use it weekly or so.

Today I added Whiteline swaybars front and rear, found them on run-out for $105 each (usually $350). Try Autolign NZ if you are after some. Well worth your time while you're under there and flattens the car out cause even the M535i pitches and rolls quite badly, where the M5 improved on it a little. Whiteline appears to give you a more direct steer as well and isn't harsh. The final bits on my list is get the 280 rebuilt and change the wheels I've sourced off a E39 540i BBS style 5 17x8 but are one short :-(

Let me know if you come across something you're missing as I know of 5 or 6 M535i's floating around with contacts in Auckland and of another M535i with a M88 which a mate has.

Good luck, look forward to seeing the results.

[Brent in NZ Hartge 535i]

nice build.

i too have something similer in auckland NZ.


some build details here.
but always changing

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=83 ... sc&start=0

quite a few more mods etc have been done since.

[Thatguy087]

Incredible dedication and budget mate, starting to look the part :-)

I'm downunder too, in Auckland. I have a similar project bubbling away in the garage, you might have seen it http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=120825. More or less complete and use it weekly or so.

Today I added Whiteline swaybars front and rear, found them on run-out for $105 each (usually $350). Try Autolign NZ if you are after some. Well worth your time while you're under there and flattens the car out cause even the M535i pitches and rolls quite badly, where the M5 improved on it a little. Whiteline appears to give you a more direct steer as well and isn't harsh. The final bits on my list is get the 280 rebuilt and change the wheels I've sourced off a E39 540i BBS style 5 17x8 but are one short :-(

Let me know if you come across something you're missing as I know of 5 or 6 M535i's floating around with contacts in Auckland and of another M535i with a M88 which a mate has.

Good luck, look forward to seeing the results.

nice build.

i too have something similer in auckland NZ.


some build details here.
but always changing

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=83 ... sc&start=0

quite a few more mods etc have been done since.

Cheers guys. Had a gander through your threads and I like what I see! In hindsight I should've got an m535i to start with, but its slim pickings over here

I've got the M5 sway bars in for now, but if I feel it needs more I'll look at the white line stuff

[trevmmeister]

All those pretty new parts sitting there...... Great project bro, love to see it when it is done.

[Thatguy087]

The air box, afm and air filter and associated parts finally arrived so I dropped them off. The progress is the plenum is on, gearshift linkage is all done, and Tim has moved some of the hydraulic lines further from the exhaust and made some extra heat shielding.







He has an old mustang up on the host which has been there since before the BMW went there, and it's close to being done so he's going to smash out the rest of it so he can put in some serious hours to get mine all done.

[fventura03]

looks great

[funfunfer]

Great project. Admire your energy and dedication. Updates?

[Thatguy087]

Great project. Admire your energy and dedication. Updates?

That last post was an update haha

[gtstarped]

Any further pictorial updates? Keen to see how its all going!

[Thatguy087]

[Thatguy087]

[brendonoid]

Love this project! Made me finally sign up to this board so I could offer my encouragements.
Best of luck getting this on the road! It's gonna be sweet.

[gtstarped]

Has it started?? Hows the bodykit and interior installation coming along? Looks very fresh in there!

[Thatguy087]

Not started yet, hoping for next week. Body kit and interior happen after that, then brakes and wheels last

[gtstarped]

Good luck, hoping it goes well. Are you doing the work yourself?

What was the donors bushes and steering like before you did the conversion? These can make a mint old car desidedly average. When I did mine, there was suddenly all this power and everything that wasn't perfect showed its self quite quickly. I'm still slowly working through things but they're a fun old car to drive around it, the amount of times I get the thumbs up, its embarrassing!

[Thatguy087]

I put in an M5 steering box and new bushes all round, so how the steering was before is a moot point :P

I have a mechanic to do the install. Not very mechanically minded and I think I'll start learning on something less important than this swap. Will be doing some of the other work myself (soundproofing, elec windows install, obc, dash swap, installing the interior)

[gtstarped]

Good move, you've certainly got the list of things right.

To be honest, it'll probably handle better and ride better than a genuine M5. Don't get me wrong, a genuine M5 is an awesome car, feels pretty special to drive, but modern technology (the 30 years since they were made) has advanced plenty of bits to the point where tacking this on to a "mock 5" gives you often a far superior package. If all things were equal, obviously you'd take an M5 any day, but a retro fit like yours, mine and another I know of, will be far superior to drive than a standard M5. The great thing about having a "mock 5" as well, is I can give it death without worrying about doing dumb and wrecking a some what special, and now becoming an expensive car.

Looking forward to seeing your final result, keep the photos coming.

Ps: I've got a spare set of electric black leather M5 seats under the house if you ever wanted to the the set up as close as possible.

Tim

[Thatguy087]

The great thing about having a "mock 5" as well, is I can give it death without worrying about doing dumb and wrecking a some what special, and now becoming an expensive car.

My thoughts exactly Cheers for the kind words mate.

[Thatguy087]

Still waiting. Auto electricians won't touch it haha. The downside is it taking so long, the upside is I'm not paying through the nose. I'm hoping for good news on Thursday but we'll see. In the mean time, I got the wheels ready. The guy at the tire place said they were as straight as they were new :-)

[gtstarped]

why wont they touch it? isnt the most advanced technology.

[Thatguy087]

Because they are used to Australian cars, so in comparison mine is haha

[Thatguy087]

Time for another update, car has spent a few weeks at the auto electrician's place to try to iron out some electrical issues but now the ECU is being sent off to see if it is toast - if not, I will need to find an E28 M5 wiring harness, if it is toast then I'll probably end up putting in a standalone ECU (probably easier than getting a genuine one from the states). Will keep you posted.

[Thatguy087]

I'm just gonna leave this here

[Das_Prachtstrasse]

David Jones sponsorship?

I love the houndstooth, not sure on the colour combo personally but It's certainly different. How'd the auto-elecs end up going with the ecu?

[Thatguy087]

David Jones sponsorship?

I love the houndstooth, not sure on the colour combo personally but It's certainly different. How'd the auto-elecs end up going with it?

ECU was fine, so swapped the 6 wiring harness out for an M5 one and then it started... on 5 cylinders. So now the injectors are off to be inspected/serviced/replaced.

Oh and I've lined up a rust free bonnet too, you'll be happy to know haha

[Thatguy087]

Apologies for the shitty vid, I was at work so got my brother to go and he stood at the wrong end of the car! But its running on all six cylinders, should be ready to go back to the mechanic for the brakes and to go for a test lap soon.

https://youtu.be/vAnnmcmSdgk

[leadphut]

congrats! that's a great feeling!