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Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 04, 2026 10:06 PM
by Mike W.
No personal experience, but from what I've read, cheaper ones can be found, but I think he was the first and his are quiet, others tend to click. He's also been a sponsor for some vintage BMW events. He's worth supporting.
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 04, 2026 10:27 PM
by Etip
I got my odometer gears from Gargastic. They were $14 plus $4 shipping. This was ~2.5 years ago. I think they are well made.
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 05, 2026 10:14 AM
by John in VA
Etip wrote: Feb 04, 2026 10:27 PM
I got my odometer gears from Gargastic. They were $14 plus $4 shipping. This was ~2.5 years ago. I think they are well made.
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." – Benjamin Franklin
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 05, 2026 1:20 PM
by Etip
John in VA" wrote: Feb 05, 2026 10:14 AM
Etip wrote: Feb 04, 2026 10:27 PM
I got my odometer gears from Gargastic. They were $14 plus $4 shipping. This was ~2.5 years ago. I think they are well made.
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." – Benjamin Franklin
There is nothing about 3 plastic gears that rationalizes them costing ~$65
Gargastic is a reputable brand. The vintage BMW specialist who installed the Gargastic ones said they look good and they've been in for 2.5 years with no issues.
If someone wants to feel better about spending quadruple the money for another product, go for it, but I'm telling the poster my experience and cost.
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 06, 2026 7:03 PM
by John in VA
There is nothing about 3 plastic gears that rationalizes them costing ~$65
Gargastic is a reputable brand. The vintage BMW specialist who installed the Gargastic ones said they look good and they've been in for 2.5 years with no issues.
If someone wants to feel better about spending quadruple the money for another product, go for it, but I'm telling the poster my experience and cost.
Luckily we sometimes have choices for parts for our old cars. Odometergears makes the gears for BMW, M-B, Porsche, etc., applications - they are a plastic injection manufacturer. Jeff is a car guy, supporting & sponsoring many vintage events. He's usually on hand at the NC Vintage gathering repairing gauge clusters for owners. I replaced the 25 year old gears in my E28s with Odometergears parts ~15 years ago. I understood that the other company's gears were made for RC cars. I hope you all get reasonable longevity from the gears you choose.
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 06, 2026 11:22 PM
by Mike W.
John in VA wrote: Feb 06, 2026 7:03 PM
There is nothing about 3 plastic gears that rationalizes them costing ~$65
Gargastic is a reputable brand. The vintage BMW specialist who installed the Gargastic ones said they look good and they've been in for 2.5 years with no issues.
If someone wants to feel better about spending quadruple the money for another product, go for it, but I'm telling the poster my experience and cost.
Luckily we sometimes have choices for parts for our old cars. Odometergears makes the gears for BMW, M-B, Porsche, etc., applications - they are a plastic injection manufacturer. Jeff is a car guy, supporting & sponsoring many vintage events. He's usually on hand at the NC Vintage gathering repairing gauge clusters for owners. I replaced the 25 year old gears in my E28s with Odometergears parts ~15 years ago. I understood that the other company's gears were made for RC cars. I hope you all get reasonable longevity from the gears you choose.
That's what I tried to express above. Being well into the M5x world now, and they have Vanos issues, I still buy from the guy who, as far as I can tell, diagnosed the issue and originally offered a fix, and a detailed writeup on how to do the repair. Even though his pricing is now way out of line. Which reminds me, I've got another one to do.
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 18, 2026 2:03 PM
by Archslave84
Spent all day Friday Replacing all the bushings in the front and rear. from control arm bushings to subframes etc. Replaced all Sway bar links as well. and finished out with a deep cleaning on the wheel wells and getting all of the 22 year old caked on dirt off.
also got her Texas legal! I finally removed the old Inspection and registration sticker from 2002. ( saved them for the records)
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Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 18, 2026 4:22 PM
by Mike W.
Archslave84 wrote: Feb 18, 2026 2:03 PM
also got her Texas legal! I finally removed the old Inspection and registration sticker from 2002. ( saved them for the records)
I thought you guys only used the rear plate in Tx?
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 24, 2026 1:25 PM
by Archslave84
Mike W." wrote: Feb 18, 2026 4:22 PM
Archslave84 wrote: Feb 18, 2026 2:03 PM
also got her Texas legal! I finally removed the old Inspection and registration sticker from 2002. ( saved them for the records)
I thought you guys only used the rear plate in Tx?
So there was a brief moment in history that Texas legislature had accidently written in one bylaw that there was no fine associated with a "no front plate" ticket. So you could run no front plate, get a ticket but there was no momentary fine for it. You just go to court, show you had a front plate installed and you were done. But that has changed. You need a front and rear plate in texas now. Granted they are more lenient on it and let it slide sometimes but its still required.
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Feb 27, 2026 6:07 PM
by MisterFixit
Archslave84 wrote: Feb 04, 2026 4:48 PM
"Polished all the chrome on the tail lights. Brought it back to new. Now to clean the lenses and get them looking shiny"
-------------------------
Fabulous - They look new, and nicely match the 'spit and polish' on the rest of the car!
Now, you may want to consider updating them for larger and brighter appearance, more reliable as well. Get in touch with me for more information - think triple the tail light size, double the brake light size and higher output bulbs - safely - all around, and new headlights too if you need them. Halogens, not LED. I am happy to discuss options, advantages, and cost - send me a PM for more info, or tell me to get lost, as you like... or look at my posts on the subject. E28 rear lights can be improved... easily.
--Andy / MisterFixit
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Mar 04, 2026 9:26 AM
by Archslave84
I'm having issues with my turn signals and I'm stumped.
-Flashers work and all lights flashed and bulbs are good.
-Turn signal stalk does not turn on turn signals( front or rear) but the stalk does turn on the high beams when pulled.
-I've replaced both relays under the steering column with not change to the turn signal operations.
Could the stalk still be bad or is there something im missing?
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Mar 04, 2026 11:50 AM
by MisterFixit
Turn signal switch failure is common, it gets lots of use in 40 years... some of the more creative among us (technical or mechanical geeks) have found they can be repaired, but this is not for the faint of heart (be prepared for "SPROING" and a search for missing parts).
Another note, the power to headlight high/low/flash functions is different (yellow/white), you get turn signal power from another circuit (violet/white).
Does it latch and release normally with the steering wheel turning left and right?
If so, I suggest three tests-
1) Mechanical 'feel' when switching for left turn, off, right turn, and see if it feels weird or loose.
2) Hold in the 'flash' position (Pull up) and test left/right again, carefully feeling for loose or 'glitchy' action.
3) Pull the plug and test for continuity on the switch leads - 'hot lead' (violet/white) and outputs (blue/red, blue/black) when activating the switch for left and right turns. You will have to remove covers under the dash and pull the steering wheel I think for access to the switch and wiring.
4) Test for power from the car-side lead with the key in position I (accessory)
If all this seems normal, you will have to pull the switch and do some more exploring. They are (I seem to recall) riveted together, so if you are not prepared to re-manufacture the switch (disassembly and internal repair), you might start looking for a replacement from another source.
Hope this helps!
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Mar 04, 2026 1:21 PM
by Mike W.
Looks like there's a Gn/Ye that comes from the hazard switch to the turn signal switch that supplies power. I'd check that first before trying to take the switch apart or buying a replacement. Check out the ETM.
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Mar 04, 2026 3:42 PM
by MisterFixit
Mike W." wrote: Mar 04, 2026 1:21 PM
Looks like there's a Gn/Ye that comes from the hazard switch to the turn signal switch that supplies power. I'd check that first before trying to take the switch apart or buying a replacement. Check out the ETM.
Thanks, Mike- it's been a while since I had mine apart...the turns and the hazards are indeed linked intimately... The green main color is BMW's key to 'Hot With Ignition' I think... Violet is typically 'Hot with Accessory.' YMMV
Re: 23 Year old Garage Find E28 533i
Posted: Mar 06, 2026 3:16 PM
by Archslave84
