M535i Magnet - or is it Magnate?

[mooseheadm5]

Amazing cars, Chris!

[Preacher's 5]

Very nice Chris. You keep coming into some great finds.

[1st 5er]

Very nice Chris. You keep coming into some great finds.

... and he does some great work.

[Yar]

Chris, I think you have a brake light/fog light out
[img][img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/shahryarmuzaffar/Cars/St%20Pattys%20Weekend%202014/IMG_0445.jpg[/img]

[wkohler]

Haha. I didn't notice that right off. Explained why the rear fog indicator came on when I hit the brakes. Either way, the bulb has been changed.

[wkohler]

There have been some developments with the car over the last few months. Won a few more trophies with it and even received a special award for it's ability to exceed the posted speed limit in the middle of nowhere by nearly 10 mph.

One of the things I had been meaning to do was to refinish the M-system wheels that came on the car when I purchased it. Never been a big fan of these myself, but I have to admit they work pretty well on the M535i and they also fit without rubbing, which isn't something I could say for the RSs. They worked great on my '85 with Dinan suspension, but not on this car with stock suspension. Sure, we could have massaged the fender lip just a bit more but I didn't want to do that. So, I decided that we needed to refinish the M-systems the way I've always wanted a set. It got expensive.

Wheels were powder-coated black, then the lip was cut on a lathe. Then the whole wheel was cleared. The style 21 covers were done in the factory silver with a powder-coat clear, then the plastic caps were painted and liquid cleared. They came out great. Ordered a set of Continental Extreme Contact DW in 225/45/17. The matching spare should be done this week.

I replaced the lockstrips on the rear window. Front is still nice.

Another area on the car that was a concern was the factory pin striping. The anthtrazit stripe was pretty weathered and both had their share of chips and such. I ordered the correct stripes for the car which cost three times as much as all of the others and received a roll of 11 meters of striping. $150 and that's what I get. I thought maybe they'd have it broken up by panel or something. Nope. A crappy roll of 11 meters of two tiny thin stripes. I started with the trunk, and it was a near disaster as the stripes aren't on the transfer paper totally straight so I had to do a lot of fiddling to make it better. Then there were still two seams in the roll and it was just a mess. Got it done and I guess it looks better than it did before but I'm not happy with the purchase.

Took a couple of photos this evening.

[bkbimmer]

This is a very classy looking ride, someday I hope to be half as cool as you... If you ever need space in your garage I would be happy to store it for you.

[tig]

I'd wax that.

Nice work Chris.

[jodystevens]

That car looks amazing. Probably the best e28 I have ever seen. Normally I hate tinted windows, but everything about this is perfect including the ride height. Well done.

What is below the door handle beside the lock?

[Mark in Toronto]

A few comments.......

- I really like Throwing Stars on e28's. If I was going to keep my M5, I'd definitely get a set for the car.

- Car show trophies, meh.

- I put a set of Extreme Contacts on my car last year. They are an outstanding wet weather tire.

- I strongly suggest deleting the side marker lights on the Tupperware.

- I can't remember the last time I got a speeding ticket.

[Drew in NYC]

What a great-looking car. It's my favorite of yours, past or present, which is really saying something.

[wkohler]

That car looks amazing. Probably the best e28 I have ever seen. Normally I hate tinted windows, but everything about this is perfect including the ride height. Well done.

What is below the door handle beside the lock?

Thanks! I'm not a fan of tint either, but it works on this car for some reason. The second lock on the driver door is for the factory alarm system.

A few comments.......

- I really like Throwing Stars on e28's. If I was going to keep my M5, I'd definitely get a set for the car.

- Car show trophies, meh.

- I put a set of Extreme Contacts on my car last year. They are an outstanding wet weather tire.

- I strongly suggest deleting the side marker lights on the Tupperware.

- I can't remember the last time I got a speeding ticket.

I have been giving serious thought to eliminating the side markers but I'd have to repaint the entire m-tech kit. There's a couple of scratches on the side skirts and the paint on the arches has seen better days. Right now though it's all original which it can only be once and the car does have 116k miles on it. I might do it but I'm not sure.

I got the ticket because the speedo didn't work and the GPS speedo app I was using on the phone stopped working right next to the Mexican border right about the time I got the "welcome to Mexico" text message. 3 miles from AZ.

What a great-looking car. It's my favorite of yours, past or present, which is really saying something.

Thanks! Its funny but you're not the only one that has said that. I really like this one too. I am still amazed at how everything fell into place.

[BRRV]

Great great car. Certainly, a keeper for life. One of these days I'd like to see it in person - but then, I say that about a lot of cars!

[kzolee]

The car looks good, but those side indicators...

[OcCoupe]

Chris, the car looks fantastic! I can't wait to see it in person. Great choice on the wheels!

[Ted in T.O.]

It's amazing what the M535i looks like with chrome moldings. When you have time Chris can you post a few pics of the car without the T-star covers. I've always wanted to see what my old m535i would look like. Cheers. Ted

[BimmerSultan]

Gooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll! Very very nice, man.

[MicahO]

What a great looking car. I tell myself that I'm not a fan of the Tupperware, but I like it on a Zinno car, and I have to say I *love* the look on this one. Maybe I have to reconsider? Or maybe you just make it come together so well.

The wheels came out great. Would things be improved if the sidemarkers came off? Sure, but oh my dayumn it already looks outstanding!

[clangpap]

Chris,

I loved everything about this thread since you bought the car - particularly the story about the DMV employee who did a little extra for someone who was polite to her. It is truly amazing how you take a great car and make it better. Your baseline is some people's restoration. My only surprise is you haven't changed the exhaust. You seemed to look wistfully over every time Yar started the white car at 5erWest.

As for the side marker lights that seem to be a fixation in the thread, yours at least look flat and fairly tasteful, not like those bulbous ones on some federalized cars that look like they are the $1.99 ones off a tent trailer. Given all the original docs you possess the side lights are part of this car's story and I hope you avoid messing with the original paint for as long as you can. Now if it was already a respray...

Hope to see it at 5erWest 2015!

[ldsbeaker]

Re: sidemarkers

I feel that they are rather tastefully done. I would MUCH rather they didn't carve up the bodywork (read: metal).

Chris, you are one of my BMW mentors. Thank you. Can't wait to visit and finally see this one in person.

[Drew in NYC]

I don't get the bellyaching over the sidemarkers, either. Yes, no one likes them. No, removing them isn't trivial. I feel like I have stumbled across the automotive equivalent of this:

[wkohler]

Thanks. I'm kinda tired of hearing about the sidemarkers. I usually don't talk positively about my cars but this is a really great car and I love it. I drove it tonight to the Post Office. Felt great.

[leadphut]

hell, i'd hit it. i like sharp knees.


i sent you a pm about those side markers. holla back yo!


nice ride doood!

[kzolee]

Sorry for that little joke, which turned out bad.

[Das_Prachtstrasse]

Looks excellent, Chris. I think the T stars suit it much moreso than the weaves; you've made a good choice. Is a great car in person, and your photography enhances it very well.