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So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 14, 2025 4:36 PM
by AlpinaPat
My name is humpty, pronounced with an umpty...
^Digital Underground^
New member here as I finally found an E28 Aug 2024! Mainly I've had E30's, some E24's and E36 but this '87 JDM 520i auto is my first E28!
So far I'm loving it, it feels way different than my previous E24's and even with the 520i auto its still super fun to drive! What great cars these are!
Previous owner did the Alpina tribute and euro conversion and I love the look. Also the car has cloth 0211 houndstooth interior and its a slick top so no worries about a broken / leaky sunroof! The trunk seal is another story though...
It has the brown tinted glass too which is super cool imo. So far some small maintenance stuff to do and would like to manual swap it

Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 14, 2025 5:21 PM
by AmanM
Where in Canada are you? I have a e28 M535i, living in Oakville.
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 14, 2025 5:40 PM
by AlpinaPat
AmanM wrote: Jan 14, 2025 5:21 PM
Where in Canada are you? I have a e28 M535i, living in Oakville.
I'm in Calgary
What color is your M535i?
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 14, 2025 6:38 PM
by CanadianMiniFan
Nice to see another Canadian e28er here, I’m up in Edmonton!
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 15, 2025 11:10 AM
by AlpinaPat
For sure! Is there many E28 guys in Edmonton?
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 15, 2025 11:40 AM
by 1st 5er
Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the community.
Car looks nicely done.
Would like to see some interior pics, pleeze.
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 15, 2025 4:18 PM
by Aldo525
Hello and Welcome!!!...here from Chile. Just for my knowledge, e28 520i is to me an Euro version not available in North America....Was Canada a BMW (e28's) market more "Euro" in versions instead of US versions???....or your car is an exception???...here was (and still is) full euro versions, more common was (in order):
518i most common
520i common
525i a few....
528i rare
535i extremely rare
533i ...not delivered here
528e (or 525e)...not delivered here
524td...not delivered here
M535i or M5....maybe a couple....

Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 15, 2025 6:30 PM
by tig
Welcome!
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 15, 2025 6:44 PM
by AlpinaPat
So the car is a 520i and was made for and sold in Japan originally, and was imported from Japan by a previous owner.
Agreed they weren't sold new in North America, we got the 528e instead.
This is a picture of the rear seat, I don't have other pics handy at the moment, and have an upgrade in the works for the front seats.
Thanks for the welcome, I wish forums weren't on the decline, love them!
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 17, 2025 10:56 PM
by 1st 5er
AlpinaPat wrote: Jan 15, 2025 6:44 PM
I wish forums weren't on the decline, love them!
This one ain't.
it just got a major restoration, frame off rotisserie style.
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 18, 2025 10:10 AM
by Chimi-Changa
Welcome, Nice looking ride! Our cars would look cool cruising together. (The interior code in mine is 0262):

Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 20, 2025 1:43 AM
by Nebraska_e28
Looking good!
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 20, 2025 3:04 PM
by austin8753
that's a pretty rad e28. welcome to the madness, enjoy your stay.
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 21, 2025 4:00 PM
by AlpinaPat
Thanks guys!
Chimi-Changa wrote: Jan 18, 2025 10:10 AM
The interior code in mine is 0262
I assumed E30 and E28 interior/fabric codes were the same? It seems anthracite houndstooth is coded 0211 for E30 and 0262 for E28?
If that's the case then my E28 is also 0262.
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 22, 2025 3:29 PM
by Chimi-Changa
If that's the case then my E28 is also 0262.
It may be! Mine had the original card under the rear seat. "Pepita Anthracite" and is the only way I knew what it was. It came from Ivo in the Netherlands and he said it was originally in a diesel e28 over there. Any more under hood/ interior pics for us of your car?

Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 24, 2025 11:06 AM
by AlpinaPat
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Jan 24, 2025 11:22 AM
by tig
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Feb 07, 2025 3:45 PM
by AlpinaPat
tig wrote: Jan 24, 2025 11:22 AM
I dig those doorcards!
Thanks, was definately part of the appeal of this car for me
So I have a self serve scrap yard 5min from my work. Some may think I'm crazy, but I often pop down there on my lunch break to snag parts for my old german relics - lol.
Todays score was a set of rear headrest brackets out of an E23 733i

My E28 despite having rear headrests was missing the brackets for some reason
Should I pull the side mirrors? This E23 has the chrome ones. How hard are they to fit to an E28?
It may have an LSD too, but the car is rusty crusty underneath, and its cold as hell up here so not attempting that feat.
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Feb 07, 2025 4:55 PM
by CanadianMiniFan
My understanding is one hole needs to be drilled in the e28 door to mount the e23 chrome mirrors. I also got a junkyard set but haven’t fitted them, so I can’t say with 100% certainty. The diff isn’t too bad to get out, I’m sure you guys will get a Chinook soon enough. Maybe not a lunch time job tho!
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: Mar 03, 2025 2:55 PM
by AlpinaPat
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: May 09, 2025 10:44 AM
by AlpinaPat
May update!
I recently resurrected my E28 from winter hibernation and have made a few changes:
New BMW trunk lid emblem, and installed the Alpina emblem that came with the car
New hood BMW emblem, old one was flaking away
The wheel center caps were missing when I bought the car, so I took a chance on some from Ebay, they fit perfect!
Installed the Alpina dead pedal I traded for with a MyE28 member. I know, I know, the car needs a clutch pedal, its in the works
Finally I installed the houndstooth E30 OEM Recaros with Massive adapters. I imported these from the Netherlands and the seat rails took a beating on the journey to Canada. The little plates surrounding the bolting locations were bent, they were dirty, and showing their age. I pulled them off the seats and repaired / straightened the plates, cleaned and repainted the rails prior to installation. It ended up being a lot of work!
I also installed a euro analogue clock in place of the 2 button digital clock. The mounting surround is different too so had to source the correct one. Unfortunately after polishing out the scratched clock bezel, I found it DOA. I have another one on order, hopefully this one works! Forgot to snap a pic of it but will add one.
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: May 09, 2025 2:12 PM
by Chimi-Changa
Yay! Those seats are super nice. Worth any effort IMO. (Dancing Banana)
Re: So just let me introduce myself
Posted: May 09, 2025 6:38 PM
by CanadianMiniFan
Looking great Pat!