My 85 535i build

[austin8753]

You missed a spot on the back of the trans.

I left it as a reminder of where it came from. It's probably cleaner that your show car though.

Wow, need some pepper with that salt?

[bkbimmer]

It's getting too spicy for the pepper.

[bkbimmer]

I made all new battery and alternator cables for the car last night. Turns out that the steering coupler has a notchy spot on one side so I should probably get a new one...

It might run this week...

[bkbimmer]

I bought this very handy terminal punch, makes very solid connections and quick work of making cables. I also got this junction block and robbed the battery terminals from my e12.

[bkbimmer]

Tonight I started the car for the first time, it fired on the first crank. I only let it run for less than a minute since the radiator isn't installed yet. I'm waiting for a lower radiator hose through the dealer, my alternator belt ran a groove in the hose. I also got a new steering coupler, the original one was getting notchy. I also prepped and painted the exhaust before reinstalling it.

[T_C_D]

Good job!

[Adam W in MN]

Looks very thorough, you going to keep it when you're done? When does the E12 get some love?

[bkbimmer]

Looks very thorough, you going to keep it when you're done? When does the E12 get some love?

I can't see getting rid of the e28 with how much I've invested and how little it's worth. I feel like the e28 and I are societal outcasts and are stuck with each other whether we like it or not.

I've been thinking about selling my 70 c10 to help fund the e12 but I just don't know.

Trying to build 3 decent vehicles on a pensioners budget is pretty hard, that's why I've been focused on the e28 right now.

[tig]

I can't see getting rid of the e28 with how much I've invested and how little it's worth. I feel like the e28 and I are societal outcasts and are stuck with each other whether we like it or not.

This, this, and this.

[bkbimmer]

I can't see getting rid of the e28 with how much I've invested and how little it's worth. I feel like the e28 and I are societal outcasts and are stuck with each other whether we like it or not.

This, this, and this.

Thank you for agreeing on how stupid I are.

[athayer187]

I can't see getting rid of the e28 with how much I've invested and how little it's worth. I feel like the e28 and I are societal outcasts and are stuck with each other whether we like it or not.

This, this, and this.

Thank you for agreeing on how stupid I are.

I think cek is just pointing out how stupid many of us are!

[bkbimmer]

Some people are stupid in smarter ways though.

[tig]

Some people are stupid in smarter ways though.

Or smarter in stupid ways.

As I said earlier, at least your stuoidly expensive Alpine white POS has an M30 in it.

[bkbimmer]

Some people are stupid in smarter ways though.

Or smarter in stupid ways.

As I said earlier, at least your stuoidly expensive Alpine white POS has an M30 in it.

True, and over 300k miles.

[bkbimmer]

I got the new bmw lower radiator hose today and installed/bled the cooling system, the car runs excellent and has no leaks so far. I plan on taking it for a test drive this weekend if the weather isn't bad.

[Adam W in MN]

You'd better enjoy it quick before your alter ego parts it out.

[bkbimmer]

I pretty much wrapped this project up tonight.... hopefully.

I still haven't driven it so any number of things could go horribly smoothly.

[bkbimmer]

It's back on its less arthritic feet and ready to tear up the streets (once the rain stops). Now that it's a show car I don't want to drive it in the muck.

[tig]

It's back on its less arthritic feet and ready to tear up the streets (once the rain stops). Now that it's a show car I don't want to drive it in the muck.

Just drive it.

[wkohler]

I'm impressed.

[bkbimmer]

I did drive it tonight, it feels like I have a new car as long as I drive it at night. I'm pretty happy with the overall outcome.

[bkbimmer]

Time to clean the shed and get actual work done. Whatever that means.

It's funny how a failed starter is what started this whole project, oh the irony.

[Adam W in MN]

Great progress to see. You need some videos driving it to compliment all the pictures of the progress.

[bkbimmer]

Just taking pictures is a lot of effort to me, it's unlikely I'll ever make any videos.

[bkbimmer]

Having working reverse lights is pretty nice, they never worked on this car since I've owned it. While the engine/trans were removed I made a new reverse light switch harness and I replaced the switch itself. Everything works on the car now that I don't drive it as a daily.

[bkbimmer]

A bit of evolution.

Day one




I've had this thing almost three years already, where does the time go? What to do next?

[bkbimmer]

The heater core decided to start leaking today, YAHOO!

Parts car?

[tig]

The heater core decided to start leaking today, YAHOO!

Parts car?

Nah, think about it as an opportunity to refurbish the interior. You'll need to pull the dash, which is probably cracked, right?. To pull tthay, the windshield. Put a new OE screen in.

I bet the heater fan resistor pack needs replacing. Much easier to do with the heater core out.

And there's probably all sorts of ghetto wiring from PO stereo installs you can clean up while in there.

See how thinking positively works?

[bkbimmer]

The heater core decided to start leaking today, YAHOO!

Parts car?

Nah, think about it as an opportunity to refurbish the interior. You'll need to pull the dash, which is probably cracked, right?. To pull tthay, the windshield. Put a new OE screen in.

I bet the heater fan resistor pack needs replacing. Much easier to do with the heater core out.

And there's probably all sorts of ghetto wiring from PO stereo installs you can clean up while in there.

See how thinking positively works?

The dash is cracked but it doesn't need to come out, the wiring is all in good shape, the heater resister has already been replaced.It has an oe windshield in it as well.


I think it's time to make it into a race car.

[austin8753]

One vote for racecar.