Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

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unknXwn
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by unknXwn »

FYI, I just did a similar epic trip after purchasing a 1987 535is as well, and I posted in my own thread because I didn't want to mess with yours even though it's a few years old.

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=144190

Hope this post isn't considered hijacking. If it is, just let me know and I'll delete it. I just wanted to say hi and connect on common ground.

Btw, love your e28. Kudos.
jhh925
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is (Euro Bumpers!)

Post by jhh925 »

Image

Sorry if I'm jumping in here late. Maybe this was discussed & solved a dozen pages back, and if so, ignore this.

To get the US bulb holder (the white part in this pic) to fit into the Euro reflector housing, you need to grind the outer surface of the bulb holder down by about 2 to 3 mm (IIRC) all the way around. In the pic above (I think that's CEK's pic? Not totally sure who I'm quoting in this post), the flange at the back end of the while bulb holder needs to seat all the way down onto the shoulder of the mounting hole on the back of the Euro reflector. If you don't get the bulb holder down into the reflector far enough, then the bulbs won't sit at their intended "focal point" - instead they'll be sitting almost still hidden down in the mounting hole.

The plastic that they used to make the bulb holder is pretty tough stuff, and it took me some patience to get it ground down, but you can get the holder to seat correctly in the reflector without modifying that mounting shoulder on the reflector. (I'm doing this from memory. It was a few months ago that I did the mod ... there may be some guide parts in the reflector that you need to grind away?)
leadphut
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by leadphut »

.
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

leadphut wrote:.
I miss you too.
leadphut
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by leadphut »

cek wrote:
leadphut wrote:.
I miss you too.
You're not tricking me again. Twice was more than I can handle, Mr. Smooth-Operator.
bkbimmer
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by bkbimmer »

You can cut the sexual tension with a credit card, get a room, you two. You can mop up your man mess with the blue towel in your tool kits.
leadphut
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by leadphut »

bkbimmer wrote:You can cut the sexual tension with a credit card, get a room, you two. You can mop up your man mess with the blue towel in your tool kits.
You still upset you weren't included? I told you it's up to cek.
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

leadphut wrote:
bkbimmer wrote:You can cut the sexual tension with a credit card, get a room, you two. You can mop up your man mess with the blue towel in your tool kits.
You still upset you weren't included? I told you it's up to cek.
Hang on to your petunias guys. Vlad will be in your town in 22 days. You can get in the back seat then.
leadphut
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by leadphut »

cek wrote:
leadphut wrote:
bkbimmer wrote:You can cut the sexual tension with a credit card, get a room, you two. You can mop up your man mess with the blue towel in your tool kits.
You still upset you weren't included? I told you it's up to cek.
Hang on to your petunias guys. Vlad will be in your town in 22 days. You can get in the back seat then.
ew!
kzolee
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by kzolee »

Image

What about Maytag?
jhh925
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by jhh925 »

Is this an addition to the fleet?!?

Image

Credit: Reddit
muleskinner
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by muleskinner »

Who buys a f'n rental car and then spends money on a personal license plate?
m-racer
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by m-racer »

That's hilarious
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

A little Milestone, coming up on a bigger one. Car remains a dream.

Image

Admission: I never really mounted my ECU after installing the M30B35. It was held in place with zip-ties.

Over the past 2 years, I've spent many a late night in bed (actually a great technique for actually putting me to sleep...takes my mind of work) fabricating a fancy bracket/plate thingy in my head.

Then I noticed these brackets sitting with all my picture hangers and other misc house hardware. Took 20 minutes and required zero fabrication skillz.

Image
bkbimmer
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by bkbimmer »

I love it when a plan comes together.
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

Image
geordi
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by geordi »

cek wrote:Image
You short of cash or utilizing the in-tank pump as a debris filter? ;)
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

geordi wrote:
cek wrote:Image
You short of cash or utilizing the in-tank pump as a debris filter? ;)
The point of the photo was not to illustrate how shitty my gas mileage is, but to illustrate that I'm now 'due for service'.
Spen
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by Spen »

Charlie, I seriously doubt your car is ever due for service. It looks pretty serviced to me. I wish my serviced car was as serviced as yours.
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

Image
Karl Grau
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by Karl Grau »

Just getting broken in. :up:
piperbrothers
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by piperbrothers »

Good God. What a beautiful car and an epic thread. I just "invested" two hours reading all the way through. My first BMW was a 535is. I spotted it in traffic and followed the guy until he pulled into a bank parking lot, where I jumped out and said, "Hey- would you be interested in selling your car?" And he sold it to me! I sold it a few years later to buy a 911SC but have always wanted another E28. I even tried buying it back from the guy I sold it to a couple of times in the past 17 years, but he doesn't want to sell. But soon I will have another; I am buying Alex's Euro 525. Charlie, I look forward to meeting you and Vlad (I've already met Minerva). Here is my old E28. Image
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

piperbrothers wrote:Good God. What a beautiful car and an epic thread. I just "invested" two hours reading all the way through. My first BMW was a 535is. I spotted it in traffic and followed the guy until he pulled into a bank parking lot, where I jumped out and said, "Hey- would you be interested in selling your car?" And he sold it to me! I sold it a few years later to buy a 911SC but have always wanted another E28. I even tried buying it back from the guy I sold it to a couple of times in the past 17 years, but he doesn't want to sell. But soon I will have another; I am buying Alex's Euro 525. Charlie, I look forward to meeting you and Vlad (I've already met Minerva). Here is my old E28. Image
Looking forward to meeting you too! And seeing that silver 525 at KD. :-)
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

Tee-hee. Found this under the wiper after arriving at Sea-Tac from CES this morning.

Image

I am embarrassed by how dirty the car is right now.
Karl Grau
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by Karl Grau »

^^^ :laugh:
leadphut
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by leadphut »

cek wrote:Tee-hee...I am embarrassed by how dirty the car is right now.
Dood. No.
unknXwn
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by unknXwn »

Sigh, someday my 535is will be up to spec and cleaned up...and painted nicely, and and and...working on getting a stable job right now. Things been rough.
Image
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

unknXwn wrote:Sigh, someday my 535is will be up to spec and cleaned up...and painted nicely, and and and...working on getting a stable job right now. Things been rough.
Image
Keep at it!
tig
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tig »

Now that Maytag's off the lift, I can get to the long-overdue maintenance on Vlad.
  • Alternator - Replace with reman unit as, unit I rebuilt puts out ~12V vs ~13.5 to 14.2
  • Oil change - ~7400 miles
  • Flush brake fluid - My records don't show when I did it last, but i know it was in last 2 years.
  • Bleed clutch slave - Feels like air's in there
  • Replace transmission fluid (MT-90)
  • Replace belts
  • Other Inspection II stuff - I'm at 22k on the new M30B35
  • Swap wheels - because I"m bored with the RZs
Today I got the alternator swapped and started on the brakes. But my powerbleeder's adapter cap is leaking and the low-brake fluid sensor on the master reservoir broke when I tried to unscrew it. New one ordered. Flushing the brake fluid has been abandoned until a new cap comes from blunt and I can get a new adapter cap for the Power Bleeder.

Kinda sad my pretty, powder coated, alternator will go back as a core. I considered pulling the 'new' reman'd (Bosch) apart and swapping the case, but it's just not worth it. New alternator is putting out the right voltage; this should help with my blowing through batteries problem.
Image

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Also adjusted the hood release. It was getting harder and harder to get the hood opened and that's not good.

Finally, I took the RZs off and put the Alpinas on. They've been on Maytag, and the tires are about due to be replaced, so this way I can wear them down faster as I daily Vlad. I also was getting bored of the RZs...which will go back on Maytag. Note I have a set of 16" RS that I have had refinished, but have not gotten back yet...

I didn't take a picture with the Alpinas back on the car because it's dirty, but this is what it looked like last time he wore them...
Image
tschultz
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Re: Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

Post by tschultz »

Looks good with the Alpina's!

I've always had success flushing brake fluid by using the jar and hose method, to the point that I don't have a pressure bleeder...
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