Vlad: The Zinno '87 535is

[kmark1]

stunning.

[tig]

And the euro bumper project begins...

Missing: Frame rail ends (incoming from Ivo), left turn signal (somehow missing in shipment).



Ken (my body/paint guy) will be ready to start in a few weeks.

[Angel]

And the euro bumper project begins...

Missing: Frame rail ends (incoming from Ivo), left turn signal (somehow missing in shipment).



Ken (my body/paint guy) will be ready to start in a few weeks.

[Hffvdbl]

Very nice!

[harrypalmer]

And the euro bumper project begins...

Missing: Frame rail ends (incoming from Ivo), left turn signal (somehow missing in shipment).



Ken (my body/paint guy) will be ready to start in a few weeks.

I'd wish I could count with a local Ken (body/paint guy) down here in South Florida - Miami

It seems your car and mine are becoming twin brothers from different mothers on opposite coasts; with the Alpina wheels, Euro bumpers, etc., although I'm still behind and undecided on my engine upgrade.

Albeit you already know you're doing a fantastic job with Vlad, I still wanted to congratulate you!

Why are the bumpers primed and not chromed, is it your choice? Or you had no choice?

[tig]

I want painted.

[harrypalmer]

I want painted.

Cool. Thanks!

[BimmerSultan]

I want painted.

And you can't get all the chrome pieces anymore. Took a while to put it all together didn't it Charlie? Glad to see it all was found and I know it will look awesome when completed.

[Hffvdbl]

I'm excited to see it Charlie! I love the shadowline look, but you know I'm biased.

[harrypalmer]

I want painted.

And you can't get all the chrome pieces anymore.

You are right, except for the front left side bumper everything else is still available Hope this helps others interested!

[BimmerSultan]

I want painted.

And you can't get all the chrome pieces anymore.

You are right, except for the front left side bumper everything else is still available Hope this helps others interested!

Some of you guys really crack me up with all that you "know". I give up trying to help and be realistic, I mean I only work at a dealership and have daily access to parts availability. If you think that's all that is NLA, I wish everyone luck who tries to order a package deal...and that's before you need to provide a euro VIN.

[harrypalmer]

I want painted.

And you can't get all the chrome pieces anymore.

You are right, except for the front left side bumper everything else is still available Hope this helps others interested!

Some of you guys really crack me up with all that you "know". I give up trying to help and be realistic, I mean I only work at a dealership and have daily access to parts availability. If you think that's all that is NLA, I wish everyone luck who tries to order a package deal...and that's before you need to provide a euro VIN.

My comment was to encourage others so why the sarcasm and negativity? Due to the ban on Euro parts (including bumpers) I recently ordered and got everything new directly from Germany except for the brackets, those were used in the Netherlands. I'm glad you have access to parts most of us could not purchase, so from experience you could say I do know what's out there. Cheers!

[BimmerSultan]

I want painted.

And you can't get all the chrome pieces anymore.

You are right, except for the front left side bumper everything else is still available Hope this helps others interested!

Some of you guys really crack me up with all that you "know". I give up trying to help and be realistic, I mean I only work at a dealership and have daily access to parts availability. If you think that's all that is NLA, I wish everyone luck who tries to order a package deal...and that's before you need to provide a euro VIN.

My comment was to encourage others so why the sarcasm and negativity? Due to the ban on Euro parts (including bumpers) I recently ordered and got everything new directly from Germany except for the brackets, those were used in the Netherlands. I'm glad you have access to parts most of us could not purchase, so from experience you could say I do know what's out there. Cheers!

Sorry if it came off as sarcasm. I'm glad it worked out for you though. It is a tough to thing to get all of the needed parts. I'll leave it at that. Now back to Charlie's awesome car!

[bkbimmer]

I was expecting it to be finished, I'm going to go drink more now. Could this day BE any worse?!

[bkbimmer]

Every time I look at your car it makes me want to take mine to the crusher and video tape its fitting demise.

[tig]

Every time I look at your car it makes me want to take mine to the crusher and video tape its fitting demise.

Ditto.

[leadphut]

Every time I look at your car it makes me want to take mine to the crusher and video tape its fitting demise.

Ditto.

you want Brent to crush his car?

[vandiesel]

Charlie, Given the varied conflicting information on acquiring everything to do the job can you detail how you got that awesome pile of parts together?

[tig]

Charlie, Given the varied conflicting information on acquiring everything to do the job can you detail how you got that awesome pile of parts together?

Yes.

1. I sent an email to Steve at BluntTech with a spreadsheet with all the parts listed.
2. I also provided a scan of the title to a Euro car that I just happened to have owned at that very moment, but no longer own.
3. He charged my credit card a big fucking amount.
4. I waited a few weeks.
5. I took the above picture.
6. Another box containing the lower spoiler and a Euro M5 windshield showed up the next day. But I didn't bother to take another picture.

Said spreadsheet is available for your pleasure here:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=E ... ile%2cxlsx

[lizard]

Yes.

1. I sent an email to Steve at BluntTech with a spreadsheet with all the parts listed.
2. I also provided a scan of the title to a Euro car that I just happened to have owned at that very moment, but no longer own.
3. He charged my credit card a big fucking amount.
4. I waited a few weeks.
5. I took the above picture.
6. Another box containing the lower spoiler and a Euro M5 windshield showed up the next day. But I didn't bother to take another picture.

Said spreadsheet is available for your pleasure here:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=E ... ile%2cxlsx

Thanks for sharing.

A couple of questions for clarification:

1) Steve can order the parts from Germany as long as his customer provides title to a Euro car?
2) Is the proof just for Steve or the gubment?

[bkbimmer]

Nice spreadsheet, you are a helpful sir.

[1st 5er]

... Is the proof just for Steve or the gubment?

BMW NA

[wkohler]

As far as I'm concerned, they can go fuck themselves. I have been waiting over a month for two parts that showed available in U.S. and I have 100% legit documentation for.

[tig]

This weekend, between bouts of power washing the driveway, I started pulling the diving boards off.



ZMOG.







I had noticed it from underneath before, but it's pretty clear a PO had bonked the front of the car on a curb, or set of curbs.





For sail?









The soft coupling on the PS cooling line has been seeping. It looks like it'll be a bear to replace, but I may just do it while I have this all apart.

Washed for two reasons: 1) My paint guy gave me shit about having too much wax on Maytag; I plan on using P21S HD Cleanse to ensure I get all wax off before taking it in, and 2) what other chance will I get to really get all this clean?



Pretty clean, but I didn't have a ton of time, so I'm going to get in there again once I have it back on the lift and really get all the nooks & crannies clean. I will also use this oppt to finally clean the insides of the fenders...and replace the plastic fender shields as they are cracked. I bought a set last year...








Dems tailpipes gonna be way too long. I'm gonna get a new exhaust anywho.

[1st 5er]

She's gonna be beautiful.

[harrypalmer]

It would be immensely appreciated and helpful (to me) and maybe everyone else if you could document in detail the front US brackets removal / front Euro brackets install, so if you can please do; mainly because the uncertainty of the CORRECT WAY front procedure; having the Euro brackets go in a bit lower when tack welded, etc. Anyhow, thank you for these pictures.

[wkohler]

You should take care of that power steering leak right away. You already have the power steering cooler unbolted on the bottom, so it isn't going to get much easier. Get the right hose from the dealer and you already have the fancy pants clamp tool. Make sure you pull the headlight wiring harness out from behind the bottom of the grille support so your guy doesn't melt it when he starts the welding. I'd just pull it through and put it by the battery. I think you can leave the horns connected and the aux fan. Can't remember as it's been a while since I've done this on a US E28. You will also be short two speed nuts and screws for the Euro valance as the US one is notched to go around the gusseting from the frame rail horn to the grille support.

This was one of my favorite photos of my old car:



That's kinda odd that they didn't paint the lower part of your front valance black. They had done that on my car even though it was a 535is. A really early one, though. Interestingly, I didn't even notice it looking at your photos of the valance, rather the lack of overspray on the core support. I thought you cleaned it off. Wait, nope. Haha.

[tig]

You should take care of that power steering leak right away. You already have the power steering cooler unbolted on the bottom, so it isn't going to get much easier. Get the right hose from the dealer and you already have the fancy pants clamp tool.

Yes, sir!

Make sure you pull the headlight wiring harness out from behind the bottom of the grille support so your guy doesn't melt it when he starts the welding. I'd just pull it through and put it by the battery. I think you can leave the horns connected and the aux fan. Can't remember as it's been a while since I've done this on a US E28.

Good call on the wiring harness. Getting the aux fan out looked tricky because of the AC lines, which I really don't want to disconnect.

You will also be short two speed nuts and screws for the Euro valance as the US one is notched to go around the gusseting from the frame rail horn to the grille support.

Speed nuts being those plastic ones?

You have an amazing memory, and I'm tankful for that.

[tig]

It would be immensely appreciated and helpful (to me) and maybe everyone else if you could document in detail the front US brackets removal / front Euro brackets install, so if you can please do; mainly because the uncertainty of the CORRECT WAY front procedure; having the Euro brackets go in a bit lower when tack welded, etc. Anyhow, thank you for these pictures.

Well, seeing that I have no idea what I'm doing, and have struggled to find good pictures myself, we shall see.

What do you mean "Euro brackets go in a bit lower"? First I've heard that.

[bkbimmer]

You have a lot to obsess about, congrats on a big step in the right direction.