Waiting For My E28 Purchase

General conversations about BMW E28s and the people who own them.
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

I finally bought an E28! A while ago, actually. It’s being loaded on the transporter tomorrow and then I’ll have it in 10 days or so. Yup, coming all the way from Virginia to Oregon.

So now we wait. Sight unseen purchase, though I did get an inspection done and spoke to the restorer. Hoping to have good news to report here soon.

I started looking for one about five years ago, might have seen some of your cars at a 5’er meetup in Portland then. I found a *perfect* one owner 535is driven by a little old lady who worked in my building. She agreed to sell it to me when she retired from work, and as she was nearly 80 I figured my search was over and I just had to be patient. Then she had an accident and totaled it . . .

My search restarted, in the interim these cars had about doubled in value and my interest in taking on a project car had declined by about three-quarters. Too many projects already. So I have been looking for another perfect car, and we’ll see how close, or not, I got.
Last edited by jyl on Oct 22, 2021 12:47 AM, edited 1 time in total.
gwb72tii
Posts: 619
Joined: Sep 21, 2021 4:58 PM
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by gwb72tii »

Good luck, hope it is as close to perfect as you want.
I decided to make one perfect and bought one unseen in Mesa. More of a project than I thought.
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

I have a 110 year old house, a 30+ year old Porsche, and a <2 year old business - I figure that’s enough projects . . .
laguna30
Posts: 318
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Olympia, Wa

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by laguna30 »

You bought an E28
even perfect .. it is a project to keep it that way
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

The hard truth! Ha ha. I can deal with that, I think.
BMWCCA2
Posts: 4060
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Central Virginia

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by BMWCCA2 »

jyl wrote: Oct 20, 2021 5:53 PM I did get an inspection done and spoke to the restorer.
Please share those details . . . interested in knowing who in Virginia is considered a BMW restorer!
austin8753
Posts: 1444
Joined: May 16, 2010 1:37 AM
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by austin8753 »

congrats to you - i hope it's everything you hoped for.

A
vinceg101
Posts: 4802
Joined: Jun 20, 2007 2:40 AM
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by vinceg101 »

jyl wrote: Oct 20, 2021 8:27 PM I have a 110 year old house, a 30+ year old Porsche, and a <2 year old business - I figure that’s enough projects . . .
HA! Lightweight.

;)

Welcome aboard and good luck.
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

Thanks! It is a bone stock US 535i. I’ve acquired a set of rebuildable power sports seats, and have been learning about various suspension and brake upgrades, and so on. However, I’m expecting to spend a good period simply getting to know the car and sorting the issues that it will surely have, becoming confident in its reliability (?) and soundness (?), and figuring out just what its role in the fleet will be, before doing anything un-stock.
vinceg101
Posts: 4802
Joined: Jun 20, 2007 2:40 AM
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by vinceg101 »

jyl wrote: Oct 21, 2021 6:08 PM Thanks! It is a bone stock US 535i. I’ve acquired a set of rebuildable power sports seats, and have been learning about various suspension and brake upgrades, and so on. However, I’m expecting to spend a good period simply getting to know the car and sorting the issues that it will surely have, becoming confident in its reliability (?) and soundness (?), and figuring out just what its role in the fleet will be, before doing anything un-stock.
Always the best and most sound strategy. You've landed at the right place to guide you through this journey.
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Oct 21, 2021 8:06 AM
jyl wrote: Oct 20, 2021 5:53 PM I did get an inspection done and spoke to the restorer.
Please share those details . . . interested in knowing who in Virginia is considered a BMW restorer!
“Royall Restorations” - I talked to him, didn’t get the feeling he was any sort of BMW “specialist” but sounded solid.
BMWCCA2
Posts: 4060
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Central Virginia

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by BMWCCA2 »

jyl wrote: Oct 22, 2021 12:45 AM
BMWCCA2 wrote: Oct 21, 2021 8:06 AM
jyl wrote: Oct 20, 2021 5:53 PM I did get an inspection done and spoke to the restorer.
Please share those details . . . interested in knowing who in Virginia is considered a BMW restorer!
“Royall Restorations” - I talked to him, didn’t get the feeling he was any sort of BMW “specialist” but sounded solid.
A lot of deja vu in this now. Posted a Google photo of this little place in Topping, VA, near a runway and boat storage maybe within the last year? Google: 2541 Greys Point Rd, Topping, VA 23169
Wonder how long this car has been for sale? I wish you only the best!
CSBM5
Posts: 586
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Greenville, SC

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by CSBM5 »

laguna30 wrote: Oct 20, 2021 9:45 PM You bought an E28
even perfect .. it is a project to keep it that way
Every time I see a post from you that avatar tricks me..."oh yeah, hey, wait a minute!" :laugh: I took that picture of my Bavaria in 1988 as part of a group of pics my insurance company wanted to document the car...seems like yesterday.

OP: congrats on the E28! Bone stock 535i here in 2021? Hard to fathom. We bought a 535i in 1986 as my wife's daily driver (5spd, LSD), and I ordered Dinan sway bars and 16" wheels to replace the TRX stuff the very next week! :)
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Oct 22, 2021 9:29 PM Wonder how long this car has been for sale? I wish you only the best!


About 4 months when I first learned of it.

The car does have very high miles but compression and inspection checked out ok. I’m cool with that, I only drive maybe 3000 miles/yr spread among 4 cars, and I’d much rather rebuild a motor and other mechanical stuff than deal with rust and repaint.

I figure when you get into a motor you have the opportunity to improve, when you’re chasing rust you can at best repair.
stuartinmn
Posts: 9380
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Minneapolis

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by stuartinmn »

jyl wrote: Oct 24, 2021 12:46 PMThe car does have very high miles but compression and inspection checked out ok.
One of the great things about these cars is how long the engines can last. There was a poll here a while back about the mileage of board member's cars, and there are a lot of us who own cars with well over 200k on them. If the car has been cared for, high miles isn't necessarily a problem.
laguna30
Posts: 318
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Olympia, Wa

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by laguna30 »

CSBM posted :
"Every time I see a post from you that avatar tricks me..."oh yeah, hey, wait a minute!" I took that picture of my Bavaria in 1988 as part of a group of pics my insurance company wanted to document the car...seems like yesterday."

I will post pictures of my Bavaria when it gets reasonably close to the image I aspire too ..
Thanks for the high water mark - What you did was gorgeous
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

It’s here!

Looked it over, drove it to my only local friend who has an E28 (a project 533i), he looked it over and drove it around.

Initial verdict:

Everything works, except: power locks (they actuate but don’t stay locked, other weirdness); driver’s power headrest; some windows a little slow; both power mirrors inop. The OBC says “UHR” so I need to reset it. The check panel and dash lights seem to work.

Everything cosmetically looks pretty much perfect, except: a small tear in driver’s door seal (I need to glue it; all the door and window and body rubbers and trim strips look new); a small loose spot in headliner at sunroof corner; not perfect fit of hood; engine bay not detailed at all; haven’t yet looked under the car.

Drives fine, starts right up, no smoke, comfortable, smooth, no obvious issues, except: idle not that smooth; faint clunk occasionally from steering (?); I was just driving around town though, which means 30 mph at most. Mismatched tires on 15” wheels, will need to address that.

Issues: trunk damp, not investigated where leak is coming from, car was garaged by seller but has been in rain for some days during the transport. No rust in spare well but a little surface starting on trunk floor, need to take care of that ASAP.

I’ll call it 8-8.5 or so, of 10. I’m happy. Tomorrow I’ll look it over more closely.
austin8753
Posts: 1444
Joined: May 16, 2010 1:37 AM
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by austin8753 »

jyl wrote: Oct 30, 2021 9:13 PM It’s here!

Looked it over, drove it to my only local friend who has an E28 (a project 533i), he looked it over and drove it around.

Initial verdict:

Everything works, except: power locks (they actuate but don’t stay locked, other weirdness); driver’s power headrest; some windows a little slow; both power mirrors inop. The OBC says “UHR” so I need to reset it. The check panel and dash lights seem to work.

Everything cosmetically looks pretty much perfect, except: a small tear in driver’s door seal (I need to glue it; all the door and window and body rubbers and trim strips look new); a small loose spot in headliner at sunroof corner; not perfect fit of hood; engine bay not detailed at all; haven’t yet looked under the car.

Drives fine, starts right up, no smoke, comfortable, smooth, no obvious issues, except: idle not that smooth; faint clunk occasionally from steering (?); I was just driving around town though, which means 30 mph at most. Mismatched tires on 15” wheels, will need to address that.

Issues: trunk damp, not investigated where leak is coming from, car was garaged by seller but has been in rain for some days during the transport. No rust in spare well but a little surface starting on trunk floor, need to take care of that ASAP.

I’ll call it 8-8.5 or so, of 10. I’m happy. Tomorrow I’ll look it over more closely.
congrats to you, sir - glad it arrived in one piece.
BMWCCA2
Posts: 4060
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Central Virginia

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by BMWCCA2 »

Lumpy idle is pretty normal. Slow windows come with the age. Locks could be as simple as a door not closing all the way (puffers) or trunk lock needs adjusting. Damp trunk is usually taillight seals. Just do both sides and be done with it. Check trunk seal to make sure it is installed properly and not torn. If you can hear the motor running, it's likely just the drive cable on the headrest. Usually the inside cable slips down and won't engage the headrest.

And, of course, without pictures it never happened.
Mdreamer
Posts: 526
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by Mdreamer »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Oct 31, 2021 9:06 AM And, of course, without pictures it never happened.
I concur!
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

I need to figure out how to post pics here. I don’t think I have a photo host set up yet.
jyl
Posts: 138
Joined: Jun 02, 2016 8:59 PM
Location: Oregon

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by jyl »

Let's see if I've figured out the photo linking . . . hmm, not really. I currently have my photos in iCloud Drive, seems like I should use a different photo host?

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0dth0sE ... nOpK7mQ0hw

I'll try to take better photos soon, but it has started raining . . . and the car needs a good clean anyway.

Edit: I finally figured out how to embed an image using desktop Flickr - it wasn't particularly intuitive, the "embed" code Flickr provides doesn't work, I had to extract just part of it and add Image tags - so I'll try to take some better pics and post them. Sorry I've been pretty slow to figure this out.

Image

Image
Last edited by jyl on Nov 02, 2021 3:15 PM, edited 2 times in total.
austin8753
Posts: 1444
Joined: May 16, 2010 1:37 AM
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by austin8753 »

i like Flickr, for what it's worth. $50/year for unlimited storage. fairly easy to upload through the app, then link them to your post from the computer.
BMWCCA2
Posts: 4060
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Central Virginia

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by BMWCCA2 »

jyl wrote: Nov 01, 2021 11:30 AM Let's see if I've figured out the photo linking . . . hmm, not really. I currently have my photos in iCloud Drive, seems like I should use a different photo host?

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0dth0sE ... nOpK7mQ0hw

I'll try to take better photos soon, but it has started raining . . . and the car needs a good clean anyway.
One picture? I use the free version of Flicker. Works fine.
Blue Shadow
Posts: 10195
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: SE PA

Re: Waiting For My E28 Purchase

Post by Blue Shadow »

www.e38.org/e28 has a lot of dead links to projects and some live ones. A few of the projects were on the E23 of the site owner.

ETM is in the middle of the left column.

the locks. the Central Lock Control box may have an unsoldered safety release.
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