bmw e28 535is dashboard layout - q&a

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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docvogt
Posts: 1
Joined: Jan 12, 2022 6:12 AM
Location: minnesota

bmw e28 535is dashboard layout - q&a

Post by docvogt »

greetings

im new to this board, not new to older bmws

a summer before covid, i sold my pet '74 bmw 2002ti and bought a '87 bmw 535is (whos previous owner did a really decent job cloning an M5... correct front, correct seats, etc.)

i aDore the car. plenty for me to still do w it, but very very drivable

as im getting to know the car, some odd feature just seem impossible to figger out - my car is obviously left hand drive for america... on the lower dash, half way between steering column and radio/hvac controls is some kind of black "button". ive no idea What it is or does. i find no reference to it Anywhere... including in the 87 owners handbook. what the @$^ Is it? i searched for hours to find a picture of it is Is stock.. its not some hacked add-on... but i dunno what it is.

help me out

cheers

Doc
BMWCCA2
Posts: 4060
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Central Virginia

Re: bmw e28 535is dashboard layout - q&a

Post by BMWCCA2 »

Welcome. I think you found the power-window circuit breaker.

What's different about the seats in your 535is compared to any other 535is? Did they just put the M-badges on the backrest?

Are you sure you had a '74 2002ti? Did you miss an "i"? Add carburetors?
Ju@n
Posts: 702
Joined: Apr 27, 2013 1:11 PM
Location: Uruguay

Re: bmw e28 535is dashboard layout - q&a

Post by Ju@n »

Welcome!
535is are visually almost the same as American M5s.
So, seats are identical minus the m badge, same for the front and back spoilers. The button you mention is a cutoff switch for windows, with it off you can't raise or lower the windows (with the key in the on position).
Blue Shadow
Posts: 10195
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: SE PA

Re: bmw e28 535is dashboard layout - q&a

Post by Blue Shadow »

page 31 (page 32 in the pdf) of the combined 528e/535e/M5 OM from the period talks about the automatic circuit breaker.

We have written more than is in that description of the switch.
JohnH
Posts: 693
Joined: Jan 24, 2007 9:55 AM
Location: Surrey,UK

Re: bmw e28 535is dashboard layout - q&a

Post by JohnH »

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