"The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Specific conversations and info for the BMW E28 M5 and M535i.
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Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

"The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Hi, I m new to the forum and new to the World of BMW with a '87 NAM M5 on its way. I m a petrol head by heart but had never owned a BMW before. The story of how I got to this gem can can be told somewhen further done the line. My garage hosts some rare cars with a star (for example 190E 2.5-16 (5000 something units ever made) , 190E 2.5-16 Evolution (502 units), 190E 2.5-16 Evolution 2 (502 units), 500E (10478 units), a 91 500SL, W123 230E with a 5.6L supercharged v8, a S123 280TE 6.0 AMG V8, 190E 2.6 in progress of a 3.6-24v AMG conversion and a SL65 AMG Black Series, daily driver and family car not considered. However I m appreciating many other fine cars, so the E30 M3, E28 and E34 M5, 930, 964, 993 Porsches etc.
To my technical abilities, all the cars are fully maintained, restored or modded by myself.

The Black Sheep (though its not the only black one in the herd) has been sold with an accident title in 2013 to Germany where it was rebuild by what is supposedly an independent classic BMW specialist and converted to euro bumpers and instrument.
From there it was procured from a collector and parked in a large collection in Switzerland (check out YouTube, Chris Harris youngtimer dream garage). I only have seen the car on photos and looking forward to receive it and get some idea of its real condition, so I'm really excited about this fine car but expect also that it will need some work. The general condition aside and since it is a American version, I certainly will get rid of the catalytic converters and install a full supersprint exhaust including headers, maf conversion, maybe a set of catcams etc.

I will keep this updated as how things progress...

Here the photos I have:
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Here 2 photos of the accident damage:

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Last edited by Rouven036 on Dec 04, 2022 5:35 PM, edited 1 time in total.
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

The Black Sheep has landed:

Yesterday evening the car was delivered, upon initial inspection it seems to be overall in good shape, the damage seems to be acceptably well repaired with a complete new front mask installed back in the day. Dashboard has notorious cracks, electric gimmicks like seats, sun roof, seat heater etc...

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Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Meanwhile ghad to make a decision on the license plate. With the limited options available in Germany I narrowed it down to 2 final options:
(first block 1-3 letters is city/area code)
(second block 1-2 letters free form)
(2 to 4 numbers free form)
(seasonal or historical code numbers or letter H)

PF-S 3835 H
PF-M 536 H

I have chosen the PF-M 536 (unfortunately 528, 587 etc was all in use already)
With the historical H amended the plate doesn't look to buisy....
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Have been home the last 3 weeks and could driver the M5 (or Emily as my daughter calls her) for about 1000km as a daily.
Also performed a thorough inspection and identified some areas which need attention:
-Front windshield poor fitment on the top corners and leaks
- self leveling suspension pressure cells are gone - conversion to euro setup with lowering springs
- rear windshield upper trim strip shrunk/needs replacement
- interior carpet needs renewal (need to find a good replacement)
- want a full front/rear E32 750 brake upgrade
- want aluminum LCA's
- ordered stainless brake hoses
- need a first aid kit panel for the trunk (missing)
- needs a front grill badge
- need a suitable radio (probably a blaupunkt Bremen)
- found the diff ratio quite short for Autobahn speeds
- gear linkage needs a bit of tweaking/new bushings
- suspect a chip to be installed as the engine revs up to about 7500rpm
- needs more power (full supersprint with headers, b38 standard cams by catcams and maybe some more.

Had replaced the front windshield due to bad fitment in the upper right end left corner with a sekurit glass and new original BMW seal along with upper lock strip. Major pita to get this this fixed properly but it worked well in the end. Additionally sealed the glass and body side with Mercedes specific permanent elastic sealant (as I am a MB guy).
Further ordered a set of new shocks (Bilstein m5 for the front and b8 (soft) for the rear and KAW M5 specific lowering springs. Only issue here, the lower spring perches are too small for the euro M5 large diameter rear springs. Canceled the full self leveling suspension.
Inspected closer the area of the former accident, definitely the whole front mask was replaced, the front end on the left with the box thing infront of the wheel is either new or exceptionally well repaired as no waves/crumples or whatever other accident marks are visible in that area. Gaps of fender/bonnet/door are equally on either side, radiator an soil cooler are new as well as the fan/fan shroud and other covers etc. so quite glad the job was done well.

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Here still with the sagging rear suspension.
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Here after I washer her with the new shocks and springs installed in the rear only (2nd groove from top) . Will do the front shock and spring replacement next time when I am at home again.
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S62ninja
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Joined: Aug 19, 2020 8:54 PM
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by S62ninja »

Just here to say please keep updating, people are reading
cek
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Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by cek »

I'm reading!

This is fantastic. Welcome to the fold!

For your Mercs, please checkout www.holygraillabs.com and if you are interested in a similar kit for them, please email support@holygraillabs.com letting us know your interest... we're working hard on creating a solution for W124s right now.
Kovic
Posts: 40
Joined: Nov 23, 2022 6:32 AM
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Kovic »

Your collection of Mercs is awesome!! Especially the 190E 2.5-16 cars. Love them. Feel free to post pictures of them too:)
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Thx guys, certainly will continue as time moves on.

@cek - have you got issues in the US with the fuse boxes of the MB's? Haven't experienced that yet except issues on non ceramic carriers of the fuses as they can melt under higher loads.

I will search for a few photos of the MB's and share them here shortly.


Meanwhile I have ordered 2 reproduction front badges from Christian.
Also think to get the subframe/steering reinforcement bushing and tick off this topic while working next time on the car too..
Galahad
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Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Galahad »

Rouven036 wrote: Dec 21, 2022 11:21 PM @cek - have you got issues in the US with the fuse boxes of the MB's? Haven't experienced that yet except issues on non ceramic carriers of the fuses as they can melt under higher loads.
It's less frequent than BMWs (MBs have a way better fuse box design) but they still have melting issues. Most of what I've seen is the plastic bodies of the fuses melt but I do have a reference box from a W124 that has melted around one of the high current fuse holders.
monkey.wrench
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Location: Palo Alto

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by monkey.wrench »

S62ninja wrote: Dec 07, 2022 2:46 PM Just here to say please keep updating, people are reading
+1
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Here the stable mates, or at least as I have 2 stables a few thousand kilometers apart:
Sold this one last year with just shy over 9k km on the clock, crazy car and story behind it - got it in 2013 from the first owner a royal highness but never had a let's say emotional bond to it.
SL65 Black Series, one of total 350,or 1 of 175 ROW version with carbon bucket seats and stuff
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Then the car I own since end of 99, more than half of my life:
500E with big brakes, de-limiter, longer diff ratio (2.65 instead of 2.82 along with paired speedo), wavetrac diffloc, ASR switch off function, amg stabilizer bar, tewaked 5L engine and a AMG 6L package ready to be installed. This car is an absolute mile eater, did several trips cross country and you can comfortably set the cruise control at any speed over 200km/h (as traffic allows) and let it eat up the distance.
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Then my beloved Evo2, got it in 2007, really good car by condition and mileage, starting to get afraid to drive it
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Almost likely beloved yellow evo1, traded it against my corrado vr6 in 2008 1:1 (8k Euro back then, half of what a original black one with same mileage costed back then), needs somewhen to be stripped and painted black again.
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Then my fully restored 2.5-16 with tweaked engine and some evo2 upgrades, was a Christmas gift to myself in 2012 but alot of time and money went into this
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Here my engeering degree, '82 230E, got so many things on it to write a book about it. The trunk emblems say it, 230E on the left, 5.6s on the right. So built from empty shell with 5.6L period correct engine with vortech v7ysi charger, own designed full cnc intake manifold with integrated water to air intercooler, 4 piston porsche brake calipers on suitable mb discs, alloy rear axle with anti squat, 5 speed paddle shift auto transmission, own headers, wavetrac diff lock, abs hydraulic with intercooler reservoir and battery in the former spare wheel tub, dual engine oil coolers, transmission cooler, dual intercooler heat exchangers, ac, fuel cooling with the ac and plenty other things. Again too much to write
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Here the brake caliper brackets for example
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Or a glimpse of the engine:
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Then there is a AMG 123 V8 station wagon which is an empty shell and work in progressand my current, almost completed 190 2.6 (the 6 cylinder one) with manual transmission where I just completed the swap to a '97 C36 3.6L inline six (simple as block is identical) with EMTRON ECU, DBW, just got a bnib NOS 3.2 amg suspension kit for it on the way, also got big brakes (movit) on suitable mb discs, plus family car and a floating money hole. More photos later if wanted of course.
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

So, day after tomorrow I will travel back home for a few weeks for my summer vacation. Some work will go into the M5, for example to install the full supersprint headers and exhaust, complete suspension install, brake lines and Sone interior work... Will report back when on it.
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Some update but no photos yet.
HA ordered a Bremens SQR46 DAB head unit, Axton 642dsp 5 channel amplifier and a ton of 1.5mm² speaker cable, took the original sound system harness out of the car!, made some small adapter brackets and fitted the axton amp in the same place as the original sound system amp.
Then made a wiring harness based on the original sound system harness from the head unit to the amp and to the speakers.
Now have to fiddle with the dsp setup, I can add a subwoifer now at any point in time with minimal efforts.

Also completed the installation of the front lowering springs with the result that I have to adjust the rears by a groove or two further down.

Ordered a couple of small. It's and pieces from the BMW dealer and still wait for the supersprint exhaust system to arrive.
Also ordered a turner chip after a conversation with Anri.

Now Contemplating to buy a set of E34 turbine wheels and a set if catcams....
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

The sound of the original sound system is quite good after playing a bit with the head unit and dsp settings. Just missing some base which a small subwoofer box should be able to fix. Otherwise not much done as the weather wasn't supporting any larger operations today.
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Here a photo of the axton amp next to the original one
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Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Here two pics, freshly washed. Rear springs sit at the 5th groove from the top. New trunk seal fitted, new tail light seals fitted.
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Blew out some more cash as I bought a set of styling 20 turbine wheels and tires in the size 225/45 which are very very close to the original 225/50 16 tires.
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Turbines arrived and installed, still e34 tires on, no rubbing. Expect new tire to arrive tomorrow or on Saturday.
Really like the slick k look, mounted them opposite of normal rotation direction venting air out from under the car.
Supersprint System arrived yesterday, installed straight away. Sounds good ad fits nicely. Engine pulls noticeably better through upper rev range. Will measure the old components weight to compare... Hope for some saving.

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jayjaya29
Posts: 188
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Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by jayjaya29 »

Great progress. Thanks for sharing.
Rouven036
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 08, 2022 2:25 PM
Location: Germany/Kuwait

Re: "The Black Sheep" or the story of my first ever BMW

Post by Rouven036 »

Here the weights of the exhaust systems:

Stock US full exhaust including headers
Front Header 3.36kg
Rear Header 3.56kg
Cat 15.95kg
Center & rear muffler 21.67
Total 44.44kg

Supersprint, full system
Total 33.6kg

Overall 10.8kg weight savings.
Here a link to the sound comparison stock vs supersprint on my Instagram channel:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cvs1g1Gt ... BiNWFlZA==


Which I probably put back on already with the spare wheel subwoofer Emphaser EBS111A and the turbines but will weigh them:

Mesh wheels each with standard tires 18.2kg
Turbines with coorect circumference 225/45 17s weigh in a 20kg each (20.060kg) so 7.2kg up again.
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