My 85 535i build

Post your photos and videos here!
leadphut
Posts: 4499
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Portland, OR

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/10/16)

Post by leadphut »

suuuh-wheat!
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/10/16)

Post by bkbimmer »

I'm hoping to have this car running this weekend.
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/10/16)

Post by bkbimmer »

I did a bunch more work last night and today...

Changed the power steering fluid filter, torqued the crank nut, installed the pulleys, intake assembly, changed the injector o-rings and pintle caps, replaced all the vacuum hose, fuel hose, power steering low pressure hose, prepped and painted the valve cover. I also got new accessory adjustment gears from the dealer.


I still have a decent list of things to do, I'm two weeks full time into this cleanup project and hoping it will still run.

It's amazing how much work it is to scrub 300k miles off of a car, it's mildly disappointing that it's still the same car after all this work. This must be how women feel when they're always trying to turn us into something we aren't.



Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
CBREEZ
Posts: 22
Joined: Mar 18, 2014 9:44 PM
Location: Rhode Island

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by CBREEZ »

Wow! Awesome job, pure inspiration!
cek
Posts: 9206
Joined: Mar 18, 2013 6:25 PM
Location: Durango
Contact:

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by cek »

Brent, that is a metric-shit-ton of work. Amazing how easy you make it look.
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by bkbimmer »

Thanks, I wanted to paint the underside of the car but I decided to leave it the crusty white for now, at least it's mostly clean.
austin8753
Posts: 1444
Joined: May 16, 2010 1:37 AM
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by austin8753 »

You missed a spot on the back of the trans.
Abdlock
Posts: 3
Joined: Jun 19, 2012 10:15 PM

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/10/16)

Post by Abdlock »

bkbimmer wrote:

This must be how women feel when they're always trying to turn us into something we aren't
Wait..You're into women now?
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by bkbimmer »

austin8753 wrote:You missed a spot on the back of the trans.
I left it as a reminder of where it came from. It's probably cleaner that your show car though.
wkohler
Posts: 50921
Joined: Oct 05, 2006 11:04 PM
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
Contact:

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by wkohler »

bkbimmer wrote:
austin8753 wrote:You missed a spot on the back of the trans.
I left it as a reminder of where it came from. It's probably cleaner that your show car though.
:D
austin8753
Posts: 1444
Joined: May 16, 2010 1:37 AM
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by austin8753 »

bkbimmer wrote:
austin8753 wrote:You missed a spot on the back of the trans.
I left it as a reminder of where it came from. It's probably cleaner that your show car though.
Wow, need some pepper with that salt?
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by bkbimmer »

It's getting too spicy for the pepper.
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by bkbimmer »

I made all new battery and alternator cables for the car last night. Turns out that the steering coupler has a notchy spot on one side so I should probably get a new one...

It might run this week...
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by bkbimmer »

I bought this very handy terminal punch, makes very solid connections and quick work of making cables. I also got this junction block and robbed the battery terminals from my e12.


Image
Image
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (update 11/12/16)

Post by bkbimmer »

Tonight I started the car for the first time, it fired on the first crank. I only let it run for less than a minute since the radiator isn't installed yet. I'm waiting for a lower radiator hose through the dealer, my alternator belt ran a groove in the hose. I also got a new steering coupler, the original one was getting notchy. I also prepped and painted the exhaust before reinstalling it.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
T_C_D
Posts: 7733
Joined: May 27, 2009 11:42 AM
Location: Twin Cities
Contact:

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by T_C_D »

Good job!
Adam W in MN
Posts: 5052
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
Contact:

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by Adam W in MN »

Looks very thorough, you going to keep it when you're done? When does the E12 get some love?
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by bkbimmer »

Adam W in MN wrote:Looks very thorough, you going to keep it when you're done? When does the E12 get some love?

I can't see getting rid of the e28 with how much I've invested and how little it's worth. I feel like the e28 and I are societal outcasts and are stuck with each other whether we like it or not.

I've been thinking about selling my 70 c10 to help fund the e12 but I just don't know.

Trying to build 3 decent vehicles on a pensioners budget is pretty hard, that's why I've been focused on the e28 right now.
cek
Posts: 9206
Joined: Mar 18, 2013 6:25 PM
Location: Durango
Contact:

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by cek »

bkbimmer wrote: I can't see getting rid of the e28 with how much I've invested and how little it's worth. I feel like the e28 and I are societal outcasts and are stuck with each other whether we like it or not.
This, this, and this.
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by bkbimmer »

cek wrote:
bkbimmer wrote: I can't see getting rid of the e28 with how much I've invested and how little it's worth. I feel like the e28 and I are societal outcasts and are stuck with each other whether we like it or not.
This, this, and this.
Thank you for agreeing on how stupid I are.
athayer187
Posts: 1621
Joined: May 10, 2006 11:27 AM
Location: Cheshire, CT

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by athayer187 »

bkbimmer wrote:
cek wrote:
bkbimmer wrote: I can't see getting rid of the e28 with how much I've invested and how little it's worth. I feel like the e28 and I are societal outcasts and are stuck with each other whether we like it or not.
This, this, and this.
Thank you for agreeing on how stupid I are.
I think cek is just pointing out how stupid many of us are!
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by bkbimmer »

Some people are stupid in smarter ways though.
cek
Posts: 9206
Joined: Mar 18, 2013 6:25 PM
Location: Durango
Contact:

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by cek »

bkbimmer wrote:Some people are stupid in smarter ways though.
Or smarter in stupid ways.

As I said earlier, at least your stuoidly expensive Alpine white POS has an M30 in it.
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive, kinda)

Post by bkbimmer »

cek wrote:
bkbimmer wrote:Some people are stupid in smarter ways though.
Or smarter in stupid ways.

As I said earlier, at least your stuoidly expensive Alpine white POS has an M30 in it.

True, and over 300k miles.
bkbimmer
Posts: 5863
Joined: Mar 02, 2007 2:33 AM
Location: Portland, Or.

Re: My 85 535i build (Its alive!)

Post by bkbimmer »

I got the new bmw lower radiator hose today and installed/bled the cooling system, the car runs excellent and has no leaks so far. I plan on taking it for a test drive this weekend if the weather isn't bad.
Last edited by bkbimmer on Nov 21, 2016 3:36 AM, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply