Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

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kcin
Posts: 5
Joined: Jun 05, 2017 11:47 AM
Location: Luxembourg

Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by kcin »

Hi all,

Here is my e28 520i from 1985. Bought it in July 2017 in the Netherlands. This thread will be picture heavy :D

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Did not take long, and I mounted e12 mirrors

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Bit later I bagged it on TA Technix air suspension and bought some AC Schnitzer Rims in 9x17 et33 with 20mm spacer and 10x17 et33 with a 15mm spacer.

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Then I got a Nardi wheel

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And I made some stripes

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Later I fitted a Zender Frontspoiler:

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Bought some daily wheels:

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As well as French front headlights which I restored

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Some more pictures:

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And because I had a crash with my daily (e46 330i m54b30), I had a perfect engine for the e28 :)

So the full restauration of my e28 started in 2018:

Brakes: Fuel: Suspension: Other: Electrical
  • Put the Battery into the trunk
  • New fusebox in the trunk
  • New Main harness
Chassis:
  • Shaved Engine Bay
  • New paint in the engine bay [Work in Progress]
  • Fixed some rust
Interieur:
  • Removed old insulation
  • New Paint
  • Insulated with Alubutyl
And some more pictures:

Sperber-classic Bolts:

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Drive shaft:

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Fuel pump:

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Interior:

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Chassis:

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Engine Bay:

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Suspension:

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Brake lines:

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Electronic Gas pedal

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Trunk:

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That was the whole progress from the last 3 years.

Next steps will be to paint the engine bay, making the main driveshaft, some small electrical work, and exhaust :)

Hope you liked the progress and the work :)
muleskinner
Posts: 1339
Joined: Sep 08, 2007 11:17 AM
Location: John Graham ATL

Re: Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by muleskinner »

Bonsaibacker
Posts: 929
Joined: Oct 26, 2017 3:36 PM
Location: Palatka FL

Re: Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by Bonsaibacker »

That bare interior is CLEAN! Looks like a lot of love and money- enjoy your chariot.
cek
Posts: 9206
Joined: Mar 18, 2013 6:25 PM
Location: Durango
Contact:

Re: Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by cek »

You do fantastic work. I love the chrome E12 mirrors. Not a fan of the stance.

Thanks for sharing!
BDKawey
Posts: 1325
Joined: Sep 15, 2011 11:05 PM
Location: Carrollton, Ohio

Re: Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by BDKawey »

Damn this thing rules. everything looks fantastic
kcin
Posts: 5
Joined: Jun 05, 2017 11:47 AM
Location: Luxembourg

Re: Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by kcin »

muleskinner wrote: Oct 20, 2020 1:35 PM https://youtu.be/F_iJ28iXwo0
:D
Bonsaibacker wrote: Oct 21, 2020 7:37 AM That bare interior is CLEAN! Looks like a lot of love and money- enjoy your chariot.
Thanks, yes was quite a lot of work, especially since it's the first time I am restoring a car :)
cek wrote: Oct 21, 2020 11:26 AM You do fantastic work. I love the chrome E12 mirrors. Not a fan of the stance.

Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot :) The mirrors were one of the first mods I did, as the original ones were very badly painted. And luckily I found new e12 mirrors for a very good price. Yes the stance is not for everybody :)
BDKawey wrote: Oct 23, 2020 10:40 AM Damn this thing rules. everything looks fantastic
Thank you :)


Currently I am working on the airlines, and my DIY air suspension management system. This Friday, I will paint the engine bay as well, hopefully turns out good, first time using a real spray gun :D I also have the Zender side skirts and the rear "bumper". Not sure if I will mount it, the rear one looks kind of weird. I like the sideskirts tho.
kcin
Posts: 5
Joined: Jun 05, 2017 11:47 AM
Location: Luxembourg

Re: Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by kcin »

So after quite some time, I have another update here as well :)

Engine bay is painted:

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Engine is fitted:

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the e90 brake booster with 2002 reservoir:

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Rest of the engine has been fitted, and first time outside of the garage:

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With my daily e82 125i:

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and getting it street legal:

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230hp and 314nm

oh and the money shot :D

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Preacher's 5
Posts: 217
Joined: Aug 20, 2007 11:50 PM
Location: Decatur, GA
Contact:

Re: Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by Preacher's 5 »

Great work! Beautiful car! I love that you smoothed out the engine bay. The M54 looks sweet!
81E12
Posts: 1
Joined: Apr 21, 2023 9:10 PM
Location: California

Re: Nick's "520i" - 1985 - Alpinweiss - M54B30 swap on Air

Post by 81E12 »

Hey nick, I’m new to the forum so I apologize if there is a better way to get a hold of you but I was wondering if I could pick your brain about how you wired the m54b30 in. I’d really like to do something similar to my 1981 528i e12. The first five forum has had a few threads of people saying they were going to do the swap with a m54 but no follow up. Just curious as to what challenges there are wiring and with engine management. Also your e28 is my favorite build I’ve come across very clean.
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