E28 - the long slog

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Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,819 posts

213 months

Thursday 22nd August 2013
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A little bit of work, until lack of 6mm spanner stopped play.

The throttle bodies are coming off to go to be soda blasted. What a pleasant job that is.

First up the cam cover has to come off, then the fuel rail, then the injectors out, then the breather hose, then the exhaust cam position sensor, then the bolts that hold the throttle bodies on.

But because I don't have a 6mm spanner (the adjustable is too big) I can't get the cam sensor out to get the last nut off. Annoying, but hey-ho.

Here's where I've got to:





I hope I can remember how it goes back together...

Still, I've also got a bag of injectors now, so they can be sent off to be ultrasonically cleaned and given new o-rings:



Mmmm, injectors.

The cam cover will go with the inlet plenum to be repainted as well.

The rest will be finished over the weekend.

richtea78

5,574 posts

160 months

Thursday 22nd August 2013
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When you say the rest, you mean rest of the engine right? Not rest of the car?

chrisw666

22,655 posts

201 months

Friday 23rd August 2013
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I'm bloody jealous of your ability to do spannery stuff when it isn't even your job.

I really need to MTFU instead of paying someone all the time.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,819 posts

213 months

Friday 23rd August 2013
quotequote all
richtea78 said:
When you say the rest, you mean rest of the engine right? Not rest of the car?
Lol. No, just pulling the engine apart. Get the TBs off, swap the sump over for the M50 version currently sitting on the 2.8, fit the new water pump/thermostat/plugs/oil filter, fit the alternator and hopefully the PAS pump (if it arrives), degrease the block.

I think I mentioned before, I can't get a slot at the bodyshop until Oct, but then I'm waiting fo the new body panels to come from Germany anyway.

Aiming to get it rolling again over the weekend, too.

I've also got to have a clear out as the garage is getting too full to work in. If anyone needs a 2.8 M52 just let me know wink

And thanks, Chris. There's a well-stocked beer fridge just out of sight that helps with most jobs.

jeremyc

23,782 posts

286 months

Friday 23rd August 2013
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chrisw666 said:
I'm bloody jealous of your ability to do spannery stuff when it isn't even your job.

I really need to MTFU instead of paying someone all the time.
He hasn't successfully got it all back together yet ... wink

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,819 posts

213 months

Friday 23rd August 2013
quotequote all
jeremyc said:
He hasn't successfully got it all back together yet ... wink
Not only that, I can't find the section in the Haynes manual that covers fitting an S50 to an E28. I must have an old edition.

jeremyc

23,782 posts

286 months

Friday 23rd August 2013
quotequote all
Output Flange said:
jeremyc said:
He hasn't successfully got it all back together yet ... wink
Not only that, I can't find the section in the Haynes manual that covers fitting an S50 to an E28. I must have an old edition.
Don't worry; it's the same language in all of them.
Haynes said:
Replacement is simply the reverse of the steps for removal
wink

GreatGranny

9,187 posts

228 months

Friday 23rd August 2013
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Just updating myself on this thread after a weeks away and you are doing an excellent job.
And definitely got for the 5's, pure sex!

chrisw666

22,655 posts

201 months

Friday 23rd August 2013
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Output Flange said:
And thanks, Chris. There's a well-stocked beer fridge just out of sight that helps with most jobs.
It's funny that, I started sorting my garage so I can get in easily last night and the most satisfying job was filling the fridge.

Bear Phils

891 posts

138 months

Friday 23rd August 2013
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So happy this is still going biggrin

Keep up the good work.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,819 posts

213 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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Throttle bodies are off. You can see there are many year's worth of crud on them:





In other news, I've found the Haynes manual for the E28 to be a bit crap, and the Bentley manual doesn't cover S50 swaps.

So, to help me with the reassembly, I've bought this handy life-size guide:



I rather like it! It has been over a year since I last drove an E28, so it's nice to be back behind the wheel. It's also nice to have a benchmark.

0a

23,907 posts

196 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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Lovely - what e28 model is it?

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,819 posts

213 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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The grey one? An M5.

0a

23,907 posts

196 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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I did see the badge, but so many non M models have an M badge I assumed the worst.

Lovely car and my answer to "what's your dream daily driver". More please!

Huntsman

8,096 posts

252 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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Output Flange said:
I rather like it! It has been over a year since I last drove an E28, so it's nice to be back behind the wheel. It's also nice to have a benchmark.
I hadn't driven mine for 7 months, in the last fortnight done 2000 miles in it, they are an excellent car.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,819 posts

213 months

Sunday 25th August 2013
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Ridiculously small update considering the amount of time it has taken:



The S50 sump and oil pickup is off, as is the bracket to hold it.

The M50 pickup is on, and the sump pan will go back on tomorrow.

One of the bolts that holds the S50 pickup pipe on is an utter, utter bd to get to. Lots of swearing, hitting and threats of grinding and it eventually gave in. By contrast, fitting the M50 pipe takes all of 8 seconds.

The S50 sump and pickup is now on the M52, which means the M52 is ready for eBay. Which is a good thing, as I'm fast running out of room in the garage.

O/T - spent half an hour on the M5 earlier. Fixed the loose driver's armrest, changed one tail light for a nicer version (with a better seal - water is getting into the boot) and fitted a new leather gear gaitor to replace the worn stripey one.

Less O/T - the M5 has the battery in the boot, cooking E28s have it right at the front of the engine bay. I had been thinking about copying the M5 setup, but it bugs me that the battery is on the same side as the driver and fuel tank. I still might move it to the boot, but go with something custom to put it on the passenger side. More pondering required, I think. The consideration is that the spare wheel well is on the passenger side, so there needs to be enough room to get that in and out.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,819 posts

213 months

Monday 26th August 2013
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It saw daylight today for the first time in many, many months. The rear axle is back on, as is enough of the front to get it rolling. One of the rear subframe pins is utterly fecked, but also refused to come out, which means that one side of the rear subframe is held on by a nut that is lightly cross-threaded and a pair of mole grips. Ghetto.

Anywho, into the sunshine:



The point of wheeling it outside was to try to get some of the grime off the engine bay, so that when it goes to be painted it's a bit less work for them. This is how it was:



And after a squirt with the pressure washer:



Not perfect, but better.

I'm hoping to know this week what date the bodyshop can take it in.

While it was out, it seemed rude not to get a pic or two of the M5 next to the lightweight special. So I did.





Should be quite good once they're both on the road driving

Oh, and how about some crazy camber?



Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Dub boys.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,819 posts

213 months

Wednesday 4th September 2013
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This arrived today:



Not all that exciting, but it's something at least.

Still waiting to get a date from the bodyshop. In all honesty, if they don't come back to me by the end of the week, I think it'll go somewhere else - which would be a shame as they're good guys, but I really want to get cracking on.

There's a rather exciting delivery coming on Friday morning - more of that to follow.

But in the meantime, while this project is stalled for a few weeks, I've got a bit of time for the M5. I'm picking the C pillar trims up from a local bodyshop on Friday. For some reason, a previous owner painted them black, so I've had them redone in Dolphin Grey.

I'll also be removing the interior this week, as on Saturday morning I'm dropping it off at Bespoke Leathering to be repaired and restored. Both RHS bolsters on the front seats have broken frames:



plus there's a hole in the passenger outer bolster which needs sorting. The back of the driver's seat rocks under acceleration and braking too, so that needs looking at. After that, it should just be a case of them working their magic on the 27 year old leather, and getting some marks out of the door cards and door armrests. Expected to take about a week.

This'll also give me a chance to investigate why the NSR electric window doesn't work, and to get some grease on the window runners - they're a bit slow to go up and down.

S3_Graham

12,830 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th September 2013
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crikey that bolster looks interesting.

I'm thinking of getting into the leather restoring industry.

pugfan

150 posts

153 months

Thursday 5th September 2013
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Will be watching this thread as I have an e28 520i set aside for very similar work so I can keep my 525e usable.

E28s are brilliant!