E28 - the long slog
Discussion
One of the other issues I've had with the race car is that on both track days I've done in it, twice I've been kicked off for excessive smoking.
The first time was down to it running stupidly rich, which is now sorted. The last day saw a couple of puffs of blue smoke on the overrun, which wasn't unexpected or excessive, but the TDO decided it wasn't on.
So, the head is coming off for a refresh. That leads on nicely to a "while it's off you might as well..." situation, so the plan is to get the head ported and gas flowed, then rebuilt with some M30B35 valves (1mm bigger), an Alpina B10 replica cam and then fit a performance chip (the last two being supplied by Fritz Bits).
It already has a free flowing exhaust fitted, and the inlet manifold isn't restrictive. The chaps at Fritz reckon this setup is good for 270-280bhp. I reckon I'll be doing well to get 240bhp, but we'll see.
If I have time, I'd like to get it on a rolling road before and after to see what the differences are. The only slight issue is that this all needs to be completed by the 13th Feb, so there's not a whole lot of time, and it can't be started until mid/late next week.
Happy days.
In the meantime, the M5 is currently getting a new fuel tank, so new jacking points, new HT leads and plugs and assorted other little odds-and-sods that it needs prior to heading off for paint. Should be ready to collect next week to then drop to the paintshop.
The first time was down to it running stupidly rich, which is now sorted. The last day saw a couple of puffs of blue smoke on the overrun, which wasn't unexpected or excessive, but the TDO decided it wasn't on.
So, the head is coming off for a refresh. That leads on nicely to a "while it's off you might as well..." situation, so the plan is to get the head ported and gas flowed, then rebuilt with some M30B35 valves (1mm bigger), an Alpina B10 replica cam and then fit a performance chip (the last two being supplied by Fritz Bits).
It already has a free flowing exhaust fitted, and the inlet manifold isn't restrictive. The chaps at Fritz reckon this setup is good for 270-280bhp. I reckon I'll be doing well to get 240bhp, but we'll see.
If I have time, I'd like to get it on a rolling road before and after to see what the differences are. The only slight issue is that this all needs to be completed by the 13th Feb, so there's not a whole lot of time, and it can't be started until mid/late next week.
Happy days.
In the meantime, the M5 is currently getting a new fuel tank, so new jacking points, new HT leads and plugs and assorted other little odds-and-sods that it needs prior to heading off for paint. Should be ready to collect next week to then drop to the paintshop.
M5 went in today for paint, now that the sunroof is sorted and various other things done. Rewarded me by the fuel pump packing in, which is nice. It gets sold after it's painted.
Race car hasn't changed much - yet. Got Silverstone this Sunday and Brands at the end of May, then it's getting an M88 fitted in June.
518i is buried under a garage full of M635CSi parts that I need rid of. I'm in a bit of a quandary with it at the moment, over two points:
1) I've gone off the colour of it
2) I've gone off the idea of S50ing it
What I think I really want is an immaculate white 518i that's still a 518i. I don't drive fast on the road any more, so 300bhp in it doesn't really appeal that much. But we'll see.
Race car hasn't changed much - yet. Got Silverstone this Sunday and Brands at the end of May, then it's getting an M88 fitted in June.
518i is buried under a garage full of M635CSi parts that I need rid of. I'm in a bit of a quandary with it at the moment, over two points:
1) I've gone off the colour of it
2) I've gone off the idea of S50ing it
What I think I really want is an immaculate white 518i that's still a 518i. I don't drive fast on the road any more, so 300bhp in it doesn't really appeal that much. But we'll see.
I haven't forgotten this.
The M5 is now done:
and just needs to find a new owner.
The race car has an M88 engine fitted, but is lacking an exhaust at the moment:
and the 518i has been banished to live outside on the trailer, under a cover.
Having a bit of a fleet re-jig at the moment, hopefully with the aim of making more time and space for the 518i. If I can get it finished over the winter then it might well become next year's daily.
The M5 is now done:
and just needs to find a new owner.
The race car has an M88 engine fitted, but is lacking an exhaust at the moment:
and the 518i has been banished to live outside on the trailer, under a cover.
Having a bit of a fleet re-jig at the moment, hopefully with the aim of making more time and space for the 518i. If I can get it finished over the winter then it might well become next year's daily.
The 518i will be an S50B30 by the time it's on the road. One thing about the M5 that makes it a little less ideal for DD duties is that the gearing feels quite short. The S50 will be bolted to a 6 speed box, and although I'm starting with a shorter diff ratio than standard (3.64) if that feels too much then I can swap in a 3.07 or similar instead, to make it closer to stock.
Yeah, I've been a bit on-and-off with it. I'm still a bit unsure about proceeding with this shell, purely because I'd really like air con at the end of this, and trying to get the parts and/or retro fit is looking borderline impossible. So I wonder if I might be better off getting one with it factory fitted and going from there. I won't loose anything by swapping at this point.
As for the M5 vs M535i point - not really comparable, having had both. The engine makes the car. Hard to explain, but it's a country mile different from comparing a 328i and M3, for example. I need a different daily now I'm commuting by car, so if the X5 sells first, I'll keep the M5 - it really is glorious.
As for the M5 vs M535i point - not really comparable, having had both. The engine makes the car. Hard to explain, but it's a country mile different from comparing a 328i and M3, for example. I need a different daily now I'm commuting by car, so if the X5 sells first, I'll keep the M5 - it really is glorious.
Sadly, I can't think of the last time I saw a £4k M535i that I'd want to own - the market seems mostly full of dogs now around that price point.
Seems that a decent, working car that isn't suffering rustitis is about £7k now. Is that value? Hard to say.
What you can't argue with is that an E28 in good mechanical fettle is a fine, old-school driving experience. Will be taking the M5 to work tomorrow and already looking forward to it!
Seems that a decent, working car that isn't suffering rustitis is about £7k now. Is that value? Hard to say.
What you can't argue with is that an E28 in good mechanical fettle is a fine, old-school driving experience. Will be taking the M5 to work tomorrow and already looking forward to it!
I was at a friend's yard yesterday, where he had a 535i in for breaking, which had factory-fit a/c. It also had electric windows, central locking, a sunroof and all the other things I wasn't going to fit, but must admit I'm half tempted now to use that as the base rather than the 518i shell. Doesn't make any difference at this point in the project, but I do suspect that I'd appreciate the end result more with a few more creature comforts.
bigfella70 said:
535 shell sounds great as a base for your current project. You could mothball the 518 shell and build a solid trackday special , no sunroof , keep fit windows , cage and a suitable engine ;-)
Great thread, so thanks for sharing this and will look forward to any updates !!
I could, but I've already got an e28 race car Great thread, so thanks for sharing this and will look forward to any updates !!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff