E28 - the long slog

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Discussion

TimmD

278 posts

205 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
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Output Flange said:
I've decided to run without backing plates. I bought some E34 540i ones new, thinking they'd fit. They don't. I'm sure it'll be fine without.
Munich Legends (back in the day) cut them off my e30 M3 as a track mod. They claimed it helped brake cooling! They are still sitting rusting on the floor somewhere...

I did many miles in mine with out them, including snow and all seemed fine.

I love this project, not being able to afford a e28 M5 a converted 518i would be dreamy.

I wonder what it would be like with a M60B40 scratchchin

Thanks

Tim

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
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The other wing is off. Less crusty at the bottom, but a bit more at the top:





This is the ding that's previously been "fixed" on the rear corner:





Otherwise, the inside of the boot is pretty solid, so other than labelling up the connectors not much needed:







I also stuck labels on the connectors for the dash, and stripped out the old stereo wiring. I now stand a fighting chance of getting things connected again!

This is the old dashboard. I'm wondering whether the cracks can be filled and then the dash covered (maybe with leather), rather than using an uncracked dash I have - anyone got any thoughts?


RicksAlfas

13,355 posts

243 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Is the actual dashboard moulding cracked, or is it just the covering?
I've recently redone a centre console by stripping the old vinyl off and recovering with new vinyl from the local car trimmers. I repaired any cracks in the moulding first using strips of plastic, Gorilla Glue and fibreglass:


+

=

sleep envy

62,260 posts

248 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Flock the dash having glued and filled the cracks

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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sleep envy said:
Flock the dash having glued and filled the cracks
Can't do it - don't like the feel of a flocked dash. It's like rubbing velvet the wrong way. Makes my teeth itch.

sleep envy

62,260 posts

248 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Alcantara?

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
Leather, if anything.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Before:



During:



After:



Better.

falkster

4,258 posts

202 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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TimmD said:
Munich Legends (back in the day) cut them off my e30 M3 as a track mod. They claimed it helped brake cooling! They are still sitting rusting on the floor somewhere...

I did many miles in mine with out them, including snow and all seemed fine.

I love this project, not being able to afford a e28 M5 a converted 518i would be dreamy.

I wonder what it would be like with a M60B40 scratchchin

Thanks

Tim
I only find the back plates being a pain in the arse anyway, countless times I've had stones and crap stuck between.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Front tie rod plates cleaned up nicely too, with a lick of paint:



Spoke to BMW today about the RTABs. Basically, as soon as I can get another bush they can sort it (they're not OEM bushes). More ordered from eBay, hopefully to be delivered by the weekend. They also said that they'll honour the quote for half an hour's labour, which is good of them. I suggested next time someone comes I asking for bushes pressed into E28 arms, they say no. To which he promptly agreed hehe

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Oh, and in other news, I'm hoping to pick up a replacement OSR door, black interior carpet and some scrap calipers (to avoid the ECP surcharge) on Saturday. If anyone needs old BMW parts I can highly recommend seller timothy97 on eBay - top chap.

S3_Graham

12,830 posts

198 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Output Flange said:
Leather, if anything.
Not sure on budget but I know a guy that has a share in a leather trimmers. Not cheap but very, very good quality work. (does work for maranello's, Amari, DK etc etc)

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Is just dropping in another dash such a big job? Or are perfect ones rare and expensive?

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
V8mate said:
Is just dropping in another dash such a big job? Or are perfect ones rare and expensive?
Not a big job, and I've got a perfect one waiting in the garage. The point is that if I want a leather dash then it is probably a waste using a perfect one to cover.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Thursday 10th January 2013
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Top tip #1:

When embarking on a long project such as this, for every 10 "essential" parts you buy, buy one that is purely redundant at the moment, but will cap it off nicely.

Boring:



Finishing touch:



Fools the brain into thinking you're making progress, y'see wink

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
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A quick jaunt up to Northampton this morning to collect a replacement rear door:





Five minutes later the fancy central locking mechanism was out, and it's ready to go on.

Also took these glorious seats out:





Yuk.

Found a bit of a bodge when taking the driver's seat out - looks like someone has been hacking at the thread for the front bolt. This hole:



Should look like this:



Not necessarily the end of the world, as I suspect the seats that end up in there won't be E28 items. I'm curious to see what E36 sport seats look like - if they don't look out of place then that might be what ends up in there, and the bolt pattern is completely different to E28 ones, so that hole can be welded up and new mounting points installed.


Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th January 2013
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Bus wheel out:



Minibus wheel in:



After a retrim, obviously.

More importantly, thanks to Sniff Diesel on here, an engine has been sourced. It's not an S50 (for now), but instead an M52B28 - or in other words, the engine from a 328i. Finding an M3 lump I believe the history of at a decent price is so far proving fruitless, and whole cars aren't coming up that often either. I'll source a 6 speed box to go with the engine, then at least a swap later should be pretty straight forward.

There are two things that have to happen for this engine to work in an E28 - firstly, the sump needs swapping for an M50 one, and secondly the ECU needs EWS deleting from it. I think it will also need the secondary air pump deleted, and I've got a question over whether it needs an ABS sensor input, but I know a man who can answer those...

The trailing arms I was having issues with have been binned. Replacements are planned for collection on Sunday, with the aim of getting them fitted ASAP and the car back on the ground, ready for the engine to come out.

Fingers crossed!

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Wednesday 16th January 2013
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Output Flange said:
There are two things that have to happen for this engine to work in an E28 - firstly, the sump needs swapping for an M50 one, and secondly the ECU needs EWS deleting from it. I think it will also need the secondary air pump deleted, and I've got a question over whether it needs an ABS sensor input, but I know a man who can answer those...
Enda did the EWS delete on my M52 ECU.

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th January 2013
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V8mate said:
Enda did the EWS delete on my M52 ECU.
Ed Zakary.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Wednesday 16th January 2013
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Well this is all rather good.

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