BMW e28 m535i - The matt black drag slag

[jonmsm]

Hi all... Thought I would share some pictures of my toy...

OK - so this is how she started life... a £150 rot box with the following spec:
1986 BMW e28 M535iA (with Getrag 5 speed dogleg manual fitted)
3.5ltr 12v i6 (factory rated 218bhp)
LSD (factory fit)
M-tec suspension and anti-rolls bars (factory fit)
Royal blue metallic
buckets of rust
Metric r390mm wheels

Then - after I started pulling her apart the vandals got at her, smashed the windscreen and broke in to nick the new wheels I had bought for her that were inside (foolish place for them I know!).. this is where the picture trail begins:

As you can see - bit of a wreck!

Then the nice bits started arriving

little (read: a lot of) help from a friend.. here putting the new windscreen in

and another friend:

add in some small chassis rail fixes...


Then time for paint....and yes that is rattle tins and yes that IS matt black..

harnesses

The Penta's - originally Merc fitment, adjusted for BMW pattern but they seem to suit the car very well!

I gave them a refurb myself - not the best but certainly look the part for now!

New brake lines throughout with a handy brake bias valve

The finishing touches in January... anything to get the car back on the road:

The interior all finished (if that's what you can call it!)

Post MOT!

Finally...stretching her legs for the first time...

Torturing the tyres... proving that there is NO replacement for displacement!

One of a few limited additions to the outside (trying to keep to the black and chrome look strictly).. but gloss black over matt black looks rather good!


So.. there we are - thats the long and the short of the 18 month battle to put her back on the road.. I hope you like it! :-)

[An Oasis]

Love it, the winter shot working with frozen hands is..... Hope the project brings many happy memories.

[jonmsm]

Thanks! The winter shot was actually not as bad as it looks... 5 tops, two pairs of trousers, 2 pairs of socks, a beanie and a scarf and some Halfaurds cycling gloves to work with and all was good. It was commitment above and beyond for me as I hate working on the car in bad weather but I decided snow was better than rain so manned up :-)

[fabienne]

Looks great well done thanks for sharing.

[Libertine]

I personally prefer the no chrome look, ie: around the windows.

Would be nice to see a picture of the rear/rear 3/4 too

Great looking cars, the E28s

Edited by Libertine on Saturday 1st May 07:45

[M3333]

Fantastic

[150bhp]

Love it.

[soad]

Family friend had a similar motor in the early 90's.

Lovely car, matt paint job works very well.

[jonmsm]

As requested... a nice arse she has too!






Childish I know.. but fun!

Just noticed - the exhaust is sitting really low on this shot - I've since fixed it so the pipes sit right up in the bumper cutout so they look neat :-)

Edited by jonmsm on Sunday 25th April 21:25

[jonmsm]

Sorry for the spam but I just this moment found this on the web... NOT a clue who took it but nice little action shot! :-D



Thank you who ever you are camera man! :-)

[greggy50]

Looks good
What times has it run out of interest?

[jonmsm]

HI mate, unfortunately, despite my tyre warming antics I didn't get enough grip off the line and spun up through first and second so only got a rather pedestrian 15.5s down the quarter, I did however beat the 328is 24v double vanos in the other lane by over a second. Due to the volume of people there that day I only got one run in but I am hoping to get low 14s and maybe into the 13s

[RetroCosworth]

[jonmsm]

Off to PPC in the park tomorrow so if the weather is good - more photos to come. Got the exhaust looking right and hanging where it should now and took her out earlier - 50mph in 3rd gear she was breaking traction violently and hanging it sideways along nice long roads... FUN! :-D

[TheLurker]

Nice project! Looks like a good paint job for rattle cans.