e12 528i build..

[e12anthonee]

so a couple weeks ago i picked up a 1979 528i for $450. i feel that i got a hell of a deal. it ran but idled up an down from 2.0rpm to 2.5rpm constantly on my way home from buying it. the battery was dead but the owner charged it to show me it ran... the next day i jump started it once turned it off. tried it again after a few hours an nothing... this was the start of my build. im pretty mad that this happened seeing i only bought it the day before. but what can i do i paid $450 for it




so i brought it into my auto tech class, an first thing i tested was my starter, it didnt turn over at all. so i replaced my starter.
tried turning it on. Nothing once again back to a broken e12 i just recently found out my ignition switch is out, i have searched around an found out this is pretty common. i just took everything apart. im ordering my part this week so hopefully its fixed

[e12anthonee]

Here are some pictures of it.

[244Brick]

good platform!! i was thinking of picking one up

[PedroM]

Good luck!

It's a beatifull car, but it will give you a lot of headaches...

[e12anthonee]

Today

"244Brick" i havent found any one on this forum that has a E12, and seems to me theres not many out there that people actually lower or do anything to them, well i havent found many on the internet. i dont know if thats good, that no one has it, or bad

So today i took the ignition switch out of the tumbler, i start my job on monday so more money will be coming in for my car, thats when im ganna start doing everything to it.

There is little to no rust on my car except for under my front windshield which is pretty common for these cars, but nothing to big.

what do you guys think about cutting my springs as a temporary solution until i get my lowering springs. i really **** how it looks like im ganna take it mudding...

The Car has 307,xxx miles on it. im not too happy about that, but im ganna replace a lot of the things on the engine though, well over time as money comes in.

I dont know much about these cars, im new to the BMW world, the only help i have from anyone in this city is my buddie thats has a E21. so any help or advice would be wonderful

[axelillo_PR]

Wow that was a steal, I'm still waiting for the day I can find a deal like that.

[karmannMarco]

Beautiful car. Great candidate for a restoration. Please don't hack it up
Is there any rust on it? If you find any be prepared to fix 10x as much behind it hiding.
Electricals will be your enemy (as it seems you already discovered)
I recall the 530 (and possibly 528) having lots of heat related engine issues . Pretty much the whole emission and exhaust system was a complete fail which caused lots of overheating and warped/cracked cylinder heads. BMW did offer to remedy this for E12 owners but unless you know the history of your car I'm not sure how this would effect you.
Overall , really cool buy on a really cool car.
Would look great stanced correctly on those factory wheels or some Style 5s.
I even dig the color , reminds me of the Mesrine 528.
Good luck!

[E28stoff]

Awesome e12. looks like a great start.

regarding the no start issue, did you test the charging system? i.e load test the battery and check the amperage coming out of the alternator? you didnt mention if the battery was charged or not, i hope you didnt jump straight to testing the starter and before you made sure that you had a fully charged battery.

[e12anthonee]

Yeah i feel i stole this, but yes i charged the battery, i do know where to start when the car doesnt start.

but when i opened up the ignition, there was ducted tape holding together one of the ignition switch wires, an me an my auto tech teacher tested the new starter an everything, an the ignition wasnt even reaching my starter. so i just took it out an im buying the new part this week.

i feel like this build is going to take so long, but after i review all these cars, and see how much time an money gets put into them, its makes me want everything to go faster, but its not. lol

but i will take pictures tomarow of the inside an engine an more of the body.

i did take out the passenger seat, rear bottom seat, just because they are ripped, an didnt want them in my way for time being, there are no dents in the car except for the kidneys being a lil messed up.