1983 BMW 528e

[pleasefixitup]

she looks better in pictures.

right now, the fuse box is in 2, that hood insuation crap is off--getting at some of the rust that was hiding.

center console was out today, I'm consolidating some of the wiring to add gauges and to clean up the interior. Plus, the P.O. had this thing wired in the most ghetto ways possible, I had a horrible draw but I fixed that now.

new alternator, every single wire put back where it's supposed to be--and I'm 70% done with cleaning every electrical connection.



how some of the fuses looked!



who leaves wiring like that?



Alternator ground wire, beautiful right?



I want an AFR gauge there, or something else. Haven't figured it out.



That's what it looked like earlier, all back together now.

plans...

replace faulty wiring, get the car running. (everything is intermittent with this damn car), install 16's instead of the 14s that are stock, maybe a e34 interior and e34 rear bumper, and a very slight drop in height. oh, new shift linkage, UCABs, and I'll see what she needs after that.

[pleasefixitup]

started removing the very small amount of rust from the bottom of the hood. wire wheel connected to a 220 compressor - comes right off.

threw on some primer, had it sit 5 inches away from a spotlight to heat it up first. gotta have hot paint.

threw on maybe 5 thin coats to what I removed. may get crazy and toss some bondo on a few parts--but it's the underside of my hood--don't really care--just care about rust and there was barely any but it grows!

next--rewiring the stereo.

car isn't running due to an electrical issue--but I have a new ECU, ICV, and ICM coming in the mail, along with some relays.

So I should be set. All electronics have been checked out and the connections look good and correct.

[rhinosaross]

Good stuff, love to see people giving these cars new life.

[pleasefixitup]

thanks!

makes me sad when I see them at the junkyard--but then again--parts for cheap!

[pleasefixitup]

waiting for the ecu, icm, and icv - e28 guys should know what that stuff is.

wiring the radio to fit in the glove box. have a volts gauge to go where the clock used to be.

I could make the gauge piece out of wood--or sheet metal. I like working with metal and wood....but I think metal wins with a coat of bondo so I can press it on something to make a dimple effect so it looks like plastic.

picking up struts tomorrow for the rear--kinda stoked.

[pleasefixitup]

new fuel pump and filter going in now, pain in the ass job.

pulled the bracket and wire wheeled the rust off and gave it a coat of primer--no one is going to see it but I want it to last.

[rhinosaross]

thanks!

makes me sad when I see them at the junkyard--but then again--parts for cheap!

I agree! Sounds like you're making good progress. kudos

[rice4life]

Get some pictures of the work up hahaha. I love this though, glad its being fixed up.

[Bystrov]

its an old northern car, expect for alot of electrical wiring issues here and there. but dont let that discourage you, the reward is amazing with these little cars if done right.

[pleasefixitup]

I don't always take pictures when I'm working because...I'm working!

I'll take some pictures tomorrow after I send a motor out to colorado.

Work to do tomorrow...install ICM, ICV...easy easy...hopefully ECU shows up so I can fire her up.

New rear pads tomorrow too...sand the rotors down...clean them up...

Maybe take care of minor body damage and remove the rear light assembly and hardwire it.

So far...I've fixed all electronics...radio, defroster, central locking...windows...sunroof...low and high beams...fogs...everything that has a button works.

I want to make a "smaller" washer fluid tank...mine is brittle and cracking. Should be easy enough.

What else should I do....maybe inspect the timing belt as well. It's being replaced regardless--it's only had 18 thousand miles on it--but that is in 5 years!

[pleasefixitup]

waiting for the ecu...still!

so I did some work on the 88 instead. m30b34 motor is going in

Removed all the rust from the 533i downpipes, then filled two of the pinhole leaks by brazing. then painted them with a 2000 degree aluminum colored paint. Going to run with just that until I finalize my exhaust. So a week? Anyway. Finishing up the timing covers, adding toothed harmonic balancer for the motronic 1.3 setup and putting the motor in tuesday. So dropping the motor, adding shift linkage, driveshaft and we are in business baby! Putting the intake manifold on with the motor in the car and the small stuff will be very simple. May have to make a trip for some vaccum hoses but that isn't a big deal.

[pleasefixitup]

car is running great, ecu fixed my no start problem...

so I was ansy, so I put the motor in the 88 528e...well the m30b34 motor running motronic 1.3

should be all tied up in the next few days...it's a decent load of work ahead of me but I'm excited as always.



going in...



and in...

getting it to fit was a bit of an issue...had to be creative but as with anything--it wasn't hard enough to walk away from.

I'll get my hands on the 83 this week.

the list as of now..

driveshaft
csb
guibo
radiator
water pump
timing belt
thermostat
v belts
wheels

I've been drinking sambuca...can't remember what else

[ionz]

going for the big six. awesome.
looking really nice so far.

[Brian.]

Big six, Hell yeah! Glad you're going from the ETA to the 3.5L of fury!

[pleasefixitup]

going for the big six. awesome.
looking really nice so far.

thanks!

Big six, Hell yeah! Glad you're going from the ETA to the 3.5L of fury!

Thanks! Not sure about the fury, never driven a m30 car before!

a/c compressor on, alternator on, power steering pump and hoses on, exhaust manifolds with new studs and copper nuts on....

fun haha but I am pooped