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I figured I should probably make a build thread since it seems I may fit in here. Or not.
Let's turn the clock back...
2007
I get promoted at work, decide that I want to give my e30 some company in the garage.
Find this POS in the Carolina Bargain Trader for $1800. I buy it for $1200.
’87 BMW 535is, the faster I drove it, the better it got. Tried to quit on me on the way home. Some pack of wolves or something had lived in the car, the interior was THRASHED, and it smelled like someone had vomited all kinds of liquor in the car. hummm. Oh. The fire engine red paint was a backyard spray job, complete with overspray, pine needles, and runs. What can I say, I didn’t know ANYTHING about these cars, but was willing to learn.
I drove it around a few weeks, but eventually it didn’t want to run anymore. (right after a tune-up) I figured I was going to do some GOOD to the car, it had the duct tape intake, coolant hose for fuel hose, you name it. Every single shortcut that would save some money was taken. So I parked it and started researching, asking questions over at mye28, and trying to figure the car out. Meanwhile, I start working on some of the OTHER issues. Like suspension, interior, and exterior. Basically everything but the drivetrain.
2008
I had gotten Eibach Springs and Bilstiens to replace the blown stock stuff, but shortly after installing it, a guy on Mye28 decides that he wants something softer than his coilovers. We traded suspensions. I also found some euro lights and bumpers, so I started working on that.
Here you can see that my car was originally DS metallic, but the PO decided that FIRETRUCK RED was a better choice.
The car was still at relative stock ride height, and I was doing the cookie cutter e28 build. (Style 5s, lowered, Euros)
Also, she still wasn’t running.
2009
I had to move. I pushed my car onto a trailer and moved from NC to MD. e28 back in the garage. Wreck my e30, so I have to buy another e28 so that we’re not just running the x3 all the time. ’87 535iA. It was a fun car.
2010
Too busy/stupid to work on the car
2011
Finally, my wife and best friend gang up on me and tell me that I should get rid of the e28. That pushes me off the pot and I get going.
Here she is on her maiden voyage, FOUR YEARS after purchase.
There was no interior, no bumpers, it was just a seat and seat belt.
Things moved pretty quick after that, but, as with any “new” car, you have to shake it down and get all the bugs out. The issue that I finally solved was two pronged. The positive cable to the battery was corroded green all the way up to the starter and fusebox. Also, I had some vacuum leaks that I just didn’t know enough about the car to recognize.
I drove the car EVERYWHERE, trying to shake it down.
I took it to Boy Scout camp in early July because the year before, I found that there were some EXCELLENT twisties to take advantage of. That felt so great to actually bring a car that I knew was capable of tearing up the curves. The kids were looking at my car as a POS because I was still putting it together, but after one of the kids rode in it, the word got around, and after the next rest stop, I had a full car! Ha!
I took it five hours away on a work trip, she made it fine. The next morning, when I’m on my way to give a brief, the accelerator cable breaks.
Sooo, as I’m driving it this year, I’ve decided that I don’t want to have a cookie cutter e28. I like driving low cars, and I’ve decided that I want to get rid of ALL of the power options. I had the rear manual window regulators, so I searched around and found a set of fronts. Put those in. Then I put in the manual Monaco sport seats. I pulled the AC, and started research on a manual steering box, and manual sunroof. I have the ALPINA wheels and quite a bit of other ALPINA stuff, but I’m still not sure what direction I want to go in...
Let's turn the clock back...
2007
I get promoted at work, decide that I want to give my e30 some company in the garage.
Find this POS in the Carolina Bargain Trader for $1800. I buy it for $1200.
’87 BMW 535is, the faster I drove it, the better it got. Tried to quit on me on the way home. Some pack of wolves or something had lived in the car, the interior was THRASHED, and it smelled like someone had vomited all kinds of liquor in the car. hummm. Oh. The fire engine red paint was a backyard spray job, complete with overspray, pine needles, and runs. What can I say, I didn’t know ANYTHING about these cars, but was willing to learn.
I drove it around a few weeks, but eventually it didn’t want to run anymore. (right after a tune-up) I figured I was going to do some GOOD to the car, it had the duct tape intake, coolant hose for fuel hose, you name it. Every single shortcut that would save some money was taken. So I parked it and started researching, asking questions over at mye28, and trying to figure the car out. Meanwhile, I start working on some of the OTHER issues. Like suspension, interior, and exterior. Basically everything but the drivetrain.
2008
I had gotten Eibach Springs and Bilstiens to replace the blown stock stuff, but shortly after installing it, a guy on Mye28 decides that he wants something softer than his coilovers. We traded suspensions. I also found some euro lights and bumpers, so I started working on that.
Here you can see that my car was originally DS metallic, but the PO decided that FIRETRUCK RED was a better choice.
The car was still at relative stock ride height, and I was doing the cookie cutter e28 build. (Style 5s, lowered, Euros)
Also, she still wasn’t running.
2009
I had to move. I pushed my car onto a trailer and moved from NC to MD. e28 back in the garage. Wreck my e30, so I have to buy another e28 so that we’re not just running the x3 all the time. ’87 535iA. It was a fun car.
2010
Too busy/stupid to work on the car
2011
Finally, my wife and best friend gang up on me and tell me that I should get rid of the e28. That pushes me off the pot and I get going.
Here she is on her maiden voyage, FOUR YEARS after purchase.
There was no interior, no bumpers, it was just a seat and seat belt.
Things moved pretty quick after that, but, as with any “new” car, you have to shake it down and get all the bugs out. The issue that I finally solved was two pronged. The positive cable to the battery was corroded green all the way up to the starter and fusebox. Also, I had some vacuum leaks that I just didn’t know enough about the car to recognize.
I drove the car EVERYWHERE, trying to shake it down.
I took it to Boy Scout camp in early July because the year before, I found that there were some EXCELLENT twisties to take advantage of. That felt so great to actually bring a car that I knew was capable of tearing up the curves. The kids were looking at my car as a POS because I was still putting it together, but after one of the kids rode in it, the word got around, and after the next rest stop, I had a full car! Ha!
I took it five hours away on a work trip, she made it fine. The next morning, when I’m on my way to give a brief, the accelerator cable breaks.
Sooo, as I’m driving it this year, I’ve decided that I don’t want to have a cookie cutter e28. I like driving low cars, and I’ve decided that I want to get rid of ALL of the power options. I had the rear manual window regulators, so I searched around and found a set of fronts. Put those in. Then I put in the manual Monaco sport seats. I pulled the AC, and started research on a manual steering box, and manual sunroof. I have the ALPINA wheels and quite a bit of other ALPINA stuff, but I’m still not sure what direction I want to go in...
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