Another e28. 1985 528e.

[hagrde36]

I'm an E36 guy but ive wanted an E28 for the last 2 years or so. I typically buy cars to flip, but after selling my obd1 m52 e36 sedan I decided it was time to finally buy a 5.

I picked the car up locally for $950. Lots of misc. problems but it ran and drove and I had no other car to drive so I bought it.



The previous owner replaced a bunch of suspension parts, alt, battery, starter, and put on a brand spanking new oil pan (I was pretty excited to see that, maybe it will hold up better than a 30 year old one). Multiple windows don't work, 90% of the cluster doesn't work, exhaust leaks and is loud, etc, etc.

Made a few trips to the local junkyards, got a pile of parts for it and started building my suspension. Also, picked up a set of style 19s that I ended up deciding not to use.




Suspension:
I did lots of research before figuring out what exactly I needed.

Front: Cut down the housing 3" to accommodate Corrado G60 strut inserts I picked up for $25. Bartered with a friend for a pair of ground control adjusters and springs from a mk1 scirocco (I bought ebay 240sx coil adjusters and springs but they didn't fit over my struts). Topped the fronts off with e36 top hats (free in my brothers basement).

Rear: Got lucky at the junkyard and found a set of practically new billy sport adjustable rear struts for $30 for the pair. Used the ebay 240sx adjusters and springs on the billy sports and had brand new top hats from the junkyard as well.

I have about $200 into the suspension and ride height adjustable and actually has a pretty decent ride quality still.

Traded what was left of an M3 (pretty much a carcass) for played out style 5s. Found some tires in our garage, sprayed all the wheels the same color and threw them on.

The previous owner went crazy with lamin x. I replaced the headlights with ones from the junkyard and sprayed the high beams with stained glass paint. Removed the fog lights, front bumper, straightened the front valance and resprayed it white. Did a few misc. things to make it run a little better but this is what were left with.

[Jicama_ev]

looks good man, would love to see a bagged rat build

[Robitussin]

looks good man, would love to see a bagged rat build

Hmm thats sound quite original
Nice car though

[hagrde36]

thanks guys!

[hagrde36]

Bringing this back from the dead.

I sold the style 5's and the car sat on bottle caps for a while. I stopped driving it due it needing exhaust and i had bought an 07 Sierra.



I bought a set of OZ Mito Type 2's and refinished them. I threw them on the car and just wasn't content.



A friend was selling a set of ARE wheels that i felt were much more period correct.
15x7 et-6 with 205/50R15s







I took the car to my other garage and ended up cracking the oil pan on the way.. I had other projects going on so the car sat for while.





I bought an 88 auto parts car and decided to swap in the seta. I also pieced together a 5 speed swap, bought a new front bumper and white IS valance and a few other items. I've bought and sold a few other cars in the meantime so this has taken the back burner. But now that its nice out again, its time to finish this up and get it back on the road. I don't plan to drive the car much, so it will be getting registered in PA as an antique.

88 seta parts car


The last time it would drive into my garage with an eta and automatic !

[hagrde36]

Here's a few of the cars/projects that have taken my time away from the e28..

1999 323is 17x8.5 OZ Mito Type 2's


1993 325i


1997 540i/6


I picked up a very clean, 1 owner 318ti.


The ti received a lot of maintenance, ACS Type 2's, Borla catback, etc. I ended up selling the car because i didn't want to ruin it.


After selling the ti, I picked up a moped to build. New lights, bars, bigger intake and carb, etc. and it was ready to go. I have a short commute to work so this thing is perfect for that.


I picked up an e46 323i for a couple hundred bucks. After a new radiator and heater hose, i found it had a bad headgasket.


I picked up a 93 Probe GT as i drove them in high school and wanted another. This one is rough and is just sitting in my driveway until i have time for it.


I ended up trading the e46 for a 1978 Honda CB400T. My brother had a cafe tail section so we put that on. Painted it white and got new turn signals and tail light for it. The bike currently needs a carb kit and pod filters but then it'll be ready to go.




I also race an e36 325is with my brothers and a few close friends in 24 hours of lemons, so that takes up a portion of my time as well.




And here's how the e28 currently sits. No drivetrain. I have some misc. things to wrap up on the engine before its ready to go back in. I also have to finish the pedal install and run the slave lines. Im hoping to have the car move under its own power in the next week or two, just have to get motivated... Ill keep this updated as i go. I'm also currently building an e36 granite silver 325i that has been under a cover in my driveway for over a year without any progress..

[Gamerx]

Nice cars, keep up.

[hagrde36]

Progress ! (with pictures).

I pushed the car out of my garage to give it some daylight. I intended to at least rinse it off but that didn't happen.

Finished up installing the manual pedals, clutch master, and routing the associated lines.
Removed the auto shifter and auto driveshaft.
Removed ac lines from engine bay.

At this point. the car itself is ready. The SETA M20 needs the oil pan gasket replaced and a few wires repaired and then it is ready to be dropped in.

I plan to have the car moving under its own power within the next few days.

[hagrde36]

I originally planned to have the car wrapped up by mid summer. Due to multiple other projects I had going on, the car just kept taking the back burner..

I finished up my cb400 and threw it up for trade. I enjoyed building it, but I had no intention of keeping it. I offered it for a 96 328is locally and did a straight trade.





I picked up a parts car to get it looking more like an e36 rather than the grand am it was being disguised as.



Getting there...



The finished result.





I sold the car locally and drove to NJ a few days later to pick up a 92 318is. The car was in much worse shape than described, but I wasn't coming home from the 6 hour trip empty handed.



A couple hours and a good cleaning and its better but not great. Selling it as is for cheap..



We participated in a 24 Hours of Lemons race at Thompson Speedway in CT and ended up finishing in 6th.







Slow progress on my e36 325i as well. Almost 2 years of ownership and I haven't touched it in over a year... Once the e28 is wrapped up, this is next on my list !



Radio delete plate, euro analog clock and some vdo gauges that came in a parts car are making the e36's interior come together.



And a summer wouldn't be complete without a failed radiator in my beater e36.





At this point I have made the e28 my priority. Ideally finished and driving by the end of this month.