Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
Man, you guys are practically lining up to hold the syringe and push the plunger . . . tell me more about the pitfalls.
I should add that I'm not incredibly interested in laying under greasy cars any more, and IIRC replacing suspension bushings etc is unpleasant work. I used the $7-8K figure because that's what would be left over from $10K, and because I'd have much of the work done by others (maybe Gibson Electric?). You think a 260K mile E28 can be made into a decent looking, 10 footer, daily driver, for that budget?
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You would not do your own suspension bushing repair, that's what shops are for. Everyone needs a good tire/alignment shop that does that stuff. I'm a huge DIY guy, (rebuild engines), and I don't do my own suspension work, generally speaking. You need a lift, specialized tools, a press for bearings, etc. and it's dangerous to do yourself.
When you look at a used BMW that's a few years old and has miles on it, that stuff has either been done already or you budget for doing it soon. NBD. People here talk like you're just going to buy some old BMW w no records and/or mechanical inspection and step into a big old pile of schit. Well, of course you would. That's not how you buy one.
The engines on the lesser e28s, (528e), have their charm wrt fuel mileage, (which is excellent for that chassis), but they have a timing belt whereas the big 6 has a chain. The chain is a pro/con thing for the first 150k miles or so because it's maintanence free to that point but eventually they need to be changed, along w rails, tensioner, etc. The big 6, (533/535), is a lot more powerful and fun, (final drive ratio was even shorter), but it burns premium where the 528 burns 87 octane and it burns quite a bit more of it. If you're not putting a ton of miles on it and your other investment in the car is cheap, who cares.
The other issue is the weird and unavailable tire size installed originally on the 533/535 cars. The rims need to be changed to regular old 16 or 17" BMW rims and tires. It would be rare to find a car still on its Michelin TRX rims/tires unless the car had been sitting for a loooong time. TRX tires are still available from Coker but they are in the $300+ range per tire plus shipping, mounting, etc.
Most e28s being driven on the road now have been converted. It's something to factor in if it hasn't. They were really outstanding cars. Yes, they're getting old but they crush later BMWs like a grape when it comes to quality. They also sold enough of them and many are in the hands of enthusiasts, so good examples are to be found and they are cheap. I'd probably pass on the 250k car in OP because you can get a better, younger one for not much more $$. NorCal and the PNW is the prime hunting grounds for good cars in general and BMWs for sure. They probably sold more '80s BMWs in CA than the rest of the country combined.
