1982 BMW e28 M535i

[Deleted]

Hi, I'm not sure if I can make this thread as humerous or as gripping as others do but here goes.

I thought it was about time that I got off my derriere and started working on one of my fleet(holey, non running money pits). I have had a thing for 80's bmws for a while now, I originally wanted an e12 m535i but couldn't find a suitable car for sensible money. I therefore decided on the next best thing in my opinion, an e28 m535i (a rotten one !??)

There will be two of us working on this project, me and chas. Chas is far more skilled than me and also far better looking, here he is:


Any way heres the patient: Looks okay to me?


First job is get the interior out and assess the extent of the rot. Oh, not a good sign the carpets are soaked with water:




Mmmm nice previous repairs (not mine) holding up well in near side footwell!

Spare wheel well also needs some work, and I expect that the rear subframe mounts will need attention.

Il come back in the week hopefully with some more pics and hopefully some positive progress.

[little feat]

Look forward to seeing updates on this ,I'm doing the same on an early E12 based E24 .
Good luck .

[jimspolicev8sd1]

Great car. It'll be well worth the effort. Does it have leather or cloth?

[Deleted]

I hope it will be worth the effort. It has black leather interior, its also a manual dogleg, so its my favourite combination. Its always a bit daunting to know where to start when you can see so much that needs doing. Its now running so that's a good start. Ive started on the drivers side floor pan and inner sill area - pics to follow shortly. Thanks for the interest. Jimspolicev8sd1 - have read with interest your threads, I think I'm fairly close to you, I'm in east sussex.

[jimspolicev8sd1]

Great combo. Ive had e30s with black sport leather seats. The word is 'proper'. Also had an m3 with the dogleg box. Surprisingly easy to get used to.

[surprisingskoda]

Black with leather and manual is a great specification.
What's the condition of the front struts and exhaust like? Common for rust. Best to take your skirts off too and check the sill ends

[Deleted]

Yes sill ends will need work and the exhaust isn't too good either!

Ive decided to start in the drivers side footwell and inner sill area.


MAke repairand clamp in position

And weld (sorry for bad pics)

Ive now got an edge to work to, to start making the footwell repair.

I want to keep the pressing in the floor pan as close to original as possible

Try it for size and tack

You can see to the left the is a small hole,this is over the chassis rail so will need to be cut out, but i will concentrate on this first.

Hopefully more soon

[Stu]

Excellent work - as above, it'll be well worth it. I just got my E30 back on the road after about 3 years... still lots of work to do, but it's roadworthy and back where it belongs... at the petrol pump

[jimspolicev8sd1]

Nice fabrication skills. Is that zinc coated steel? And where do you buy that?

[Deleted]

E30 looking good there. I use 1mm and 1.5mm zintec sheet, I sometimes get it from a fabricators in Hailsham, they usually have decent offcuts for a drink or 2. I cant think of their name at the moment but will get it if needed.

[Deleted]

With the floor section fully welded could have a look at the chassis rail section. I cleaned up the floor to see the extent of the rot and cut it out. Each top edge the chassis rail was a bit grotty so I cut that out back good clean metal, then made up repairs with 1.5mm.

Make repair and hold in position

tack in place

weld fully and clean


Now the same for the other edge of the chassis rail, whoops a bit gappy.

and fully weld

Next i will make up the repair section over the chassis rail - although not today

[75nut]

Nice work!Keep the updates coming!

[wheeler]

I do love a good metal fabbing thread! Bookmarked

[Mark]

I wish I had welding & fabrication skills like yours fella. Good work!

Keep plodding on and you'll reach the end eventually. I know myself, how overwhelming a build can seem at times though.

I had an e28 535i myself late last year (no bodykit & switchable auto) and it was a cracking car. Anyway, keep the updates coming.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the replies, it means a lot and its very good for motivation. Without these comments on retro rides many more projects would not get completed. Oh, I do really want an e21, although time, space and of course money puts a stop to that ( and mrs cmw )

[jimspolicev8sd1]

Hows the progress? Ive just sent you a PM

[Deleted]

Cheers, replied to pm

[naki]

and i thought it was only old jags that rot like this.

good work anyhow.

what year is this bmw? late 80-s am guessing.
looks good in black, but i would say that

[shin2chin]

Cool car, very jealous. All that rot is standard on BMs of the 80's, my E30 was gone in all the same spots. Stick with it though!

[naki]

are there any cars over 20yrs old that don't rot, thats the question.
you see some cars at 10yrs old rotting! Mercedes, ahem!!