BMW 528i SE Tourer Tidy Update *** FOR SALE ***

[PistolPete]

I've had this a while now and decided I should pop something up on here about it.

I had no real need for this car, but I kept catching myself viewing the sale ad on here and getting disheartened when it kept selling, then I noticed it was back up for sale. After missing my old 525i SE, I persuaded myself I wanted this to bring back to its best.

My old 525











Easily the car I regret selling most.

After exchanging a few emails with the seller, me reassuring him I didn't want a perfect car and I was fully aware what I was taking on we arranged a viewing. I was very impressed with the car when I got there, yes there was lots of little issues with the worst being an LCM that did as it wished when it wished!

Obligatory Pictures













The only bad bit on the car



The first thing I tackled was the dash lcd display, as with most the pixels had failed, I meant to do this with my 525 but never got round to it so I was determined to get it done this time. I found a few threads online and the seller had their own 'how-to' and set to. To be fair I thought I was out of my depth but it was actually very straight forward after I read it 100 times and took my time. Sadly not many pictures of doing it but the end result made it all worthwhile.

Before (sellers pic, had got worse)



After



Buoyed my success I set about sourcing a replacement lcm, I knew these would need coding and I foolishly believed it would be a simple task, to some it may be but not me. I bought the necessary kit from cableshack.co.uk and had a go but had no luck, fortunately the owner (Jimmy) was an absolute diamond and did it remotely for me on a Sunday afternoon.

Having a car that had lights that responded to the switches and did as they were told was amazing! This was the one issue I feared as it was stopping me getting an mot.

Next jobs this weekend are to sand back the headlights as these have gone cloudy, then a good clean.

Opinions and ideas welcomed.

[robson3022]

I looked and looked and looked at this when it was for sale and decided against going to look at it. Even though the wheels were probably worth as much as he was asking for it.

Don't make it look like I made a bad descision man!!

Nah good luck much to get little jobs out of the way has stacks of potential this!!

[PistolPete]

It was the price that swayed my decision to be honest, in parts it was worth a lot more then what the seller wanted so I figured I couldn't lose.

I sorted the abs sensor and pad warning wiring out the other day too so that's now sorted also.

So far I've found nothing untoward and I think if anything it was probably a case of the seller being very honest and disheartened in the car rather then a rough car.

[PistolPete]

Headlight Re-Fresh

These had gone milky and while a tad of polish made them shine you could still see the milkyness.

I started with 800 grit w&d going horizontal then 1200 vertical finishing off at 2000 horizontal again, followed some megs cutting compound then plasti-x Polish. If I was to do it again I would of got some 1500 w&d and finished with autoglym SRP but mine had ran out.

I'm still quite impressed with how it's turned out, but will most likely do this one again.

Before





After





iPhone pictures don't do it just tbh

[Geordie]

Great work so far.

I too kept looking at the original FS ad

Keep us updated.

[lincolndanny]

good work so far and looking forward to further progress

[m30rmf]

Had a saloon one of these 6 years ago, by far the most loved car I've owned and still regret selling it now...although don't miss fuelling it up...lol

[PistolPete]

Little bit more progress today on the other light, I messed this one up a little I feel, nothing that I don't think can be undone but still annoying!!

I started with 600grit, then 800.1000,1200,2000 using a block-think this was my mistake, too much pressure! They still look 100% better but wether they'll pass a test is another matter due to beam pattern. If it's an issue I'll have to buy a kit for the drill and do it that way.

Before





After







Got some bits through the mail today, new window slider and software so there's the next jobs.

[PistolPete]

Little update time!!

It's been a while since I looked at the car let alone did anything constructive but today that changed, my fair lady took herself and the kids to her mothers. Car time for me

First up I tackled the handbrake or lack of, started on the n/s and everything was ok so I foolishly thought a quick adjustment was all that was needed, wrong!!

Here is what I was presented with on the o/s



That would explain the lack of handbrake then!!

I also noticed the tyres and the importance of tracking!! At some point the air bags have had attention paid them, and I'm guessing the tracking was knocked around somehow and these are the result:-



After that I set to sorting the interior, it looked grim at first but underneath all was well, a couple of hours with cheap vanish and a pressure washer gave me massive results, I went from panels looking like this :-







To a boot looking like this, I'm very impressed at the results





My problem is, I really want to use the car as a daily but can't justify the running cost, my mondeo tdci does 55mpg with no effort but the gives 36mpg driving like a nanny, it's the lines and overall look that does it for me, the contrast of colours between the bodywork and interior helped by the chrome, it's a perfect car that grows on me. This will no doubt be another regretful sale once the time comes.







A quick question though, should I put a 528 badge on the rear or should I keep the 'sleeper' look it came with?? I'm unsure personally.

[Geordie]

Fantastic work on the boot carpets. Well done.

Personally, I'd leave the boot de-badged, and I'd be ordering a set of new number plates. It's amazing how much a new set smarten up a car.

[PistolPete]

It's funny you should mention the plates, I'm midway through doing them



I think I prefer it without the badges too, I've got some so might see how they look before I commit to a decision.

[m30rmf]

The one i used to own had the 528i badge on the back and it always seemed to make people want to race you off the lights to make themselves feel good in there 2litre euro boxes.........but to be fair it had 18'' schnitzer wheels on it with huge tyres on the back that probably didnt help......

[woodenspatulas]

I really like these, and have a desire to own a touring in the near future.

Any tips for what to look for when buying one?

[PistolPete]

Sadly a drastic career change and young family means I can't justify the extra costs.

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/181199/1998-bmw-528i-fail-lincs

[Deleted]

So sad to see this hit the market after everything you've done - it looks fantastic, too. Can't believe that tyre was like that, I had no idea! Interior looks amazing and I'm impressed you got the LCD done - I'm used to doing fiddly stuff like that and in the end it seemed like SO much work to get into the cluster. Hopefully you either find a swift easy sale or can finish it off.

[PistolPete]

I'm hoping I don't have to sell it tbh so although it's for sale it won't go for much less than I have it up for.

I'm not phased by the spanner side of things just the cost of parts, tool hire and screen put me off, I'm getting plenty of interest in it in its current state which makes me wonder what I would get in a1 condition?

Just wary of making the wrong decision

[Deleted]

When I first drove it, I couldn't find anything under £1500 that had the relatively low mileage, 2.8 engine (most were 523), colourful body and nice interior. And I looked quite hard, because although I liked this loads, I didn't care about the wheels and ideally wanted a sunroof.

The only car that tempted me more was a 70K mile 540i in purple, with all the things I wanted including the sliding boot floor. That was £2700 and sold before I'd even had time to go and see it!