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  Nov. 9, 2009 11:18 p.m. Luke SuperDork

  I drove this old girl home last night ('82 528i.) Like just about any $1000 car, it needs a bunch of work, but nothing overly complicated or costly.

  The engine starts instantly and runs like a top, and it's not short on power . But best of all, it has a lovely Teutonic solidity about it. Everything closes with a nice thud, and you get the impression it would run on forever. Unlike the Italian cars I've had, which felt delicate and dainty by comparison.

  Seems to be a bit of a 'stripper' model as well, being the only one I've seen without electric windows and a sunroof.

  Some pixors:

  

  

  

  Interior is a shambles, but should clean up okay.

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  Nov. 9, 2009 11:40 p.m. mtn SuperDork

  me likey!!!

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  Nov. 10, 2009 12:03 a.m. JetMech Reader

  I've seen a lot worse interiors than that. Still not in love with the brown paint, but at that price, it wouldn't be worth complaining about. I'd say you did well for $925 US. Hope you have some fun with it!

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  Nov. 10, 2009 12:38 a.m. JeepinMatt Reader

  Looks very well bought. What are you planning to do with it? Restore it or mod it?

  "But this is HDTV. It's got better resolution than the real world."

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  Nov. 10, 2009 1:01 a.m. Luke SuperDork

  No big plans yet, really. I'll buy the Bentley manual, then get stuck into fixing as much as I can myself, (shifter linkage, idle fluctuation and other weird vacuum-related problems, freshen up the front end with some new ball joints and maybe some poly bushes, etc.) A general service will probably do it a world of good, too. Plugs, leads, new fluids all 'round.

  As far as mods go, I'll look into what can be done to improve the handling (without spending too much $$$), and I'd like to get the little boot spoiler that some of them came with.

  This one ---->

  

  "It's a rental car, of course it will keep up."

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  Nov. 10, 2009 7:33 a.m. DWNSHFT Reader

  Someone went and lost the steering wheel? What's it doing on the other side?

  David

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  Nov. 10, 2009 8:04 a.m. DukeOfUndersteer Dork

  this was the hit of the Volkswagen show i went to a couple of months ago, dude slammed his E28, threw some muratic acid on it to get the color...

  

  We are flashin trannys... wait that came out wrong

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  Nov. 10, 2009 8:25 a.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

  Good buy! They are built like tanks. (for the US guys, that car isn't the same as the 528e we got here, it has a 2.8 liter version of the M30 big six so it's a fairly quick car.) www.mye28.com is the the online community for these cars - I'm on there as well as Mike Burroughs, the owner of the oxidized 535i pictured above.

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  Nov. 10, 2009 8:47 a.m. Marjorie Suddard General Manager

  Nice! I am loving my old-man eta. I've put 800 miles on it in the last week, and it's just motoring along wonderfully.

  Margie

  Booger

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  Nov. 10, 2009 9:05 a.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

  One other thing - these cars do tend to have a somewhat uneven idle, so if it's just a little rough but not jumping around all over the place you may not have a problem there.

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  Nov. 10, 2009 9:09 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork

  Heck for $1000 I even like the colour.

  BMW -- You don't need a hibachi to cook rice.

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  Nov. 10, 2009 9:19 a.m. 02Pilot New Reader

  In addition to the obvious (a clean ICV, no vacuum leaks), a careful valve adjustment is absolutely key to getting the idle smooth.

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  Nov. 10, 2009 9:46 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  I wish we got those bumpers, lights and I love the UK standard headlight treatment

  German, Italian, Swedish, Collecting Europe one car at a time

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  Nov. 10, 2009 10:00 a.m. Jay Dork

  Please keep the fake-sheepskin seat covers.

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  Nov. 10, 2009 10:30 a.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

  what a perfect car.

  spending money I don't have to buy parts I don't need to impress people I don't know

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  Nov. 11, 2009 2:11 a.m. Luke SuperDork

  Cool car Stuart! Your BMW was a big hit on the Retro Rides (UK) forum, but I didn't realise a GRM'er owned it.

  Sheepskins will stay, until I can find decent replacement seats . According to their website, there's a 528 sitting at my local pick-a-part, so I might have some luck there.

  "It's a rental car, of course it will keep up."

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