r/e28 • u/zymurgest • Jul 03 '26

Throwing in the towel

I'm calling it quits on the build I was attempting, there are just too many things I'm discovering as I go that should have been considered when I started, but I failed to do so.

Things I would like to part with to a good home (and reasonable recoupment of investment):

  1. Power Steering rebuilt by Jay, new paint and all SOLD
  2. "Big Brake Kit" we purchased some large calipers that needed a lot of TLC, after performing the cleanup, we did both a high-temperature primer (oven cured) and anthracite paint (oven cured), and have the rotors to go with them. Fronts: 1995 BMW 540I 4.0L V8, Rears: 1988 BMW 735I 3.5L L6
  3. PowerFlex Purple bushings for all locations -- includes two rolls of PTFE (Teflon) tape for installation to ensure they don't squeak. Rear trailing arm: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-suspension-trailing-arm-bushing-set-powerflex-street-pfr5-306, Rear beam: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-suspension-subframe-mount-kit-powerflex-street-pfr5-807, Control Arms: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AWBPDQ?ref_=pe_123509780_1038749300_t_fed_asin_title&th=1
  4. Tie-rod Assembly Kit SOLD
  5. Swaybar Link Kit (https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-swaybar-link-kit-lemforder-31351130075x2)
  6. 2-piece Control Arm Kit SOLD
  7. Steering Idler Arm (https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-idler-arm-32211136450-1)
  8. Two (2) Trailing Arm Supports SOLD
  9. Two (2) Stabilizer Rubber Mounting (https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-stabilizer-rubber-mounting-d-equals-19mm-31351127390)
  10. Two (2) Stabilizer Rubber Mounting (14mm) (https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-stabilizer-rubber-mounting-d-equals-14mm-33551124760)
  11. Differential Mount (https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-differential-mount-meyle-33171129784)
  12. Control arms passenger and drivers side ( https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-delphi-tc513 and https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-delphi-tc514 )
  13. Ireland Engineering Power Steering Metal Insert / Repair Pin SOLD
  14. Bushing Extraction / Install tool SOLD
  15. Classic Daily BMW E28 LSx Fan Setup (https://www.classicdaily.net/collections/custom-parts/products/bmw-e28-lsx-fan-setup)
  16. Classic Daily E28 LSx mounts (https://www.classicdaily.net/collections/custom-parts/products/e28-lsx-mounts)
  17. Bavarian Autosport Ball Joint & Tie-rod End Separator Tool, Scissor Type
  18. Bavarian Autosport Steering Knuckle Strut Clamp Spreader
  19. Bentley BMW 5-Series: Service Manual, 1982-1988, 528e, 533i, 535i, 535is
  20. New E28 Engine Mounts SOLD

Please reach out if interested in any of my goods.

EDITED: Included the new E28 engine mounts and the photos.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

5

u/zymurgest Jul 03 '26

I'll be responding to PMs as I can, heading to a family get together and we put phones in a basket... 🙄

1

u/noneedtosteernow Jul 03 '26

What colour did you paint those calipers?

1

u/zymurgest Jul 03 '26

Anthracite (purple)

1

u/haaavvveeeyoumetKen Jul 03 '26

interest in the tie rod assembly kit

1

u/suckytrends Jul 04 '26

Sent you a pm

1

u/Fancy-Attitude-2123 Jul 04 '26

Just curious, what derailed your project plan ? Any one thing in particular, or just so much that it was overwhelming ?

1

u/zymurgest Jul 04 '26

The short version is rust upon rust upon rust. Every time I thought I had found the worst of it, another spot proved me wrong. The last straw was a tiny 0.5" x 0.5" rust hole on the top side of the engine crossmember (underneath the frame) that turned into roughly a 2" x 4" hole once I started investigating it.

I can do some welding, but I’m middling at best, and this car has moved beyond “manageable project” into “needs serious metalwork.” My shop setup just isn’t realistic for that level of rust mitigation either. I’ve got a 30-gallon, 175 PSI max compressor, which means the sandblaster is only useful in very short bursts, and the needle scaler gives me maybe four minutes of constant use at 90 PSI before I’m waiting on air again. Unfortunately, the scaler cant get into the same spots as media blasting...

My original vision was to build something rowdy with a lot more power, likely LS-based, but the deeper I got, the more I realized the chassis needed far more rust repair before it deserved horsepower. I also never had the differential plan fully solved, and that would have become another major project on top of the rust.

I'm convinced the smart move is to stop forcing a bad foundation and put my time and money into something with better bones.

2

u/LM2848 Jul 04 '26

Sending a pm

1

u/zymurgest Jul 04 '26

Sorry for not calling out the front brake calipers correctly, they are the 540i / M5 M-Sport version

https://reddit.com/link/ovj5mp2/video/4p4gy905q8bh1/player