Getting an E28 tomorrow

#41

Yup, we talk regularly.

#42

Scott,

Congrats on the new car. Maybe not something I would have done but at that price it’s hard to argue! I’ve gotten a bunch of E30 information from your posts so I’d be happy to share my E46 information with you if you’d like. (My fair weather daily is a 2004 ZHP). If you’re sort of computer savvy and you’re interested in getting setup with high level diagnostics and so on PM me and I will send you my phone number and we can chat. I’m sure you know that these cars are really well understood as far as weak points, maintenance items etc but if you need any filling in I’d be happy to chat and point you towards some software and hardware tools that will save you time, trouble, and so on in the long run.

-niles

#43

[quote=“niles” post=63291]Scott,

Congrats on the new car. Maybe not something I would have done but at that price it’s hard to argue! I’ve gotten a bunch of E30 information from your posts so I’d be happy to share my E46 information with you if you’d like. (My fair weather daily is a 2004 ZHP). If you’re sort of computer savvy and you’re interested in getting setup with high level diagnostics and so on PM me and I will send you my phone number and we can chat. I’m sure you know that these cars are really well understood as far as weak points, maintenance items etc but if you need any filling in I’d be happy to chat and point you towards some software and hardware tools that will save you time, trouble, and so on in the long run.

-niles[/quote]
I don’t know a goddamned thing about e46’s.

In early '06 I was a one trick pony. I’d done ~30 weekends at Roebling in my DE car and was getting cocky that my skills were growing nicely and I was only slightly short of hot shit. So I decided it was time to branch out and I signed up for a DE at Sebring.

And it handed my ass to me. I found, to my complete shock, that I sucked. I’d confused “skills” with familiarity with my home track. Instead of a relatively experienced solo driver I was a complete newby…absolutely hapless. My eyes were riveted to my front bumper, I was in total information overload and I was wishing desperately for some cones so I could drive point to point. It was a helova wake up call to my hubris. I was not nearly as cool as I thought I was.

When I decided to get get an E30 I made an agreement with myself that I would learn how to wrench. In 6yrs I’ve done most every task several times except for swapping out rear wheel bearings and the fuel tank. Once again, I got cocky.

I open the hood of the e46 or look thru the Bentley and I’m struck with, over and over again, I’ve not a goddamned clue what I’m doing. My wife understands this as well as I do. I can’t tell you how much I hate not knowing my ass from a hole in the ground.

When I bought the e46 there were no idiot lights showing. Yesterday when I drove it to work the dashboard was lit up like a christmas tree. A yellow and red christmas tree. I pulled codes last night and there’s all sorts of issues. I think that no engine management related maint was done after 50k miles. I spent almost $500 today on parts, a big chunk of which was to get a used OEM airbox to replace the farcical cone filter that the PO put on it. And I’ve not yet even bought the sport seats. It’s looking like it would have been a lot more economical to pay another grand up front and bought a car from someone who properly maintained it. Oh well.

I’ll get points at the gates of St. Peter for bringing this e46 back from red neck purgatory.

#44

All that electrical $tuff freaks me out… I am sticking to e30s until… Well, maybe forever.

#45

This car isn’t that all that bad to work on, though it is more complex than an E30. The problem, as compared to earlier cars is that you really need a proper diagnostic system. A simple code reader is helpful, but you really need a diag system that can interrogate all of the modules in the car and can display live data. The good ones of those aren’t cheap.

I don’t believe you’ve said what mileage the car has. While true of any vehicle, there are things that need to be replaced just on mileage/age. The list is perhaps a little larger for a BMW. The good news is that once all the deferred/skipped maintenance has been dealt with an E46 is typically pretty reliable.

#46

Looking at the pictures, Scott, I really expected a 1000W stereo with blown 18" base speaker. Good luck with the money pit. Chuck

#47

So, it appears the guy selling the car cleared all the codes and you just drove through the 3’rd drive cycle to get them all to light up again?

Or you have a ground wire issue somewhere…

#48

In re-reading my above post I see that it sounded kinda angry and depressed. I’m kind of a “certainly there’s a silver lining here in my smashed car somewhere” type, so no worries. It’s irksome to be spending money on the e330 that I’d not expected, but it will be interesting to learn about a later generation car.

Jim, the car has ~145k miles.

#49

Two quick things:
Mechanically if you can turn a wrench I promise an E46 is only very slightly more of a pain in the ass than an E36, but is way nicer day to day. Yes some jobs require you to get some things out of the way, but I think overall the maintenance this chassis requires really isn’t bad.

#2 I promise you can get setup with COMPLETE diagnostics for about $100. If you are somewhat comfortable with computers don’t buy an OBDII scanner or the peake tool for any BMW from about the E36 on. The information out there can be dense and confusing but having been through it all I can help. Anyone wanting to get setup can PM me and I’ll give you my number and we can chat.

Edit: so it it’s clear, that’s $100 of stuff from amazon or craigslist or whatever I’m not advertising or selling anything and benefit in no way from anything involved etc.

#50

[quote=“Ranger” post=63350]In re-reading my above post I see that it sounded kinda angry and depressed. I’m kind of a “certainly there’s a silver lining here in my smashed car somewhere” type, so no worries. It’s irksome to be spending money on the e330 that I’d not expected, but it will be interesting to learn about a later generation car.

Jim, the car has ~145k miles.[/quote]
Okay, the odds are that it needs a complete cooling system (radiator, expansion tank, water pump, thermostat, and all hoses. A full suspension rebuild, pre-cat O2 sensors, a CCV, all hoses associated with the intake, a fuel filter, valve cover gaskets & grommets, coil boots, and all fluids replaced. There is a pretty good chance that it will soon need intake and exhaust cam sensors, and crank sensor.

Those are all things that usually require “scheduled” replacement at or around 100k.

#51

[quote=“Jones” post=63177][quote=“jlucas” post=62939]Picked one up a really clean one last fall, currently stowed away for winter.

1987 535is
Lots of character = fun to drive

Just helped a friend part out an 88 so I picked up few misc bits and some spares. Still need a uncracked driver’s side fog.

edit: One thing I’ve learned over the years from buying lots of cars long distance is that unless you have high res pictures showing 1-2 feet of the car at a time, you can’t understand the true condition from pictures.
<-- very picky used car buyer[/quote]

I’m late to this thread but I know this car. The seller is one of my best friends and one of the founding BeerTech Members. This car is absolutely gorgeous and very well maintained. I wanted to buy it but couldn’t justify it. Hope you are enjoying it![/quote]

Well I ended up with a '84 911 instead of a 944T so I have to find a new home for the E28. Depending how Nationals prep goes this weekend I might have a full set of picture & such up next week, but if anyone who is coming to Nationals is interested in checking it out that would be the best time to arrange see it or even to check it out for a friend who won’t be at Nationals. My house is ~50 minutes from MidOhio.

#52

[quote=“jlucas” post=68107][quote=“Jones” post=63177][quote=“jlucas” post=62939]Picked one up a really clean one last fall, currently stowed away for winter.

1987 535is
Lots of character = fun to drive

Just helped a friend part out an 88 so I picked up few misc bits and some spares. Still need a uncracked driver’s side fog.

edit: One thing I’ve learned over the years from buying lots of cars long distance is that unless you have high res pictures showing 1-2 feet of the car at a time, you can’t understand the true condition from pictures.
<-- very picky used car buyer[/quote]

I’m late to this thread but I know this car. The seller is one of my best friends and one of the founding BeerTech Members. This car is absolutely gorgeous and very well maintained. I wanted to buy it but couldn’t justify it. Hope you are enjoying it![/quote]

Well I ended up with a '84 911 instead of a 944T so I have to find a new home for the E28. Depending how Nationals prep goes this weekend I might have a full set of picture & such up next week, but if anyone who is coming to Nationals is interested in checking it out that would be the best time to arrange see it or even to check it out for a friend who won’t be at Nationals. My house is ~50 minutes from MidOhio.[/quote]
Very pretty interior.

As serendipidy would have it, I bought an e28 from a guy in TX yesterday. And sold my e36 daily driver yesterday. http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=107587

Now to sell the e46 POS. Which failed to start this morning. POS.

#53

wrong link, no?

#54

[quote=“ludo” post=68110]wrong link, no?[/quote]Fixed. Good call, thx.

#55

Full details on my E28 that is for sale. See it while your at NASA Nationals!

#56

My e28 got picked up a couple hrs ago in TX. The Reverend Al sent me a goody box of AC parts. The car is supposed to be here on Monday.

#57

Not sure where that link went:
http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=108857

#58

[quote=“Ranger” post=68108]
As serendipidy would have it, I bought an e28 from a guy in TX yesterday. And sold my e36 daily driver yesterday. http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=107587

Now to sell the e46 POS. Which failed to start this morning. POS.[/quote]
The e28 arrived today and went right to my favorite Euro shop to get it’s AC bits put back in. Then the driver’s seat needs to be repaired, I have to decide “repaint or not”, and the final decision…redo the seats in red leather to make it the classic BMW black on red.

Wife gets home from a business trip tonight. We had a bit of a row over Scott’s car expenses last week. Which made my e28 timing awkward. So she doesn’t know about it yet. With some care, I can get the car from the Euro shop, to the seat upholstery shop, and to the paint shop without the car ever coming home. So it might actually be a month before the car is parked outside.

It usually takes a couple weeks for wife to notice that there has been a change in the local car population. But by the end of October, she’s going to notice that I’m driving to work in something different. It’ll probably be the kids that out me. Dern kids.

My e36 parts car got taken away today. One more car gone.

#59

careful planning and hard work to get the E46 out the door and you’ll even manage to look good and negotiate the e28 “purchase” before car comes back home lol

#60

sale pending on my e28