TURBO 1987 535i $8k

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Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

TURBO 1987 535i $8k

Post by Ahernl »

The time has come. I have owned this old sedan for a long while now: about 8 years. It scares my young children and I have other cars that need my attention. I have spent a few hours on this car … the manifestation of the “snowball effect”. It is mechanically sound but aesthetically … challenged. The next step for me would to be tear it apart and do body work and paint … which ruins the appeal for me.

It's a fun car and I love to drive it. It also has a ton of potential left for someone with the time and tenacity to tune it more aggressively: it currently runs no fancy timing and the ECU doesn't touch ignition. Wasted spark for the win.

I thought it best to sell it here to a crowd that understands what this car is (and isn’t). I started by fixing the blown head gasket I bought it with and ended by selling it to you all here. It’s a modified car.

Chassis:
1987 BMW 535i
- 139k
- Factory spoiler drilled trunklid (diamond Gray) with OEM IS spoiler
- Hella headlights replaced sealed beams
- Euro bumpers (I have rear rubber trim but I bought the wrong clips to install it sooo not installed yet
- E12 door handles
- Sunroof works well
- Hinky airdam made from an S-10 truck valance

Interior:
- E12 red interior put over e28 stock bases
- Interior dyed with SEM Portolla Red
- Dash cover
- Shift knob
- Nardi wheel and adapter
- Fire extinguisher
- New speakers and wiring
- Powered sub under rear seat
- Volt meter in dash

Engine:
BMW M30 B34
- block from 110k E24 auto (bottom end untouched)
- head original to car but fully decked and rebuilt (new valve seals, two slightly bent valves replaced)
- New timing chain and guides
- All new seals and gaskets (I mean all)
- ARP Head studs
- New exhaust / intake studs
- New cooling system (even reservoir)
- Silicon cooling hoses (Ireland Engineering)
- Blaster 2 coil, cap and rotor, spark plugs and leads.
- Battery in trunk with cutoff switch
- Always filled with VR-1

Turbo:
- Turbonetics T3/T4 Turbo
- TCD Exhaust Manifold
- TCD Downpipe
- Cartech wastegate with TCD dump pipe
- 3” exhaust (no cat)
- TCD hot side / cold side piping
- HPS silicon couplers
- Mishimoto T clamps
- TCD E34 Intercooler
- Bosch Cobra Pump
- Full 3/4” silicon plumbing
- CX racing 17x11x2” heat exchanger

Fueling:
- Walbro in tank pump
- New filter
- All new fuel hose
- 30 lb injectors from TCD
- Fuel gauge on rail

Engine Management:
- Innovate SCG-1 Wideband / Boost gauge, Innovate Oil Pressure / Temp Gauge
- Electronic Boost Control
- E28 Goodies Kit installed (PnP Megasquirt)
- MAP sensor, IAT sensor, Crank sensor / wheel, TPS sensor

Drivetrain:
- Resealed Stock Getrag
- Completely rebuilt shifter.
- Machined flywheel
- Sachs upgraded organic clutch and matching pressure plate
- New throwout bearing and pilot bearing
- New guibos and CSB
- Resealed 3.46 LSD (I also have the original 3.25 LSD also rebuilt)
- Diff Stud conversion
- New diff mount
- Axles in good shape

Suspension:
- BC Coilovers with camber adjustment in front (professionally welded to spindles)
- PROFESSIONALLY aligned at Group 4 Motorsport. It isn’t just slammed on wheels.
- ST upgraded anti-roll bars with Poly bushings
- Poly Rear subframe bushings
- New dogbones and links
- All wheel bearings new
- Adjustable rear subframe professionally welded (Garagistic)
- New trailing arm bushings
- All balljoints in good shape
- Custom front strut bar

Brakes and wheels:
- E34 540i brake calipers and rotors
- EBC green pads
- New wear sensors
- Motorsport hardware stud conversion
- Style 5 wheels
- Spacers
- Michelin Pilot Sport Tires with 2k miles on them 225/45r17
- Vacuum booster conversion

Flaws:
- Original paint is just ok. There are a few dings.
- Trim has some scratches
- Drivers front had a bump in its previous ownership (not reported). No big deal. Dented front edge of fender and hood, tweaked driver’s side towing point by ½”
- Four small spots of rust I’ve found and they are minor (small spot below front windshield and one in rear, driver fender and passenger rear door bottom
- Trunk lid is the wrong color
- No tool kit
- Trunklid interior panel warped
- Rear windows don’t respond.
- A couple trim pieces missing.
- Central locking needs sorting
- No AC
- Rear defrost works just ok
- Driver’s kick panel is pretty ugly
- Lower timing cover has developed a small leak
- Exhaust slightly rubs on diff
- Hood logo is busted
- Only front speakers work even though I fully rewired …. Strange.
- Check Engine Light on. Press the accelerator pedal to confirm it is very much still there.
- Blinkers don’t work right.
- Economy gauge doesn’t work
- Service indicator doesn’t work (replacement SI battery included)
- Speedometer slightly off
- Door seals aren’t great but work well.

Image

Photos here: https://www.icloud.com/photos/#0879fDjW ... 9jAtLhUpuQ
Last edited by Ahernl on Nov 05, 2023 11:49 PM, edited 1 time in total.
tschultz
Posts: 4102
Joined: Mar 01, 2009 7:58 PM
Location: Denver, Colorado
Contact:

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by tschultz »

From here the paint looks better than you described in your listing! Consider an asking price. Do you know what ECU and associated boost level it is running at?
Etip
Posts: 168
Joined: Sep 05, 2021 2:06 AM
Location: Seattle

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Etip »

Damn that looks nice! If I didn't have one already.....
Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Ahernl »

Paint is original. It's a 10 footer. Maybe with some detailing wizardry and some PDR ... thanks
Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Ahernl »

Etip
Posts: 168
Joined: Sep 05, 2021 2:06 AM
Location: Seattle

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Etip »

Ahernl wrote: Oct 26, 2023 12:51 AM Facebook Listing: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 027052178/
Wait... You're just up in Edmonds???
Hmmmm want to trade for some antique bikes other random junk and cash? :-)

Now I'm overly tempted
Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Ahernl »

Ahhh I forgot my price: $9k obo. I think that’s fair.
Spen
Posts: 1598
Joined: Feb 23, 2011 11:38 PM
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Spen »

This is a friend and a lot of car for the money. I have a jet black truck lid, no spoiler holes drilled, in the local area I'd throw in for free to the potential buyer.
Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Ahernl »

Mighty kind of you. Thanks.
Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Ahernl »

I’m running an e28 goodies pnp ecu. Stock harness. 14psi peak boost.
Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Ahernl »

Trying to keep interest up: would videos help? Anybody local is welcome to come by and vouch for what I’ve said here. Make an offer … the worst I can say is no. I don’t want to have to part it out.
Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i

Post by Ahernl »

Down to $8,000. Come on by.
Ahernl
Posts: 9
Joined: Jul 04, 2015 7:50 PM
Location: Seattle WA

Re: TURBO 1987 535i $8k

Post by Ahernl »

Sold!
1st 5er
Posts: 21848
Joined: Jun 13, 2008 12:15 AM
Location: Cypress
Contact:

Re: TURBO 1987 535i $8k

Post by 1st 5er »

:alright:
slownrusty
Posts: 107
Joined: Feb 09, 2019 11:15 AM
Location: houston

Re: TURBO 1987 535i $8k

Post by slownrusty »

Awesome buy!
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