My "de-build" thread - 1987 535is

[wkohler]

I can't wait to see this car in person.

[Adam W in MN]

Fantastic result, I'm reading the thread!

[jhh925]

Thanks for the kind words!

I can't wait to see this car in person.

I'm staying optimistic that all will be sorted in time to make the drive down to San Diego. Fingers crossed ...

[Karl Grau]

Not sure if anyone's reading these posts, but I figured I'd do an update.

I love this thread but forget to check in mostly because of the weird thread title.

As an experiment, I wet-sensed these gray covers and sprayed them with SEM self-etching black primer. The color isn't a perfect match, but I think it turned out pretty good for now

I went through the same thing but I used SEM 15243.



Tow hook covers painted with SEM 15243 on an unpainted spoiler.

[jhh925]

Not sure if anyone's reading these posts, but I figured I'd do an update.

I love this thread but forget to check in mostly because of the weird thread title.

You're totally right. It is a weird title and I'd always planned on adjusting it when the re-building part of the project got going. When I started the thread and had to do a title, a couple things were going through my mind: (i) It wasn't really a restoration project. The car was in decent shape (I guess - though maybe those stories are better shared in person after a couple beers), but it needed work and it just wasn't where I wanted it. (ii) I also knew that no matter what the project was (rebuilding? restoration? a self-inflicted money-pit?), it was going to start with many months of tear-down & disassembly. (iii) I also knew that I really had very little idea of what I was doing (not in the sense that I'm mechanically incompetent, more in the sense that I had no experience with E28s), so choosing a title that presumed a successful conclusion would feel arrogant to me. (iv) My wife couldn't figure out why the hell I was tearing the thing apart and kept asking me, "It seems like the car runs fine and you're just cleaning everything. Why are you taking everything apart?"

Hence the weird title. And changing it now ("My 'de-build' thread - now with moar build!") seems like it would be way too late. Anyhow, thanks for the opportunity to share a too much. Slow day at work.

As an experiment, I wet-sensed these gray covers and sprayed them with SEM self-etching black primer. The color isn't a perfect match, but I think it turned out pretty good for now

I went through the same thing but I used SEM 15243.

Perfect! Thanks. I'll pick up a can.

[MC]

Beautiful machine. Thanks for taking the time to make the thread and post the pics.

[jhh925]

... And it's gone. Picked up early this morning.

[e38740imd]

[Shawn D.]

[Foonfer]

I can't believe I didn't see this thread until today. So, that *is* the car that just recently got sold on Bring a Trailer, right?

wow, just wow. Gives a lot of hope for all of us New York E28 owners, in our endless battle against winter roads. Threads like this one are what makes me want to move to a house in the suburbs, with an actual garage where I can have actual tools, and an actual appliance car for errands, and... and... *sigh*

[jhh925]

I can't believe I didn't see this thread until today. So, that *is* the car that just recently got sold on Bring a Trailer, right?

Yup, that's the one.

[jhh925]

Project Next is well underway! I miss that car, but I only have space for one, and it might be the case I'm happier with grease under my fingernails anyhow.

And the buyer is a pretty good guy. It went to a good home. (I don't think he's active here on this board.)