Quinn

Here's a pick of the kit they offer for $345nz plus postage: It looks pretty good, I have sent them an email requesting more info and asking if they can sell it privately as I don't have an ebay account. They claim it is an M5/M6 upgrade (E28/E24) but the only difference I can see is the alloy lower arms and I guess the bushes will be slightly stiffer. Should make an improvement though. Oh, does anyone know if there's a difference between lhd and rhd parts in the steering (ie pitman arm and draglink etc)?

What revs to the 1uz's pull? Being a V8 I don't imagine it would be much higher than 6500, if so you could easily over-drive the supercharger if you haven't already. Ive been told its the rotating speeds that kill superchargers and the SC12 and SC14 don't like more than 10,000rpm so if you limit your motor rpm to 6500 you can overdrive it quite a bit. Looks like you'll have a serious weapon man! What are your plans for it? (drift, track or just road hack?)

My E28 has developed a shudder at 85 - 95kph (goes away after 95kph) and it is not a wheel balance issue so I am looking at replacing the thrust control arms. I've been looking on ebay and I've found a few sets, plus I've also found a complete front end package which is listed as an M5 upgrade kit. I was just wondering what some of the bimmersport members have done and what has made big improvements if any. I'm kind of in the mind of if it needs replacing I might as well upgrade at the same time... Also as anyone brought one of these kits off ebay? Cheers Quinn

Any chance you can get anything for e28s? I would love a front strut brace.

Ah cheers sp8s, I'll keep looking for a better product then. Did it work at all? The guy seemed pretty adamant it was good (but he was a salesman...).

Are those all wheels you have for sale brent?

Put up some pics! I was looking at the importing option as I have a few mates in Germany but it still seemed like a lot of hassle and expensive. Would love to see what 2g got you, and if you are in no hurry (yea right) I'm potentially keen...

I believe I've actually tried these wheels on my e28 (if they are the ones at european autospares in Manukau) and they fitted fine. The only reason I didn;t buy them (I was very very close) is they were to big. 18's on an e28 look like roller-skate wheels in my opinion. If I could have found type 32s in 17s (they do exist) I would have jumped at them.

I just noticed you're listed as being in Oz, so this probably wont help. How ever when I was in Panelbeating Supplies in Onehunga (ph no: 09-634 1670) they had a paint stripper for plastic bumpers and the guy said it was very good. I haven't got to the panel beating point of my project yet so can't tell you if it works but its going to be the first thing I try unless I'm told its crap by someone who's tried it.

If you want the larger master cylinder (24mm id) I have a spare one. As long as its the two bolt one it will bolt up to your booster no worries. Repco had a deal on where you could get rotas and pads for either the front or rear (both sides) for $200 plus they threw in some fluid. It was for their 'best brand' TRW which is probably very average but I couldn't resist all four corners for $400.

Ok so it ended up two weeks later than I thought, but I've done the conversion. No issues with the locating nut. It was the easiest upgrade I have done, ever! Every thing came off easy (nothing seized or striped) and all the new kit slid straight on. I have yet to fit the master cylinder so theres quite a bit of travel in the peddle but it already feels so much better. Should fly through its WOF next week...

I have used vogtland springs and bilsteins all round and is has transformed the car. 245/60/17s are way to big, no wonder your fouling the fronts. I have 225/45/17s on the front and 235/45/17s on the back and theres plenty of grip. If you can afford 2.5g for suspension the H&R boys should be able to help, if not try Chris at Suspension tech, he sorted my suspension for me.

I have just brought all four disks and pads to match my 540 calipers and I'll be fitting them this weekend so I'll let you know if they have the same issues with the locating screw hole. I thought the only difference in the brakes between the 750 and 540 is the caliper? Oh and I have two 750 brake master cylinders so if you want one let me know!

don't go cutting into your suspension. get spacers for the back wheels it they rub. Or sell your front wheel drive offset 17s and get some 17s off a later model BMW that will fit (Thats what I did and they only cost me $500). As for lowering and stiffing the car, what sort of budget do you have? Anti-roll bars will cost you around $350 for front and the same again for the back and bushes aren't cheep either. There are a few good spring options out there (check out the H&R guys on this site) but again springs and shocks aren't to cheep either. If you want to go super budget just cut a coil off your springs, just don't whack off to much and don't tell anyone I suggested it...

I actually quite like them. They're probably a South African thing as I've seen other cars they've done the square headlight conversions to.

Pity they're 4g a set...

Like I said, try cleaning out the filter at the bottom of the reservoir. Its easy and it made a huge difference to the fluid.

Did you clean out the filter at the bottom of the reservoir? When I took my car into Auckland Powersteering Specialists they pulled it out an it was black as, After about a minute of blasting with compressed air and a few flushes it came up clean and so did the fluid. Probably part of the problem in your case...

Hey man well done, they look mint! Where did you get the rebuild kit from? Does repco have them?

Hmmm ok, well these were off your mate in Drury (cant remember his name) and I pulled them off the car. I didn't bother measuring them till I got home and the fronts are defiantly 22mm thick and the rears were solid. So now I'm on the hunt for some 28mm thick fronts and 540i rears if anyone has any. Also I just got two master cylinders off a wreaker who 'thinks' they are off a E32, is there an easy way to tell if they are the 25mm bore ones without pulling them apart (they are slightly different in the casting, one has the bmw logo and the other does not, on has 22 stamped on it and the other 23). They are the two bolt ones so at least they are right in that regard. Cheers Quinn

Needs to be edited, E32 735i fronts are only 22mm thick. Just a heads up, cheers for the info though!

I just had my powersteering pump rebuilt by Auckland powersteering so I asked them about flushing the powersteering fluid. It was a very interesting conversation. Basically (without speaking on their behalf) the end conclusion is you cant flush all the powersteering fluid out without pulling the rack completely apart, which is the same as rebuilding one (cost wise). If you open up your reservoir and pull out the clip holding the gauze and remove it, there is another clip holding a spring, remove it and the large washer and you will find a cylindrical filter. This will most likely be the cause of all your problems. It is often never cleaned or replaced since new and if it is dark in color then it is no longer working properly. Clean it, replace it and all the other stuff and put new ATF fluid in and that should be all you need to do. If your steering is still heavy THEN you should look at the rack. They were very helpful and I highly recommend them to anyone who needs work done on their powersteering pumps! Cheers Quinn

Ok thanks to silver fox I'm now only looking for the front tow hooks. I have rung around and they are unrealistically expensive new. Any one here got a set lying around?... Cheers Quinn

My father has an 02' E39 530M which he has owned from new (BMW built it to his order). I know you're after the v8 and I haven't driven one to compare but every time I drive it I'm still impressed. Its not outright grunty but it feels surprisingly light and nimble (a lot of fun on the twisties) for such a big car with all the features and as most euros it pulls well from 80kph onwards. I would own it in a heart beat (if I had 20 odd grand) and the only mods would be an LSD (for when traction control is off) and a few more hp. If you haven't driven one, do, I think it would be a real contender for the 540 and with all the Mtech kit it looks a lot nicer than the standard 540. Just my 2c

Cheers for all the input guys, interesting to hear its happened to others. The E28 has the fuel tank on the drivers side so I figured it might be an allowance for the driver/ fuel tank but then remembered the driver was originally supposed to be on the left... I guess I'll have to swap the springs from left to right and see what happens, If it doesn't work I'll get some rubber spring pads for the front (the backs are adjustable in 10mm increments). I've had the rear shocks in and out about ten times now and was hoping not to have to touch them again... *sigh*....