Mark 178 Report post Posted December 26, 2011 (edited) Well, after a fairly long absence from owning a BMW, I am back with what, at this stage, appears to be the bargain of the century. 1990 535iSE 123,000km Privately imported to New Zealand and I am the 4th owner from new. 5 speed manual Heated seats Electric lumbar adjustment Driver and passenger armrests Headlight and foglight washers OBC Original Blaupunkt Headunit Style 5's The car has a few small issues but it's in remarkably good nick for being 22 years old. Will be spending the holidays giving it a good clay and polish, then moving on to mechanical and cosmetic adjustments. A few pics: Edited December 26, 2011 by _Mark_ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mtk540 3 Report post Posted December 26, 2011 Nice project for you Mark. Back in Chch now?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2313 Report post Posted December 26, 2011 Ha I saw that after buying my current automatic 535i. This looks like a great score! I'm tempted to overhaul my car suspension and look into a manual conversion but it's probably not worth it as my V8 E36 is supposed to be the project car! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted December 26, 2011 its amazing how durable some of these E34s are.Most of the good ones will have had a fairly sedate life for the first ten years or so.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark 178 Report post Posted December 26, 2011 Nice project for you Mark. Back in Chch now?? Cheers Mike, yeah back in town for the forseeable future :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted December 26, 2011 Nice, good luck with it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted December 27, 2011 looks good! whats the thing next to the hand brake? havent seen that before.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2313 Report post Posted December 27, 2011 (edited) looks good! whats the thing next to the hand brake? havent seen that before.. Could be a cassette tape holder or something similar... Mine has that, I really need to remove it as it's a total waste of space. Edited December 27, 2011 by V8E36 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted December 27, 2011 looks good! whats the thing next to the hand brake? havent seen that before..tape cassette holders , have some if you need so you can store all your 80's audio tapes http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E34/Seda..._accessories-2/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2313 Report post Posted December 27, 2011 tape cassette holders , have some if you need so you can store all your 80's audio tapes http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E34/Seda..._accessories-2/ Terrible relics! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark 178 Report post Posted December 27, 2011 so you can store all your 80's audio tapes Have to dig out my old copy of Appetite for Destruction plus I'll need another 8 tapes to fill the holder... pretty damn retro! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted December 27, 2011 Have to dig out my old copy of Appetite for Destruction plus I'll need another 8 tapes to fill the holder... pretty damn retro!yea doubles as a arm rest or somewhere to hide your weed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted December 27, 2011 yea doubles as a arm rest or somewhere to hide your weed most of the kiwi cars just had a "hole" there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark 178 Report post Posted January 1, 2012 So it begins: Have had the car for a week now and have a list of things that need to be looked at: - Fan speed resistor is buggered so the blower motor only works on full bore. - Various cooling system hoses need replacing as they're looking a bit past it. - Will replace as many of the perished rubber seals around the car as I can. - Lots of fiddly bits like missing trim clips here and there. - Car needs more "low" urgently. I spent the last few days detailing it and it's come up really nicely. It's certainly not perfect but a hell of a lot better than when I bought it. Obviously it only ever had the hose run over it every 6 months and then was left to dry in the sun = lots of water spots. Thankfully they came out with a good clay and a bit of rubbing compound. First thing I had to replace was the battery ($300, ouch!). The good news is that it fixed my issue with the instrument cluster not working... now I have a fuel gauge, temp gauge and odometer! Extra bonus: Now I know there's a free 1/2 tank of gas in there too! Took it for a good drive today and snapped a couple of pics. Not great, but best I could do in the midday sun. Will do a proper photoshoot sometime. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2313 Report post Posted January 1, 2012 Looks superb. Definitely needs more low as you said... the stock ride height at the front on E34s is really annoying, especially since the rear is quite low by comparison. I keep looking at mine for that reason, I gotta get some H&R spring in there this year! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark 178 Report post Posted January 2, 2012 Better pic from today... car actually looks black! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted January 2, 2012 Better pic from today... car actually looks black! what colour is it?Diamand swarch(spelling!) can be anywhere is the dark grey/charcoal/black spectrum depending on light.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark 178 Report post Posted January 2, 2012 ^^^ Its just Schwarz, non metallic. Even harder to keep clean than metallic version. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted January 2, 2012 ^^^ Its just Schwarz, non metallic. Even harder to keep clean than metallic version. i find that hard to beleive....but if you insist Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark 178 Report post Posted January 12, 2012 Downloaded the buildsheet off the ETK today. A bit of other research seems to confirm the car does have an LSD. Should go do a skid and double check. Also, I have quite a bad case of "wiper knock" where the wiper arms come into contact with the edge of the bonnet. I've got the writeup on how to replace the wiper rack (looks painfully difficult), but does anyone know if these things can be reconditioned or if I just have to try my luck with a second hand one that hopefully has a lot of life left in it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ahmedsinc 414 Report post Posted January 12, 2012 Where would one find an ATK on the web? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark 178 Report post Posted June 4, 2012 Been a while since I've done anything of note to the E34. However, I just ordered over $300 USD worth of maintenance items and cooling system parts from Pelican Parts today, so will have something to keep myself busy with over winter. I did think about selling the car recently, but have decided to hang on to it. I know E34's aren't particulary desirable or collectable yet (apart from the M5) but this one is just so tidy and original I can't bring myself to get rid of it. Took some interior pictures when I was thinking about selling, thought I might as well post them here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted June 4, 2012 if it had a lsd from factory it normally shows on the build list Transmision HECK Gearbox MECH Colour DIAMANTSCHWARZ METALLIC (181) Upholstery SCHWARZ LEDER (0203) Prod. date 1989-12-01 Order options No. Description 200 KATALYSATOR - ENTFALL (no catalytctic converter) 209 LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL (25%) 226 SPORTS SUSPENSION SETTINGS 291 BMW LM SCHMIEDERAD/KREUZSPEICH (alloy wheels) 302 ALARM SYSTEM 320 MODEL DESIGNATION, DELETION (no model badge) 335 M TECHNIC SPORTPAKET (mtech body kit, front spoiler skirts,rear wing, aero rear bumper cover) 339 SATIN CHROME (matt black finish around windows instead of chrome) 401 SLIDING/VENT ROOF, ELECTRIC 458 SEAT ADJUSTMENT, ELECTRIC. F DRIVER/PASS 481 SPORT SEATS F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER 498 HEADRESTS IN REAR, MECHANIC. ADJUSTABLE 500 HEADLIGHT WASHER SYS/INTENSIVE CLEANING 534 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING 548 SPEEDOMETER WITH KILOMETER READING 560 CO-PILOTS IN RR COMPARTMENT (reading lamps in rear ) 563 BEL.MAKE-UP SPIEGEL (make up mirrors(or lights for make up mirror) 571 BOOSTED POWER SUPPLY (140 w alternator) 676 HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM 687 RADIO PREPARATION 708 M-SPORT LEATHER STEERING WHEEL II 806 Neuseeland Ausfuehrung 847 erweiterter Kabelbaum 850 ADD FUEL TANK FILLING FOR EXPORT 925 SHIPPING PROTECTION PACKAGE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2313 Report post Posted June 4, 2012 Beautiful example at a bargain price! Gutted that I killed mine... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted June 4, 2012 The E28 is sexy pamts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
