Newb says Hi (with pics) [Archive] - BimmerNut.com Forums

JerseySi

10-09-2005, 06:56 PM

Hi folks!
Must first say that this site seems, by a long shot, to be the most helpful & resourceful out there - you guys have already taught me so much about my car that I didn't know!
[/creeping mode off]

Anyway, I'm Si, and I from 'the original' Jersey - not New Jersey, but a little island about 14 miles off the coast of France..
Bought meself a 1990 535i auto, with 61 thousand miles on the clock, for £500 (i guess around $1000)..
It needs a few minor jobs doing to it, but I'm sure I'll find the answers buried here somewhere!

Here's a couple of pics of the car the day i got it - the clean up is already well underway, so it looks different already! :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/Beemer/102b1880Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/Beemer/102b1861Medium.jpg

I'll no doubt be back with questions when i've done a bit more to it! :D

Gayle

10-09-2005, 07:03 PM

Welcome. That is a good price. Nice to have another white, narrow grill in the group. Did you vote in the poll?

http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=14354&highlight=narrow+grill

JerseySi

10-09-2005, 07:08 PM

I didn't, but i have now :D

I don't mind narrow or wide grille, but I gotta get the votes up for narrow seeing as I have one eh! ;)

Mechanically there's nothing wrong with the car, but it needs a couple of touch-ups on the bodywork (quick respray if I'm totally honest), and the rear left door appears to be deadlocked shut :s ah well, gives me something to do eh!

Kalevera

10-09-2005, 07:13 PM

Welcome!

I'd say you got an incredibly good deal, unless the car needs an engine or something -- $1000 is stupidly cheap, even in the UK (from what I can tell).

Despite being a euro car, I'm trying to determine why it has US ellipsoid low beams? Was it in an accident? Kinda weird to have the (what most consider inferior) US ellipsoids over the euro units.

best, whit

Torque

10-09-2005, 07:17 PM

Welcome. That really is a excellent price ... unless it has a major major problem of some sort.

JerseySi

10-09-2005, 07:20 PM

Engine is sweet - a very slight tick from the top end, but nothing to be concerned about!
Gearbox & all other running gear is sweet, although it will need a new rear silencer pretty soon..
Tyres that were on it were shot to bits, but I have a friend who works at a local non-dealer BMW specialist - set of 5 wheels & good tyres for £100..

Other than that, the front cloth seats are torn (aren't they all? :D), and the bodywork isn't great - although there's no rot..

So yea, for £500 I nearly ripped the guys arm off!

As for the headlights - quite a few BM's have them over here, e30 e34 and e32's.. Think they went by model years, but certainly they're not uncommon to see here...

uscharalph

10-09-2005, 07:26 PM

nuwde

10-09-2005, 07:34 PM

Sounds like a great deal! Have fun :)

Alexlind123

10-09-2005, 08:07 PM

You made a killer deal. My car "ticks" too, im not sure if this is becasue the valves need adjusting, it has a serious problem, or thats what its supposed to sound like.

Torque

10-09-2005, 08:11 PM

You made a killer deal. My car "ticks" too, im not sure if this is becasue the valves need adjusting, it has a serious problem, or thats what its supposed to sound like.Turn up the stereo mang. Fixes all sqeaks, ticks and rattles. :D

jk, It's your lifters. Don't worry, unless you really can't take the ticking any longer.

JerseySi

10-09-2005, 08:25 PM

Lol! :D

Yea, its only the tappets, and they only tick a little bit once it's warmed up - it's not loud enough to hear inside the car or owt :)

The old e34's dont seem to be worth a great deal over here any more.. Saw a reasonable dark blue 525i at a dealer the other day for £1295..
Need to find myself another £500 though - Day after I bought this one, I learned of another 535i, but a manual 'box - same money... grrr - need a pay rise!

Gayle

10-09-2005, 08:46 PM

Need to find myself another £500 though - Day after I bought this one, I learned of another 535i, but a manual 'box - same money... grrr - need a pay rise!

You can never have too many bmws. One today, another one tomorrow, and pretty soon you will have a collection like Rigmaster (Bret).

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/368/rustfarm1small0jb.jpg

E34 530

10-09-2005, 09:13 PM

You can never have too many bmws. One today, another one tomorrow, and pretty soon you will have a collection like Rigmaster (Bret).

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/368/rustfarm1small0jb.jpg

Hey Rigmaster, want to sell me that rear trunk lid off that e34??? lol

JerseySi

10-09-2005, 09:26 PM

That's some collection! :D Wish I had the room to start a collection like that though!

Had a e30 325i Sport a few years back, but sold it - is now a rally car with over 300bhp :D
Been tanking round in a Rover Sterling (re-badged Honda Legend to you Yanks ;) ) for the last 3 years - a nice car with all the toys, but the auto box lost reverse and 3rd/4th/5th gears..
Sacked off another e30 318i that I got given, to make room for this 535...
Oh, how I've missed having a decent BM! Feels like home already, and it certainly kicks the Rover into the weeds! :D

Alexlind123

10-09-2005, 10:36 PM

My brother drives a Sterling 827sl, is that the same thing?

JerseySi

10-10-2005, 12:42 AM

My brother drives a Sterling 827sl, is that the same thing?

Pretty much... the Rover 827sl - over here at least - is one notch down from the Rover Sterling... Just the trim levels that'd be different..
Looks like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/My%20barge/PICT0002.jpg
(Sorry bout the big pic btw)

Lovely car to drive, but compared with the Beemer, the Rover has no clue on how to go around corners well! :D

Sorry - I not too well up on what Euro cars you get over there!

Gayle

10-10-2005, 08:03 AM

Pretty much... the Rover 827sl - over here at least - is one notch down from the Rover Sterling... Just the trim levels that'd be different..
Looks like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/My%20barge/PICT0002.jpg
(Sorry bout the big pic btw)

Lovely car to drive, but compared with the Beemer, the Rover has no clue on how to go around corners well! :D

Sorry - I not too well up on what Euro cars you get over there!

Does all of you island look like that? If so, I say "vacation destination".

Interceptor

10-10-2005, 08:34 AM

I'd say you got an incredibly good deal, unless the car needs an engine or something -- $1000 is stupidly cheap, even in the UK (from what I can tell).

Despite being a euro car, I'm trying to determine why it has US ellipsoid low beams? Was it in an accident? Kinda weird to have the (what most consider inferior) US ellipsoids over the euro units.
Early european model years (88/89) also had non-smiley older type headlights. Smiley lights came later, but only on euro models.

JerseySi

10-10-2005, 10:08 AM

Does all of you island look like that? If so, I say "vacation destination".

Nah - most of it has better views than that! :D
Mind you, a lot of it is being taken over with "luxury apartments" that no-one wants or needs

Much as the government over here are useless, and making it too expensive to live here, the Island it'self is beeee-autiful :D
45 miles of coastline, lots of which is beach.. We got France within easy viewing distance on one side, and the Atlantic ocean the other side :D
Maybe I'll start a thread in 'off topic' section after I've had my dinner, with info about Jersey & the other Channel Islands, if anyone's interested? :D

Re: headlights - didn't realise there were different versions of the ellipsoid lights! The 'smiley' ones are quite rare, even here.. Normally only seen on late e34's, and e30's with accident repair work..

Dash01

10-10-2005, 01:19 PM

JerseySi

10-10-2005, 01:55 PM

The legal term for such acquisitions is "grand theft: auto"

The only thing wrong with that deal is that I didn't do it first.

Otherwise, the clicking sound may be an injector. Maybe just something as simple as needing new O-rings, which transmit less noise and vibration. Ford Mustang injector time?

Lol :D :D
Well, now you mention it - I happen to know a guy over here, who has a '89/'90 535i, dark blue, manual gearbox and Alpina rims.. Which he'd sell for the same money - £500
Ya might have to spend a bit on shipping it though ;)

A couple of the injectors tick slightly - but the tappets do too once it's warmed up..
Not bothered by it at the mo though, you can only hear it when ya listen for it..

Mustang injectors? Tell me more......!

Interceptor

10-10-2005, 02:05 PM

You made a killer deal. My car "ticks" too, im not sure if this is becasue the valves need adjusting, it has a serious problem, or thats what its supposed to sound like.
M30 needs valve adjustment every second inspection!

SLEX Runner

10-10-2005, 02:09 PM

Nice car acquired at a great price! Congratulations on the steal! :D

Interceptor

10-10-2005, 02:09 PM

Hey Rigmaster, want to sell me that rear trunk lid off that e34??? lol
I'm interested in buying that cow! :)

JerseySi

10-10-2005, 02:15 PM

Cheers for all the comments guys! :D

Took her out for a bit of a rip last night for the first time - oooo she flies!!

Shame we have a max. speed limit of 40mph huh :( :evilgrin:

Qube

10-10-2005, 02:15 PM

Another white! :) Very nice!

Mmmm... need to get rid of the ///M on the front though... in my opinion.

JerseySi

10-10-2005, 02:16 PM

I'm interested in buying that cow! :)

DIY leather seats? bit keen eh?!
teehee

/edit: I will get some more pics of the car tomorrow for you guys :D

It has new rims now, and is a lot cleaner for a start!

uscharalph

10-10-2005, 02:29 PM

"Shame we have a max. speed limit of 40mph huh :evilgrin:"

No Way!

zygoteer

10-10-2005, 02:55 PM

[QUOTE=JerseySi]... Jersey ..... 61 thousand miles ... /QUOTE]

... should be a bargain ... only 61k and all at the islands legal limit of 40 mph eh ?
:)

does it ever get out of low gear ?

Interceptor

10-10-2005, 03:54 PM

DIY leather seats? bit keen eh?!
teehee

/edit: I will get some more pics of the car tomorrow for you guys :D

It has new rims now, and is a lot cleaner for a start!
Of course, and the meat would be put in good use, too :)

JerseySi

10-10-2005, 06:31 PM

Yup - 40mph is the fastest you're legally allowed to go over here.. Which kinda sucks!

Still, while no-body's looking eh... :wink:

Went for a drive before, got a couple more piccies - night time shots. Wouldn't have been so bad if I could've held the damn camera still! Doh!

here's a couple more pics..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/Beemer/102_1936Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/Beemer/102_1885Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/Beemer/102_1939Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/Beemer/102_1972Medium.jpg

I got bored yesterday and added the US spec front indicator/running light things.. It's something non-rice, that I think looks good, and you just don't see it over here..
Incase you'r wondering about the centrecaps for the wheels - I paid £100 for the set of 5 with good tyres, and have currently only got 2 caps.. looks better with none than 2!
anyone know what car they're off btw? they're a different style to the others - got a black band around them..
Have already started stripping the spare and polishing up the outer rim

JerseySi

10-10-2005, 06:54 PM

Just found a picture I took of the car before i bought it, and played with a bit in photoshop..

Mmmm.... One day :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/Beemer/beemer-rear-projectMedium.jpg

Incantation

10-10-2005, 07:22 PM

welcome to the forum :)

now take off that M badge on the front :)

Cambridge

10-10-2005, 08:43 PM

I like the headlight washers, too. Are they connected to the same reservoir as the windshield washers?

Alexlind123

10-10-2005, 10:56 PM

Why are the rear turn signals red? Imho, all turn signals should be amber, its just too hard to see red signals, especially when combined with red brake lights and red taillights.

Dash01

10-11-2005, 01:15 AM

Welllll, now, does that there blue Bimmer have the steering wheel on the left side or the wrong side? If on the left side, just kindly give me his email address (private message, if you please, and don't tell ANYBODY else) and I'll be talking with him directly.

Do a search in these forums for the Mustang injectors; Seems they are essentially the same pressure, but have a rotating disk that sprays the fuel in finer atomization and more efficient pattern. (so the theory goes, anyhow) Some folks report significant improvement in performance, whereas others say the gain is really from replacing old/shot/dirty injectors with new ones.

What I've tried: Remove injectors and immerse overnight in Techron injector cleaner, in a clean glass jar at full strength, and manually click the nozzles with your thumbnail or other safe tool to make sure the full-strength Techron juice has a chance to wash through and disolve all the internal varnish and crud. (If you want to get fancy, squirt the Techron through the injector with a pipette or veterinarian's disposable plastic syringe, holding the inj. nozzle open with thumbnail.) Put injectors back in car, with new O-rings. Pour Techron from glass jar into tank. Fill tank and drive car.

Or, take injectors to a shop and have them ultrasonically cleaned, which is alot more expensive but probably not any better method of cleaning.

Dash01

10-11-2005, 01:21 AM

Photoshop, huh?

Can you Photoshop some pics of your beautiful new white E34 with the black trim changed to dark navy blue? It has always seemed to me that an Alpine white E34 with navy blue trim (instead of black) might be quite attractive, esp. with blue tinted windows and Rondell 58 17" wheels. Is this Photoshop-able?

Just found a picture I took of the car before i bought it, and played with a bit in photoshop..

Mmmm.... One day :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/Beemer/beemer-rear-projectMedium.jpg

JerseySi

10-11-2005, 04:32 AM

Haha!!
Sorry Dash, the blue one has the steering on the correct side (rhd) - and the guy doesn't have email anyway..
///M badge is off now - just pulled out of the grille, seems it was just placed in there.
Rear lights? Personally I think they look better all red, although mine still need a little bit of tinkering.. They still flash orange though, albeit a very reddy orange at the moment! Nothing that a little bit of t-cut won't fix though..

Cambridge - the headlight washers have their own (huge!) tank, on the other side of the engine bay.. Probably a good thing, as one of the jets is missing from the drivers side, so it just dribbles all the fluid out..

As for the photoshop - shouldn't be a problem, just have to find a good pic of the wheels you mean..
Fingers crossed, I'll get time to have a crack at it later for ya..