Need advice on 91 525i update

[Artsoap]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I have taken some polishing compound to the car it and its comimg along nicely. In addtion I have discovered that the passenger seat has the dreaded seat tilt and have found instructions to (hopefully) fix this, the drivers seat is uncomfortable because of the lack of padding but I can deal with it. Found a window for $50- and a friend is installing it. So that leaves the door panel which I will replace. After polishing off years of dirt and grime it actually doesn't look as bad as I first thought. It runs strong, the sucker is fast and I love it. Additionally, took a look at the records that came with the car, front thrust rods (?), and bushings were replaced 30,000 miles ago as well as the valve cover gasket, oxegyn sensor, front tie rods and the idler arm and center link (?). That owner took excellent care of the car, detailed monthly etc. It was the last two owners that let it go to hell. So anyway, I'm going to fix a few things up , love it and drive it and save up for a no rust, lower mileage E34. Thanks so much for the advice and the warm welcome to the board!!!

[632 Regal]

congratulations, you sound like your a bimmernut allready! Get us some pictures after you clean it up.

[Artsoap]

Here is a pic so far, yep its stock : (
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l89/artsoap/bmw2.jpg

[Denton]

Wow, that car is in better shape than I thought it would be.

I'm still convinced that you can find an inexpensive pair of front seats at a junkyard. And as you know you can fix the twist, seat rock, and power headrests (if it came with them).

You could visit www.autogeek.com and buy a Porter cable and the appropriate pads. BMW used a great quality paint with no clear coat, so despite being higher-maintenance it really wakes up with a GREAT polish.

[Artsoap]

I took a picture of its 'good' side!!! ;) The drivers side has some bad rust on the door (at the bottom corner and half way up the door there is another spot), the door trim is coming off and the window is broken so its currently covered with plastic as we are expecting rain. It doesn't look that good in person, although I HAVE had one person offer me $1000- for it as it sits. It is the only e34 and possibly the only bmw in my little Indiana town. Denton, I noticed that your profile says bloomington, IN, do you go to IU? I live 45 mins from Bton, any leads on junkyards with BMW parts? Additionally the drivers side is doing some funky paint thing that LOOKS like a peeling clearcoat but it doesn't have one? I'll try and get a pic of it when and if the sun ever comes out. Thanks so much for the nice words and help guys, you have no idea how much I appreciate it! And yeah, the drive home from Chi kind of hooked me, I understand why people are so loyal to BMW's now. My prior car was a 2002 Expedtion Eddie Bauer edition, needless to say this car is so much quicker than that monster. I have a bad habit of getting speeding tickets anyway and I keep finding myself doing 90 in this car already! Forget about any mods, I'd just get into more trouble!!!!-- Cheryl

[andmd]

And as long as it runs well, it's a good introduction the the E34. I have that same car (not the same color, though) and love it. It's not super-quick off the line, which is fine with me, but it feels better than any car I've driven once I push it past 80mph. My car is stock, too (I have those same wheels) and my budget allows me to maintain it but not to improve it drastically. So I guess we're in the same boat. Good luck getting your car fixed up, and keep us apprised of the progress.

[Denton]

I took a picture of its 'good' side!!! ;) The drivers side has some bad rust on the door (at the bottom corner and half way up the door there is another spot), the door trim is coming off and the window is broken so its currently covered with plastic as we are expecting rain. It doesn't look that good in person, although I HAVE had one person offer me $1000- for it as it sits. It is the only e34 and possibly the only bmw in my little Indiana town. Denton, I noticed that your profile says bloomington, IN, do you go to IU? I live 45 mins from Bton, any leads on junkyards with BMW parts? Additionally the drivers side is doing some funky paint thing that LOOKS like a peeling clearcoat but it doesn't have one?


Yeah, I'm a sophomore at IU. Bloomington is a really nice town, I love it! Where in IN are you?

I'll have a BMW at IU for the first time tomorrow, so no idea on local junkyards. As you know, Louisville, Indy, and Cinti are close.

POR-15 is the only thing that will stop rust. You can read up on how to apply it yourself if you want to do that. You can't just paint over it with red paint and expect the rust to stop.

On my Zinnoberrot E30, the paint is single-stage Glasurit, so it fades easily but the shine comes out with a good wax. What is the paint code of your car? (Pop the hood and look for a black tag in German on the strut tower).

Or it could have been repainted in a spot and the body shop used clearcoat, which flakes.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for it?

[KenB]

Looks pretty good...it doesn't have to be perfect if it suits your needs and is a safe, reliable daily driver. Sounds like you've got the important things taken care of, just keep up on the oil changes and other fluids and you should be good. Gotta be alot more fun to drive than what you had, enjoy it.

You came to the right place for advice on your new car, the experts (not me) here will save you alot of time, money and grief. Welcome.

BTW, I am also an ex resident of Indiana AND SoCal, now in NJ

...good God, how did I get here?:p

[Artsoap]

$916.00 its got 217,000 miles on it, the passenger seat has the twist thing going on drivers window is gone, drivers door panel trashed. Pay to much?

[DaveVoorhis]

Too much? Nope, sounds like a good deal, and it's exactly the right colour.:D

[Denton]

$916.00 its got 217,000 miles on it, the passenger seat has the twist thing going on drivers window is gone, drivers door panel trashed. Pay to much?

You can fix the seat twist easily:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/m/i/miales/seatcablesfix.htm

Did you check the paint code?



Also, that was a very good deal you got! :D

[Artsoap]

Yep, its the original color. However my very dear friend who did serious custom paint and body work (featured in mags etc) for years took a look at it and discovered that the right rear quarter panel has been repainted, looks like with red with clear over it. I carfaxed it before I bought it and no accidents had been reported, soooo...... I think whatever happened to it was not major, could have just faded or something and the 'good' owner had it repainted, he was nuts about the car! Anyway, I live in Worthington, about 45 minutes from Bloomington in this tiny little town, 1300 people max. I am a socal transplant so its been an adjustment. Anyway, the right side of the car is pretty faded more so in certain spots I'm kind of confused on that one!!! It looks better in the picture than it it, but the interior is not in horrible shape. The humming exhaust though has got to be fixed. Sounds like a japanese racer car - ick!

[Artsoap]

I oOFTEN wonder how on earth I ended up in Indiana from California. Its a good place to live for many reasons but I prefer more sunshine, people etc. I have considered moving to Chicago. But, still lack of sun!!!;)

BTW, I am also an ex resident of Indiana AND SoCal, now in NJ

...good God, how did I get here?:p[/QUOTE]

[Artsoap]

Just wanted to LY Guys know that I am a former Myspace junkie, however since I bought the car and found this board I haven't been anywhere near there!!! This is much more fun!!!!

[Denton]

I have never heard of Worthington, haha. :D

For the places in the paint that are faded just read up and do a very good detail. It'll look so much better.

As far as the interior, remove the seats and vacuum and clean the carpets and headliner.

When replacing the window, you're going to want to remove the rest of the window tint. Also read up on how to do this, it's not hard except for the back window.

[Artsoap]

I have never heard of Worthington, haha. :D

For the places in the paint that are faded just read up and do a very good detail. It'll look so much better.

As far as the interior, remove the seats and vacuum and clean the carpets and headliner.

When replacing the window, you're going to want to remove the rest of the window tint. Also read up on how to do this, it's not hard except for the back window.
Lots of people have not heard of Worthington, not too much to hear about it!!! Can you tell I just LOVE it here????

[Airborne001]

So there is no way a 1990 535i US has clearcoat on it???

The dealership assured me it did, but the little **** was still crapping his diapers when this car was sold.

I've been dying to hit mine with polishing compound, but scared to screw up the clear coat.

[Artsoap]

For whatever its worth I have gone through a container of polishing compound on just my hood, roof and trunk (can we say REALLY bad oxidation?) and it has only made it look better. My car is red, what color is yours? And I'd say go for it, if your really worried try it on a small spot down by the back door or something. Monday the entire car is going to nailed with polishing compound with a buffer (I did the other stuff by hand) and then waxed. It should only look better for it ;) Oh and Denton said there is no clear coat.... check back a few messages on this thread....... Oh, mine is a 1991 525i but I doubt there was a paint difference in one year.....



So there is no way a 1990 535i US has clearcoat on it???

The dealership assured me it did, but the little **** was still crapping his diapers when this car was sold.

I've been dying to hit mine with polishing compound, but scared to screw up the clear coat.

[Artsoap]

Okay I have been poking around online and cannot find an answer to whether or not the BMW has a stock clearcoat, does anyone know for sure?

[Denton]

Okay I have been poking around online and cannot find an answer to whether or not the BMW has a stock clearcoat, does anyone know for sure?

I'm honestly not sure. My Zinno E30 has no clearcoat, my Delphin 528e I'm not sure about (I'm 2000 miles away from the car!). Dad's TiAg 740iL has a clearcoat.

So I'd say that on the older cars, some were clearcoated and some weren't. I think the trend on the newer cars is to use clearcoat.