5-speed Swap in St Louis

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BillW
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:20 pm
Location: St Louis
Contact:

5-speed Swap in St Louis

Post by BillW »

I have been into e28s for years and own a great 1987 535is. I also picked up a Delphin Gray 635csi years back. It was sitting in a salvage yard I had never heard of, way outside of St. Louis. The car was missing only the rear seats and the components from what had once been a custom stereo system. The automatic transmission was dead, which is why it had been abandoned by someone who liked fast food and ATM withdrawals of $10. I dropped in a battery and it fired up. This was middle of July, so when the AC kicked out some icy cold air, I handed over the $750 for the car. I located a 535is parts car for its 5-speed, and had a knowledgeable friend help me do the swap. I installed an M5 clutch, lightened flywheel, short-shifter, and an awesome stereo system. The car, with 200k on the broken odometer, was mostly my Daily Driver for 10 years.
Image
Time took its toll on the paint, interior, AC, heater, body, and suspension. I got rear-ended twice and then let it sit for 3 years when it developed a hot no-start situation. I began to drive it again last year, but the tires were dry-rotted and all that the now-ratty car had going for it was that it was fun to drive, with the 5-speed, and the stereo. It was like a comfortable old pair of shoes that you can’t throw away. Or be seen in.
Then, I found a “parts carâ€
BillW

1987 635csi
1987 535is
1985 528e
1972 2002tii
1968 VW Beetle convertible
1983 Mercedes 380sl
1997 318ti
1998 M3
Noct
Posts: 502
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:47 am
Location: Oxnard

Post by Noct »

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like another great project. Please keep us updated with it. I am thinking of having someone do a 5-speed swap for me at some point.

What is to become of the dolphin gray though? From the sound of it, you just did basically what I did with my '88- drove it a hell of a lot without putting much money into it. Is it done for because of body damage? What color is the interior and what year is the car?
BillW
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:20 pm
Location: St Louis
Contact:

Post by BillW »

The gray car has a bit of rust all around, in addition to the myriad other mechanical and cosmetic issues. I would have sold it complete, but my new project needs the gearbox, stereo, hood, and trunk. I will salvage every last bolt for my 635 and also for my 535. Shell goes to the scrapper. The car is a 1987 with black dual-ac interior, though the seats are blue.

I had planned on cutting the top off for my final week driving it.
Last edited by BillW on Tue Mar 17, 2015 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
BillW

1987 635csi
1987 535is
1985 528e
1972 2002tii
1968 VW Beetle convertible
1983 Mercedes 380sl
1997 318ti
1998 M3
Noct
Posts: 502
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:47 am
Location: Oxnard

Post by Noct »

BillW wrote:
I had planned on cutting the top off for my final week driving it.
Awesome. :mrgreen: Hope to hear more from you on forum.
BillW
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:20 pm
Location: St Louis
Contact:

Re: 5-speed Swap in St Louis

Post by BillW »

Finally progress to report. Transmission is in, this is my third conversion, and seems to be a lot less difficult than before. I forgot certain specs and parts to order, and somebody stole my exhaust from behind the house, but I am eager to drive this former automatic, and see what it will cost to fix the body work. This car may get all the interesting parts and know-how from owning e24s & E28s over the last 20 plus years.
BillW

1987 635csi
1987 535is
1985 528e
1972 2002tii
1968 VW Beetle convertible
1983 Mercedes 380sl
1997 318ti
1998 M3
ron
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 4569
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:35 am
Location: South Wales U.K.

Re: 5-speed Swap in St Louis

Post by ron »

BillW

Put your location in your profile as requested by admin.
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
'85 M #228
'87 M #367
'88 High line.
'10 X5
‘84 Alfasud 1.5 ti
BillW
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:20 pm
Location: St Louis
Contact:

Re: 5-speed Swap in St Louis

Post by BillW »

Car is now running great, but is still covered with Bondo patches from the PO's hail "repair". Unfortunately, the St Louis Winter crept up on me, so now I can't advance it to DD status until I smooth out the spots and seal them. Meanwhile I got distracted by an L6 that followed me home. Low miles and lots of good parts. I will not be parting it out for a few months
BillW

1987 635csi
1987 535is
1985 528e
1972 2002tii
1968 VW Beetle convertible
1983 Mercedes 380sl
1997 318ti
1998 M3
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