1981 528i

Update, the car is sold!

Well, after reaching a very difficult decision, I elected to put my car up for sale. As you read through the list of modifications on the previous page, you were probably adding up the prices and realizing it was going to cost a huge bundle of money to turn my beloved 528i into the ultimate E12. I instead elected to sell her to a friend from the firstfives.org website so I know she'll be taken care of well. He already has another E12. Now, my quest is to locate the E12 of my dreams, an M535i. I have one in mind, stay tuned to see if it ends up tucked away in my garage to be my very own. Here are some pictures of Dave Spencer from the E12 list and me, as well as the car's trip south to Tulsa, OK where he lives. He drove it home nearly 700 miles from my house in Chicago, without incident.

Soon, you will be able to click here to continue reading about the saga of my
old 528i as we follow its adventures with its new owner.

Update, the oil pump dies!

Unfortunately, Vicky, my previous, beloved E12 had her oil pump die about nine months after Dave purchased the car from me. The oil pressure gauge was flat reading zero pressure and the idiot light for the oil pressure was on as well according to Dave. Due to the complexity of replacing the oil pump on an E12, Dave elected to go all the way and do the 3.5l motor conversion to the car! Whoohoo, lots more go-power! The following are the comments from Dave midway through the engine replacement: The bottom end looked fine as did the top. The valve seals absolutely crumbled when removed. That was the cause of the oil consumption. I did a compression test of the engine before it was pulled. One, two, three, four, and six were all at 170 psi. Number five read 152. I haven't pulled that piston, but I suspect a problem there. No matter. That block will not be retained. It will go to the mechanic to offset some of the parts cost. The original cam will be used for now. It is in good condition - just needs a light polish. The clutch was shot. Still had a little life in it, but it was getting very close to the rivets. The replacement is for an E23 or E28. Much stouter looking unit. The slave looks OK too. The condition of the water pump, alternator, and starter were all taken into account. Only the starter needs replaced. The bottom end on the 3.5L is being worked over. My mechanic has 28 years on these things and has the tools to get it done right. Same guy that did my 3.3L in my other E12. I'm hands on through the whole thing so it isn't like I'm just hiring it out. I'm using his shop and his knowledge extensively. This is a marvelous learning experience. The 'might as well' monster has reared its ugly (and expensive) head. I have about $1100 in parts already and still have to buy a main bearing set. The rings looked and checked OK (as did the mains), but I don't want to do this again so they get replaced too. Given the cost of all these things, I won't be doing any fancy head work for a while. It will live with L-Jet and the stock 528i cam for now. Perhaps a port, polish, and 282 cam in the future. I'll be waiting a while on paint as it is.

3.5l crank 3.5l block Empty engine bay 1 Empty engine bay 2 Old and new clutch Tranny exposed Old Block/Oil Pump 1 Old Block/Oil Pump 2 Old Block/Oil Pump 3

Update, the new motor is alive (and fast!)
Dave assures me that the car is very fast with the new powerplant. It brings a tear to my eye that the old girl received one of the big mods that I had wanted to do when I owned her. Great job, Dave!	Clean engine bay Clean engine bay No more oily dirt from before! Window tinting Trick license plate

Update, Vicky has been killed!

Speaking of bringing a tear to my eye, Dave called during the weekend of June 20th to say that his wife was rear-ended, hard, in Vicky on the way home from the grocery store. Thankfully Dave's wife and kids were o.k. The safety of the E12 did the job very well. Unfortunately, the damage to Vicky is terminal as the photo shows. Buckling in the rear quarter panels and rear roof pillars. Dave is still wrestling with the insurance company (as of July) and he will probably strip Vicky and put the parts into a new E12. A moment of silence for my first E12, Vicky.

Irreparable damage