Nice color too! I'm not up on my BMW trivia, but that doesn't look like a typical USDM color.
Nice color too! I'm not up on my BMW trivia, but that doesn't look like a typical USDM color.
I think the color is 'opalgrun'.
Being from the land of autobahns I think it would be more at home on the interstate than anywhere else. Sure it'll take a while to get there but once you're at 100mph you could cruise there all day long.
stuart in mn wrote:Slippery wrote: The only problem I see in bringing it over (especially to Fl) is the lack of AC.I was going to say the same thing. There was an aftermarket A/C kit for the e28 from http://diavia.it/eng_kits.php but I don't know if they still sell it - after all, they are over 25 years old. Also, my M535i has that Diavia kit and it's barely adequate in Minnesota, I suspect it would have a hard time keepin up in Florida.
This is my biggest concern right now too and was the next question I was going to ask for info on 
I could (perhaps) piecemeal a kit together from junkyard parts, but that would be a pain. I've heard the factory A/C on E28's are not stellar, so it seems inherent to them. Some cool air is better than none.
Back to my question from yesterday: does anyone know any shipping companies/importers they can recommend? I haven't heard anything from the ones I've contacted so far. Gggrrrr....
In reply to edwardh80:
Keep in mind AC was not even an OPTION on the 518, likely because it would overtax the already-underpowered and heavily stressed engine...if you do a conversion I would not expect great results.
Non-air conditioned e28s like your grandfather's have a different center console than air conditioned cars, so in order to fit a BMW factory a/c unit you'd need to replace that.
Have you checked into the link I posted earlier about the guy in the Netherlands who imports e28s to the US? I'm sure he could assist in shipping.
yamaha wrote:SlickDizzy wrote: Huh, a 518! Carburated 1.8 four cylinder, 100hp in a 3100lb car...very cool, but that's gonna be a lot of fun on modern expressways!I've done that before, while it wouldn't win any drag races, it'd do just fine down an interstate. I don't understand why it seems to be a common theme here of "Just don't take it down an interstate" like it would somehow be dangerous.....I'd bet it's safer than any miata around semis.
This. These are very close to the numbers for a Volvo 240 wagon. Mine had no trouble driving on the interstate at beyond legal speeds.
In reply to Esoteric Nixon:
we'll put it this way, that engine in a 2400lb car could happily cook along at about the same pace as a gen 1 automatic focus....in a 3100lb car, it'd be slower than that, but probably still faster than a metro, insight, or NA miata.
stuart in mn wrote: Non-air conditioned e28s like your grandfather's have a different center console than air conditioned cars, so in order to fit a BMW factory a/c unit you'd need to replace that. Have you checked into the link I posted earlier about the guy in the Netherlands who imports e28s to the US? I'm sure he could assist in shipping.
I'm not so sure about the different center console aspect. Some photos I've seen of A/C-equipped E-28's have the A/C switch in the blank area next to the hot/cold dial, suggesting the evaporator gubbins etc behind the console will fit with this version of the console. Are there other considerations that preclude the present console that's fitted?
Good idea on the NL-based chap - I'll drop him a PM.
The console in a factory a/c car is shaped differently and is physically larger than the console in a non-a/c car, there's not enough room inside the non-a/c console to fit the factory a/c equipment. Compare this photo with the photo of your grandfather's car.
You will see pictures out there of a non-a/c dash with the a/c button, but those are cars that have the aftermarket Diavia a/c installed. My e28 M535i is that way.
I too like the color. M10+megasquirt and a turbo.
In reply to T.J.:
Definitely, it is actually pretty hard to kill an m10.
T.J. wrote: I too like the color. M10+megasquirt and a turbo.
Except for the fact that it's a 518 instead of a 518i. No fuel injection... I'm not very knowledgeable about MS just yet (it's one my list of things to tackle) but I don't know whether it'd be worth it (or even possible) to convert to fuel injection?
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