Fleet update - now with origin story

"HoustonRunner" (houstonrunner) 06/09/2019 at 12:18 • Filed to: None

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Update 2:

So I have been looking for a E28 for quite a while. Most the ones I found were on the West coast, and the ones on the East coast look quite rusty. With family stuff on the weekends I didn’t really have time to make a trip all the way to the West coast for a project car.

Finally found one on Austin Craigslist this week, and it turned out to be at a fairly well-known BMW shop. Terry Sayther’s shop has a good reputation in Central Texas BMW circles, and this was one of Terry’s cars for over a year.

I spotted it on Wednesday night while doing my daily evening CL surfing. Called on Thursday to get some info, and Thursday night worked on a plan to go see it. I’m in Houston, about two and a half hours away from Austin. The big challenge was I had to work until at least 1 on Friday, and we were flying out for vacation Saturday at 11. So if I was going to go look at it and potentially buy it I had to go there and back Friday afternoon. Normally I would pull my father or brother in-law for help, but my dad was out of town and my brother in law has a two year old and four month old.

Knowing I didn’t really have time to get a trailer and take it back, my plan was to go to Austin, look at and potentially buy the car, then figure out where to leave it in Austin for a week. I have family friends on the north side, but the car was on the south side not far from the airport. So as my backup I could leave it in a long term lot as a last resort.

The traffic gods were with me as the drive on Friday afternoon really only took two hours and forty minutes. I got to the shop, and have to admit it is a cool place for BMW enthusiasts. E30s and 2002s sprinkled across the bays, with a few E24 and E28s around as well. Clearly a place where people are passionate about BMW’s.

When I was done gawking I went in and found the right person, and we headed out for a drive.

It certainly isn’t perfect, but I wouldn’t expect that for a 30 + year old car. Pulls strong, stops well, turns solidly, and has extremely minimal rust. But on the first test drive it died on me three times. Each time was coming down to idle as I came to a stop. The guy riding with me said right away “vacuum leak”. We pulled back into the shop and he found a tech to check it out. While it was being looked at we went inside and he showed me the stack of records from the past three years.

A few minutes later we went back out and the tech was just firing it up. Idle was definitely smoother and we sat and watched it idle for a few minutes. There was a vacuum cap that had come off, they replaced it and we were good to go. Second test drive was good. It still had a hard time on return to idle once or twice, but even with the AC on it was good. They don’t have a complete set of records, but it may have a hotter cam in it based on the idle.

When we got back I went over the body and frame. The only thing I could find was some surface rust on the trunk lid area, that seems pretty clear it was from the trunk weather stripping failing. Other than that it was remarkably clean. I’m sure I’ll find additional areas when I get back, but really clean for over 200k miles.

So I was hooked. We agreed on a price (I’m a bad negotiator, but paid less than asking and I feel it was fair), then I asked the harder question - could they keep it for me for a week since I was headed out of town. No problem, they are even keeping it indoors.

Since it was there for the week I’m having them replace the trunk weather stripping and take a look at the idle.

So I head back home and make good time again. Now I have a week to read up on E28s and look forward to to getting it home. I’ll have more next week after I have it and get to drive and look it over in more detail. I know I didn’t look as thoroughly as I would have a car that was literally sold by anyone else. Time will tell if my trust was well placed or not.

More adventures to come, and I’ll try to do a decent job of documenting the return trip next Saturday.

If kinja cooperates I’ll add more pictures.

Original post:

Purchased today. ‘88 535i. More info coming, have to pack for vacation.

Update 1: Bought it yesterday in Austin from Terry Sayther’s shop. Link below.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

CB > HoustonRunner 06/07/2019 at 22:39

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Looks pretty sweet!

MM54 > HoustonRunner 06/07/2019 at 23:08

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Nice!

atfsgeoff > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 02:38

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Sooo jealous

gmctavish needs more space > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 03:08

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Ohh I am very jealous 

WilliamsSW > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 09:36

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Gorgeous! Congratulations!

DutchieDC2R > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 09:42

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Man, everyone on Oppo seems to be on some kind of shopping spree for cars. I need to join in on the fun, damnit.

Congratz! 

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 10:25

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I’m extremely jealous right now! Congrats :)

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 10:31

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Damnnnn nice.

HoustonRunner > DutchieDC2R 06/08/2019 at 11:02

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Thanks, have been looking for a few months and finally found a nice one close.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 11:05

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That’s a very handsome car. It’s a thing that some complain about, the American bumpers, but I like them. I like the instrument cluster from that era as well. Did you talk him down any?

wafflesnfalafel > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 11:35

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beautiful car

JeepJeremy > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 12:19

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Woah! That’s so cool!

ihm96 > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 14:24

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Thats awesome. E28s are great

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 19:12

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(Checks add, makes sure it has the proper transmission...) Congrats! I have nothing but good memories of the E28s owned by friends and family. Sure, they were all 528e models with the 5-speed, but good cars nonetheless.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 20:40

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Holy spacoli that's gorgeous. One day I'll get into a BMW of that Era, theyre just so timeless and simple and detailed 

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/08/2019 at 20:41

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Please get euro spec bumpers! Those USDM pool noodles on the front and back just aren't befitting to the lines of the car

HoustonRunner > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/08/2019 at 21:06

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That will definitely be on my long term list.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > HoustonRunner 06/08/2019 at 21:52

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Awesome. Also, sorry to bug you, but how do I get authorship on oppo? I've been lurking and commenting for years, I'd love to be able to post and share my cars and life 

HoustonRunner > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/08/2019 at 22:53

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Check under Rules of the Road in the header area.  Should be a link there on who to contact to get authorship.

HoustonRunner > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 06/09/2019 at 08:27

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Um, yeah.  No auto BMW for me.  Even with the high miles it shifts smoothly.

diplodicus forgot his password > HoustonRunner 06/09/2019 at 12:33

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Idle could just be the throttle position switch needing a bit of adjustment. Although I think the stock motronic 1 idle is a little funky. If they don’t find anymore vacuum leaks or the tps is properly aligned and it still does it try an EAT chip in the ecu. You get a small power gain above 3k rpm and the idle changes too. Makes a better noise too, have to put premium in it though.

HoustonRunner > diplodicus forgot his password 06/09/2019 at 12:44

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Thanks. One of the first things I’m going to is check to see what chip it has - stock or other.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HoustonRunner 06/09/2019 at 13:01

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That car is gorgeous. Congratulations, I love how the older cars have such a clean line from hood to rear fender and a huge greenhouse.

HoustonRunner > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 06/09/2019 at 13:24

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Thanks.  I’m also happy I have a car with an actual color - my Suburban is white, and so was my BMW before that.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HoustonRunner 06/09/2019 at 14:06

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White cars are okay.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > HoustonRunner 06/09/2019 at 15:40

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That is an awesome old BMW....looking forward to more stories! :D

HoustonRunner > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 06/09/2019 at 15:50

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I agree, but I was stuck in a bit of a white rut.

HoustonRunner > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/09/2019 at 15:51

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Yes, but not much.  My dad is an amazing negotiator, he did not pass that to me.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HoustonRunner 06/09/2019 at 22:57

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A thing is worth about as much as you are willing to pay for it and if you’re happy, then that’s what matters. And it’s a handsome specimen with some maintenance records. Enjoy!

HoustonRunner > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/09/2019 at 23:01

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I agree.  But it doesn’t take away from the fact that my dad is an amazing negotiator and I’m not.  I love my dad.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HoustonRunner 06/09/2019 at 23:14

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I love my dad, too, and I was not always able to easily say that. Your pops still around?

HoustonRunner > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/10/2019 at 17:22

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Yes, he was just in Denver visiting his siblings or he would have made the trip with me.

superdave847 > HoustonRunner 06/30/2019 at 17:40

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Really cool car. I’m following now to keep updated!