Was: 1985 BMW E28 520i / Now: Moggie is Now Go

[LynehamHerc]

I'm sorry I got to wondering what Ben would say:

snapshotimagehandler_836023770.jpeg (51.24 KiB) Viewed 1843 times

41CSN0Jo+bL._AC_.jpg (29.92 KiB) Viewed 1843 times

[panhard65]

What I really do not like and I've realised why I dislike this car everytime I sit in it (despite loving the look of them), is the smell inside. It's been a smokers car previously and I'm sensitive to the smell of cigarette smoke at best of times. This is made worse with the mix of fustyness too. Even though I've run the ozone generator to try neutralising the smell, it's come back from no doubt being in the headlining and soft fabrics. I know some people love that smell but for me it's pungent enough to make me feel queasy.

I totally understand the wanting to get rid over a smell. My old Panhard was the same, it smelt like something had died in there though. Even leaving it with the interior out and the glass out for a couple of months it still smelt rank when it was back together. As these things are toys if you don't enjoy driving / owning it then get rid.

[mercrocker]

Newer cars like E28s and anything of the ABS/PVC/hydrocarbon by-product era don't age well with regard to smell. Layers of putrefaction upon ageing plastics do not ferment well unlike the gradual return to Earth of say, an A60 or P5 which absorb other odours into their own aroma.


Forgot to add - Great news on the MOT, too....

[paulplom]

It could be worse. My mx5 stinks of piss. It had a mouse or mice nesting under the passenger seat while it was stored just before I bought it. I've tried tons of febreeze, air freshners etc to no effect. Luckily I only drive it with the roof down. I'm going to take the seats out this year and give it a full valet.
Congrats on the mot pass btw. Doubled its value surely?

[SiC]

I totally understand the wanting to get rid over a smell. My old Panhard was the same, it smelt like something had died in there though. Even leaving it with the interior out and the glass out for a couple of months it still smelt rank when it was back together. As these things are toys if you don't enjoy driving / owning it then get rid.

Thankfully it's not too bad with the window open and the ozone generator has done a lot to minimise it. I don't want to completely eradicate it as some will like it and associate it with old car smell. Just it's horrible to my nose.

Newer cars like E28s and anything of the ABS/PVC/hydrocarbon by-product era don't age well with regard to smell. Layers of putrefaction upon ageing plastics do not ferment well unlike the gradual return to Earth of say, an A60 or P5 which absorb other odours into their own aroma.


Forgot to add - Great news on the MOT, too....

The MGB smells like old car but that's more of a burnt oily smell rather than cigarettes/cigars/pipes. I don't think the MGB has even had a smoker as the lighter looked clean and fresh still.

It could be worse. My mx5 stinks of piss. It had a mouse or mice nesting under the passenger seat while it was stored just before I bought it. I've tried tons of febreeze, air freshners etc to no effect. Luckily I only drive it with the roof down. I'm going to take the seats out this year and give it a full valet.
Congrats on the mot pass btw. Doubled its value surely?

Ozone generator helped a lot on this and might be worth a go. My MX-5 smelt a bit fusty and I always put that down to getting damp inside.

In terms of value, I really don't know what it's worth. I'm all ears on suggestions as I'll be sticking an advert up at some point soon. Squire can't have it as he's mid house move. So it'll have to go on the open market. I haven't sold outside the forum for quite a few years now.

[SiC]

Drove it about on the way back and also put 20l more of fresh fuel in. I'll concede that it drive very nice. The suspension is refreshingly soft and the engine is rev happy. I've got a gasket in now, so tomorrow once it's stone cold I'll get those tappets set.

Got some coolant system flush too, but I'm a bit apprehensive about putting that in as it might end up causing more leaks. Especially don't want one in the cabin heater matrix. Cooling system seems perfectly fine now too, even if the heater isn't super hot. The coolant temperature in rush hour stop+start Bristol traffic went slightly above middle but never higher than that. I think that's normal as when I used the IR gun last time, the pipes were at around 90c. If it kept climbing I'd be concerned but I'm putting it down to normal behaviour.

Steering does have a bit of play in it, but previous MOT advisories did mention that. Also the tracking needs doing really. With the alloys on and their newer tyres, it'll probably ride even better.

I need to give it a good scrub and take some photos ready for an advert. I'll probably run around in it for a bit too now it's ready to go.

Need to figure a price and I really have no idea. Prices have risen a fair bit but I don't want to price too high as I'd like a quick sale. But then it's no minter, so I can't expect too much. Rare manual though which should help give interest to it.

[Hooli]

Considering the hassles you had with the coolant feed to the heater, have you back flushed the matrix? it could well have a load of shite built up in it from before the pipe got fully blocked.

Or just sell it in summer so they don't notice.

[SiC]

Yeah I'm thinking of doing that next. There was a washer or some sort of clip that is missing from the heater valve. I'm wondering if it's stuck in the heater core. I need to put the heater valve back in, so I'll flush through before doing that.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The steering play will be in the adjustable column splines. Get a 32mm spanner on the column nut under the dash and give it a tighten. I put the spanner on the nut, rest the spanner end on the transmission tunnel and heave the wheel clockwise.

[Eddie Honda]

At least he won't be hungry after all that filler.

Booooo!