Help: E28 Turns Over But Won't "Catch" After 6 Mos Sitting

"Dave Plowman (News)" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> > wrote:
> > >Don't be silly. There's a thriving classic car scene in the UK - and in
> > >much of Europe. And the E28 is definitely a classic.
>
>
> > Of course there is Dave and as you say the operative word is CLASSIC.
> > these guys use them as everyday transport and wonder why they breakdown
> > and things go wrong and rave how fantastic their 1985 BMW 5 series is on
> > the school run and then moan they can't get bit for it.
>
> Plenty use a classic for everyday. Mine gets driven on most.
>
> > Classic Cars are one thing - keeping an old banger running is a totally
> > different kettle of fish.
>
> Just a frame of mind. 'Keeping a car running' can apply to cars of any
age.
>
> --
> *Organized Crime Is Alive And Well; It's Called Auto Insurance. *
>
> Dave Plowman London SW
> To e-mail, change noise into sound.
-----

OK, who's picking on my beater? Mine really runs great. I wish mileage was a
little better, but it will take many v8s from the light and get better
mileage than they do. I drive it all the time. When we need a "better look",
we take the wife's 98 528i. I just go places that her car would be more in
peril going/doing. There isn't a "keeping it running" thing for this one.
However, the suspension is over 21 years old (minus the replaced parts, of
course), and the design is older. I do like the e39 ride better.

Bill in Omaha
'86 535i

On May 30, 3:52 pm, wrote:
>
> Who the **** cares what you think?

Apparently, more people than you'd believe.

> Anyway why do you US guys buy OLD
> cars. Is it because your fantastic weather stops them from rusting away?

I wish ...

> Is it
> because you are so law abiding that the BMW cars never wear out or even pushed
> to the limit except in trips to the mall?

I could own something else, but I happen to really *like* the E28.
It's easy to DIY maintain, it's a good street car and it's a good
track car. I daresay you have no idea what its limits feel like (nor
probably your own car's, either). Maybe you'd care to match some lap
times with me at Road America, Watkins Glen, Mid Ohio, Lime Rock,
Sebring (Oops! Take that back! Sebring's rough as a cob! But I'll
drive *somebody else's* car there!), Brainerd, or ... the list goes
on.

> Over her in "Euroland" we tend to scrap the really old ones -----------

Over here in "BMW Motorheadland", we tend to *drive* 'em. If you
weren't so damned annoying, I'd offer you some links where you can see
the amazing BMW E28 cybercommunity, with many of whom (~130 E12/E28
cars & ~200 enthusiasts) I spent last weekend in Chattanooga, TN.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Having more fun in my old car than you in your new one)

On May 31, 3:01 am, wrote:
> On Wed, 30 May 2007 23:27:25 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)" >
> wrote:
>
> >In article >,
> > > wrote:

> >> Over her in "Euroland" we tend to scrap the really old ones -----------
>
> >Don't be silly. There's a thriving classic car scene in the UK - and in
> >much of Europe. And the E28 is definitely a classic.
>
> Of course there is Dave and as you say the operative word is CLASSIC. these
> guys use them as everyday transport and wonder why they breakdown and things
> go wrong and rave how fantastic their 1985 BMW 5 series is on the school run
> and then moan they can't get bit for it.

When did you hear any moaning about parts? This one hasn't even been
diagnosed yet. Odds are it's a commonly available relay; maybe a
fuse. Nothing I can't lay hands on in a day or two.

> Classic Cars are one thing - keeping an old banger running is a totally
> different kettle of fish.

Yes, it is. And, since you have obviously never dealt with this
particular kettle, I'd respectfully suggest you take your damned
stirring spoon and go home. Meanwhile, some of us can offer useful
information on the subject.
--
C.R. Krieger
(It's an '88, not an '85)

On 31 May 2007 12:08:10 -0700, E28 Guy© > wrote:

>On May 30, 3:52 pm, wrote:
>>
>> Who the **** cares what you think?
>
>Apparently, more people than you'd believe.
>
>> Anyway why do you US guys buy OLD
>> cars. Is it because your fantastic weather stops them from rusting away?
>
>I wish ...
>
>> Is it
>> because you are so law abiding that the BMW cars never wear out or even pushed
>> to the limit except in trips to the mall?
>
>I could own something else, but I happen to really *like* the E28.
>It's easy to DIY maintain, it's a good street car and it's a good
>track car. I daresay you have no idea what its limits feel like (nor
>probably your own car's, either). Maybe you'd care to match some lap
>times with me at Road America, Watkins Glen, Mid Ohio, Lime Rock,
>Sebring (Oops! Take that back! Sebring's rough as a cob! But I'll
>drive *somebody else's* car there!), Brainerd, or ... the list goes
>on.
>

If I was there I would really give you a go. Probably not as quick as I once was
but I still give you a run for the money.

I have never "done" a track day but raced for real on many of the UK tracks and
one in Germany. Drove a NASCAR machine round Daytona in 1982 but not raced in
the US.


>> Over her in "Euroland" we tend to scrap the really old ones -----------
>
>Over here in "BMW Motorheadland", we tend to *drive* 'em. If you
>weren't so damned annoying, I'd offer you some links where you can see
>the amazing BMW E28 cybercommunity, with many of whom (~130 E12/E28
>cars & ~200 enthusiasts) I spent last weekend in Chattanooga, TN.

A very good friend lived in Chattanooga but unfortunately he had a heart attack
two yeas ago and died. Very nice part of TN I must say.

On May 31, 3:25 pm, wrote:
> On 31 May 2007 12:08:10 -0700, E28 Guy© > wrote:
>
> >I could own something else, but I happen to really *like* the E28.
>
> If I was there I would really give you a go. Probably not as quick as I once was
> but I still give you a run for the money.
>
> I have never "done" a track day but raced for real on many of the UK tracks and
> one in Germany.

So maybe you do have a clue about it. What you're overlooking by
nursing your condescension for American drivers is that we are not
*all* what you think. At least not in this newsgroup. Rashly
assuming you're a contemporary of David Hobbs, it might interest you
to know that I've worked events (as an instructor) with him (as a
*celebrity* instructor) and I see him regularly, as he has a Honda
store in Milwaukee and he gets to Road America frequently. In spite
of his pimping Hondas, his biggest boosters around here are the BMW
folks like me.

You also ought to know what a stock E28 is capable of. Mine isn't
exactly stock in terms of suspension or tire compounds. So if I
mention pulling about 1g in a turn, you know I've *done it*, not just
heard about it.

> >> Over her in "Euroland" we tend to scrap the really old ones -----------
>
> >Over here in "BMW Motorheadland", we tend to *drive* 'em.
>
> A very good friend lived in Chattanooga but unfortunately he had a heart attack
> two yeas ago and died.

My sympathies.

> Very nice part of TN I must say.

A lotta fun to drive the secondaries a few miles north in the
mountains, too. I never did find the damn mall ...
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; done that)

On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:52:32 +0100, wrote:

>
>Who the **** cares what you think? I don't Anyway why do you US guys buy OLD
>cars. Is it because your fantastic weather stops them from rusting away? Is it
>because you are so law abiding that the BMW cars never wear out or even pushed
>to the limit except in trips to the mall?
>
>Over her in "Euroland" we tend to scrap the really old ones -----------

We call them classics and if the car is nice enough or you just like
that particular body style, you restore one (or hot rod it). Sorry
that in "euroland" that hasn't caught on...

On Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:58:36 -0700, E28 Guy© > wrote:

>C.R. Krieger
>(Been there; done that)


Me too

On Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:05:45 -0400, Psycho > wrote:

>On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:52:32 +0100, wrote:
>
>>
>>Who the **** cares what you think? I don't Anyway why do you US guys buy OLD
>>cars. Is it because your fantastic weather stops them from rusting away? Is it
>>because you are so law abiding that the BMW cars never wear out or even pushed
>>to the limit except in trips to the mall?
>>
>>Over her in "Euroland" we tend to scrap the really old ones -----------
>
> We call them classics and if the car is nice enough or you just like
>that particular body style, you restore one (or hot rod it). Sorry
>that in "euroland" that hasn't caught on...

Don't laugh

I bought a Nissan "CEDRIC" 4 door hard-top for £65 gb pounds ($130 US) some 18
years ago. Bit of a wreck with a 2000 cc inline 6 fuel injected (similar to the
Z engines.)

Got an old 280C (UK badged version) - they looked a bit like an Olds Cutlass of
1966 ish.

Swapped the 2.8 six into it and stuck the 280Z inj unit on to keep it almost
stock - the 2 litre six wasn't available in the UK.

2 new fenders (wings 2 x rocker (sill) panels and a lot of sheet metal work on
the bottom of the doors and boot (trunk) made it quite presentable being the
only one in existence in western Europe having NEVER been imported - mine came
from Saudi Arabia - verified by Nissan in Japan and the only other odd one was a
private import by the agents of a 2 door coupé.

Lovely runabout complete with AC and all the toys. Had to swap the radio (even
had rear seat tuning!) as it had a Japan/US setup on auto tune where the
stations are 10k apart and the UK is 9k or the other way round - lock on one
station and skip all the others.....

Car is now in a museum in Suffolk and the ******* never did tax it so it still
has my old plates on it - he promised he would relinquish the reg back to me....

*******..........

If you are mildly interested........

http://www.peterpan.clara.co.uk/cedric.html

http://www.peterpan.clara.co.uk/cedric2.html
--

Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen

Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

On Thu, 31 May 2007 11:54:34 -0500, "Bill" > wrote:

Just a little reminder to all and sundry regarding petrol or gasoline.

Gasoline can be stored for around 6 months in a can - usually a specially
designed light proof screw top pressure resistant type "spare gas" can as sold
for the purpose of.

In a vehicle's gas tank it will be useable for around 3 months before it starts
to deteriorate. The point where it becomes unusable I cannot determine but
eventually it will to the point where it won't work in a car but you might be
able to use it to clean something or light the bar-B-q but I wouldn't advise it.

So if the car don't start after 6 months - it could be the gas.

Remember - diesel owners. Don't stockpile diesel fuel as the summer stuff goes
gooey and treacle like in winter and will actually freeze where the winter stuff
isn't too good for summer use as it's too thin and that blended for cooler
climates doesn't suit prolonged use hotter or warmer ones like Alaska -
California or Southern Spain - Iceland.