• gump
  • gump
  • Ripened Lemon
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  • From: el aye, so cal
  • Registered: 2011-06-01
  • Posts: 330

Topic: E28 1984 528e purchase thoughts

Found an very original 1984 528e for sale.  Between my finding it on CL and going to see it, the seller found that it wouldn't start (dead battery).  They tried to jump start it ... no go.  Towed to their family BMW mechanic.  He believes they fried the ECU with a low voltage/high current situation.  It has a good coil but no spark.  The seller doesn't want to spend any money on the car.

I was prepared to spend a few thousand on this as a beater/driver for my teen boys to hone their manual transmission skills.  That assumed it was running, passed smog etc.  How much trouble am I getting myself into if I buy this at a Lemons price and try to fix it myself?  I've seen ECU's on eBay for $100.

Let the info flow from the internet-hive-mind.

10x loser (Arse-Freeze '11 - Vodden '15) 1x WINNER! Arse-Freeze '14 in the Watermelon Volvo Wagon
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  • From: Seacoast NH
  • Registered: 2013-01-01
  • Posts: 473

Re: E28 1984 528e purchase thoughts

That has the ETA motor in it and they a fairly bulletproof.  I'd hop on it in a second.

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  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • Registered: 2011-07-23
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Re: E28 1984 528e purchase thoughts

Good car for teens. That ETA mill is tough and will get high 20s mpg on regular octane gas.

I agree with the guess-diagnosis above, the DMEs in these don't like that stuff. Not 110% sure but it's probable.

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  • From: Westfield Ma
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Re: E28 1984 528e purchase thoughts

When you say no go, was the engine turning over?  I would check to see if the engine turns over and the cam turns at the same time.  aka the timing belt is not broken.

  • gump
  • gump
  • Ripened Lemon
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  • From: el aye, so cal
  • Registered: 2011-06-01
  • Posts: 330

Re: E28 1984 528e purchase thoughts

Engine turned over and camshaft was moving.  Just no spark. 

It's all for naught as I think the mechanic one-upped my low-ball offer and bought the thing.  Back to CraigsList...

Red Lemons Racing wrote:

When you say no go, was the engine turning over?  I would check to see if the engine turns over and the cam turns at the same time.  aka the timing belt is not broken.

10x loser (Arse-Freeze '11 - Vodden '15) 1x WINNER! Arse-Freeze '14 in the Watermelon Volvo Wagon
Swedish Knievel Skycycle('90 Volvo 740 Wagon)