Rod's Webpages Index
Last updated November 11, 2009NOTE -
The latest page updates have to identify where the update was made so that you can decide if you want to go
to that page or not, depending on your interests.HOME Page
A pictorial overview of the car and its configuration and history, plus links to other associated info,
such as - The 528e engine bay and comments about cleaning and maintenance of it - Summary of
Maintenance and Modifications History - Recorded fuel mileage data - About the digital camera
I use - Examples of excellent pictures of autos - Links to vehicle inspection reports to assist
you with your own inspection and also including the UK "MOT" vehicle inspection checklist, at the
bottom of the page.Maintenance Tips Pg.1
Maintenance tips, comments and links about performing various types of maintenance.
Six pages to date. This page covers Adjusting the AFM (a .pdf file of F.R. Wilk's original
webpage, which is now gone - Idle FAQ - BMW parts catalog link - Removing a frozen or
damaged disc rotor mounting screw - Non BMW hose clamp trouble, Wurth URL link changes
- Where are the reference marks? - Summary Emission Test Results - 124,000 miles maintenance
items, including "Preventive Maintenance" items such as radiator, expansion tank, water pump
and thermostat - AC Compressor belt remove/replace - Intermittent/random engine power loss
during full throttle - Blown/Broken Hard Disk Drive - Don't Throw it Away! (they have very
powerful magnets) - AC vents a mess?Maintenance Tips Pg.2
Suspension description - Pitman arms replacement - Replace speedometer gears - A hidden rust
area - Hood pad replacement - Cooling system questions and which temp sensor does what?
- Placement of rear Jack Stands - Front Strut Water Drain and what can happen due to rust!
I've expanded this subject due to the number of failures I've now seen due to the rust problem.
- Bell Housing Sensors Installation.Maintenance Tips Pg.3
Swap the seats and help minimize wear - A tip about using Gummi Plfege - Door doesn't latch
without additional force and rattles - Modified jack pad for lifting the E28 at its side lift points.Maintenance Tips Pg.4
Checking disc rotor and wheel runout - Replacing the upper and lower control arms with
750i bushings in the upper arms, steering linkage replacement, tie-rod lube and alignment.
A new link to a picture by Philo showing his blue polyurethane bushing failure, plus another
failure on another E28. And what no or improper suspension preloading does to a control arm
bushing! - Failed sway bar link joint boots after only 2300 miles! - Serious clunking and
knocking sounds, because I didn't pay attention to link nut tightening torque!Maintenance Tips Pg.5
Replacing the rear suspension bushings using the right tool - Removing a broken bushing sleeve.Maintenance Tips Pg.6
The EZcarlift in my little garage... a small but powerful helper, finally! And now with
the optional 6-inch caster wheels, I have more flexibility in positioning the car, simply by
pushing it around, not having to drive it in and out of the garage to reposition it... and
only operating the cold engine for five minutes! - Velcro modification to my aluminum lifting
blocks simplify lift positioning - Handling/Rotating tires using the lift - Storing the lift
in my small garage.Modifications and Resources Pg.1
Carefully selected modifications I've made to my 528e, that have improved performance
and links to where I got the stuff. - E28 Internet Resources - E32 750i BIG brake upgrade
- Anti-sway bar upgrades including mount modifications - 16-inch wheels and tires and
Hub-centric Ring Adaptor for E39 wheels - Spring Rates Report - Euro headlights and improved
wiring with relay part numbers - Improving rear end stop and running light visibility
- Chipping the ECU with the popular brands, their performance differences and their
effects on my 528e Virginia emissions test results.Modifications and Resources Pg.2
On the question of finding a front strut brace that will fit the 528e. What has to be moved
to allow strut brace clearance and was the work worth the effort? - The long hose can create
an engine idle problem, here's the fix.Modifications and Resources Pg.3
Polishing the bumpers to get rid of failed anodize coating. Not as easy as many suggest!
Updated to include comment about sander types that should be used.Modifications and Resources Pg.4
Installing a 3.46 limited slip differential - Rebuilt half-shafts and CV boot sealing issues
and some other things you should look at while under the car with the differential out, such
as the Guibo flex disk coupling. How about different shift linkage, to shorten up the throw?Modifications and Resources Pg.5
Installing a Metric Mechanic HiFlo ST Cylinder Head. Replacing the stock cylinder head with
a high performance head built by Metric Mechanic, ordered September 24, 2009. Stay tuned, lots
of good pictures and information to be posted once I actually start work on this winter project.
Mark has previously done work for MM.Paint Protection
Keeping a 26 year old car and its original paint looking exceptional. I purchased
a GlossHaus kit (Jan. 2008) to see if I can gain some more depth and sparkle using Dave's paint
restoration system and a power polisher. Years of hand applied Zymol has kept it looking very
good, but Dave and I think there is quite a bit more we can obtain. Unfortunately, my schedule
has been filled with other projects, so I still haven't done the paint restoration work. I will post
the results when I finally tackle this GlossHaus project, sometime later this fall/winter.
I recently learned that Dave has sold the GlossHaus system.Electrical Problems
Dealing with the well known electrical problems of the E28, including fuse, relay and
ground connection problems, responsible for starting problems, stumbling problems,
erattic idle, intermittent power problems and many other head scratchers. - New links to
BMW E28 Electronic Troubleshooting Manuals and a list of 528e ground point locations.
- Fixing intermittent power window switches.Lighting and Voltage Tests - Headlight lens polishing
Looking at the performance of improved wiring for the headlight circuits, when using
the European E28 lamps - Polishing plastic headlight lensesBMW E28 Steering Wheels
My efforts at finding and mounting some really nice coarse spline hub steering wheels,
including modifying a MOMO coarse spline hub and modifying a fine spline M-Tec II E36
steering wheel to mount the modified MOMO hub on, so it will fit my coarse spline steering
wheel shaft. Not a simple hacksaw job, but some expensive machining and it looks great!Other E28 BMW's
My selection of a few really nice E28s, owned by some E28 friends. Derin in the UK
has recently finished (August 2008) the M535i he has been working on for 15 months!Awards
A few awards my peers have bestowed on my E28. Thank You! A link to the 2008
Concours east coast area events schedule can also be found here.Rod's Honda Fit page
Information, tips and opinions on maintaining and making selected modifications to a
2008 Honda Fit Sport 5-speed, purchased March 2008. - Different wheels and tires
- Front rotor and hub painting - Revised road lighting - Additional Resources
- Current recorded average fuel mileage for the current total mileage on the vehicle.About Rod and the other stuff he is doing...
What's my background with automobiles? And what am I reading, driving or working on now?
- Links to some good early Mopar action on You Tube - My current PC and
web browser tests are available here and include the new "PeaceKeeper" and 2.26GHz Mac mini
test results, for both Mac OSX and WindowsXP running on the mini - Geekbench profiles of my
Macs and PCs performance - A very good Internet connection speed test source, providing the
service from dedicated servers in many major cities, hopefully one near you.--- Rod's Other Webpage Locations ---
House Projects
Photo documentation on what we've been doing to the outside of our little 82 year old Sears Kit
type house (Nat'l Historic Reg.# 286-5001-0284) - Resources for info on Sears Kit Homes.Window Restoration Work
Photo documentation on the rebuilding of 100+ year old double-hung windows and weather stripping
them for greatly improved performance and installing internal thermal insulating window systems.
- improving small shed dormer window performance - energy efficiency analysis and my report/tips
on doing old wooden window restoration work - new exterior wooden shutters replace what was
removed 50 years ago and to protect windows against UV damage and greatly reduce south
facing window heat gain - The beauty of "shuttered" sun light - A new page has been created
to document installation of the Anderson "Insert" window sash products - The exterior shutters
are now open to allow the sun to heat the south facing rooms, which provides significant heat gain.