The Henna Revival: Bringing an E28 Back to Life – From beginning to end! – CAtuned Motorsports

E28 Henna

Igor Polishchuk

The One That Stuck: My Story with the E28

What is it about the E28 that gets me going? Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s that perfect blend of boxy ‘80s design and understated presence. But if I’m honest, it all started back in high school.

I still remember my dad pulling into the driveway with an E28 — black paint, sweet red leather interior. We didn’t have much growing up; every dollar mattered. So when I saw that car, I knew my dad must’ve found it cheap and that it probably needed work. But to our surprise, it didn’t. Just a few small fixes and some elbow grease later, he sold it for a profit — money that helped our family pay the bills and keep things moving. I never forgot that. Something about that car, the shape, the smell, the way it carried itself — it left a mark.

Years later, after building and owning countless E30s, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I still needed an E28 in my life. The hunt began.

In late 2000’s, I stumbled upon a Craigslist ad out of the Bay Area. The photos were grainy, the description was short — but I knew I had to see it. When I met the owner, I learned it was a one-owner car. The family told me the man who’d driven it since new was getting too old to be behind the wheel. There was something bittersweet about that moment. I felt for him — but let’s be real, this car was coming home with me.

It showed just 86,000 miles on the clock — a 528e automatic with a mint interior, crack-free dash, and zero rust. Sure, the exterior had its fair share of dents and scrapes, but it was solid where it counted. The kind of car you could build on.

That was the beginning of my E28 story — the car that brought me full circle, back to the memory of that red-leather BMW in my dad’s hands.

Pic: CCFoto Cutting the front for Mtech kit & Installing euro lights

Fast forward a few years — the E28 had been part of my life through countless drives, projects, and seasons. I’d take it out now and then, enjoying that analog, mechanical feel that modern cars just can’t replicate. But over time, the suspension started to show its age. Every bump and creak reminded me that something had to be done. Eventually, I couldn’t take it any longer.

I started with the simple repairs and upgrades: The rear subframe came out, followed by every control arm, bushing, and brake line. If it was tired or worn, it was gone. In its place went a complete overhaul — E28 M5 aluminum control arms, CAtuned polyurethane bushings, CAtuned stainless steel brake lines, E34 M5 brakes front and rear, and a set of our own CAtuned coilovers.

The transformation was night and day. The car finally handled the way it always should have — tight, responsive, planted. Every corner felt deliberate, every input precise. It was better than ever — the kind of improvement that reminds you why you fell in love with these cars in the first place.

Pic: CCFoto – Shop on Fulton 2014. You can still see the ugly aftermarket wheels on it

Pic: CCFoto RS 16″ wheels done. CAtuned coiloversRemoved USA Bumpers w/ Euro Lights

The car also served in my brothers Wedding. It is really part of the family.

I drove this beautiful machine steadily up until 2016, when the inevitable happened — the automatic transmission finally gave up the ghost and lost second gear. Sure, I could’ve replaced the auto easily enough, but let’s be honest — who really wants that? It’s fine for traffic, but it kills the soul of the drive. So, I did what any true enthusiast would do: I parked it and started taking it apart.

Truth be told, I’d been collecting parts for the rebuild since the day I bought the car. The vision kept evolving — plans changed, ideas shifted, parts got moved around — but the goal was always the same: make it better than ever. Each tweak, each upgrade was a step closer to that perfect version I saw in my head.

Over the years, I found myself constantly refining it, swapping one set of wheels for another, trying different steering wheels, chasing that elusive blend of look and feel that makes an E28 truly yours. It wasn’t just about restoration — it was about evolution. Every change told part of the story.

Final pics before pulling the motor/ trans

The motor, transmission, driveline — everything came out in preparation for a full gut. The restoration had officially begun. I moved methodically, stripping the car down piece by piece. Glass came out first, followed by every bit of exterior trim, fenders, bumpers, lights, doors — nothing was left untouched.

This wasn’t going to be just a refresh; it was going to be a full transformation. Along with the mechanical overhaul, the car was slated for a complete color change. Every panel, every line, every surface would be renewed. It was the kind of restoration that demanded patience, precision, and vision — the kind of work that makes a car more than just a machine, but a statement.

Motor pulled out. Ready to be fully gutted.

Fresh paint is always a thrill — the moment when all the hard work starts to show.

And here it is, gleaming in a stunning Henna Red. Every curve, every line brought to life, the color giving the E28 a completely new presence. It wasn’t just a paint job; it was the car’s personality shining through, bold and unmistakable.

Power plant? I know what you’re thinking — what exactly are we planning to run under the hood? Well, rest assured, it’s going to be boosted, packed with plenty of high-performance goodies, and sprinkled with a few unexpected twists.

The build has officially begun, and we’ve started assembling the motor piece by piece. Here are a few shots to give you a glimpse of what’s in store — a peek behind the curtain at the heart of this E28 transformation.

With all that added power on the way, the rest of the car has to be ready to handle it. With that in mind, I’ve already started prepping the upgrades. A custom set of Chromoly axles is on deck, paired with a Wavetrac differential to put the power to the ground. All-new poly bushings front and rear will keep everything tight and precise.

Meanwhile, the CAtuned 24V E28 mount kit is ready and waiting — we just need to finish the motor build, and this car will be locked, loaded, and ready to unleash.

Engine specs:

Machined and prepped block / Clean and magnaflux block / Deck block surface
Mahle PowerPak 9.0:1 pistons (2618 forged, .2mm overbore)
VAC coated rod bearings (STD)
VAC coated main bearings (STD)
Bore and hone to 86.6mm using torque plate and 3-stage hone process
File fit piston rings
Painted block black

Specs are listed below:

-Piston skirts: 3.4077-3.4078”
-Piston-to-wall clearance: .0025-.0027” (spec is .0020-.0028”)
-Top ring gaps: .021”
-Second ring gaps: .023”
-Oil rings: .015”
-Main bearing bores: 2.5594” across all (spec is 2.5591-2.5598”)

***Cylinder taper and out-of-round measured and confirmed to be 0

Cylinder head Pressure checked / Glass blasted / surfaced
Supertech Double valve springs
Supertech valves & retainers
Custom Turbo Camshaft

And now, an update from 2017. The car had been sitting patiently, waiting for its moment. I, on the other hand, had grown tired of waiting — it was well past time to bring this project to a finish.

Finally, here it is: the full reveal of the E28 in Henna Red. Every detail, every upgrade, every ounce of work coming together to show what this classic machine has become.