HELP ASAP buying a 535is, big problem?

[kursed56]

Hey guys I need some advice here. I found a 1987 535is that I was going to buy as my winter car. I need to know if this is a easy fix, worth the money and hassle. The car has been sitting for about 2.5 years and when I tried to start it, it just sputters and wont stay running, my guess is that the old fuel has gummed up the system, it smells like varnish. How hard is this to fix and get running okay? It wont stay running so I cant drive it. Its a 5spd, 109k miles, black with tan leather, body has a little rust but not bad. Almost all of the main components have been replaced within the last 10 years and 10,000. New cam, head work, head gasket, water pump, fuel pump, radiator, exhaust, front suspension bushings, all hoses and belts, timing belt, brakes, clutch assembly and shifter parts. Same owner for 14 years and has BBS side skirts and rear apron. Needs tires of course and the fuel problem fixed. He said he'd take $2,000 as is. Any help on fixing/cost would be great. He wants to get rid of it by Christmas so I need feedback asap. Thanks.

[bähnstormer]

this is no winter car u silly mofo
buy a pickup truck or an awd for
winter.

that's a nice project car!

[kursed56]

Hey, I already have a prestine 635csi and a pick up, I want a decent car to drive in the winter. Thanks for your input.

[TireFryer]

put a nice alpina E34 bi-turbo motor in it! :) VARROOOOMMMMMM!!!! :D

[bmwfan2304]

as long as you put some good winter tires on it it'll be fine to drive in the winter... don't dare get caught with reg tires on them though... i ran mine into a tree last winter bc of that! :(

[MaloventEvil]

thats a great price for that car, but i dont know how it would do in the winter (as in cali we only have rain, not snow)

[jimmyz2]

535i is too special for snow.Use your truck. :cool

[Mr Project]

It's nearly impossibe to tell you what the problem is with so little information.

Chances are good that it's just a fuel delivery/mixture issue, but we can't know for sure from here without more work on your part. It probably isn't anything really serious though, if the head has been done recently (and correctly), as the head is really the only thing that commonly has problems on an M30 engine. The bottom end is nearly bomb-proof, it seems.

If the car seems decent and well-cared for, that seems like a good price. If you don't mind spending some time & money getting it running tip-top, I say go for it.

[Dark Helmet]

bomb-proof, yes.

das-proof, we shall see... :D:D:D.

you've got a short/disconnect in the engine management. if the fluids and fuel all check, no reason it shouldn't run.

if its a problem with the actual fuel, then it would not start.... its harder to get a motor started (especially a motronic 1 M30), than it is to keep it running in my experience. the only time I've had "running and die" issues on mine were from engine computer and wiring harness issues.

speaking of which, I need to get my hands on a spare computer...

[Mr Project]

Stop looking at my DME like that, J! Get your own, I'm using mine!

:D

[The Beastmaster]

If the gas smells like varnish, start there. Put in some fuel stabilizer, or maybe a lot and see if it helps. If not, drain the tank and refill with new gas.

[Cacatfish]

Having gone through similar situations, I wouldnt do it. If the car has been sitting a couople years or more, figure at a minimum tires, brake lines, calipers and fuel compnents will all need to be gone through and possibly replaced. Little things like that can add up. Then there is the issue of not being able to give it a proper test drive since it is non operational. Thus, when you get it going, there is no way to know what else might be lurking.

Then you have weird stuff, like mildew smells, outdated reg.etc etc..

For maybe $1200-$1500, I could see doing it, but nice ones are really not all that expensive anymore...

You might be more suited to something like the car, but this is just my two cents...

[kursed56]

Yeah, Im gonna let it incubate over the weekend and go from there. I appriciate all the input, it all helps. Thanks.