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Thread: 2005 545i project car

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2017
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    03' 540i, 05' 545i

    2005 545i project car

    Good morning. I'm considering buying an 05 545i with some caveats.
    The car has not run in 3 months. It also has a rebuilt title. That said, I do plan on purchasing this vehicle as a project car and am fully aware the negatives of a rebuilt title brand.

    I'm asking advice on the cost. The car has 124k miles and immaculate interior. Exterior I'd rate as a 6 or 7 our of 10.
    We've agreed on a 1150 purchase price. I feel that I could part out the car and get that back pretty easily if I needed to abort. Am I wrong on that assumption because of the title status?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
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    Cornelius, NC
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    09 535ix
    Title has nothing to do with parts... Some people part a car without a title at all. I say it's a good deal. Do you know what's had it parked for 3 months?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2017
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    Houston
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    Quote Originally Posted by KingDavidsCourt View Post
    Title has nothing to do with parts... Some people part a car without a title at all. I say it's a good deal. Do you know what's had it parked for 3 months?
    Not yet, working on that part.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
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    Amesbury, Massachusetts
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    BMWs and Mini's
    ~1000 bucks for a running driving N62 car isn't a terrible deal. But I have a feeling the "what is wrong" list is going to be much longer than the seller discloses.

    -James

    Turner Motorsport
    / // Parts and Performance for BMWs
    16 South Hunt Road
    Amesbury, MA 01913
    800-280-6966
    info@turnermotorsport.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by TurnerMS View Post
    ~1000 bucks for a running driving N62 car isn't a terrible deal. But I have a feeling the "what is wrong" list is going to be much longer than the seller discloses.

    -James
    Indeed. The car does not run.
    Ive been doing some diagnostics over the past few days, and it seems that I have spark, fuel but no compression on 5 of 7 tested cylinders (didn't test cyl 4 yet)
    Only thing I can think of that would cause no compression over that much of the engine is bent valves. But even that does not match up as both sides of engine have the issue. I am hoping that bore wash is accounting for this.
    Ill have the valves off then heads sooner or later though.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
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    2008 BMW M5 SMGII
    Could it be a broken timing chain? Your bores should not be that worn where you would have zero compression.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2017
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    Quote Originally Posted by Johnbennett103 View Post
    Could it be a broken timing chain? Your bores should not be that worn where you would have zero compression.
    Wouldn't you be able to hear that clatter? Besides, The chain portion visible through the oil refill area is nice and taut, yet I have 3 cylinders on that side of the engine where no compression is read.
    Im looking forward to when I have time to take off the valves covers as I believe the likelyhood of having 5-6 bent rods or damaged piston heads/rings is slim. I cant think of a failure mode where the engine wouldn't stop running LONG before that kind of damage happens...
    Ive even found a thread where an N62B44 user hydrolocked the engine and he had 0 compression on 3 cylinders, not 5+. Will be an interesting mystery to solve

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2017
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    Houston
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    03' 540i, 05' 545i
    bump

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Can
    Posts
    211
    My Cars
    2004 E60 545i
    Maybe car overheated and head gasket is gone, causing the lack of compression. Any chance of doing a smoke test?
    ">'85 Mlite E30, '98 E36, 1998 528i, 5 spd manual, black on black, sold in 2012 and still going past 350Kkms, now MYSTIC Blue 2004 545i, 6 spd Steptr., Adaptive steering and Xenons, Anti dazzle mirrors. Aux+Belt-Chime+Dig speedo+iDrive discl. 2007 TCU+BT Coded+Sure BT Board

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
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    03' 540i, 05' 545i
    Quote Originally Posted by cmyachtie View Post
    Maybe car overheated and head gasket is gone, causing the lack of compression. Any chance of doing a smoke test?
    I'd think with the HG being out I'd only lose compression in a couple of cylinders. I'm still hoping for an easier fix such as that, but I'm not holding my breath.
    I'll have to see how much smoke testing kits cost to rent..

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Can
    Posts
    211
    My Cars
    2004 E60 545i
    Google. Make your own smoke tester.....pretty easy and cheap to do if you have a hairdryer.
    ">'85 Mlite E30, '98 E36, 1998 528i, 5 spd manual, black on black, sold in 2012 and still going past 350Kkms, now MYSTIC Blue 2004 545i, 6 spd Steptr., Adaptive steering and Xenons, Anti dazzle mirrors. Aux+Belt-Chime+Dig speedo+iDrive discl. 2007 TCU+BT Coded+Sure BT Board

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