Need parts for my 1985 M635CSi (M88/3)

[josh117]

While there is still snow on the ground and salt on the roads, I've been trying to improve the combustion on the M88/3 engine (Euro) in my 1985 M635CSi. The cold idle is low, occasionally the warm idle revs up to 1500 RPM unexpectedly, and the exhaust always smells "rich".

Starting by replacing the six cracked Throttle Body Hoses (part # 11-61-1-306-790) and the Additional Air Slide Valve (part # 13-63-1-272-166).

Some parts sites list these parts as if they are "available." But a few days after being ordered, Pelican Parts emails back saying, "the following parts from your order are not in stock, nor were we able to source them from any of our suppliers."

I'm going to try another site now. Is there a better way to source parts for the M88/3 engine, or do any of you have these parts to sell me?

[jmpower]

When you search online now it is all about getting to the top of the search results. It is now normal practice for many to give results for parts that are not available. If you try a BMW dealer they may have them. Walloth&Nesch in Germany have the throttle body hoses as I bought six a couple of weeks ago.

[DesktopDave]

jmpower is right, W&N is a great resource, here's their website: https://www.wallothnesch.com/en/ I've been stymied quite a few times with parts suppliers, even for more common 80s models. The M88/3 is a very rare beast over here, you might have better luck with European suppliers. I've had a bit of luck using ebay.de & int'l shipping options using Google Translate.

I'm not 100% sure this is true, but I'd heard that BMW AG recently made a corporate-level decision restricting US sellers from marketing European-only parts. It seem that BMW has pulled a lot of resources from supporting these cars. I'd also presume that selling parts for our cars is a pretty low-profit business...a lot of mid-tier parts suppliers have likely given up on us. Either way, a lot of gray-market cars like yours would become unintended victims.

Happily, many of the M88 parts were also fitted to the M90 & M30, so many parts are still commonly available. Those AAV disk valves aren't common, as they were replaced with the newer active IAC (idle air control) types. I have seen AAV valves frequently used on other early 80s BMWs, and several other Euro makes like Volvo, Jaguar, M-B, etc.. Bosch would likely have listed them with a million different part numbers though. Hypothetically, even though something like an E21 320i AAV might be a perfectly functional replacement, it'd have a different part number.

[josh117]

Thanks, all! W&N were perfect for what I needed. Their website (translated into English for me) was easy to navigate and find what I needed. Indeed they had the throttle body hoses and the additional air slide valve in-stock, and $50 shipping had it here in one week. I found a coupon to save $20 on the web, so be sure to look before buying.
Bonus: W&N delivered a 2" thick binder with fully exploded parts diagrams for the e24 with my parts! Same catalog is available as a PDF on their site.

[jmpower]

If you are now on their email list they will send you regular offers. They do regular discounts and a 50% of shipping. So if you wait you can pick up items at good prices.