E61 M5, 4 yrs idle and need to start

E61 M5, 4 yrs idle and need to start

Author
Discussion

Broom246

Original Poster:

32 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
I know this is all but criminal but have a with an E61 M5 touring which has been idle for just over 4 yrs. Is there anything I should do or be weary of when I go to start it?

Edited by Broom246 on Thursday 15th November 10:13

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Lol. I assume the battery is dead?

Broom246

Original Poster:

32 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Very, will probally need new one

Leins

9,418 posts

147 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
4 year old petrol, oil and other fluids would worry the hell out of me, even just to start it up

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
For starters:

Tyres probably permanently flat-spotted. Dont drive it if they literally havent moved for 4 years. Check for cracks in the walls.
Fuel, if theres any in the tank will be stale. Dont start it without having the tank flushed.
Battery, if flat will probably need changing. Then the car will need to go to a dealer or bmw indy to have the codes reset and all falts reset, probably on a flatbed or trailer.
Brakes: Check for excess rust. If the handbrake is on you'll struggle to get the apds unstuck as they are on the inside the bell of the rear discs, not intigrated into the caliper as per old cars.
Oil. Might be stagnant, but will defo have settled, as will the fuel. You'll most likely need to have it flushed.
Perished seals etc by lack of use. Might leak!

Net result: I'd have it taken to a dealer or very good indy to have it started safely. You dont want to destroy your brothers car by mistake.


......lol, 4 years.

DeanR32

1,840 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Wow! 4 years? I'd sell a kidney to own one, and he just let it sit idle for 4 years?

Is he selling it?

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
DeanR32 said:
Wow! 4 years? I'd sell a kidney to own one, and he just let it sit idle for 4 years?

Is he selling it?
Would you want it? It'd need a full strip and inspection.

Broom246

Original Poster:

32 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
I'm moving it to sell it

Edited by Broom246 on Thursday 15th November 10:15

Broom246

Original Poster:

32 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
U intreasted Dean lol

DeanR32

1,840 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
ecain63 said:
Would you want it? It'd need a full strip and inspection.
I could be, if it was cheap enough.

Id have to get rid of both my cars though, which would be the hardest part. I just can't part with my beloved Nissan.

Could you post up details please broom? I assume there isn't any photos as yet?

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Broom246 said:
Thanks, sound like a big job. So where possible don't start. Car is based about 1 mile from the local Synter dealer & parked nose in on driveway atop a 30 meter downward incline to main A57. Is there a way to use the car braking to prevent it rollin into road, or will I need to think of something else?

Not really any way to roll it down without using the brakes, but you'll need the engine fired up for that unless the handbrake is free. If the handbrake is free you need to hope it works with all the rust in there. Is the car outside? Has it been protected from the weather? Honestly, i think if youre going to sell it youre going to either have to take a big hit on the asking price to cover the cost of the new owner having it stripped and renewed or pay for the work yourself and get it verified by BMW before selling at a more current value.

4 years sat stagnant would have ruined all the hoses, possibly damaged / rusted the insides of the engine where the oil has long since drained to the sump, killed the coolant, killed the plugs, killed the fuel system etc. Only a brave person would buy it like that and they'll want it for less than a song, maybe just scrap. Get it fixed up and you'll only have the explanation to do deal with, which if backed by a BMW invoice you should be able to get away with. Weigh up what the costs are and take it from there.

DeanR32

1,840 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Colour, spec, miles, history and above all, price! He's a doctor, he can't want for much for it!

CDP

7,454 posts

253 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
ecain63 said:
For starters:

Tyres probably permanently flat-spotted. Dont drive it if they literally havent moved for 4 years. Check for cracks in the walls.
Fuel, if theres any in the tank will be stale. Dont start it without having the tank flushed.
Battery, if flat will probably need changing. Then the car will need to go to a dealer or bmw indy to have the codes reset and all falts reset, probably on a flatbed or trailer.
Brakes: Check for excess rust. If the handbrake is on you'll struggle to get the apds unstuck as they are on the inside the bell of the rear discs, not intigrated into the caliper as per old cars.
Oil. Might be stagnant, but will defo have settled, as will the fuel. You'll most likely need to have it flushed.
Perished seals etc by lack of use. Might leak!

Net result: I'd have it taken to a dealer or very good indy to have it started safely. You dont want to destroy your brothers car by mistake.


......lol, 4 years.
Trailer to a BMW dealer? Pretty much all of these activities should be possible without that. Except for the system reset, surely a new battery it should just go back to defaults or can't they design an embedded system properly?

Of course draining the fuel isn't that hard. Just make sure you've got a big enough container for the emptied fuel. Then add a bit of fresh fuel and drain again.

I'd expect to change the brake fluid, discs and pads. Maybe you can clean the discs but I'd expect them to be pitted beyond saving. None of them are hard jobs.

Again, oil is pretty simple: Drain, add new. Run then drain again. I'd be inclined to take the sump off and clean it first.



Broom246

Original Poster:

32 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
For your kidney or the car lol.
It's one owner from new (June 07), interlargos Blue. 20K max on clock. E61 pretty well speced, not sure on additional extras tho does have large sunroof and power boot option. It's based in Sheffield, hopefully gonna pop up to it this weekend and get pics of it and the nissan and see the dealer about "service"
DeanR32 said:
Colour, spec, miles, history and above all, price! He's a doctor, he can't want for much for it!

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Would love to see pictures?

Broom246

Original Poster:

32 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
I'll get you some, but on my desktop only got laptop with m. Quit a few spider webs tho
D3fender said:
Would love to see pictures?

DeanR32

1,840 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
I don't have that sort of money for such a punt.

Sytner do though, and they can sort it and no one be any the wiser.

Keep us updated with the outcome though mate.

He couldn't have used it 6 months! Did it even have the running in service?

Broom246

Original Poster:

32 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Thks CDP, I'm sure would work, but so near dealership my just call them to send the sales guy & a mechanic to the car
CDP said:
Trailer to a BMW dealer? Pretty much all of these activities should be possible without that. Except for the system reset, surely a new battery it should just go back to defaults or can't they design an embedded system properly?

R60EST

2,364 posts

181 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Any idea how much he wants for the GT-R ?

Broom246

Original Poster:

32 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Had it serviced defo, he's normally very fussy, Had BMW out last yr for a recall on the battery cover or similar. Believe it or not he's a real car nut hes up to 7 cars!! he email me to help shift these 2 as got another coming in Nov and finally run out of room.
DeanR32 said:
I don't have that sort of money for such a punt.

Sytner do though, and they can sort it and no one be any the wiser.

Keep us updated with the outcome though mate.

He couldn't have used it 6 months! Did it even have the running in service?