£450 740i what could go wrong?

[pits]

TonyRPH said:

pits said:

<snip>
can't tell what abs fault is
<snip>

The ABS fault will almost certainly be the module IMHO. Does it live in the engine bay just above one of the exhaust manifolds?

pits said:

alternator blew up and almost caught fire.
<snip>

Which could likely explain the weird instrument behaviour. If the diode pack was failing, it's possible the alternator was providing a very poor quality DC voltage (e.g. there was some AC voltage coming out of it) - this would cause all sorts of issues.

Thinking about it - this may even be responsible for your ABS fault, and it's not actually the ABS module.

Abs fault can't tell as we cleared codes and it set on fire.

Abs pump was showing usual signs of failure, rear left sensor and the pump itself.


I'm torn, £65 for struts but £489 for alternator, got to be sensible here on how much I plough into it, can look at getting it repaired but what else does? Yes it's a £60k car with similar running costs so to be expected.

Stands at this
Both front springs
Abs pump
Alternator
Door doesn't open
Nav doesn't work

[pits]

Sadly a pattern part is £200-300 part, I may look at getting it rebuilt but I really need to think about it, annoying considering I have just bought this key for it


Looking at it though, I am pretty sure mine does not have a watercooled alternator, I am just trying to think I don't recall it looking like a watercooled one, looks more like aircooled, which s odd as it's M62B44

[pits]

Well I have had a think, I may get alternator repaired and then see about the abs pump, it's not doing usual abs failure but was registering the pump.

But perhaps diode pack on alternator was about to die so not providing correct voltage to stuff, causing errors.

[pits]

Well it's been sat for a few weeks now and I've been stuck with what to do with it, so I've had a spend.
Second hand struts coming
Alternator coming
Serpentine belt coming
Door lock actuator coming.


Today I started a bit clean, this basically involved my main.man George full of anti bacterial spray and deodoriser in the tank, and well everything is being left to soak.

Tomorrow I will continue the effort, but some of the stench has gone, headliner still minging.

[pits]

Rain is basically stopping play today, but when I get some time I plan on
Resuming cleaning, it smells slightly better however I feel it could smell even better.
Taking the grill off the bonnet as I am pretty sure the water channels are blocked solid going into engine bay, pictures are slow to come in because I stupidly updated Photobucket on my phone and now it just doesn't work, the biggest load of arse ever, it's worse than Shutterfly

[pits]

Well I feel I am fighting a losing battle here with the smell of damp, it's had two wet vacs with deodoriser, and it still does smell damp but I have managed to clean out the pollen filter area totally clogged with leaves.

Also completely forgot about the split rim BBS wheel in the boot, time to get that on the bay, I will try to get some more pictures uploaded tonight

[pits]

I'll get some more stuff in there tomorrow, I've uploaded pictures to incur but will.post them tomorrow as its a pain in the arse doing it on phone

[pits]

kev b said:

Try Autosmart Bio Brisk, its not expensive, I have successfully used it to remove nasty smells from a number of interiors, the only way to do the job properly though is to remove the seats and carpets, easy enough with a Fiesta but a little more challenging with a 7er.

Dehumidifier is a good suggestion, if you can get your hands on one, even a fan heater to dry it out would be a start.

Meant to quote you, I'll be getting some good antibacterial spray in there, st loads of shack'n'vac, I may even go all American and ozone it, if I can find my ozone creator.

The hardest part at the moment is being able to do anything with no electric, and of course not being able to open the door doesn't help matters

[pits]

Some pictures of the filthy interior





That action man leg has actually stained the floor


Seems like evidence of mice, but can't find any other evidence like mouse st





This isn't even half the st that come out of the boot


Cleaner

ACtion man leg stain



Not a huge improvement here, but bear in mind I can't open the drivers door





Still needs way more cleaning out, and someone is bound to ask, yes that's my E34 Tourer she is a babe

[pits]

Black interior I wouldn't mind but I don't intend on spending big bucks on it, I am already getting a bit deep into it
£420 for car
£50 recovery
£145 Key
£165 Alternator, door lock mech, struts.

Most of the change is now in George, I couldn't be arsed to collect it all and really didn't want to touch it so George has sucked it all up and I will sort out later.


So we have hit a massive snag, I managed to get the drivers front seat out
I have managed to get the door card off without breaking it
I have got into the door and come to the realisation that the latch has collapsed and is properly jammed.

So I have two options.
1. Go into B pillar with a small grinder and grind the latch spreader plate and bolts down, not keen as structural part of the car.
2. I take a grinder to the door and cut the door off

Pros of this, I have found a door local and cheap in the correct colour, cons, it may not work but it has to be worth a shot, the door will not do anything.

[pits]

Appears I have sourced the issue with the door.
The latch is jammed solid and the mech has twisted.....so what I have done is removed the door handle and belted 10 shades of st out of the mech, I may have possibly ever so slightly, kinda just a little bent some of the door, but if I had a hack saw, or a small grinder I reckon I can get the door open.

[pits]

The offending door open


The offending latch


First I removed the seat which was an effort as it involved having someone putting battery on and off to stop the alternator burning more.

Then I removed screw from door and yanked on it, then prised the door panel off with no damage and no broken clips.

This point it was going well.



So I had a go at fiddling with levers, then got angry and smashed the actuator to bits so I could get to levers easier, then hours of toil and struggling I decided on new door and grinder.

At which point I had the idea of door handle off and hammers, so I got door handle off and went to town, my big pry bar got involved and it all snapped and bent to bits, door now opened.

[pits]

Cheers all, no real updates at the moment as I haven't finished cleaning it all out, but without going back through all the pages I don't think I've posted any really good photos of it so here she is





I'm hoping the bits turn up for it this week so I can get it out for the MOT

Edited by pits on Monday 12th December 21:38

[pits]

AndStilliRise said:

Jakerrs said:

Joe5y said:

The front suspension appears to be very very low in comparison to mine?

AndStilliRise said:

Does look a little low?

Both front springs snapped according to the OP - don't know if they've been done yet and it's still low.

Thanks for the answer.

Yeah both front springs are snapped on it, got a load of dehumidifier things in there now

[pits]

We have struts, rolling over to garage across road soon and I've fitted new door latch, kinda works but actuator is locked at moment.
Slight hitch, sent a water-cooled alternator not air-cooled.
Guy is sorting it out for me though

[pits]

So here's where I am at.
Door latch fitted, but definitely need new door I have just bent it far too much to get the latch to work properly.
Central locking doesn't seem to be working at all any more but that's not an issue at the moment.

It is starting to smell considerably better, got loads of those cheap dehumidifier things in there, a heater on through the day and lots of sprays.

Started to polish the paint up with the rotary, previous owner tried to G10 it in the rain by the looks of things, it's everywhere, and I mean everywhere but it is coming off.

Alternator as said, got sent watercooled instead of air, no biggy a bit annoying but st happens.

So some pictures



Now remember I said the P/O got it everywhere, there's more pictures of this, but you get the idea



Quick lambswool rotary with some medium compound, and then a quick buff off with a finishing compound and finishing pad


Better than I thought, I did try SRP a few places to see what was needed and SRP wouldn't touch it



It took 5 of us to push it into the workshop and get it on the ramps



So here is the offside spring, it is in 3 bits


Nearside is rotten out, so explains how and why it slipped out and snapped.


These are the replacement items, 2 things I have noticed, one is that they're Bilstein and not Boge and they appear to be lowered springs, not too much of a pain but would have preferred stock, but beggars can't be choosers and at £65 I am happy, may see if the guy has matching rears as well



I'm also really sorry about the gigantic pictures but I have no idea how to change them on the upload thing.

[pits]

downthepub said:

I adore E38 7-series BMWs; keep it up. SWMBO has decreed no sheds, so can't do my own. Will watch with great interest!

Buy one that isn't a shed then, I should have one in stock soon

If it were me, if just go out and buy one, what can she do one you have it?

[pits]

eltax91 said:

downthepub said:

eltax91 said:

pits said:

downthepub said:

I adore E38 7-series BMWs; keep it up. SWMBO has decreed no sheds, so can't do my own. Will watch with great interest!

Buy one that isn't a shed then, I should have one in stock soon

If it were me, if just go out and buy one, what can she do one you have it?

Quite. Better to ask forgiveness than permission.

Partly because approval has been given for 2 tonnes of Detroit pig iron that arrives freshly minted from the factory on the 24th Dec, thus rendering other vehicles non grata at the moment

Mustang?

3 little words
"it was cheap"


It appears the car is fighting the garage, just popped over and there's a sledge hammer next to the car

[pits]

Coakers said:

I've been thoroughly enjoying this. Makes me wanna go and buy a scrap executive car and coax it back to life...... Maybe I should stop reading this.

Come on, that's not fair it isn't scrap it's just neglected.....you should probably go buy one just to see what I am on about and why it can't be called scrap
Good starting point
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-BMW-728I-E38-M-SPOR...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-P-BMW-E38-750iL-91-...

[pits]

T16OLE said:

I've been following this thread with interest.

Low and behold I recognise the location, great work Kyle!!!

Small world

Cheers Tom, didn't realise how small your old place was.

Coakers said:

pits said:

Come on, that's not fair it isn't scrap it's just neglected.....you should probably go buy one just to see what I am on about and why it can't be called scrap
Good starting pointl
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-BMW-728I-E38-M-SPOR...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-P-BMW-E38-750iL-91-...

Sounds like your becoming quite emotionally attached to get defensive
And damn you for the links
Putting old BMW's and Mercs on my watch list.

Hah, I think I'm kinda attached to it but same time I hate it, there's a 750il on eBay as spares or repairs.



So apart from alternator it is all back together, wheels on. Just hoping alternator turns up