850 CSi - first steps
Discussion
Hi!
I know there are plenty threads about the E31, purchase advice etc.
However, I would like to pick some brains from someone who knows what he is talking about or has gone through the journey I am about to start.
Here's my story: I have just purchased a 850 CSi, 95 model, in what looks like fairly decent condition - and I am going to pick it up on Sat.
The car has been sitting outside, unmoved and untouched, since 2002. Mileage is 35k, last service Oct 2000 at 29k miles, last oil change in March 2002 at 30k miles.
Visible rust only on and around spare wheel in the boot, and some around the pop-up front lights. Further some cosmetic things as one can expect after 12 years in the rain.
I am by no means a mechanic or even remotely experienced in fixing any mechanical or electronic issues. However - I kind of welcome the challenge of getting this car running myself - obviously until I find a problem too big for me.
My question to you is where to start?
The first thing obviously is to not start it, as the oil will be too watery after 12 untouched years. So oil change, new filter and new oil. New battery of course. New tyres. All of that is fairly simple and straight forward (theoretically at least...).
What else should I do, once this car is sitting in my garage on Sat evening? Please advise.![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/NHLCVNwO.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/o0MMgniR" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/o0MMgniR.jpg)
I know there are plenty threads about the E31, purchase advice etc.
However, I would like to pick some brains from someone who knows what he is talking about or has gone through the journey I am about to start.
Here's my story: I have just purchased a 850 CSi, 95 model, in what looks like fairly decent condition - and I am going to pick it up on Sat.
The car has been sitting outside, unmoved and untouched, since 2002. Mileage is 35k, last service Oct 2000 at 29k miles, last oil change in March 2002 at 30k miles.
Visible rust only on and around spare wheel in the boot, and some around the pop-up front lights. Further some cosmetic things as one can expect after 12 years in the rain.
I am by no means a mechanic or even remotely experienced in fixing any mechanical or electronic issues. However - I kind of welcome the challenge of getting this car running myself - obviously until I find a problem too big for me.
My question to you is where to start?
The first thing obviously is to not start it, as the oil will be too watery after 12 untouched years. So oil change, new filter and new oil. New battery of course. New tyres. All of that is fairly simple and straight forward (theoretically at least...).
What else should I do, once this car is sitting in my garage on Sat evening? Please advise.
Given the standard of the car, I'd be looking at a full recommission.
Anything that has rubber should be checked and replaced where applicable. That means everything from the air intake to the suspension to mounts. All fluids should be removed and refreshed.
Brakes need to be removed and probably rebuilt - it depends on the state of them.
You'll need two new batteries (theres one in each side of the boot) and prepare yourself for all manner of electrical issues once they're connected. Most BMW's don't like being left unatended.
I'd also be stripping out the interior to check for any water ingress/damp as well as giving it the chance to lose any condensation which will have built up over the years.
I'm not particularly au fait with getting the engine started, but you should certainly look at cranking it by hand to ensure it actually turns. I'd hate to think what state the oil must be in and it certainly won't be getting out in a hurry unless it's nice and hot.
A lot of work you can do yourself but it will still be eye-wateringly expensive for parts to go through the car properly. Either way, good luck with it.
Oh yeah, get some pictures up. Pronto.
Anything that has rubber should be checked and replaced where applicable. That means everything from the air intake to the suspension to mounts. All fluids should be removed and refreshed.
Brakes need to be removed and probably rebuilt - it depends on the state of them.
You'll need two new batteries (theres one in each side of the boot) and prepare yourself for all manner of electrical issues once they're connected. Most BMW's don't like being left unatended.
I'd also be stripping out the interior to check for any water ingress/damp as well as giving it the chance to lose any condensation which will have built up over the years.
I'm not particularly au fait with getting the engine started, but you should certainly look at cranking it by hand to ensure it actually turns. I'd hate to think what state the oil must be in and it certainly won't be getting out in a hurry unless it's nice and hot.
A lot of work you can do yourself but it will still be eye-wateringly expensive for parts to go through the car properly. Either way, good luck with it.
Oh yeah, get some pictures up. Pronto.
Highly likely that the handbrakes are seized on.
In addition to the above, I would budget for-
-new brake calipers, pipes, disks and pads
-suspension arms and bushes (that engine is pretty heavy!)
-any gasket which would have come into contact with oil (rocker cover gasket for example)
-full blown service (absolutely all fluids- even the screenwash, which will stink!), spark plugs, coil packs etc
The brakes could be very expensive, but to end up with a refurbished car like that would be incredible. Make sure you put a thread up about the restoration.
In addition to the above, I would budget for-
-new brake calipers, pipes, disks and pads
-suspension arms and bushes (that engine is pretty heavy!)
-any gasket which would have come into contact with oil (rocker cover gasket for example)
-full blown service (absolutely all fluids- even the screenwash, which will stink!), spark plugs, coil packs etc
The brakes could be very expensive, but to end up with a refurbished car like that would be incredible. Make sure you put a thread up about the restoration.
A great project but not one to be undertaken lightly.
I've done a full nut and bolt rebuild on two of these and theyre remarkable cars.
Some costs cannot be avoided but alot of the suspension parts for example are not too bad, price wise.
Mechanically and bodily theyre relatively straightforward but the electronics could have you scratching your head for some time. Lots of body control modules, relay modules and the like, all of which interlink.
Start as suggested. Change all the fluids, empty the fuel tanks, pop some new fuel in and after spinning the engine over with the fuel pump relays out to get some oil circulating, pop them back in and just see if it will fire. That could give the necessary incentive to properly get stuck in! And believe me, there will be a lot to do.
Any questions or problems, just give me a shout. I still run a Csi and a Ci(modified) and they still thrill me every time I drive them.
I've done a full nut and bolt rebuild on two of these and theyre remarkable cars.
Some costs cannot be avoided but alot of the suspension parts for example are not too bad, price wise.
Mechanically and bodily theyre relatively straightforward but the electronics could have you scratching your head for some time. Lots of body control modules, relay modules and the like, all of which interlink.
Start as suggested. Change all the fluids, empty the fuel tanks, pop some new fuel in and after spinning the engine over with the fuel pump relays out to get some oil circulating, pop them back in and just see if it will fire. That could give the necessary incentive to properly get stuck in! And believe me, there will be a lot to do.
Any questions or problems, just give me a shout. I still run a Csi and a Ci(modified) and they still thrill me every time I drive them.
Congrats on the purchase Nick, that must be one of the lowest miles CSis out there! I'll be watching your progress with interest as I'm now on my 4th 850CSi and face a similar task to yours. My cars engine has only covered 35k too and is running perfectly but cosmetically my car needs a bit of TLC. I'm in the process of getting it running as my daily driver and have just ordered 2 new batteries from BMW today and recently replaced the plugs and distributor caps and rotors. I recommend you doing this as well as replacing all fluids and filters, including the fuel filters. Let us know how you get on and post some more pics of your car!
They are great cars to work on and actually quite simple compared to the modern stuff. A lot of people will tell you the V12 is a nightmare but it's actually one of the most reliable and easy to work on BMW engines out there. Parts prices are high but there is usually a cheaper solution to most of the common issues. I remember paying £2k to replace the 2 throttle motors on my firsts CSi but now they can be cheaply and easily rebuilt rather than replaced.
parksie said:
Talk to 8tech on here, not much Gerry dosen't know about the Csi
And if you haven't been there already, get yourself over to www.clube31.comHi Steve!!!
This is one of my dream cars. Although, I wouldn't buy one as I like eating and heating my house but if I won the lotto I would buy one and restore it. They are beautiful cars - plus, pop up head lights, what more can you ask for. Good luck buddy. Please keep us updated as to your progress.
Wow! Thank you so much for all your replies and the advice!
I am very excited - and now substantially scared after reading about the mountain I will have to climb. And yes, as a rookie I will treat this project with heaps of respect (and money, by the sound of it...)
If it doesn't bore you guys and if I can indeed pick your brains along the way then I will continue this thread with some stories and pictures of this journey. Please let me know if I am going wrong, if it gets annoying, boring or simply foolish - I really am a rookie and new to car refurbishment and also car enthusiasts' websites.
So... the plan is to do some stuff myself, purely out of romantic reasons and without any belief into my own abilities. I am fully relying on the internet, knowing that at some stage I will have to involve a garage.
After a long day looking mostly at meeknet, which I am sure most of you are familiar with I decided to do some online shopping to get started. Please keep in mind that I am only collecting the car on Saturday.
Purchases today:
12 spark plugs (the number is secretly rather gratifying)
Brake pads front and rear
Oil filter
Air filter
Fuel filter
Oil
Funnel
Oil bucket (apologies, sometimes I do not know the right English term)
Wiper blades
Car ramp
Tomorrow - two batteries. Speaking of - anything I need to watch out for? I got my eyes on Bosch S5, would you agree? And do I need to take size into consideration or will those fit?What is a reasonable price? Figures vary hugely between £80 - 150. Do you guys know a good online shop for batteries?
In a moment of madness I also ordered 4 tyres. I am not a huge fan of the current alloys, and I would also like the rear wheels to be bigger than the fronts - without going too pimp. Therefore I ordered 4 x Falken 235 45V17 Winter tyres, as I will take this car at some stage to Germany, where snow tyres are mandatory throughout the winter months. In a few months time I will look into obtaining my preferred wheels (18" double spoke, either polished or not, obviously with summer tyres). I will pick your brains about those in due course. Quite taken aback by the cost of those winter tyres...
Aim is to pick up the BMW on Saturday, take it back to Surrey, get the new tyres on whilst still on the trailer (I presume, as I cannot imagine pushing 2 tons around a Kwik-Fit forecourt to be great fun...). Back in the barn I will replace the batteries, attempt to drain the engine oil, somehow replace the fuel (any advice?) and hopefully get it started, just for some motivation. I will of course take into consideration, what you guys recommended in your postings.
Please let me know if I am risking to much - or whether I have a chance at all, that the car will start!
Again, my apologies for this very amateurish approach to this project, I am sure I will face the wrath of some of you for it in some of the future replies. But maybe my learning curve will amuse some, and maybe some of you can imagine the excitement I am currently enjoying, whilst being oblivious about the grief and cost to come...
Got some tools from a my best friend too..bring on the fun!
I am very excited - and now substantially scared after reading about the mountain I will have to climb. And yes, as a rookie I will treat this project with heaps of respect (and money, by the sound of it...)
If it doesn't bore you guys and if I can indeed pick your brains along the way then I will continue this thread with some stories and pictures of this journey. Please let me know if I am going wrong, if it gets annoying, boring or simply foolish - I really am a rookie and new to car refurbishment and also car enthusiasts' websites.
So... the plan is to do some stuff myself, purely out of romantic reasons and without any belief into my own abilities. I am fully relying on the internet, knowing that at some stage I will have to involve a garage.
After a long day looking mostly at meeknet, which I am sure most of you are familiar with I decided to do some online shopping to get started. Please keep in mind that I am only collecting the car on Saturday.
Purchases today:
12 spark plugs (the number is secretly rather gratifying)
Brake pads front and rear
Oil filter
Air filter
Fuel filter
Oil
Funnel
Oil bucket (apologies, sometimes I do not know the right English term)
Wiper blades
Car ramp
Tomorrow - two batteries. Speaking of - anything I need to watch out for? I got my eyes on Bosch S5, would you agree? And do I need to take size into consideration or will those fit?What is a reasonable price? Figures vary hugely between £80 - 150. Do you guys know a good online shop for batteries?
In a moment of madness I also ordered 4 tyres. I am not a huge fan of the current alloys, and I would also like the rear wheels to be bigger than the fronts - without going too pimp. Therefore I ordered 4 x Falken 235 45V17 Winter tyres, as I will take this car at some stage to Germany, where snow tyres are mandatory throughout the winter months. In a few months time I will look into obtaining my preferred wheels (18" double spoke, either polished or not, obviously with summer tyres). I will pick your brains about those in due course. Quite taken aback by the cost of those winter tyres...
Aim is to pick up the BMW on Saturday, take it back to Surrey, get the new tyres on whilst still on the trailer (I presume, as I cannot imagine pushing 2 tons around a Kwik-Fit forecourt to be great fun...). Back in the barn I will replace the batteries, attempt to drain the engine oil, somehow replace the fuel (any advice?) and hopefully get it started, just for some motivation. I will of course take into consideration, what you guys recommended in your postings.
Please let me know if I am risking to much - or whether I have a chance at all, that the car will start!
Again, my apologies for this very amateurish approach to this project, I am sure I will face the wrath of some of you for it in some of the future replies. But maybe my learning curve will amuse some, and maybe some of you can imagine the excitement I am currently enjoying, whilst being oblivious about the grief and cost to come...
Got some tools from a my best friend too..bring on the fun!
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