850 CSi - first steps

[niki0712]

and off back to the other side of the M25

[niki0712]

out of the chronological order...but I just love that shot:

[niki0712]

really amazing how many heads this car turned, got many thumbs up along the way.

This action got quite a bit of attention...

[niki0712]

[niki0712]

back at the barn again some improvisation

[niki0712]

...and done

[niki0712]

very much to the delight of the spectators



First reaction: "I thought it would be bigger!"

[niki0712]

Not much more happened on the day. The only technical update is that we believe the spark plugs do not need replacing, they look brand new (at least no 1 did).

Of course very tempted to just turn it on but didn't dare to, reluctantly. Lights all come on, wipers work - the car overall looks, feels and smells not at all like a car that was parked outside for 12 years!

Found some rust under the spare wheel, next to the water tank for windscreen wash and the AHK (I think, pls confirm!) The floor there is very brittle and can be poked through.

[niki0712]

Quite a lot of water around the right hand battery in the boot - some of it surely from the car wash though.

[niki0712]

That must be one of the most tightly packed engine spaces!

Edited by niki0712 on Sunday 26th January 19:35

[niki0712]

I'll write about the history of the car, or at least the little that I know, tomorrow - as my better half only allowed one car day this weekend, hence the late posting of the photos etc. My apologies about that! I am fascinated and very appreciative about all the interest, absolutely amazing. Thank you!


First roof over its head since 2002!

[niki0712]

It's not much but on facebook is a tiny clip of the first time she opened her eyes

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4720174662357...

[niki0712]

I should be under the car changing the oil right now...but it is just too cold, wet and windy around here at the moment...

But that gives me time to list the very little I know about the car and the story how I found it.

We picked up a friend of a friend to watch some football. I didn't know the gentleman at that time, and I noticed a rather sorry looking TVR Chimaera in his driveway








I felt very sorry for the car, especially with a badly damaged rear window and the rather rainy English climate.

When I asked him about it he said that he really should do something about this, as the car had not moved for about 5 years. And then he mentioned that he also had an old BMW standing around...

[niki0712]

That's when I really woke up! The E31 was one of the cars on my bedroom wall, next to a 993 and a F40 - THE cars of my childhood! AMAZING!!!

I have some experience with older cars, about 5 years ago I bought an old Mercedes SL500 (R107), which I still consider to be one of the most elegant cars. But that did not need to be refurbished, it was already quite pretty:




However, as it was already an old car when I became car-crazy I never really fell in love with it! To an extent that the car is now in storage...

Anyway - I was electrified when I heard there was an E31 standing around, clearly abandoned and not wanted. And I didn't ask at the time, but secretly I of course hoped and prayed that it would be the pinnacle...the 850 CSi.

Edited by niki0712 on Tuesday 28th January 17:15

Edited by niki0712 on Tuesday 28th January 17:35

[niki0712]

So fairly soon after I contacted the gentleman and asked him whether he would consider selling the BMW. Remember that at that time I still had not seen the car! He said yes and I immediately came up to Suffolk to have a look..and it was indeed a CSi!

Then I asked myself why someone would leave such an , well actually two such iconic and valuable cars outside, and he said that after turning the garage into an office there was simply no more garage.

A very friendly and helpful gentleman from this forum has now sent me a list of the service dealers this car has been to prior to 2002, and I will enquire with them about the service history of the car. I hope they will release this kind of information. The mileage etc all adds up and makes sense, and so does the service book.

According to the seller the car was and is absolutely fine, I guess I will find that out sooner or later. I think he just lost interest...

My friend Phil has subsequently bought the TVR off him (with 19,000 miles!), and according to the mechanic restoring it, it is in surprisingly good conditions. It is running, not much rust and should be done in a few weeks.

V8, 285 hp - and 1,000kg!!!

Edited by niki0712 on Tuesday 28th January 17:19

Edited by niki0712 on Tuesday 28th January 17:32

[niki0712]

So that it the story about how I found this car, sorry for the lengthy postings, without much content...

[niki0712]

Well, I think we can all agree on me having bitten off more than I can chew...

But I might as well enjoy the journey!

Spent the first 4 hours on the car yesterday - what a lot of fun!!!

Here's what happened:

I started on the easiest one - changing the two micro filters. Got stuck pretty much straight away, as the wipers needed moving upright to get to a screw. Therefore change of plan - first the batteries. Getting to them was easy, uninstalled the CD changer, and took out both batteries.

Old battery left side



Old battery right side



CD changer



New battery left side



New battery right side



AHK (?)

[niki0712]

Great feeling when the car suddenly comes back to life! Little lights coming on, warning sounds, windows down, screen in the rear window up, lights up and down - I was excited like a little boy!

But back to work. Changing the micro filters again was a breeze, just unscrewing a few bolts and slotting in the new filters. The old ones are quite minging...

Please note the meeknet.co.uk-instructions on the last picture!

Edited by niki0712 on Friday 31st January 15:13

Edited by niki0712 on Friday 31st January 15:14

Edited by niki0712 on Friday 31st January 15:16

[niki0712]

Next one was going to be a big one for me, engine oil change. So popped the car up on two stands








The wheels under the car are more psychological peace of mind - don't fancy a two ton car on me...

Edited by niki0712 on Friday 31st January 15:15

[niki0712]

Sorry for the picture on the side, this website turns my pictures rather randomly...