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.
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!
Thanks for that 8Tech, that is most helpful.
Just cancelled the tyres, will need to readdress that at a later stage. Winter tyres apparently are not available in 265/40 17, but not that important as I won't be driving around too soon. For the moment I will also hold onto the alloys, maybe have them refurbished. Any opinion on specific tyre brands?
Unless you say these tyres are still good...
Just cancelled the tyres, will need to readdress that at a later stage. Winter tyres apparently are not available in 265/40 17, but not that important as I won't be driving around too soon. For the moment I will also hold onto the alloys, maybe have them refurbished. Any opinion on specific tyre brands?
Unless you say these tyres are still good...
8Tech said:
The CSi has 2 of most things. 2 fuel pumps, filters, MAF's, fuel regulators, throttle bodies and distributors to name but a few.
You need 2 air filters and 2 fuel filters, plus you missed the cabin filters. Make sure the wipers operate and park correctly as that is a major task.
When you remove the fuel filters, you can put the disconnected hoses in a container and then bridge the fuel pump relays to run each pump individually to drain the tank, then refit the hoses with the new filters.
Most of the bushes will be fine, as they are balljoints rather than rubber, so check all the balljoint gaiters and the only rubber bushes you will probably need are the thrust arm upper rear bushes and the rear trailing arm front bushes.
You can get a pair of 019 batteries in there but those are the largest that will fit. Remember they are connected together so the first and last terminal to connect is the one in the boot, passenger side, on the boot slam panel. Check the fusable link on the drivers side battery too.
Drain oil and change filter. Refill with a cheap 10W40 for now to use as a flushing oil, when its done a couple of hundred miles, change it again for something good.
If the wheels are the same size all tound, they are the wrong ones and you have bought the wrong size tyres. 235 on front, 265 on rear on 17's, 245 and 265-85 on 18's.
Check for seized pistons in the 4 pot calipers.
Suroof can probably be reset and adjusted, but you will need a new seal anyway.
The headlamp frames can be cleaned and painted, or removed and powder coated.
Check to see if you can spin the electric fan in front of the condenser, if its seized, you will obviously need a new one.
The car does not have coil packs, but you will need new dizzy caps and rotors, the same as an E36 325 but half the price.
No need to tear the engine down, you may need cam cover gaskets and thats not for the faint hearted either. You will need to check the cam banjo bolts if you decide to replace those gaskets and gimme a PM on the inlet manifold gaskets as they are about £400.00 and I have a far cheaper option available.
Open the boot and let it dry, that will almost all be condensation.
Good luck with changing #12 plug.
You need more tools!!!
8Tech.
I was getting fed up with comparing three different online shops, article numbers etc. I have now ordered at my local BMW dealer, as the prices are quite competitive, apart from brake pads. they were more than 100 quid each, and those I will buy online.You need 2 air filters and 2 fuel filters, plus you missed the cabin filters. Make sure the wipers operate and park correctly as that is a major task.
When you remove the fuel filters, you can put the disconnected hoses in a container and then bridge the fuel pump relays to run each pump individually to drain the tank, then refit the hoses with the new filters.
Most of the bushes will be fine, as they are balljoints rather than rubber, so check all the balljoint gaiters and the only rubber bushes you will probably need are the thrust arm upper rear bushes and the rear trailing arm front bushes.
You can get a pair of 019 batteries in there but those are the largest that will fit. Remember they are connected together so the first and last terminal to connect is the one in the boot, passenger side, on the boot slam panel. Check the fusable link on the drivers side battery too.
Drain oil and change filter. Refill with a cheap 10W40 for now to use as a flushing oil, when its done a couple of hundred miles, change it again for something good.
If the wheels are the same size all tound, they are the wrong ones and you have bought the wrong size tyres. 235 on front, 265 on rear on 17's, 245 and 265-85 on 18's.
Check for seized pistons in the 4 pot calipers.
Suroof can probably be reset and adjusted, but you will need a new seal anyway.
The headlamp frames can be cleaned and painted, or removed and powder coated.
Check to see if you can spin the electric fan in front of the condenser, if its seized, you will obviously need a new one.
The car does not have coil packs, but you will need new dizzy caps and rotors, the same as an E36 325 but half the price.
No need to tear the engine down, you may need cam cover gaskets and thats not for the faint hearted either. You will need to check the cam banjo bolts if you decide to replace those gaskets and gimme a PM on the inlet manifold gaskets as they are about £400.00 and I have a far cheaper option available.
Open the boot and let it dry, that will almost all be condensation.
Good luck with changing #12 plug.
You need more tools!!!
8Tech.
Edited by 8Tech on Wednesday 22 January 14:54
So, ordered two batteries, two oil filters, two fuel filters, two air filters, wiper blades...I think that's it. I am hoping I can change all those myself, let's see.
Thanks again for the fuel drain tip, I am kind of looking forward to that.
The tyre size was my fault as I only had the photo of the rusty spare wheel to go by. I should've just googled standard E31 tyre size.
What other tools should I get? Or should I maybe wait until I am actually in possession of the car? 3 more days...
Again, the advice from all of you is invaluable for me! Thank you.
8Tech said:
64319071932 Microfilter, 2 required
12129065062 plugs, 12 required
12111725070 distributor cap, 2 required
12111734110 rotor, 2 required.
Get the caps and rotors aftermarket for a 325i though. If you get aftermarket plugs then STANDARD cheap NGK's are the best, platinums and iridiums do not work with the stock coils.
Right, I promise not to always go to BMW but at the moment that is just a very easy source for parts. But oh so expensive...12129065062 plugs, 12 required
12111725070 distributor cap, 2 required
12111734110 rotor, 2 required.
Get the caps and rotors aftermarket for a 325i though. If you get aftermarket plugs then STANDARD cheap NGK's are the best, platinums and iridiums do not work with the stock coils.
Microfilters are ordered
11 plugs are ordered, one more to come from Germany
distributor caps are ordered (I bit the bullet and went original, 8Tech, rather than 325i - the price really is eyewatering though. Lesson learned.)
Rotors are ordered.
All here tomorrow, then I will be prepared for Saturday.
My friend Philipp helping me on Saturday just raised the question what we are gonna do with 70l of old petrol (judging by the cockpit picture). Any suggestions?
Good evening!
Well, I thought I'd give you a brief update about yesterdays' events:
Due to the unavailability of my preferred towing vehicle at short notice we had to improvise and use my A6. (Please do not do the weight and brake allowance calculations - let's say it all went fine...!)
After arriving in Suffolk we were facing several challenges when loading the car. The first one was to turn it around (two tons, flat tyres...). The second one was to find the tow hook which was of course in the boot. Now, you might (please!) correct me but I do not think you can get into the boot unless you have power...and the two shining new batteries were anxiously awaiting our return-in Surrey! And I didn't bring jump leads as I was certainly not going to start the car. Luckily a very helpful neighbour helped out and we got our tow hook.
Next hurdle then loading onto the trailer. You guys should've warned me how low the E31 actually is! Flat tires don't help with that either...
Well, I thought I'd give you a brief update about yesterdays' events:
Due to the unavailability of my preferred towing vehicle at short notice we had to improvise and use my A6. (Please do not do the weight and brake allowance calculations - let's say it all went fine...!)
After arriving in Suffolk we were facing several challenges when loading the car. The first one was to turn it around (two tons, flat tyres...). The second one was to find the tow hook which was of course in the boot. Now, you might (please!) correct me but I do not think you can get into the boot unless you have power...and the two shining new batteries were anxiously awaiting our return-in Surrey! And I didn't bring jump leads as I was certainly not going to start the car. Luckily a very helpful neighbour helped out and we got our tow hook.
Next hurdle then loading onto the trailer. You guys should've warned me how low the E31 actually is! Flat tires don't help with that either...
Edited by niki0712 on Sunday 26th January 19:32
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