How to revive it - BMW E30 325i

[HughS47]

Garaged for a long time & getting it back on the road question:

My parents-in-law took their mint E30 325i with them to France 10 years ago when they moved and it has sat in their garage without moving ever since. I'm know that it isn't starting, even with a new battery and fresh fuel. It does turn over.

I'm considering raising the question of getting it back on the road and bringing it back to the UK but am aware there might be some hefty hidden costs involved first.

What are the likely problems with a car that was previously in mint condition but now has sat for ages? Is it just a case of fitting 4 new tyres and doing a full fluids and belts service? Surely i'm missing something?

Advice would be appreciated before I take the plunge!

[deltashad]

Is it getting a spark?

I would clean up the six plugs, and make sure they were getting a spark. Put some fresh cheap oil in and run it. Get an idea if there are any leaks etc. Then put the good oil in.
Then check the brakes and the handbrake. The calipers will no doubt need a bit of freeing off to get them moving.
If condensation has sat in the exhaust this may be rotten.

BMW's bushes are prone to need replacing quite often and can be expensive. They may have perished over time.

You wont know until you get a good look at the car, and try to run it. You may be very lucky, but for they journey back to the UK I'd get breakdown cover, the hoses may not last very long when exposed to hot fluids after being sitting for ten years.

[billywhizzzzzz]

I left mine for 5 years - and despite getting it supposedly recommisioned by a garage, each and every hose perished soon after - get every single hose replaced in heating and cooling system replaced - they'll allbe perished. My clutch also lost hydraulic pressure - cant remember what it was but get anything perishable replaced in clutch system. Oh, and when I first got it running, the fuel pipe was split (perished again!) and started pumping out fuel under the engine...

Nothing else was an issue

[lowdrag]

Whatever - save that car. I remember my 325i sport with very fond memories. The engine was a jewel. You'll not regret it once you get behind the wheel, although I have one tip for you. Watch the back end in the wet!

[HughS47]

Certainly seems like more than just filling it with a 2l jerry can of sans plomb and turning the key! As for the back end - her dad has ended up facing the wrong way in the wet enough times for him to be very cautious about letting me behind the wheel. Fair play really.

If it runs and the hoses are all replaced, will I need to worry about any other main seals etc? Any other known weak spots other than the hoses?

[HughS47]

[quote=deltashad]Is it getting a spark? quote]

where do I start looking if it isn't sparking but is turning over? New HT leads or does it require a deeper/more qualified look?

[fushion julz]

No spark could be damaged rotor or distributor cap...perhaps a coil or ECU

I assume you've tried removing a plug and seeing if there is a spark at the plug, then change the plug for a new/known good one, then new HT lead...If non of the plugs are sparking, then new king lead (coil to distributor) and check cap and rotor...quite common for the centre pin to fall out of the dizzy cap or for the rotor to break up.

[illmonkey]

Watching.

As said, sparks, HT leads etc. Work backwards from the engine replacing parts.

Sounds like it might be a good example if its not been used for 10 years!

[deltashad]

Would be great to see photo's of the car when you collect it Hugh. This may help you track down where the fault is:

http://aa1car.com/library/no_spark.htm

Good luck with the car

[HughS47]

Thanks for the link. I'm hoping to head over there in April and have a good look at it. Pics to follow.