Mrs Fb’s 650i...regret may be strong with this one!

[5harp3y]

awesome thread and these look the business in black, they have aged really well!

for the gaskets, get them all done etc

better to sink the time in once rather than over 3 or 4 goes

[vx220]

Go deep, get it absolutely perfect just in time for the Mrs to be done with it, sell it cheap (to me!)

Question from some slightly technically minded but with hands that will not follow car-based instructions, why does the alternator have a gasket?

[SturdyHSV]

vx220 said:

Go deep, get it absolutely perfect just in time for the Mrs to be done with it, sell it cheap (to me!)

Question from some slightly technically minded but with hands that will not follow car-based instructions, why does the alternator have a gasket?

I believe it's the bracket for the alternator that provides some sort of seal to the block, but that sounds like such a ridiculous design I can't imagine it's that...

So basically they cast an engine block with a hole in the side of it that they then plug with the bracket that holds the alternator?

You know what doesn't have that problem? A VXR8 If the kids are 5 years older now, maybe they won't be as inclined to mash jam in to everything?

[vx220]

Thanks. My mechanic would kill me if I buy one that hasn't had this done. There's nothing he can't do, but I think this would end our friendship!

[fastbikes76]

d_a_n1979 said:

Peace of mind then and if/when you do come to sell it on, you know you've always got that in its favour as most folk who do their research on these will want to know what the oil leak situation is like

The problem with this model/engine is you can actually see any of the usual leaks without partial stripping. So when viewing a car unless its absolutely pissing out you wont really know you are in for pain unless you jack it up and remove undertrays and engine top covers. So even full knowing what to look for , i still couldnt see alt bracket was leaking or that upper timing cover had a weep

5harp3y said:

awesome thread and these look the business in black, they have aged really well!

for the gaskets, get them all done etc

better to sink the time in once rather than over 3 or 4 goes

They were considered very ugly at the time and even now to a point, personally i think they look great now in the right spec and colour combo. Due to parts availabilty before xmas it looks like I'm in for 2 sessions, one to fix initial bracket leak and then blitz the rest in better weather.

vx220 said:

Go deep, get it absolutely perfect just in time for the Mrs to be done with it, sell it cheap (to me!)

Question from some slightly technically minded but with hands that will not follow car-based instructions, why does the alternator have a gasket?

hahha, once I've done all the leaks the last thing I will be doing is selling the bd thing !! see below for bracket gasket info.

SturdyHSV said:

I believe it's the bracket for the alternator that provides some sort of seal to the block, but that sounds like such a ridiculous design I can't imagine it's that...

So basically they cast an engine block with a hole in the side of it that they then plug with the bracket that holds the alternator?

You know what doesn't have that problem? A VXR8 If the kids are 5 years older now, maybe they won't be as inclined to mash jam in to everything?

The bracket requires a gasket as there are two holes in the block that feed through the gasket to either a pair of blanking plugs OR and oil cooler. Not all of them had the cooler , but from what limited research I've done its the 650's that got one and not the 645's.

For what VXR8's are trading at now... I would struggle to justify as a 3rd car

[fastbikes76]

Rang my local BMW and priced up the bracket gasket and oil cooler O’rings. There was a discrepancy over my car having the oil cooler or not. I can see one on the car, Real OEM says no. There are different Alternator bracket gaskets and O rings depending which model you have, I told the parts Lady I would just have a set of each. Grand total of £22 later I had 2 Alt gaskets and 4 o rings. They had them in stock at a branch in London this morning and had them delivered to my local branch some 85 miles away by 14:30 this afternoon (same day!)

So I’m ready to tackle the main and only leak for now over the festive period if it doesn’t rain constantly, and in the summer I will blitz every single gasket and seal externally to future proof what’s an otherwise cracking car for Mrs Fb




You can see the oil cooler passages in this pic below better

[d_a_n1979]

fastbikes76 said:

Rang my local BMW and priced up the bracket gasket and oil cooler O’rings. There was a discrepancy over my car having the oil cooler or not. I can see one on the car, Real OEM says no. There are different Alternator bracket gaskets and O rings depending which model you have, I told the parts Lady I would just have a set of each. Grand total of £22 later I had 2 Alt gaskets and 4 o rings. They had them in stock at a branch in London this morning and had them delivered to my local branch some 85 miles away by 14:30 this afternoon (same day!)

So I’m ready to tackle the main and only leak for now over the festive period if it doesn’t rain constantly, and in the summer I will blitz every single gasket and seal externally to future proof what’s an otherwise cracking car for Mrs Fb




You can see the oil cooler passages in this pic below better

It's going to be cold & dry for the next two days

Stop yer whinging and get it done

Merry Crimblybobs and Happy Fettling

[B'stard Child]

I had a succession of very small coolant losses on my 740i - kept finding tired Jubilee clips or clamps and thinking I had fixed it permanently and then I'd find it still was losing coolant - in the end I replaced the lot (those I hadn't previously replaced I mean) along with the clips

Nice work on this one - looks great

[bolidemichael]

Blimey, I do suspect that you might actually keep it, after all!

[OnTheSauce]

If I had the ability and know-how to carry out this work then how long it took would be of absolutely zero concern to me.

It's funny - the 6's are selling fairly frequently now but when I tried to sell my E64 650 a couple of years ago I had no interest at all. 60k on it, mega spec, just had the valve seals, gaskets done by BMW for £5k. PPF covering the whole front. Truly excellent condition. Wanted under £10k.

Still have it and so glad it didn't sell. I don't care that the V8 isn't perfect - it's an occasion and suits the car perfectly. Plus, none of the issues are catastrophic. It was the only engine for this car that I would consider at the time - leaks and all.

Hope you get yours fixed without too much bother.

Edited by OnTheSauce on Wednesday 23 December 20:55

Edited by OnTheSauce on Wednesday 23 December 21:00

[bolidemichael]

OnTheSauce said:

If I had the ability and know-how to carry out this work then how long it took would be of absolutely zero concern to me.

It's funny - the 6's are selling fairly frequently now but when I tried to sell my E64 650 a couple of years ago I had no interest at all. 60k on it, mega spec, just had the valve seals, gaskets done by BMW for £5k. PPF covering the whole front. Truly excellent condition. Wanted under £10k.

Still have it and so glad it didn't sell. I don't care that the V8 isn't perfect - it's an occasion and suits the car perfectly. Plus, none of the issues are catastrophic. It was the only engine for this car that I would consider at the time - leaks and all.

Hope you get yours fixed without too much bother.

I suspect that the mileage was a contributing factor as 60k is the step change in cost for the BMW Mondial warranty.

[fastbikes76]

Hmmmm so it appears Mrs Fb is way more shrewd than I give her credit for !!!


Knowing full well I now have the parts in hand to do the alternator bracket she’s just piped up with “oh I saw it’s sunny tomorrow so though we could go for a nice 6 mile dog walk through the woods”. Caught off guard i quickly spluttered I had car stuff to do. Rather sh7t in my hands and clap than get dragged round fields for 6 miles listening to a group of daft cows talking st for hours on end !

Well played Mrs Fb, well played

[fastbikes76]

Start the clock... I’m going in !

[bolidemichael]

You don't even have a garage?

[Mij91]

Legend. The alternator bracket issue stopped me buying a 550i if I am honest!

[B'stard Child]

bolidemichael said:

You don't even have a garage?

I’m waiting for the rain/sleet to stop before attempting to fix my washer jets (replace all the pipes that are buried in the bonnet on my E38

Fair play to the OP for getting stuck in

[fastbikes76]

2 hours in and stopped for a cuppa.... it’s sufficiently cold enough that I can hear my balls rattling around like a pair of marbles in a potato sack !!

Everything is removed apart from actual alt bracket which is another few more bolts and off.

[Shadow R1]

Hats off for getting stuck in with that job.

[d_a_n1979]

fastbikes76 said:

2 hours in and stopped for a cuppa.... it’s sufficiently cold enough that I can hear my balls rattling around like a pair of marbles in a potato sack !!

Everything is removed apart from actual alt bracket which is another few more bolts and off.

Bloody hell pal you don't waste time

Please say you've got decent ale, a good red and/or a nice single malt for celebrations afterwards?

[fastbikes76]

That’s bracket off, block cleaned up , bracket and alternator cleaned and now starting to refit. I lost an hour of pisisng about as my car has an additional oil cooler and the pipes bolt to alternator bracket and are in the way of undoing engine mount bolts. Bracket for oil cooler pipes was a stupid 3.5mm with zero clearance. Got there in the end.... time to crack on now !