Project E34 535i Restoration
Discussion
I cringe when people say they start the car regularly while its in storage. If your going to lay a vehicle up for a period of time, change the oil and filter then take it out for a good half hour Italian tune. Then park it and don't start it again until your going to put it back on the road.
Whilst you have bottom end issues, I have had top end issues, so mine broke down in December, gutted first proper break down it has ever had, wouldn't start, turned out to be a duff ECU, replaced ECU, with little life in the battery she fired right up, then after a week or so of driving, I got in her, started her up, ran really lumpy, turned off, restarted, bit of lumpiness and it cleared, weird must have been having a mad 5 minutes...2 weeks later I drive into work, running lovely, stop the car, into the office, 30 minutes later pop back out of office to go do something start car, running lumpy again, turn off and back on, rev it, doesn't clear.
Drive it to garage down the road, as far as we can tell the ECU is playing up again, so I take the ECU off to a localish company, they test the ECU, apparently the drivers have gone and it is going to cost £500+ to fix, a new ECU from BMW is same price thereabouts, so I decline the service, an old friend enquirers about the car, I mention the issue, he tells me to take to this other place, so I take the ECU to another place, he reckons there maybe something wrong with the drivers, but he can't get any replacement parts to test it (weird, other company could) he tells me to send it off to ECU Testing LTD, who btw are fantastic, they text you when the parcel arrives, when it is on the bench being tested, and then a report, then send ECU back with a text saying it has left....Report... No faults found (but the drivers were gone according to first company, who could rebuild it with the spare parts that don't exist, I haven't finished with those lot a visit is in order to them)
So wits end with the car now, so ask another mate and he tells me about this lady called Gina G, mobile mechanic who apparently knows her stuff, she turns up, starts it up, quick listen, plugs some gauges in, compression test..."you have a valve issue on number one"
So I took the head off and I found this wedging the no1 inlet valve open on my 518i
Damage to the piston?
Seriously though anyone have any idea what the f
k that is?
Drive it to garage down the road, as far as we can tell the ECU is playing up again, so I take the ECU off to a localish company, they test the ECU, apparently the drivers have gone and it is going to cost £500+ to fix, a new ECU from BMW is same price thereabouts, so I decline the service, an old friend enquirers about the car, I mention the issue, he tells me to take to this other place, so I take the ECU to another place, he reckons there maybe something wrong with the drivers, but he can't get any replacement parts to test it (weird, other company could) he tells me to send it off to ECU Testing LTD, who btw are fantastic, they text you when the parcel arrives, when it is on the bench being tested, and then a report, then send ECU back with a text saying it has left....Report... No faults found (but the drivers were gone according to first company, who could rebuild it with the spare parts that don't exist, I haven't finished with those lot a visit is in order to them)
So wits end with the car now, so ask another mate and he tells me about this lady called Gina G, mobile mechanic who apparently knows her stuff, she turns up, starts it up, quick listen, plugs some gauges in, compression test..."you have a valve issue on number one"
So I took the head off and I found this wedging the no1 inlet valve open on my 518i
Damage to the piston?
Seriously though anyone have any idea what the f
k that is? 
pits said:
So wits end with the car now, so ask another mate and he tells me about this lady called Gina G, mobile mechanic who apparently knows her stuff, she turns up, starts it up, quick listen, plugs some gauges in, compression test..."you have a valve issue on number one"
Seriously though anyone have any idea what the fk that is?
That's easy, it's just a little bit.Seriously though anyone have any idea what the f
k that is? 
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They are hewn from granite and when tight and fresh drive beautifully. Sadly so many are neglected and 20 years takes its toll even on the best examples. I have really enjoyed this project. Still a few things to do, but the list is short now. OCD and car restoration go well together. I will list all the work done!
Spotted this for sale seems like a very good price for a manual 'big six' e34 with an LSD
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C294237#
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C294237#
Doubt I will ever sell this car is so pure and involving. I have not driven my new BMW for 3 months!
What's it worth perhaps invested £7,000 in the mechanicals? I would like to get £4,000 - I know there is a song by the Everly Brothers but if you want a better than new e34 manual 535i which you won't have to spend a bean on for at least 10 years!
What's it worth perhaps invested £7,000 in the mechanicals? I would like to get £4,000 - I know there is a song by the Everly Brothers but if you want a better than new e34 manual 535i which you won't have to spend a bean on for at least 10 years!
You sound like you're torn between keeping it and selling, Bogracer. If you do decide to sell, speak to Derin of bmwclassics.co.uk - he seems to carry out full renovations along the lines of what you've done, but he asks for (and gets) a fair bit more than the £4k you think yours would fetch.
Jobbo said:
You sound like you're torn between keeping it and selling, Bogracer. If you do decide to sell, speak to Derin of bmwclassics.co.uk - he seems to carry out full renovations along the lines of what you've done, but he asks for (and gets) a fair bit more than the £4k you think yours would fetch.
I am just sounding out the possibilities. It's matching the cars with the enthusiasts. There are some really nice cars on the site, I guess he has quite a following. I had a 328i Cabriolet with a hardtop and struggled to get people out to it, but the first person that did come out in 3 months brought it on the spot!
It elevating it above the bangers, I have tons of receipts and photographs of all the work - a say £7,000 spent I dare not add it up it's always more than you think or delude yourself, justifying it to the wife!
I just enjoy the restoration project and the finished result.
Looking at the prices on his site it perhaps worth a little more.
Edited by Bogracer on Wednesday 20th June 19:28
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