Advice needed for a 1985 318i sedan with torn muffler?

[buggsbunny]

Hi everyone. I'm a new member here and i must admit this site is awesome. I discovered it after long hours of E30 research on the web.

I intend to get a 1985 Bimmer 318i sedan. According to the owner the car had been stood for 3 months. When i went to check the car, it was kind of a hussle getting it started though it finally did and managed a couple of runs. There are occasional shot gun blasts which the owner explains is possibly due to a visibly torn muffler. The mileage reads 200,000 km, slight dent on drivers doors, rear seats are slightly gone, no front badge but apart from the cosmetics the engine (M10 i guess) looks relatively new and original for the age with a new radiator to boot. He is actually giving it for peanuts. I found out a muffler wouldn't cost an arm and a leg.

My only main worry is the shot gun blasts . I honestly love the car and i want it so badly but then again i'm not in a position to go through a major reconditioning like new head gasket etc. I would greatly appreciate your comments. Sorry for the long post, i'm just too excited about the car. Despite the cosmetic defaults, its an absolute beauty.

Cheers

[Gwynleym10]

Hi and welcome to the zone!

I assume that you are in the US with some of your language.. so a couple of translations to start you off:

Sedan = Saloon
Muffler = Exhuast
Fender = Front Wing
Hood = Bonnet
Windshield = Windscreen
Trunk = Boot

i'm sure there are more....

I assume that the shot gun blast's are back fireing, this is unburnt fuel entering the exhaust and igniting.

I suspect that a "torn" (if its actually ripped open) exhuast was probably cuased by the misfire rather than the exhaust cuaseing the misfire.

Car is probably just running rich, may need a good service (new air filter, fuel filter change of oil+filter, spark plugs, coolant, dizzy cap and rotor)

It would also be a good idea to check and ajust the valve clearnaces.... its pretty similar to an m20 (325i) in that respect.

When you change the spark plugs, look at the old ones...if they are black all over it means that it has been running rich.

If after changing all of this it still backfires then it could be a leaking injector. M10's have an extra one for cold start, in the inlet manifold this does have a tendancy to leak.

Best bet is to get a haynes manual, its not that bad for an m10 engine and will show you how to do all of the above.

M10 parts are cheap!

Be aware, a US spec m10 may have a Catalytic converter..i'm not sure though.

If the body isn't to rusty, i.e rear whell arches, number plate etc etc you should be o.k with it. M10 engines are generally very good and strong

Good luck with it and any more "technical type" questions just post them in the technical sections.

[buggsbunny]

Thanks for the insight Gwynleym10. Pardon my language as i've been living in a french-speaking environment for the past five years. I do get to hangout with a couple of english speaking pals during weekends at the local watering hall.

It seems i don't have to worry about head gasket or cylinder heads problems for now . Although i never checked thoroughly, the car didn't seem to have much rust apart from the usual stuff for a car of its age.

The hole on the exhaust silencer is about the size of a palm (approx: 7cm diameter) so i was wondering whether it would be possible to change just that part alone or do i have to buy the whole kit? Or could i just weld it ?