Ive bought a lovley 325i, hasn't been started in 6 years

[dimebag_from_hell]

Ive been lucky to come across a very clean 325i but the catch is, it hasn't been started in close to 7 years.

Luckily its been kept in a heated garage, bar getting brakes and what no unsiezed. What would every reccomend doing before starting her?

I was going to drain the oil from cold overnight, then top her up, start her, get her going up to temp, and do another fresh oil change and get new coolant in her.

What does everyone think?

[dimebag_from_hell]

Forgot to say, timing belt is due a change as well.

[Brianmoooore]

Ideally you wouldn't start it at all until the cam belt has been changed, but if you're prepared to risk this, a teaspoon of oil down each plug hole when you drain the oil, and turn it over a couple of turns by hand with a 22mm socket or spanner on the front pulley bolt after you've added the new oil wouldn't go amiss. Pour the new oil in fast to flood over the cam and rockers, then spin the engine over on the starter motor for several seconds before you put the plugs back in get some oil pressure built up.

[dimebag_from_hell]

Ok brian thanks very much.

Any issue with the coolant not being changed in so long?

[Brianmoooore]

Ok brian thanks very much.

Any issue with the coolant not being changed in so long?

Nothing that's going to hurt for a few more days.

[Carmo13]

Diesel down the plug holes is another option.
Personally, i would take the rocker cover off and make sure the cam and rockers are covered in oil.
Definitly turn the engine over without the plugs in until you get oil pressure. That is important i think.
You have got to remember that any oil that was in the top end of the engine has had 7 years to drain down, so chances are the top end is very dry so the more oil you get circulating the better.

[dimebag_from_hell]

Ok chaps sounds like a plan.

What the best timing belt kit you can buy without going to the stealers these days and whats a fair price for labour?

The last time I had a timing belt done on my sport the labour charge was a bit OTT for me, think I will try someone else this time.

[Brianmoooore]

Gates is a decent make of belt. Cam belt changes don't come much easier than on a M20, so DIY.

[capri_rob]

drain the fuel tank and put some fresh fuel in there before you try and start it.

Contitech make the belts for BMW and you can get a kit with a new tensioner from ECP for not much money

[minesapint]

Read this........
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Cheers

[dimebag_from_hell]

Gates is a decent make of belt. Cam belt changes don't come much easier than on a M20, so DIY.

Are there any pictorial guides out there brian? Ive never done a camblet before!

[dimebag_from_hell]

Just seen the wiki page, doesn't look too bad! Although I would be afraid to badger this m20, shes sub 100k

Obviously if I do the belt, I will do the waterpump, going by the wikipage its easy, what else is worth doing while I'm down there?

What do you guys think of this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Circoli-Water ... 4d1a1c4364

Cant see the kit on their website, but found this on ebay?

Any other parts I would need? gaskets bolts? I will order the full works, if someone lists them for me

[Brianmoooore]

Haynes manual covers it well enough. It's available on line, IIRC.
Consider changing the water pump as well. One end of the spring for the cam belt tensioner locates against the water pump, making it difficult to change with the tensioner fitted.

[dimebag_from_hell]

Many thanks brian, I think I will give this a go as the only reason I was going to get her started up was to take it to a mechanic to do the belt, but guess I'll jump in at the deep end.

[Brianmoooore]

You'll need to drain the coolant and remove the radiator to do the belt, so that's the time to change the coolant as well.
Separate the cowl from the rad., lift the cowl onto the fan, remove the hoses and the top fixing bracket, and the rad. lifts straight out.

[dimebag_from_hell]

Ok thanks Brian, what you think of the kit above?

[Brianmoooore]

Circoli water pumps are excellent. I have no idea about their belts and tensioners, but they're likely to be better than the current 7+? year old ones.
It'll probably be cheaper if you enter the same part no. into the CP4L website, and don't forget to add the appropriate discount code. You're already over £50, so try to make the order up to just over £75 or £100.

[daimlerman]

Circoli
It'll probably be cheaper if you enter the same part no. into the CP4L website, and don't forget to add the appropriate discount code. You're already over £50, so try to make the order up to just over £75 or £100.

You will need at least one oil filter,plus an air filter,plus fuel filter,so you will soon reach £100 in consumables....

Perhaps leave brake discs/pads 'till the next order!

[dimebag_from_hell]

Brian, may I ask
What the discount code is?

As for brake discs, they were changed before put into storage. Tyres on the other hand of course have flat spots

Ohh an anyone ever use the crossland fuel filters?

Quantity of coolant needed and what type? 50/50 mix with distilled water?

[Brianmoooore]

Discount code is shown on the CP4L home page, but is one of three sequential banners that appears, so it's possible to miss it if you don't stay on that page long enough. Spend £100.01, and the discount will be a useful 15%.
Crossland is a long established brand of filter.
Cooling system holds 10.5 litres, so around 3.5 litres of neat antifreeze for 33% concentration, or just over 5 litres if you want to go for 50%.
Note that when I bought some antifreeze from CP4L about a month ago (simply to make my order up to £100), it was cheaper to buy it in one litre bottles rather than five litre cans, and I had to find the part numbers for it on the ECP site, since for some unknown reason, I couldn't find them on CP4L.

[Mitchen]

They are sometimes cheaper with ECP on their eBay account than on their website as well.

[dimebag_from_hell]

Cheers lads, whats the craic with two water bumps of the same circolo brand being two different prices?

I am getting everything ordered now.

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/B ... 362&000366

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/B ... 37a&000366

I forgot to say I have 5 lites of G13 spec antifreeze in the garage which is used in VW's, would that be suitable or a no no?

Also as the timing belt is changed, is there any other belt that should be replaced?

See theyt are doing a dayco timing belt kit but not sure of the brand.

Will be ordering tonight, cheers

[Brianmoooore]

Look at the date range in "part details". Cheaper one is pre facelift.
CP4L have the ContiTech timing belt, but not as part of a kit.
Only other belts are alternator and power steering. Replace if they have deteriorated, but otherwise they will be fine.

[dimebag_from_hell]

Thanks very much brian!

Would it be worth changing the thermostat, the owner was very honest with me about everything and he said the only issue the car ever had was it was sore on fuel, but as we know, an m20 is hardly economical but he seemed fairly certain it was more thirsty than it should be.

Thermostats are only a few quid on Carparts4less

[daimlerman]

There's a sporting chance that the 'stat will have siezed either open or closed,so replacing it as part of your 'wake-up' service would be a very good

I bet that I'm not the only one who would like to see a few photo's....

[dimebag_from_hell]

In good time malcom, in good time

[dimebag_from_hell]

Alright lads, starting this on friday, should a new water pump tensioner pulley be fitted along with the water pump?

cheers

[daimlerman]

It would be a very good
The thing has been stood for a while,and it's bearing may well have partly stuck.

Really,when waking up a car from a long sleep,any part that has a bearing,or runs in oil,must be considered to be suspect.

Have you discovered why the poor thing was put to bed?

[dimebag_from_hell]

Owner working/ living abroad!

[dimebag_from_hell]

Question lads, is the water pump tensioner pulley main dealer only?

Can't find it on any of the usual sites for the M20?

Anyone got a link?


Also had a bit of a garage find myself about 2 years ago, discovering within 5 miles of my house lies an e30 m3 sport evo in red, hasn't turned a wheel is god knows how many years, mileage is around 40k! Owner has little interest in the car, or interest in selling it!

[daimlerman]

Hope you mean cambelt tensioner!

Very quick search gave this;

http://www.gsfcarparts.com/parts/engine ... g-belt-kit

But you should be able to get a tensioner seperately if you have already bought a belt.