VIEWING A 318IS - ADVICE PLEASE

Post Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:22 pm

hi all. i am going to view an IS in the morning! the car was being broken but i am hoping to buy the whole car. it has 78k on it with paper work to prove. i just really need all the gear for the conversion into my 318i cab. but has anybody got any advice for me? any common faults to look for? if anybody can help me it will be much appreciated!!! Cheers. Benny

PS: watch this space! may have some IS spares for you later in the week!

Post Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:35 pm

Worth checking the paperwork to see if the profile gasket has been changed.
Think these are prone to failure,and from what ive read,most would/should have been replaced upto about 90K.

Someone else will probably elaborate on this.

Apart from this i think they are quite strong engines.

Post Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:40 pm

eko wrote:Worth checking the paperwork to see if the profile gasket has been changed.
Think these are prone to failure,and from what ive read,most would/should have been replaced upto about 90K.

Someone else will probably elaborate on this.

Apart from this i think they are quite strong engines.

Not too strong if ragged from cold my friend, the heads are prone to cracking if these chariots are abused upon startup, you have to let these puppies get warm before you give them a seeing too. Check there is no tapping coming from the cylinder head either, or seeping from the head gasket; my mates old one did this towards the later stages of its life (lost a fight with a lampost)

Luckily Is' were galnvanized so rust isnt usually a problem but check anyway

quite a few IS i have seen have leaking output seals on the diff also so thats worth a check

aparrt from that mate just the usual!

Post Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:50 pm

Cheers fellas! is a profile gasket leak sometimes mistaken for a head gasket? this is what the guy selling the car said to me.
He bought the car to break it so has only driven it once. it was some old guys wife who drove it before. the car has had a bit of a bump and put the shell a little out of shape around the screen so doubt the body will make it much futher than scrap yard.
so then, if the head is cracked i will know about that when i see it then? will it leak? The guy said it runs sweet as a nut.

Post Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:25 am

The Profile Gasket is a rubber gasket which sits at the front of the head, sealing the coolant channel which runs inside the timing chain casing. They fail at the coolant channel as the original rubber gaskets eventually just broke down.

I does get confused with head gasket failure, but then a failed profile gasket does tend to have a nasty effect on the head gasket as well!

Post Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:43 pm

just seen the car. ran well from cold. no leaks at all. i will be picking it this week so if anybody needs any bits just PM me! Thanks for the advice dudes!!! Benny