Bought an 89 325is and need help "refreshing" engine and engine bay.

[wojtek79]

Late November last year I found an 89 325is on eBay at a local dealer. Car is in decent shape. I was able to walk out of there with tax title and plates for a total of $1173. After bringing the car home I took a closer look at what I just did. 128k miles, Schwartz black, fairly clean body, 5 speed, LSD, brand new Toyo Proxes 195 on basketweaves.

Under the hood everything appears to be original except the alternator. Not sure if this is a good thing as all the hoses show their age. I can feel the radiator hoses falling apart on the inside when I squeeze them.
I was wondering why my MPG was in the low teen to single digits and the smell of fuel was strong. Turns out that one of the fuel feed lines by the hose clamp near the fuel rail has a hole in it.
The engine also has a bad gasket near the valve cover causing it to be soaked in oil. No record of a timing belt either. With the engine being greasy and dirty, I decided to pull the motor and trans out so I can clean it up and replace the gaskets, along with the timing belt.

I started this thread so that I can track my progress and ask questions about any stumbles I come across. With that said, here are pictures of when I brought the car home.











I am basically putting together a shopping list. I pulled out the engine/trans out a day before new years eve. I learned that my reverse lights did not work because one of the cables on the trans was disconnected. Since I owned the car, the car became undriveable. When it was really cold outside I started her up and when I pressed the clutch it just went in, but never came back up. Based on searching around here I think it may either be the slave or master clutch cylinder. I think it may have been on its way out though since when I bought the car it was low on brake fluid and it turns out that the clutch feeds of the brake reservoir.

So far here is what I plan to replace:
1. Timing belt w/tensioner
2. Water pump
3. Fuel lines
4. Valve cover gasket
5. Radiator hoses
6. Oil pan gasket w/oil change
7. A/c, p/s & alternator belts
8. Master/slave clutch cylinder.
9. Spark plugs

Here is what I plan to do while the engine is out:
1. Valve adjustment - DONE
2. Clean the injectors
3. Clean the engine/trans
4. Paint the outside of oil pan silver?

Sometime this week I'd like to remover the remainder of the wiring harness connections from the motor and separate it from the trans. Any tips for this procedure?
Also, what else would you add to my shopping list? (I am on a somewhat moderate budget). The car will be a daily driver all season and maybe see an autocross once a year.

[rhett325i]

oxygen sensor
FPR
distributer cap & rotor
voltage regulator
rebuild shifter linkage, with z3 1.9 lever (waaay easier if you pulled the tranny with the motor, and cheap)
guibo
replace vacuum line under throttle body
throttle body boot
charcoal canister
air filter
intake manifold gaskets
throttle body gasket
valve cover breather tube
check/replace vacuum hoses that come off the brake booster
If you have the $, now would also be the best time to replace your steering rack with one from a z3 or 1995 M3, for less lock-to-lock turns.


That's all I can think of...

[thereisnoyun]

check fuel filter and the two hoses and thier hose clamps. If you ahve an airbag car, swap the rack NOW! its going to be rediculously easy.

make sure, when you take it out of the car

1.) take it to the machine shop and resit the valves
2.) put new valve guides
3.) put all new gaskets on the cam
4.) new rocker clips, have the machine shop inspect the rockers
5.) Inspect the cap and rotor contacts, if it isnt bad, dont have to replace it.
6.) check resistence on coil pack and replace with MSD if need to
7.) check reisistence on all the wires and replace if need to
8.) check cylinder walls after the head comes off
9.) new head studs
10.) take the engine to the machine shop to get it cleaned.
11.) resurface your flywheel while you are at it, if you ahve a dual mass shave it down.
12.) replace all bushings for shifter. I always tell people to get hte z4 2.5. Its much more DD friendly, and minimal bending of the shifter rod to clear the harmonic balancer.

[smonkbmw]

/\ it has 129k....did you even read his post? lol, youre speaking of a full motor rebuild at 129k?

[SpecM]

/\ it has 129k....did you even read his post? lol, youre speaking of a full motor rebuild at 129k?

exactly, and why would a machine shop have to set the valves? I can do it in 45 minutes with hand tools.

wojtek79, just do the timing belt/wp, all hoses, and the valve cover and oil pan gaskets. There is no point in opening the engine up.

of course, fix the clutch, do filters/plugs/fluids/blahblahblah

[Kingb]

There is a timing belt kit in the group buy section that is exactley what you need

[wojtek79]

oxygen sensor - Not sure, as it is fine for now and access is easy

FPR - works for now and access is easy

distributer cap & rotor - This I may do since it appears worn.

voltage regulator - Is this the part on the alterantor? the two brushes?

rebuild shifter linkage, with z3 1.9 lever (waaay easier if you pulled the tranny with the motor, and cheap) - I do want to do this since the bushing is shot. I have taken a lever out of an 86 325e and one out of an 84 318. the one from a 318 was shorter. would this work? the Z3 levers are hard to come by and not the cheapest. anyone have a source for Z3 cheap?

guibo - that needs to be replaced

replace vacuum line under throttle body - all hoses will be replaced

throttle body boot - already replaced

charcoal canister - easy access, works for now so it will stay.

air filter - will do

intake manifold gaskets - yes

throttle body gasket - yes

valve cover breather tube - is this the tube on top of the valve cover? If so, then yes as I think I am getting oil spray out of there.

That's all I can think of...

wojtek79, just do the timing belt/wp, all hoses, and the valve cover and oil pan gaskets. There is no point in opening the engine up.

of course, fix the clutch, do filters/plugs/fluids/blahblahblah

that is exactly my plan. I do not want rebuild the engine as I had no problems with it before I started this project. I simply want to clean it up and eliminate the leaks so I can paint it. For some reason I have a thing for clean looking engine bays. I AM ALSO ON A BUDGET so I want to keep this under a $1000. Also since I got the tranny separated from the engine, It looks like the clutch may need to be swapped. I'll post pictures once I get them off my camera.

There is a timing belt kit in the group buy section that is exactley what you need

Is this the $100 kit that includes everything? If so, I saw it already, but the brand name for the water pump isn't a good one based on what I read on another forums. I may be wrong though. I was actually considering to get the kit minus the water pump.
edit: just checked and it appears that the deal is over.

[wojtek79]

so does anyone know if the early 318 E30 shifters were shorter? Or did I simply find some aftermarket one at the junkyard?

[itsbrokeagain]

do a brake flush too. My slave is on the way out, so I gotta change it anyways.

if you are flushing the brakes, might as well add new brake hoses as well to the mix. Pretty cheap from the dealer.


Good luck with it! I got a Scwhartz (use the Schwartzz!) with 219k+ on the body, but the engine is out of a 91 'vert with 75k on it now. Fresh T-belt, all front end work done, tune up etc etc...some little things here and there I have to clean up, adjust the valves, VC gasket, etc.

My fuel tank has a small leak, It only comes out when I top off the tank. The big rubber hose is dry, and its coming from around the front..I suspect one of the gaskets on top of the tank for the fuel level sensor is rotting away...and my gas mileage has gone to shit as well.

But no rust is always the best!!

[wojtek79]

I have some more pictures for you guys. here is a before shot:


And here are some more:











Oh Yeah... I also took one of my timing belt:



The engine is extremely greasy. I am looking for ideas how to clean it easily and at a cost effective method. Feel free to chip in with suggestions.

Still looking for for an answer to my 318 shifter question.

[Chells_88ix]

I can't wait to hear if there is a cheap source for the z3 shifter. The shifter on my ix is horribly sloppy, I did talk to Pelican about a kit for the bushings and found they have to make one up as they don't stock a ready packed kit for the ix. I would like the short shifter too but if it is too much may just rebuild the old one. Hopefully someone will give you some more info. Looks like the timing belt does need changed by the cracking on the belts. I understand your clean engine bay thing :). - Michelle

[Knockenwelle]

Yikes!! That timing belt is awful. The PO was an idiot for running it that long, and you're lucky it didn't break.

Castrol SuperClean works really well on goo like that. Find it at the parts store in a purple gallon jug. It's a solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which is a VERY powerful base. DON'T get it on your skin, or on any paint you care about. Buy a plastic kiddie pool from WhaleMart to catch the drippings. Just take your time with a hard-bristle brush.

[DarkWing6]

First off, nice pickup. Looks to be a fun project you've got.

As far as the shifter goes, I wouldn't go with an e30 lever. Check out this thread for some good info on shortening up the throw.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=41971&highlight=ssk

bmaparts.com is a great place to pick up the SSK too. Call and ask for Patrick. Tell him you are from r3v and he will take care of you.

[wojtek79]

talk about all you ever needed to know about shifters. thanks greatly man.

[wojtek79]

Ok... after all the research, I am going to try an E36 shifter along with an E36 steering rack. If I recall correctly, the steering rack should be a straight swap.