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

[SpecM]

Purple Power FTW for cleaning grease/dirt

[itsbrokeagain]

Purple Power +3. Plus a pressure washer.


We have a parts solvent tank at work, and I know friends with hot tanks, so the next time I pull my trans out to get fixed, its coming apart and everything is getting cleaned.

[wojtek79]

I read a lot about BMW water pumps. Apparently the ones with plastic propeller are bad. Metal is the better choice. Does anyone know which one does bavauto.com sell?

[SpecM]

the m20s all use metel impellers, iirc. only the m50s had that problem

[dashboardmonkey]

Replace your thermostat too

[gtdragon980]

id say seafoam the shit out of the engine!

[xcmorgan50]

I bought a water pump from bavauto. havent had a problem but its only been 12,000 miles. It does not have a plastic propeller.

[StereoInstaller1]

Just plan on pulling the head if only to replace the valve guide seals. Cleaning is so much easier...

Don't forget a new cam seal too.

GL, and welcome to the obsession!

Luke

[wojtek79]

Can anyone offer some tips for painting the engine block?
I am also looking for stock pictures of an M20. Tried google with no luck. I am looking for a factory clean one so I can see what one looks like brand new.

[wojtek79]

Next question:
Under the headliner on the driver's side there is a domelight (where there is a suicide handle on the pass side) The light clips into a plastic holder which clips into the car's roof. Any ideas how to remove that plastic holder without breaking it? I trashed two already at the boneyard trying to take it out.

[Hallen]

It looks like every frigging seal on that engine is toast.
Do the camshaft sprocket seal. Break the torque prior to taking the timing belt off.
Do the rear main seal. You will need new flywheel bolts. Not a big deal and easy enough to do with the engine/transmission out.
Make sure your replace those rubber plugs at the end of the camshafts when you replace the valve cover gasket.
The lower timing case seals are more difficult because of the high level of torque on that nut. But, if possible, they would be good to replace too.

None of these seals cost a lot of money and they are all hugely easier to do with the engine out.

Use realoem.com to check out all the parts you will need.

[wojtek79]

well. I pulled the head yesterday. The cylinders were fairly clean. Any tips for cleaning the residue of the old headgasket?

[SpecM]

well. I pulled the head yesterday. The cylinders were fairly clean. Any tips for cleaning the residue of the old headgasket?

on the head, a plastic scraper and some solvent

on the block, a ziz-wheel

[wojtek79]

on the head, a plastic scraper and some solvent

on the block, a ziz-wheel

Nothing on eBay about a "ziz-wheel" and google was not much help either with something specific. All I found out is that they are available in different grit grades. Any pointers as to where I should look?

[TrentW]

Did you get it done and back to good running condition yet?