1991 318is has been sitting since 2004

[mrhassouneh]

wow you guys are awesome. I've been on other forums with my last cars and never got the responses like i have here.. but ill deff look into it and see what can be done either ill clean it up a bit and test it out like what was said or ill just part ways with it if anyone is interested.. i originally had plans to make it my new project but with seeing the prices of some that are already complete its kind of made me second guess and possibly buy one thats drivable and start from there

[jntar]

I would drain the motor, clean it up and then see if you can turn the motor by hand. If you can turn it, Id follow that up with a compression and leak down. If it passes, do a visual on fuel lines, vacuum lines, and cooling system.

[george graves]

I strongly suggest that you attempt to diagnose what issues the car actually has (meaning do as I suggested above) before deciding to swap out the engine. It won't take more than an afternoon, and you'll be well acquainted with the M42 after doing the work.

This is sounds advice as well! (depending on your mechanical abilities)

[roguetoaster]

I strongly suggest that you attempt to diagnose what issues the car actually has (meaning do as I suggested above) before deciding to swap out the engine. It won't take more than an afternoon, and you'll be well acquainted with the M42 after doing the work.

[R1dd1ck913]

You can do a very cheap motor swap if you wait for the right deal. Like I bought a wrecked but still drivable 95 525i on craigslist for 400 bucks. So far I have made 300 bucks back from selling parts and still have about another 400 dollars worth of stuff to sell. But on that note I still have my m42 motor that I am parting out due to timing chain idler pulley breaking. So if you need any motor parts I will have them.

[AndrewBird]

If there is a head gasket kit in the trunk, then there is a good chance the car was sitting because of a blown head gasket. That could mean damage to the head due to overheating, which would mean you may need a new head, or at least a rebuild of that one.

I would try and source a motor from a u-pull-it (or elsewhere) and swap it in. Get the car running and driving, fix any and all issues, then swap to a bigger motor if you want. Dropping a high power engine into a car that has brake/suspension issues is a bad idea.

[roguetoaster]

Just try to get it running, should cost less than $50.

1. Vacuum out the debris without damaging the valves (might want to tape on a small adapter to the vac to get in the ports more effectively.
2. Lightly oil the valves you can see with a heavy oil.
3. Put a very most a tablespoon of oil in each of the cylinders by removing the plugs (leave them out for now).
4. Drain the coolant/oil, refill oil.
5. If you have the ability, check timing.
6. Turn engine by hand with a socket on the crank bolt.
7. If that goes well put the lower manifold on (Also a good time to replace injector seals if they look bad.) and try a crank with the starter to see if fuel is getting to the cylinders. At your discretion drain the fuel with a siphon and refill, or add fresh fuel to the old. Maybe change the fuel filter.
8. Put the full intake manifold back on if fuel is getting there.
9. Try to start it.
10. Don't forget to refill the coolant. Let it get to operating temp, bleed it, watch the temp gauge carefully, check for signs of a head/gasket failure.

I bought an M42 that had been sitting for who knows how long with the manifold off did basically that and the car was fine other than it's Daytona Coupe loud exhaust.

[george graves]

If it was me, I'd buy a used working m42 and drop it in - cost should be minimal. Enjoy the car, and buy some time till I decided what I wanted to do.

Are you a noob to the forum, or to working on cars? Cause a motor swap might not be for you just yet.

[mrhassouneh]

first off i want to let everyone know I'm new to the e30 forums. i just purchased a 1991 318is from an old lady that had it sitting behind her house since 2004.
apparently her son left it before going back to school and hasn't touched it since..surprisingly theres no rust that i can see and the interior is very nice..anyway, my problem is that the motor is the original 4cyl m42 , but when i popped the hood the intake manifold has been off all this time as well as the radiator and a few other things and theres spider webs and who knows what else inside the engine bay and more then likely inside the motor?.. i ended up opening the trunk to find a brand new still sealed head gasket replacement kit as well as the manifold and radiator and everything that was missing...

my question is what would be the best thing to do to clean or check this motor to see if its even worth keeping or should i just go about with a motor swap and the headaches and deep pockets tha come along with it..
i originally planned on just repainting and swapping the motor but over the past 3 days I've been in circles as to wether m30b35 swaps or s50 swaps where better and its a never ending debate.. any body have a lil advice for the noob i have funds to cover it but I'm stuck thinking wether its practical to dump 8-10k into a 800 dollar car i bought.. thanks guys and sorry for running on