Advice - standing engine

[Matty30]

Hello,

Im new to this forum, I have wanted an E30 for years but just never seen the right one for the right price so ive driven an E46 for the past couple of years.

I have recently found the perfect car! apart from two things.

Firstly the good, its only done 28K miles, its a 325i cab, the bodywork is perfect, it has full dealer history, has been garaged all its life, its immaculate!

2 issues, firstly it is an auto (4 speed) but thats down to preference and I can live with it. The main problem is that it has sat for the last 2 years in a heated garage without being run. What problems can this cause? what do I need to look out for before I hand over the cash? Do any of you knowledgeable people know of anything I can do to test if there is anything wrong with the car?
Previous to this 2 year stint of sitting it was used little but often, clocking up around 2K miles per year and was serviced every year at the dealer.

Any help would be great!

[Steven]

Do maintence on the engine (timingbelt, water pump, thermostat, change most hoses etc) put octane booster in the fuel.

[slammin.e28]

Full service, adding to what Steven said, all fluids, change them. All filters, change them. Fuel lines, change them.

Also, you post about 28k mile vert with no pics? SHAME!

[Cabriolet]

Matt. you may find that with the car sitting that long, that the valve seats are shot. after you do the general maintenance that Steven just mentioned if the car smokes you'll need to do valve seals.
drain the oil and take off the valve cover and pour oil over everything before starting.
use only BMW coolant and distilled water. you may fine that many of the seals have dried out and leak so just be ready for that.

[EyExR]

Has it been started? I'm not sure if it really matters... but I would prime the oil pump before trying to turn it over if it's been sitting for two years.

And if it has been parked on it's tires in the same spot for that long, the tires probably have flat spots...

Gas is going to be bad too...

[Matty30]

Thanks for the help! sounds like its not a massive issue as long as im careful and look out for a couple of small issues.

Pics will follow in a couple of weeks once ive got her up, running, clean and shiny!

[TobyB]

I'd add to that, when you have the valve cover off, use a moly grease on the cam lobes.
It'll probably be ok, but since it's trivial to grease the cam, do it.

+1 on the timing belt and tensioner- there's a tiny chance things have rusted together.
Only a problem if something sticks- but if it does, it's a big problem.

And yes, I too would pull all the plugs, unhook the fuel pump, then crank until I had oil
out of the cam oiler tube. And I'd also change the fuel filter, unhook the high- pressure
hose, then run the fuel pump into a can until the gas ran clear.

Change the fluids, and start it up!

cool.

t