How crazy am I? Long drive with ancient Bimmers

[Denton]

Hey guys,

I DD an E34 but have both an E28 528e and an E30 325e that just sit at my Grandparent's place in Montana. I'm going out there Spring Break and tentatively planning to drive the most capable one out to San Francisco, CA. 1000 miles, one way. That's a lot to ask of both cars.

I know the E30 got a comprehensive overhaul in 2004 (including timing belt) at 93k miles. It probably has 94k on it now. It never gets driven, just sits outside. Last time it was driven was probably October 2006, and it will be March 2007 when I get out there.

What do I do? Change the oil, run injector cleaner, take it for a long drive? Check for fan operation? No idea guys...I need to get a hold of those 2004 receipts.

Any advice would be helpful. And yes, I know I'm nuts to want to take a 20-year old car for a 2,000 mile trip. I may not do it, just depends on the mechanical shape of these cars.

EDIT: I'd be going to CA and back to MT, 2200ish miles total.

[bimmer2288]

Take a cell phone. #1 emergency supply.

I'm driving to sunny SoCal this summer in my e30 and I expect that I won't have any issues with it. If you don't know the condition of the cars then I would be nervous about doing a long road trip. Ignititon and stuff like that is easy to fix if it goes out, and chances are good it won't. What needs to be checked out is fuel delivery including pump and filters, radiator hoses, gaskets, brakes, tires, and TIMING BELT! You really want to check that out before you take it out on the open road. Doing 70+ mph and the belt snaps... your valves would look like legos in a blender.

[mrsleeve]

if every thing is up to snuff you should be fine.
BTW what part of MT are you going to, I love it out there.

[Rennsport]

are you kidding? lol last summer my dad and i took his 86 e28 535i with 160k from seattle area to laguna and back home, and the summer before that we took my first e30 which was a 84 325e with well over 330k on teh same trip.

the only problem we had was in the e28, top radiator hose sprung a small leak on the way back, which we fixed with electrical tape.

[Denton]

Checking the hoses is a great idea.

The timing belt was changed 2.5 years ago, or 1k miles ago. I'm assuming all of the hoses were as well, but not sure if they deteriorate due to lack of use.

I'm in Livingston, MT, about an hour SW of Bozeman. Between Billings and Missoula.

[Denton]

are you kidding? lol last summer my dad and i took his 86 e28 535i with 160k from seattle area to laguna and back home, and the summer before that we took my first e30 which was a 84 325e with well over 330k on teh same trip.

the only problem we had was in the e28, top radiator hose sprung a small leak on the way back, which we fixed with electrical tape.

Electrical tape, duct tape, zip ties, and bailing wire seem like great things to bring on a trip like this.

Thanks for the story.

[euroshark]

Age and mileage doesn't really have the same effect on a BMW as it would on an old Honda... I wouldn't worry!

[Denton]

Hehe.

Funny thing is that I don't have a backup plan.

Now I'm curious as to how much this is going to cost!

[mrsleeve]

I have been through there. Maybe I will stop an see the sights on the next trip. The in laws live in white fish an I have been out there twice in the last 6 months.

[Denton]

I have been through there. Maybe I will stop an see the sights on the next trip. The in laws live in white fish an I have been out there twice in the last 6 months.

It's really nice. We're about 30 miles to the Yellowstone park entrance, and less than a mile to the Yellowstone River. Great fishing.

[mrsleeve]

It's really nice. We're about 30 miles to the Yellowstone park entrance, and less than a mile to the Yellowstone River. Great fishing.

Cool the in laws are about 20 miles to glaicer and 3 to big mountian. We are trying to figure out how to move out there and be able survive.

[Denton]

Cool the in laws are about 20 miles to glaicer and 3 to big mountian. We are trying to figure out how to move out there and be able survive.

Heh, don't ask me. I'm only out there in the summer. I don't think I could stand it.

I'm a city-slicker though. :roll:

[Fanzotti]

Dude you should be fine. I leave my E30 for extended periods of time often. It always starts up with no problem. Just do your maintenance and drive around tana for a couple days before to see if there's any problems, if you make it through the tana test period you should be fine. Just bring the usual fix it supplies with you.

[ptownTSI]

i would have no problem hopping in my friends 330k mile 528e and driving to new york from california. all about maintenance.

[Ray Smoodiver]

Hey guys,

I DD an E34 but have both an E28 528e and an E30 325e that just sit at my Grandparent's place in Montana. I'm going out there Spring Break and tentatively planning to drive the most capable one out to San Francisco, CA. 1000 miles, one way. That's a lot to ask of both cars.

I know the E30 got a comprehensive overhaul in 2004 (including timing belt) at 93k miles. It probably has 94k on it now. It never gets driven, just sits outside. Last time it was driven was probably October 2006, and it will be March 2007 when I get out there.

What do I do? Change the oil, run injector cleaner, take it for a long drive? Check for fan operation? No idea guys...I need to get a hold of those 2004 receipts.

Any advice would be helpful. And yes, I know I'm nuts to want to take a 20-year old car for a 2,000 mile trip. I may not do it, just depends on the mechanical shape of these cars.

EDIT: I'd be going to CA and back to MT, 2200ish miles total.

Definitely change your name to walter