What maintenance should I get done for the first time?

[SC ic]

I bought the 1990 325ic seen below last week, and on Saturday I'm taking it in to South Bay Independent in Gardena for its first maintenance. I'll be getting:

Timing Belt
Water Pump
All other belts
Valve adjustment
Air conditioning R12-to-R134a conversion
Oil change
Check all fluids, refill or replace as necessary

My suspension feels bouncy, so they are going to check that out and tell me what needs replacing.

Even though I prefer synthetic, I'm planning on sticking with dino oil since the car is so old, and the prior owner used dino oil. Is that the right thing to do? Have any of you that switched to synthetic late in the game had problems with leaky seals or anything else?

The brakes pads supposedly were replaced not too long ago, and they feel good, so I'm not too concerned about them, but am going to have them inspected.

Is there anything else that I, almost as a rule, should get done? Mind you, the seller had no service records other than a clean smog report from a year ago.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Dave

[z50_Jumper]

Sounds like you got most all bases covered. Nice lookin car btw.

[backtrail69]

Spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter. Cap/rotor, check plug wires, radiator hoses, check CSB and guibo for wear.. thats the major bases including what you already are going to do.

Most likely you will need some new shocks/struts and rear shock mounts. I recommend bilstein HD shocks/struts if you are keeping it stock ride height and e46 m3 cabrio rear shock mounts.

[E30_fiend]

Everything seems to be in order there. Have them check the ball joints and tie rods as well as Al the wheel bearings.

You should have a mechanically sound car after that.

If you didn't plan on it, get your plugs, wires, cap and rotor changes while they're in there. Everything should be beautimous.

Check the diff and tranny fluid also.


E30_Fiend

[Mastrcruse]

Air conditioning R12-to-R134a conversion

Before you do this, check around to see if you have anyone that can supply you with R12. Once you convert...it doesn't work well at all! It'll last for about a month, then it will need recharged. Stick with R12 if you can.

[E30_fiend]

^^^^^^
What he said.

Jesus, backtrail beat me to it.

[SC ic]

Thanks for the tips. Forgot about spark plugs. How much do the rotor, cap and wires cost?

[z31maniac]

Check the diff and tranny fluid also.


E30_Fiend

Don't check it, just go ahead and change it.

[Jean]

To the OP, looks like a good start. Like others mentioned you might need shocks, and maybe control arm bushings, rear shock mounts, along with tie-rods, engine/tranny mounts, guibo. All these are wear items over time.

You can get an idea on pricing for some parts using autohausaz.com or bmaparts.com sites, will get you in the ball-park so to speak.

Before you do this, check around to see if you have anyone that can supply you with R12. Once you convert...it doesn't work well at all! It'll last for about a month, then it will need recharged. Stick with R12 if you can.

Seems odd, unless the coversion wasn't done correctly with all the right components... and no leaks..

[backtrail69]

The problem is our whole A/C system wasn't optimized to R134 so it never works as well as R12 will. I am happy I still have my r12 system.

[SynSyx]

OT but i like the wheels and the hard top is nice and rare - hold on to it

[Ray McCooney]

Spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter. Cap/rotor, check plug wires, radiator hoses, check CSB and guibo for wear.. thats the major bases including what you already are going to do.

Most likely you will need some new shocks/struts and rear shock mounts. I recommend bilstein HD shocks/struts if you are keeping it stock ride height and e46 m3 cabrio rear shock mounts.

+1 to the above, pretty much covers most of which I had started to mentally compile.

Alternatively, you may look into Turner Motorsport's lifetime guarantee, stamped rear shock mounts.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=JRDRP

You may also want to have them check your headlight fluid levels.

Cheers.

[SynSyx]

You may also want to have them check your headlight fluid levels.

lol i didnt know our headlights were supposed to have fluid in them..

[Ray McCooney]

lol i didnt know our headlights were supposed to have fluid in them..

:giggle:

[StereoInstaller1]

Dave, welcome to R3V. Nice looking car there, man, hard top is cool.

Now I have a question: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!?!?!

Are you really gonna take you car to a shop and cough up like $2500 to do simple stuff like fluid flushes and timing belt/water pump? Why the hell wouldn't you do that yourself, do you just not ever work on cars?

So, best of luck to ya, but expect some minor flaming here.

Luke