Hey all,
I picked this up from a friend a while back with the intention of rebuilding a spare motor and swapping it in to make fun weekend toy. I have struggled to find time to actually work on it, and I am curious, if I can break even on it. I will try to find a project car when my kids are older and I can bring them into the garage with me. Right now a 3 and a half year old is not helpful in the garage....
So,,
Its a 1989 Dolphin gray 4dr 325i, 5spd manual, and has a 4.10 LSD in the back. 264,000 miles. there are a few dings around the body, and little bit bigger one on the hood above a headlight. Other than that, the body is rust free, no bubbles around any wheel arches or any of the other problem spots.. It has an M tech steering wheel and shift knob, all black interior (comfort seats) in great shape. It's lowered an inch, and currently on Tokicko HE2756 shocks, stock sway bars.) There is a vacuum leak I have yet to track down that gives it a rough idle, and it needs an alignment soon too. It is missing fog-lights up front, but the wiring is intact. All the interior windows open and close, the sunroof doesn't leak, and there are no rips in the seats. The interior is in excellent shape.
My friend took pretty good care of it, and I have kept all the receipts as well. It has had the following maintenance:
4/21/2006 @ 185496miles; Intermediate Shaft Seal; Crankshaft main seal; oil pan gasket; Timing belt; tensioner; waterpump; thermostat; Cam Guide O-ring; Alternator belt; V-belt; coolant flush; brakefluid flush;
receipt: $748.52 Woodinville Sports Cars
4/28/2006 @ 185637miles Front Control arms; control arm bushings, tierod end;FR & RR shocks and struts, 1' lowering springs and shocks (Tokico HE2756 and matched springs); Rear shock mounts; alignments
Reciept $1446.64 Woodinville Sports Cars
12/19/2007 @ 204967miles valve cover gasket; air-filter;spark plugs; diff ring seal; fuel filter; Rear diff fluid change (the old 3.73 open diff) ; air intake boot;
Receipt $887.9 Eastside Bavarian
3/7/2008 @ 208255 miles: Battery; Vent tubes; Valve Cover; valve cover gasket;
Receipt: $443.17 Eastside Bavarian
7/28/2014 @ 224071 miles: Clutch kit; release arm spring; alternator Receipt: $921.63 Aurora Clutch and More
?/?/2014 ~250000 Tires; distributor cap; spark plugs; wires;rebuilt fuel injectors
Missing receipt.
7/14/2014 V-belt, alternator belt, Valve cover gasket (not yet installed), oil filler cap, Coolant level sensor
Receipt: $48.78 Rock Auto
8/26/2014 Driveshaft Flex joint, Drive shaft center bearing support (CBSnot yet installed) , turn signal bulb, instrument panel bulb (to be installed)
Receipt: $73.6 Rock Auto
8/26/2014 Fuel filter (Mahle) fuel hose (pre/post filter, not yet installed), Door handle and trim, Bentley Manual
Recepit : $148.95 Pelican
8/24/2014 Differential cover gasket, Transmission mount
Receipt: $25.75 Pelican (this diff gasket went on the 4.10 LSD I swapped in, along with fresh fluid, of course)
IN addition, I have a complete spare motor, and transmission from a car with less miles. and the old 3.73 diff laying in my garage. It has an ECU with a Dinan chip in it, and green top injectors. THe wiring harness has one pigtail missing, that for the life of me, can't remember what he told me it was to.. The wires are well marked per BMW wiring diagram numbers..
For the spare motor engine and transmission, everything is from a 1990 325is. The motor has about 235K. . Motor ran but was beginning to burn oil. Rings were showing their age. Oil pressure was fine so the bearings are good (for their age). Motor has always had Mobil 1 15w-15 @ 5K intervals with filter. Relevant recent history: Head gasket in '08 ~27K ago. Shop mistakenly replaced the valves, seals, and guides w/ new (didn't need it. They picked up the wrong head. Timing belt, cap, and rotor new at the same time. Clutch, PP, and T/O bearing done in '09 about 20K ago. Rear main seal, tranny seals done at the same time. Water pump replaced about 18K ago, as were the intake manifold gaskets, rebuilt later-style injectors, and oil cooler lines. The motor is usable as-is if you didn't mind adding oil every 1k - 2k. At minimum I'd probably run a Flex hone through the cylinders and replace the rings. And main and rod bearings. The engine would be good for at least another 200K miles. The 5 speed Getrag has also had yearly oil changes, either Amsoil or Mobil 1. It worked great--no noise except a little from the input shaft bearing (a simple easy replacement). Shifts are still smooth and precise so no synchro issues. Even though the input and shift rod sewals have only 20k i'd probably do them again since the trans is not installed. The 4.10 LSD was installed in 2001 in the donor car. It probably has 60 -65k on it. It also had yearly lube changes (Amsoil or Mobil 1 with BG or GM LSD additive). It also was smooth and quiet.
I'd consider including a harbor freight engine stand and a not harbor freight engine lift ( can't remember the brand, but every since I watched an engine from a 3000GT VR4 fall onto the fender of the car when hydraulic fluid went bursting out of the ram of a cheap harbour frieght unit, I vowed to never use one..)) for just a little bit more.
I'd love to hear what you all think this may be worth, I have no idea where to start. I would prefer, to cash out all at once and sell everything as a package..
I have more pictures at home I can share if you would like to see more..
Thanks,
I picked this up from a friend a while back with the intention of rebuilding a spare motor and swapping it in to make fun weekend toy. I have struggled to find time to actually work on it, and I am curious, if I can break even on it. I will try to find a project car when my kids are older and I can bring them into the garage with me. Right now a 3 and a half year old is not helpful in the garage....
So,,
Its a 1989 Dolphin gray 4dr 325i, 5spd manual, and has a 4.10 LSD in the back. 264,000 miles. there are a few dings around the body, and little bit bigger one on the hood above a headlight. Other than that, the body is rust free, no bubbles around any wheel arches or any of the other problem spots.. It has an M tech steering wheel and shift knob, all black interior (comfort seats) in great shape. It's lowered an inch, and currently on Tokicko HE2756 shocks, stock sway bars.) There is a vacuum leak I have yet to track down that gives it a rough idle, and it needs an alignment soon too. It is missing fog-lights up front, but the wiring is intact. All the interior windows open and close, the sunroof doesn't leak, and there are no rips in the seats. The interior is in excellent shape.
My friend took pretty good care of it, and I have kept all the receipts as well. It has had the following maintenance:
4/21/2006 @ 185496miles; Intermediate Shaft Seal; Crankshaft main seal; oil pan gasket; Timing belt; tensioner; waterpump; thermostat; Cam Guide O-ring; Alternator belt; V-belt; coolant flush; brakefluid flush;
receipt: $748.52 Woodinville Sports Cars
4/28/2006 @ 185637miles Front Control arms; control arm bushings, tierod end;FR & RR shocks and struts, 1' lowering springs and shocks (Tokico HE2756 and matched springs); Rear shock mounts; alignments
Reciept $1446.64 Woodinville Sports Cars
12/19/2007 @ 204967miles valve cover gasket; air-filter;spark plugs; diff ring seal; fuel filter; Rear diff fluid change (the old 3.73 open diff) ; air intake boot;
Receipt $887.9 Eastside Bavarian
3/7/2008 @ 208255 miles: Battery; Vent tubes; Valve Cover; valve cover gasket;
Receipt: $443.17 Eastside Bavarian
7/28/2014 @ 224071 miles: Clutch kit; release arm spring; alternator Receipt: $921.63 Aurora Clutch and More
?/?/2014 ~250000 Tires; distributor cap; spark plugs; wires;rebuilt fuel injectors
Missing receipt.
7/14/2014 V-belt, alternator belt, Valve cover gasket (not yet installed), oil filler cap, Coolant level sensor
Receipt: $48.78 Rock Auto
8/26/2014 Driveshaft Flex joint, Drive shaft center bearing support (CBSnot yet installed) , turn signal bulb, instrument panel bulb (to be installed)
Receipt: $73.6 Rock Auto
8/26/2014 Fuel filter (Mahle) fuel hose (pre/post filter, not yet installed), Door handle and trim, Bentley Manual
Recepit : $148.95 Pelican
8/24/2014 Differential cover gasket, Transmission mount
Receipt: $25.75 Pelican (this diff gasket went on the 4.10 LSD I swapped in, along with fresh fluid, of course)
IN addition, I have a complete spare motor, and transmission from a car with less miles. and the old 3.73 diff laying in my garage. It has an ECU with a Dinan chip in it, and green top injectors. THe wiring harness has one pigtail missing, that for the life of me, can't remember what he told me it was to.. The wires are well marked per BMW wiring diagram numbers..
For the spare motor engine and transmission, everything is from a 1990 325is. The motor has about 235K. . Motor ran but was beginning to burn oil. Rings were showing their age. Oil pressure was fine so the bearings are good (for their age). Motor has always had Mobil 1 15w-15 @ 5K intervals with filter. Relevant recent history: Head gasket in '08 ~27K ago. Shop mistakenly replaced the valves, seals, and guides w/ new (didn't need it. They picked up the wrong head. Timing belt, cap, and rotor new at the same time. Clutch, PP, and T/O bearing done in '09 about 20K ago. Rear main seal, tranny seals done at the same time. Water pump replaced about 18K ago, as were the intake manifold gaskets, rebuilt later-style injectors, and oil cooler lines. The motor is usable as-is if you didn't mind adding oil every 1k - 2k. At minimum I'd probably run a Flex hone through the cylinders and replace the rings. And main and rod bearings. The engine would be good for at least another 200K miles. The 5 speed Getrag has also had yearly oil changes, either Amsoil or Mobil 1. It worked great--no noise except a little from the input shaft bearing (a simple easy replacement). Shifts are still smooth and precise so no synchro issues. Even though the input and shift rod sewals have only 20k i'd probably do them again since the trans is not installed. The 4.10 LSD was installed in 2001 in the donor car. It probably has 60 -65k on it. It also had yearly lube changes (Amsoil or Mobil 1 with BG or GM LSD additive). It also was smooth and quiet.
I'd consider including a harbor freight engine stand and a not harbor freight engine lift ( can't remember the brand, but every since I watched an engine from a 3000GT VR4 fall onto the fender of the car when hydraulic fluid went bursting out of the ram of a cheap harbour frieght unit, I vowed to never use one..)) for just a little bit more.
I'd love to hear what you all think this may be worth, I have no idea where to start. I would prefer, to cash out all at once and sell everything as a package..
I have more pictures at home I can share if you would like to see more..
Thanks,
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