Project Revvin' Low: 1987 BMW 325

[MRicci]

It's been a while and I have too many car pics on my phone so here's an update on Caroline.

I noticed an exhaust leak sound coming from....well, the exhaust. I did a visual inspection and the catalyzer to cat back junction was a bit wobbly and missing a bolt. The bands holding the muffler also looked a bit shitfucked so I dropped the whole thing from the manifold back and replaced all the small things that make the exhaust work like it's supposed to.


Here is the whole exhaust dropped. I had to saw through the rusty bolts in the middle.


Rusted out gasket that sat between the cat and the cat back


Exhaust goodies


All better! We shot it with some black sealer paint to prevent more rust from shredding the bands.

Here's a vid to top the previous no exhaust video.




After some struggles with diagnosing the engine problems, I decided I would go ahead and do the timing so I could eliminate it from the possible culprits list. When I removed everything and got to the belt it seemed to have a little too much slack. After replacing the water pump as recommended, I proceeded to put the new belt and tensioner on. This was actually much much easier than I had anticipated. After I had everything bolted and torqued to spec, I was a bit shocked as to how quickly the job was done with out any problems. Then I went to connect the radiator hoses when lo and behold, the water pump was missing a port. Fucking tits, why does pelican sell two different types of water pumps and not blatantly inform the customers they should check which one they should buy? I suppose this was my mistake. I then proceeded to jerry rig a junction so I could fill it with water and see if my timing job went as well as I assumed it did.


no hood!



Old pump


New stuffs


jerry riggin

So I got everything back together and I took her for a spin around the block. Everything appeared to be fine, the temp gauge started to creep to its normal level, when suddenly a huge geyser of water spewed from the front of the engine. (note the hood was still off at this point) I wish I had a picture of my face at that moment, might've looked like this hock:
I quickly stopped and killed the motor, walked to the front of the car and realized that I forgot to tighten the belt around the hose at the top of the thermostat, so as soon as the thermostat opened the water shot out like a cannon. Lulz were had with my dad.

The car seems to run better, not perfect, but definitely improved.

And last but not least, the mystery piece in the engine bay.
Does anybody know what the hell this part goes to?


The wire is bundled with the AFM cable but it extends a bit longer. It looks like a thermostat but I can't be sure.

[MRicci]

So I've come to terms with the car that it has a burnt valve and the head needs to be cleaned and re machined. Going back to JMU today in it so I was pretty much decided that I would stop putting money and time into it.



Fuck that. I have more fun working on this car than anything I've done in my life.

I found out head gasket kits are around 80 bucks + 20 for the bolts.

Moral of the story-Money is worthless, smoke weed everyday.

[Jake]

EtaBaby will nevar die!!

[Jake]

Ran the options list and found out this info:

Build Date: July 20, 1987

Options
* ANTI-BLOCKIER-SYSTEM (ABS)
* BMW LM RAD/BMW STYLING (alloy wheels)
* ZENTRALVERRIEGELUNG ELEKTRISCH (central locking)
* WINDOW LIFTS, ELECTRIC
* AIR CONDITIONING
* EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE DISPLAY