Hey guys I need some advice here. I found a 1987 535is that I was going to buy as my winter car. I need to know if this is a easy fix, worth the money and hassle. The car has been sitting for about 2.5 years and when I tried to start it, it just sputters and wont stay running, my guess is that the old fuel has gummed up the system, it smells like varnish. How hard is this to fix and get running okay? It wont stay running so I cant drive it. Its a 5spd, 109k miles, black with tan leather, body has a little rust but not bad. Almost all of the main components have been replaced within the last 10 years and 10,000. New cam, head work, head gasket, water pump, fuel pump, radiator, exhaust, front suspension bushings, all hoses and belts, timing belt, brakes, clutch assembly and shifter parts. Same owner for 14 years and has BBS side skirts and rear apron. Needs tires of course and the fuel problem fixed. He said he'd take $2,000 as is. Any help on fixing/cost would be great. He wants to get rid of it by Christmas so I need feedback asap. Thanks.

Ok here ya go:
The fuel could have water in it from condensation or the fuel system could be seriously gummed up. Old gas smells awful and doesn't combust well so:
-Drain the old gas or if less than 1/2 a tank, top it off with new gas and fuel stabilizer. You can try pulling the fuel line from the fuel rail, directing the fuel line into a container and then running the fuel pump until about a quart of fuel has run out. While the fuel is pumping out, check to see if it's got good pressure, shooting out and not just dripping or slowly running out.
-You will have to replace fuel filter
-The injectors may be dirty. Pull and clean them
-The throttle body could be gummed up.
-You may have to replace the fuel pump if the fuel pressue is low.

This all from just sitting for over 2 years. Also, it looks like all the cooling system components were replaced. Ask the seller if this was preventive maintenance or if the car overheated. If it overheated then you may want to steer clear of this deal. You could be looking at a head gasket repair sooner than later especially since it sat for a while. This repair is over $1000 if you don't DIY.

If you do buy it:
- Immediately change the oil
- Immediately flush the cooling system
- DO NOT run the car hard or rev above 4000 rpm for at least 500 miles. Seals have a tendency to dry up when a car hasn't been run for that long and will take a while before they saturate again, if at all. This is especially important for the head gasket! Give the seals a chance to saturate and seal back up before you stress them or you could be replacing a lot of seals.
- Immediately flush the brake system - Brake fluid is hydroscopic and pulls moisture out of the air. It's been sitting a long time and may have absorbed a lot of water into the brake system.
- Check the battery with a hydrometer to make sure it's charging
- Change tranny fluid if the trans is an automatic
- Grease or lube any part that moves in the suspension that requires it.
- I would change out the Diff fluid and manual tranny grease if it's a stick shift.
- If it has a hydraulic clutch, I'd drain and refill it.
- Check power steering fluid

That's all I got for now. Letting a car sit is probabally the worst thing you can do to it so you need to treat it with kid gloves until it gets going again.

Good Luck!

Thanks, thats great information. I appreciate it. When it was running it seemed to be blowing out either fuel (raw?) or oil? Does that sound right with this fuel problem?

I could try these things myself and not cost a lot of cash. Luckly it only has about a 1/4 tank of fuel. And man, it stinks. Maybe Ill make him a lower offer and see what happens, he wants to sell it bad. He lost his storage and its been sitting outside. He did have the head gasket replaced when he did the cylider head work, all within 10,000 miles/10 years. He only put 60,000 miles on the car in the last 14 years,

You are prob looking at condensation and soot coming out of the exhaust. If it's literally blowing oil out of the exhaust, back away. The car needs a new engine or an overhaul. If it smells strong of gasoline it could mean that engine is not igniting the fuel it's getting and could be a dead cylinder from a bad spark plug or bad plug wire.

If the exhaust is:
Grayish or black and acrid: Oil in the exhaust, needs major work
Whitish with lots of steam, smells sweet: Coolant in the exhaust, needs major work (head gasket)
Smells of gasoline: Dead or weak ignition in one or more cylinders
Smells of Sulfur, rotten eggs: Bad catalytic converter
Dampness and water coming from tailpipe with some soot: Simple condensation and carbon buildup, normal

Ask him why he parked it and if it ran strong before he parked it? If you are serious about the car and aren't sure what to look for, I would bring a mechanic over to look at it before I pay this guy a dime. You could be looking at some very simple DIY repairs, or some very costly dealer or BMW certified mechanic only repairs.

Offer him $1500, if he doesnt accept, give him your phone #.
with 109k, you can ebay it for more than that (worst case).
I personally hate to see a 535is being used for a winter car, there arent that many left. :sad:

Hey guys, from the scenerios you've given, it seems like: Dampness and water coming from tailpipe with some soot: Simple condensation and carbon buildup, normal. I put my hand down by the exhaust and it didnt smell like fuel or pure oil, but carbon.

Winters here arent all that bad, the car is in Indianapolis and I am in Fort Wayne so I would have to take a day to try and get this going. The 5 is definetly a car that I wouldnt let go to hell and with a 5-spd to boot. It has a lot of potential. Only one realy bad rust spot in front of the rear wheel arch near the rocker and I would like to get cut out, welded up and at least primered. Driver seat is trashed, dash is cracked up and the gauges are moody, but it seems mechanicly, most major parts have been replaced.

Ill call him this weekend, and ask him if Ill take $1500. Ill let you, thanks guys.