Re: sitting car (archive)

I'm looking at a '76 530i in my area. The car has been in storage for the past 8 years, but the engine was rebuilt 30k miles before its storage. I was wondering what would generally need to be done to get a car that had sat for that long to survive at least the 40 mile trip home. I realize all cars and situations are different, but, in general, what should I look to do before I take it on the road? Thanks.

While I agree the others that posted below gave sound advice.....

I for one would drain the tank, fill with new gas. Charge the battery, pull the fuel line in the engine compartment and rig the AFM to run the pump till new gas comes out. You many still have clogged/fouled injectors once it starts though....

Then try to turn the engine over by hand. If it rotates fine (good). Drain the oil, pull the valve cover and fill w/new oil.

Then pull the ignition coil wires/plugs (you can add a little oil to the engine cylinders if you want) and turn the engine over on the starter to build oil pressure. Once that hits, stop the car, and then try to start it.

Eight years is quite a while to let a car sit. But not so long you may have tons of problems.

Once it starts --check brakes/clutch. Don't be surprised if the rotors may be siezed to the pads and the clutch disc to the flywheel. Liberal use of force could be needed on the brakes. The clutch will free itself, in worse case senerio by driving up a very steep hill with the clutch disengaged!

I've purchased cars that has sat for 30 years (and had to rebuild fuel/igntion and the engine head (stuck valves) ---then the car started and ran fine).

I've also purchased many cars sitting for a couple to 10+ years. Usally they just needed a fresh battery, new gas and they fired up.

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