Re: What To Fix First (archive)

1. Brakes are MOST imporant. Check rotors for lips, check pads for sufficient material both inside and outside, check rotors for warping (hit brakes at different speeds and different temperatures), check fluid, see if deteriorated master cylinder seal is seen as blackish brake fluid in the reservoir, bleed the system and clutch for sure, check all hard lines for rust and possible rupture and that they are well attached to the body so they don't fatigue, check all soft lines for cracking and stiffness, check calipers for sticking by watching for excess dust on one side, etc., etc.

2. Handling is the next most important. Check all ball joints via the c-clamp crush test, tie-rod ends, steering box for leaks, SLS for leaks, etc., etc.

3. Engine is next. Coolant flush. Watch to see what comes out and how much crud is jammed at the bottom of the radiator and use flushing agent of required intensity to clean. Run some oil for a few hundred miles and dump once or twice to get that part all cleaned out. Check for intake leaks via unsteady idle and fix those. Check all hoses - vacuum, fuel and coolant. Check the waterpump via axial play of fan.

4. Driveline. Put new fluid in tranny and diff at once. Top off SLS. Do a general check of driveshaft lash and of the center bearing and flex-disk via visual and twisting methods. Check all the above for leaking seals.

That should take care of the immediate things. I look forward to your progress reports! And pictures.

Neil Deshpande
http://www.neilwerke.com

P.S. I liked how you traced the history. I hope you'll write it up for the Registry.

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Upon receipt of this new/used M5 what does the group suggest I look at orf fix first.

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