M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

FAQ / REFERENCE => Member Profiles => Topic started by: Poooobaa on January 25, 2008, 08:49:20 PM

Title: Poooobaa
Post by: Poooobaa on January 25, 2008, 08:49:20 PM

Hi - new member and also new car. Just bought it today. 91 318is Black/black. Two previous owners - California and Colorado so no rust or rot. Actually it is in fine shape and all original. I got all the books and docs and keys and maint. records. 134k miles. $4,000 in work in the last year, wow. Now the good part, I bought it for $1,000.
  Sooo... I need to tow or somehow move the car about 50 miles because the car will not start. Thus the cheap price. The PO had a valve job done last summer and has driven it about 2k miles since then.  Parked it in Nov 07 in a garage and now won't start. As it is cranked it tries to start then doesn't. It kind of half coughs at this point. I think the timing is off one cog. PO said the guy who did the valve job told him it should smooth out after valves seat themselves, ha. Pictures will be coming soon. I have heard of these things but never involved in a deal like this! I am sure I will have questions so thanks in advance. Can one cog be done without removing everything?

Title: Poooobaa
Post by: John W on January 25, 2008, 10:42:23 PM

Has anybody tyried to jump it? If it hasn't been started since November it  probably needs a new battery.

Title: Poooobaa
Post by: Poooobaa on January 25, 2008, 10:54:52 PM

Yea - Fully charged.

Title: Poooobaa
Post by: hoevesruperd on January 26, 2008, 10:24:18 AM

you could subscribe to AAA, wait a day then get a free towing! at least thats how we do it with CAA in canada. it'll be easier to work on the car at home

welcome to club!

Title: Poooobaa
Post by: gearheadE30 on January 29, 2008, 07:42:53 PM

Make sure the gas isn't really degraded, that could do it. Good luck with getting it home, though.

Title: Home at last
Post by: Poooobaa on February 01, 2008, 03:06:40 PM

Got it towed. Checked it out and lo and behold - The plug wires were crossed. This started it but bad running S.O.B.
So off with the valve cover and wala - the intake cam is not square at the back of the cam when at TDC. Loosened the sprocket and rotated the cam about 10 degrees, flat edged it, tightened it all up. Now she sounds good. Even quieter then I remember the M42 being. Will take some pics after a good clean up. Thanks for the help.