any suggestions on whats wrong?

[jrobie79]

so i found this dirt cheap 318is, like really cheap and the guy says it doesnt run but for how cheap it is and the pictures i saw, its definately worth picking it up but he says this in the email i sent to him:

im not totally positive but i think theres a problem with the valves its been sitting for about 6 months if you were to change the oil it would run but not drive when i stopped driving it i didn't have money to fix it i had just been layed off but when i would drive it it would be going along fine but the it would almost lose the power like there would be no gas getting to the motor then it would pop back up and go on its way

any clues as to whats wrong or anything familiar to anyone? thanks

[RED IS 91]

The guy obviously knows nothing !!!!!!!!!!!!:confused:
Could be serious or could be simple, you won't know until you start to diagnose it. best thing to do is see if you can turn the motor over by hand with the plugs out .If it turns over and doesn't bind up then at least it is not completely junk. Then do a compression test.
You could always part it out .
good luck

[Jimmy Lewis]

If it's cheap enough then it is worth buying. These motors can be fickle if you don't maintain them, it very well could be something simple, because the guy doesn't seem to know much. I wouldn't expect, however, to buy it thinking it will be an easy fix, you never know. If the motor is totally f'ed, then you can always rebuild, swap in a junkyard motor, or swap a 24v into it. It seems like even the most crappy e30s still go for over $1000 in my area, so if I could find one in decent shape with a burnt valve or something for like $500 I would be all over it.

[KenC]

sounds like a fuel filter or pump.  If it's less than a grand, buy it for sure no matter what the prob is.

[jrobie79]

he said it will turn over....and i currently own a 318i, but my m42 has 260K on it, so i could always swap parts to see. ie fuel pump and all that stuff....even if it is the valves, i got a working m42 sitting right next to it. so we'll see, im going to pick it up sunday

[jrobie79]

sounds like a fuel filter or pump.  If it's less than a grand, buy it for sure no matter what the prob is.

its 300 dollars....only thing cosmetic is missing front bumper, but he has a replacement

[RED IS 91]

You can't go wrong for 300 bucks!!!
get it

[EN318isPDX]

Hell ya! When i got my M42.. for basically free. it needed an all new fuel system and vacuum. Since i replaced all that it went from not able to beat a Geo Metro to taking on newer Hondas and Sentra's. I even beat a 1992 190e (E30's mortal enemy)

[jrobie79]

yeah i just replaced the fuel pump in my current m42 about 5,000 miles ago, so i might swap that in there, also replaced both CPS's, so i could just swap those out and in to the new to get it to run, how would i know if there was any valve damage? aside from ripping it apart completely, i plan on taking the valve cover off to check the timing sprockets because i bought all new parts to replace it on my current car, but how would i detect valves being damaged? thanks

[batsbats]

for 300$, you can't go wrong.  you could part the car for more than that if it has the original parts + options.

[jrobie79]

yeah i really dont wanna part it cause my e30 is rusting beyong anything i want to repair, and i really want the 2 dr, with the m42 because im familar with it having worked on it for the past 2 years ive owned my other one. i guess worst case scenario i could put my engine into this body, but i really dont wannt do that either. anyways thanks for the tips tho, keep em coming anything at this point is a help.