New Purchase. What General Maintenance should I do?

[Leon T. Trout]

I just bought a 1991 318i with 221k.  It didn't have any documented service history, but appears to have been generally well taken care of.  the belts and upper radiator hoses are new-ish and the engine starts, sounds and feels strong.

What general maintenance would you do on a car that you don't know the history of?  I'm going to change the oil, transmission fluid and coolant and deal with the mess under the intake for sure.  Should I replace the chain tensioner just to be safe?
Thanks

[DesktopDave]

Welcome to the 'club.  If your car is brilliant red it's the same one I have!  Rarest modern BMW, the M42 sedan.  Mine has 286K and still runs well.  It's up on jacks now as I change the front suspension.

I wouldn't change the tensioner.  I'd drop the lower oil pan and check for spare bits in there.  The M42 has a tendency to loosen the upper pan bolts.  You might want to think about the updated injectors if you go ahead with the hose delete.

As far as drive line, I'd check the guibo and center support bearing.  Budget for some suspension work too.  All those rubber bushings perish over the years.

[Leon T. Trout]

Thanks! Mine's Alpine White.  I'll check the oil pain when I change the oil and take a look at the suspension.  I am having a clunk from the passenger side rear when I go over bumps.

[DesktopDave]

Check your other post.  That's likely the rear upper shock bearing/bushing.  IIRC the 'vert "heavy duty" RSB is a normal upgrade.

Tightening might temporarily fix it, I've seen a few owners use blue locktite or double-nut the shock rod to keep it from backing out.

I once bought an old 325 that had an unholy clanging coming from the rear.  Turned out it was one of the parking brake shoes...the backing plate rusted out and it was clattering around loose in there.

[Ryann]

Pull your valve cover and check your timing gears!

[318lotis]

flush out power steering fluid with new fluid is easy and cheap and can save your rack.