Uh - oh: BMW may be on last legs - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 06-05-2009, 07:16 PM

Do you think? Just passed 295 K. Still runs good but the front end is starting to wander a bit under the high winds on the bridges around here. I'm thinking that and my shimmy on hard braking both might just be due to loose struts.

I had a Dodge Omni for a while as a beater and I replaced the struts at about 165 K and it got rid of a vibration problem. Lot going on with the struts.

I found a price on-line of $505 apiece. Uh - oh.

DieselAddict · #2 06-05-2009, 07:40 PM

For a while I thought BMW the company was going down like GM and Chrysler.

295K miles is a lot but you can keep just about any car going forever if you throw enough parts at it. It could be time to do some sort of a "shake down" test and see what all is loose down there.

LUVMBDiesels · #3 06-05-2009, 07:57 PM

Check out ************

I would look at the center link and tie rod ends before going after the struts.
My 528e needed a center link and end and it made the steering TIGHT!

Jim B. · #4 06-05-2009, 08:46 PM

What about the pick 'n' pull option? I think there are some big yards in San Jose and Hayward, there is one up in Windsor (Sonoma County) too. If you are ok with the idea of used suspension parts (generally I am not, personally)

Did you try for quotes from ******** AZ, European Parts Specialists (Randy Steele in Santa Barbara), GermanStar and others on the net? I have had good luck getting Mercedes parts from them; EPS can source BMW parts, I know that.

Your sedan is a really nice looking one, very good cosmetics, worth saving, I know that, I have seen it several times in the Bay Area, as you know.

The shimmy under hard braking may be nothing more than rotors that need replacing or resurfacing; a $75 front end alignment may be all that is needed to fix the wandering; tie rods, struts, drag links and the like are the NEXT thing to look at, don't you think, if the alignment is bad?

Any unusual wear, cupping or things like that on the tires?

pawoSD · #5 06-05-2009, 09:09 PM

Is the motor still original on the BMW? I knew a kid in high school that had a 1985ish 3series BMW with like 380k on the 4cylinder gasser motor.....+ manual trans....it still drove fairly well....sounded like a lawn mower though.

PaulC · #6 06-05-2009, 09:17 PM

At 295k, anything can be suspect. Don't throw money at it unless you are certain you know what is wrong. Don't overlook the possibility of multiple issues.

JonL · #7 06-05-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

At 295k, anything can be suspect. Don't throw money at it unless you are certain you know what is wrong. Don't overlook the possibility of multiple issues.

Agreed, and you should be able to find the loose/worn parts with normal inspection methods. Unload the ball joints properly and check for play. Feel all the tie rod ends. BMW's wear out bushings pretty fast, I just replaced the control arms and bushings in a friend's 2005 325ci. Easy job, not too much money for parts. The arms come with two ball joints each for their wacky multi-link suspension.

cmac2012 · #8 06-05-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

Check out ************

I would look at the center link and tie rod ends before going after the struts.
My 528e needed a center link and end and it made the steering TIGHT!

Yeah, it occurred to me after I posted that doing the parts replacing shade tree mechanic thing would not be prudent in this case, but then, it rarely is prudent.

Maybe I should bite the bullet and take it to a good front end guy and get his opinion.

cmac2012 · #9 06-05-2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

What about the pick 'n' pull option? I think there are some big yards in San Jose and Hayward, there is one up in Windsor (Sonoma County) too. If you are ok with the idea of used suspension parts (generally I am not, personally)

Did you try for quotes from ******** AZ, European Parts Specialists (Randy Steele in Santa Barbara), GermanStar and others on the net? I have had good luck getting Mercedes parts from them; EPS can source BMW parts, I know that.

Your sedan is a really nice looking one, very good cosmetics, worth saving, I know that, I have seen it several times in the Bay Area, as you know.

The shimmy under hard braking may be nothing more than rotors that need replacing or resurfacing; a $75 front end alignment may be all that is needed to fix the wandering; tie rods, struts, drag links and the like are the NEXT thing to look at, don't you think, if the alignment is bad?

Any unusual wear, cupping or things like that on the tires?

I like this little car all in all, and it's a kick to feel a car with that kind of mileage and the heads never pulled pick and go like it does. Still a German hot rod.

The rotors are new, well, about 15 K miles maybe, and I got a dial indicator a while back and checked them for run out. Pretty good. One side less than a thousandth, the other side maybe 1.5 thousandths. No unusual wear on the tires.

The inner tie rod ends are new, well, maybe 20 30K by now. It was making a funny creaking sound at some points on steering and one of my go to guys recommended I swap those out and that was it. The control arms are also new within the last year.

cmac2012 · #10 06-05-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

For a while I thought BMW the company was going down like GM and Chrysler.

How imprudent of me to phrase it that way.

cmac2012 · #11 06-05-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Is the motor still original on the BMW? I knew a kid in high school that had a 1985ish 3series BMW with like 380k on the 4cylinder gasser motor.....+ manual trans....it still drove fairly well....sounded like a lawn mower though.

I saw one at a boneyard once with over 500 on the odo. Don't know if I'll make it that far.

This thing is still amazingly tight. It's been fed Castrol synthetic 5w-50 its whole life. Not sure how much that has had to do with it.

And then the guy I bought it from was a full on Bimmer geek. Took it to a good garage every 6 months religiously. He gave me his receipts and in the last 3 years alone he spent about $7K on it. And I bought it for $3400 with 214 K, needing a timing belt, driveshaft, and clutch. I knew about the belt - found out about the other two later.

cmac2012 · #12 06-06-2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

At 295k, anything can be suspect. Don't throw money at it unless you are certain you know what is wrong. Don't overlook the possibility of multiple issues.

At some point, I have to wonder if throwing money at it even knowing what I'm doing is the smart way to go. I mean, where is the point of diminishing returns? What if the tranny goes south? Dropping a couple grand in it at this point might not be the best course.

mytmousemalibu · #13 06-06-2009, 01:09 AM

Im a Certified BMW tech

The E30 bimmers are great cars, lil maintnance goes a long way! The M20 engine is great, one of the last truly great old engines. I'd be willing to bet it still has crosshatch pattern in the cylinders

If your getting a shimmy, and your rotors are good next usual suspect is tires/bent wheel or control arm bushings.

Is the shimmy/vibe just while driving? under braking? both? does it cease rapidly once the car slows a ways?

To check your front struts, need to jounce the suspension per corner, it should go down and come up and stop. It shouldnt keep cycling up/down. Should be dry, no oilyness. If they are bad, you can replace the strut cartrage inside, not the whole thing! Not too pricy. Need to check the whole susp for loose parts, use a pry bar to load/shift the joints around. The control arm bushings should not be cracked/torn/or soft when flexed.
If you have a bad ball joint, all of them are replaceable singley, need to be pressed in though.

Hope that helps!

PaulC · #14 06-06-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

At some point, I have to wonder if throwing money at it even knowing what I'm doing is the smart way to go. I mean, where is the point of diminishing returns? What if the tranny goes south? Dropping a couple grand in it at this point might not be the best course.

Well, that's between you and your wallet. At 20 plus years and an odometer reading that rivals Apollo 11, the car doesn't owe you a thing. Understand that it's worthless as a trade. So, ready to go car shopping?

cmac2012 · #15 06-06-2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Well, that's between you and your wallet. At 20 plus years and an odometer reading that rivals Apollo 11, the car doesn't owe you a thing. Understand that it's worthless as a trade. So, ready to go car shopping?

Oh I'm ready but the wallet isn't. The 320CDIs are getting down into the $25 K range with around 50K miles. Maybe in another few years . . .