“Barn find” BMW e28 / 535i stick shift Lazarus restore project

[Impatient]

OK, general topic probably already covered somewhere but multiple questions about how to bring a 1987 535i back to life, after “sitting” for 10 yrs.

OK, it’s my “barn.” For years I would at least fire this baby up every so often to keep the motor lubrication condition in check, but that lapsed a good 5 yrs ago. IE, it hasn’t been cranked lately. Battery has been dead since, therefore no attempted crank. Up to that point, it always cranked up instantly and it sounded smooth. Will try again soon, just wanted some advice before trying.

So:
1) should I use a fogging oil (such as Sta Bil, sprayed into the spark plug holes…or otherwise) before attempting to crank?
2) Sta Bil fuel stabilizer went into the gas tank…but probably 5 yrs ago. I would love to skip draining the gas tank! Thinking maybe I can siphon / pump out most the old gas.
3) oil is relatively clean: Castrol 20w50 GTX. See attachment. But it’s old…I mean OLD. Can I fire it up just to see, before doing an oil change?
4) I think I can find updated GTX, but should I switch to M1 5w-50 or 15w-50? Or other? Note on attached: notice how service manual (1991 vintage Bentley manual) shows 20w-50 pretty good for our local Texas climate, whereas 15w-50 deficient for over 104 F, better below 14 F which we rarely see. Of course, oils back then were SE or SF…obviously conventional, not synthetic. Modern oils probably better at high temp, unless there is something specific to that vintage BMW that REQUIRES such thick oil.)
5) if I replace with Mobil 1, I believe the 5w-50 is a Euro spec, whereas the 15w-50 is more ILSAC (???). Looking for Walmart alternatively, initially. Any comments/suggestions?
6) obviously I need to flush brake fluid, maybe some other fluids, (SAE 80 in the manual trans??

Once resurrected, I intend to sell. As cool as this car was, I prefer my 07 Subaru Outback Turbo (suspension heavily modified) for several reasons (love wagons, for my lifestyle).

The body is a 9-, the interior is an 8+, the wheels are still metric (beautiful German spec “ALCOA” wheels …perhaps Alpina level, but yeah, 390mm is an obsolete spec. North Texas car, no rust, no bodywork. Tires are OLD, though 90%+ tread. TRX 220’s like 6 & 7 series instead of 200’’s, looks right. Too bad. Service records were kept, but I would need to locate them.

In garage for 10yrs. Suggestions? Especially about protecting engine…that lovely inline six.

Curious what @edyvw would say

 

[Astro14]

There are two topics in this thread:
1. Firing up a stored car after ten years
2. Fluid selection for a 1987 BMW

So, siphon off as much gas as possible. Fill with fresh gasoline. Pull the plugs - spray a fogging type oil in there to give the rings a chance of moving (if you’re lucky, they have not rusted to the cylinder walls, the fogging oil is just for start-up). Install a new battery. Be prepared for a ton of smoke as that oil burns off. I would change the oil before you try starting it.

Oils and fluids are much improved since 1987, so I would follow the advice already given. Can’t go wrong with Mobil 1 0W40 - a great choice for your engine.

There is something quite cool about a nearly 40 year old car on the road. I wish you the very best in this effort.

 

[Impatient]

There are two topics in this thread:
1. Firing up a stored car after ten years
2. Fluid selection for a 1987 BMW

. I wish you the very best in this effort.

Thanks, I will need it.

Slow progress, now distracted by more pressing issues. But, I appear to be following or planning to follow the general consensus steps, so thanks for those tips so far. However, bought some cheap Delvac HDEO CK / SP 15w40, since it won’t be in the car for very long. Synth blend, I believe.

MyE28.com is flagged as “not secure.” “Not private, May be impersonating MyE28.com”. Certificate expired 4/5/2024.

 

[burbguy82]

and where are the pics of this barn find?

 

[Impatient]

and where are the pics of this barn find?

I’m out of town, maybe for up to a week or so, then need to get at least one of my Subaru’s operational (both are down at moment. I’m down to a Ford Transit van as only transportation). Then, more out-of-town family obligations (I won’t share details). No pictures until BMW emerges from garage…could be a long time. Sorry. Again, I apologized earlier for being a “tease.” Didn’t mean to be. But at least there is some fogging oil in the cylinders, and the gas tank mostly drained. There are plenty of pictures on the internet of Cirrus Blue E28’s, so just pick one…mine looks like that. If / when, this thing is sellable, or at least out of the tight garage, there will be pictures. I don’t know, mod’s, do I need to change the name of this thread to “old BMW surrounded by clutter in small garage for years.”?

 

[Impatient]

Lazurus bump. Updates coming. I had another major injury last September which delayed all efforts. Now recovering.

Today, just repaired power steering hose leakage/deterioration. Also drained 10yr old oil (probably castrol GTX 20w50.). In was Mobil Delvac 15w40, which will be probably be in there VERY VERY short duration.

*****Question: I have 2gal of the Delvac (dual-rated CK4). AND 1 qt HPL EC40 (cleaner). AND 5 qt jub of M1 synthetic 15w50, which I intend to have in sump at time of sale (though need 5.75 total vs 5 qt jug). Curious if I should add the HPL EC to the Delvac, which will be in there less than 1k miles or add it to the 15w50 M1 synthetic for future owner to clean his/her new BMW over whatever OCI they deem appropriate? If I use with the Delvac, I need to make up the 0.75 qt with something (Delvac? Or EC?). Sump supposedly holds 5.75 qts (with filter replace), so I could top up the 5 qt jug of 15w50 synthetic (for future owner) or add the HPL EC to the Delvac 15w40, which will be in there very short-term. In other words, will get this thing running on the Delvac, but intend to change out to the M1 15w50( plus something for the additional 0.75 qt) at sale. Any advice?

Looking forward to getting this operational so it can be sold.

 

[melk]

Don’t forget some pics!

 

[TomYoung]

Lazurus bump. Updates coming. I had another major injury last September which delayed all efforts. Now recovering.

Today, just repaired power steering hose leakage/deterioration. Also drained 10yr old oil (probably castrol GTX 20w50.). In was Mobil Delvac 15w40, which will be probably be in there VERY VERY short duration.

*****Question: I have 2gal of the Delvac (dual-rated CK4). AND 1 qt HPL EC40 (cleaner). AND 5 qt jub of M1 synthetic 15w50, which I intend to have in sump at time of sale (though need 5.75 total vs 5 qt jug). Curious if I should add the HPL EC to the Delvac, which will be in there less than 1k miles or add it to the 15w50 M1 synthetic for future owner to clean his/her new BMW over whatever OCI they deem appropriate? If I use with the Delvac, I need to make up the 0.75 qt with something (Delvac? Or EC?). Sump supposedly holds 5.75 qts (with filter replace), so I could top up the 5 qt jug of 15w50 synthetic (for future owner) or add the HPL EC to the Delvac 15w40, which will be in there very short-term. In other words, will get this thing running on the Delvac, but intend to change out to the M1 15w50( plus something for the additional 0.75 qt) at sale. Any advice?

Looking forward to getting this operational so it can be sold.

Good luck with your recovery, and best wishes for reviving and passing on this very desirable vehicle. I note that this car is known to have run a few years ago. I would not pursue engine “cleaning” at all, beyond changing the oil. You have an interesting frankenbrew there, which is fine… but maybe not everyone’s choice. I would fix the power steering, check the plugs, replace the battery and carefully, gently see if you can start it. That would be it, and once running and moving, would put this on Bring a Trailer. I would love to get this car more or less as it sits, and go from there. It’s all I can do to avoid not making an offer on this vehicle.

 

[Impatient]

Well, wish I could edit last night’s post. No frankenbrew originally intended. but HPL had a Black Friday sale last fall after I started this thread, so I bought one quart of the EC40. But today or tomorrow, need to decide whether I should run straight Delvac 15w40 (I have enough) or mix in that 1 qt. This fill is intended as short-term, just to “clean” out the old oil I just drained. The EC40 is not a flushing product. I may reach out to HPL to ask. The original intent was to have a fresh fill of M1 15w50 after “cleaning things up a bit” but evidently I’m 0.75 qt short. Not that I won’t be at a Walmart between now and when this gets sold.

So it’s been 6 more months since I pulled the spark plugs and sprayed in the fogging oil, before I re-injured myself. I never got a chance to fire it up. Do I need to do this (fogging oil) again before trying to start the engine?

 

[Impatient]

Some slow progress, but with fresh oil, fresh power steering hose and fluid , battery installed, the engine turned over and sounded quite decent. I had disconnected the coil, and siphoned the gas tank, so didn’t expect ignition. May have to address coolant as well, but added (mere) 1/2 gal of distilled water, and so far, level is holding in the expansion bottle (not sure how much that means), but now seeing antifreeze/coolant has become totally complex. So far, not sure if need G05, G48, “original green” or BMW OEM. The fact that ~ 1/2 gallon topped off the system tells me there is near 2 gal of pre-existing coolant still in there (which was green). I foresee a coolant flush is in my future.