E31 840ci recommissioning begins

[Alonso085]

I recently purchased a 1995 840ci that had only done around 100 miles in the last 7 years. It had past the NCT but only lasted about 50 miles before it started springing leaks.

The first thing to go was the power steering oil cooling radiator. I ordered and fitted a new one drove 10 miles and then the main radiator started spilling fluid and to make matters worse it was at this point I realise that red coolant had been used in the cooling system. Luckily I was expecting things to fall off it so every drive was short and the car never reported a check control error or the temp needle never went beyond the centre mark.

So I parked the car up and ordered a new radiator, expansion tank, aux fan, fan clutch, thermostat/water pump, tensioners, pulleys, new belts, a couple of coolant pipes, new jubilee clips, tyres etc..

I fitted all the parts over the last couple of days, Apart from the usual cut and bruised hands and one of the tensioner bolts coming out with the thread from being over tightened by the previous mechanic it all went well. I got a specialist to come out and repair the bolt thread with a hex coil.

I have flushed all the fluids and replaced all the filters in the car now with the exception of the pollen filter and transmission flush which I am going to get my mechanic to do for me along with the timing chain tension bolt and the oil pan gasket/loose oil pump bolt check.

It is driving like a dream now. I switched the rear tyres from 265r17 to 255r17 Michelin ps4's as I could not find a pair of 265's for a reasonable price and figured the 25 years in tyre tech improvements would make up for the smaller size, so far I have not been disappointed.

After the transmission/oil pan service, I will be replacing the coils and plugs and then on to the suspension. But for the moment I am just enjoying the sweet sound of a happy v8.

[DanG]

Always love the look of the 840ci. Thanks for sharing.

[Peertwelve]

Gorgeous! Do you have any shots from the rear? This design has aged so well

[Mani59]

I love the look of the E31, such a purposeful machine.

Please keep us updated on progress!!

[vt100]

Oh my! The real 8 series
The very first BMW I fell in love with... but didn't buy it (she was burgundy red with manual!) and so many times I regretted that decision. Hopefully one day...

[Bernina5]

Car looks sick! nice ride OP

[IcewaterPete]

Beautiful car. Hats off to you for getting her all fixed up and keeping her on the road!!

[positiveions]

Awesome project.

[Alonso085]

Thanks very much all. Here is a pic of the rear. Nothing broken so far and all sounding good. Just hit the 125k mark today. Waiting for a transmission service kit to arrive then it's off to my mechanic for a final service which will hopefully be enough preventative maintenance done to see this beauty back on the road without too many worries of anything going boom

[scostu]

Pure sexxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

[martin mustang]

Love the 8 series, I was going for one after I purchased a 1988 635 CSI, but must admit I was put off by the complexity of the car, so went for a 911 instead. I am based in the west of Ireland Galway, I see one on a regular basis around town, wondering is it yours?
the 840 is simply a true classic, and I guess with the new 8 series out, your car value must be appreciating nicely.

[Alonso085]

Originally Posted by martin mustang

Love the 8 series, I was going for one after I purchased a 1988 635 CSI, but must admit I was put off by the complexity of the car, so went for a 911 instead. I am based in the west of Ireland Galway, I see one on a regular basis around town, wondering is it yours?
the 840 is simply a true classic, and I guess with the new 8 series out, your car value must be appreciating nicely.

You can't go wrong with a 911, I would love a 635csi someday. It's not me, I am based in Kildare.

I was afraid to get one myself for a few years, I spent 17 years driving nothing but Toyotas. I got myself an e92 325i 4 years ago, then an e36 316i was offered to me free to take away 18 months ago, so having never worked on a car before, I got a Halfords toolbox set and restored it over 3 months during the first lockdown.

I just change the oil every 5k and service regularly and I found the BMWs to be super reliable. I think with the 8, a lot of the perceived complexity was based on a reputation formed in the early 90's with the v12's and even they don't seem too complex now, what I have found most annoying is for such a massive engine bay everything is so compact and close together I had over 40 cuts on my hands from a weekend working in the engine bay.

I watched all of Timms bmw and m539's videos on the e31 and they gave me the confidence to feel that I could look after anything that does not require a car lift

[IcewaterPete]

Looking good. How about a video!?

[Mani59]

Originally Posted by IcewaterPete

Looking good. How about a video!?

Great idea, I would love to see that!

[tracer bullet]

Nice work! I've always loved this series.

[Alonso085]

The car has been off the road for the last 2 months as I was waiting for some parts to arrive.

I also picked up a 2015 i3 as the price of petrol is now €2:15/L here, which is crazy and I have access to an 18 panel solar garden that gives me free charging where I store my cars.

All the parts arrived last week so it was in for a 2 day service with my mechanic getting new front shocks, brake discs and pads all round, transmission flush and filter, oil pan gasket and check for loose bolts, new spark plugs and fuel filter. Got a bunch of bearings for rear wheels and prop shaft as there was a squeak coming from the rear in the last few times I drove it and thought it might be the centre bearing.

Everything went in perfectly my mechanic checked every bushing and the prop shaft for the squeak, he said there was no play in anything and it was his guess that it was the alignment causing the squeak, as the front shocks were both completely gone. No bolts were sitting in the oil pan and only one was a little loose on the oil pump. It really needed the transmission flush he said, so delighted I got that done, although if the transmission were to go. It would be a good excuse to put a manual in, but that's a job for a few years down the road.

The only thing I need to change now is the PCV valve it is starting to go and then it should hopefully be mechanically perfect, for a 27 year old car.

I took it out for a 120 mile drive today and it drove like a completely different car, no squeaks from the brakes it was a dream. I will get a video uploaded of it at some point, I tried to upload directly in the app now but I guess you can only link from YouTube and creating an account is a job for another day.

If you are thinking of getting yourself an e31 or an i3, I would say go for it you will not be disappointed!

[IcewaterPete]

Nicely done! I just love the feeling of driving an older car before the suspension bits are replaced and then just after as the feeling is like having a new car! Enjoy!

[Alonso085]

Took the seats out to clean and lubricate the rails and fix the motor for the height adjustment. Years of gunk came out and the seats glide and raise smooth as butter now. Funny thing is even with the seat out the backseat is uncomfortable and cramped there is just no headroom back there at all.

I also took the glovebox area apart to refit a vent motor that had popped out and to re align the glovebox as it was not closing with a smooth action. Amazed to find the airbag cover was just stuck down with 2 drops of butl rubber. Also cleaned and greased the brake pedal linkages to the master cylinder just following the steps on timms website, this made a massive difference to the brake feel. New PCV valve and valve covers have arrived just waiting to book it In with my mechanic as I am not risking my sanity trying to get to the torx bolts on the PCV valve.

Took it to a local car show and saw one of its brothers that also had pop up lights

[akaaceman]

Great work, and well worth it for an E31. Enjoy that masterpiece!

[Alonso085]

I removed the tail lights to clean out the area behind them and lubricate the rubber seals. I also ceramic coated the area as well to hopefully help it dry easier when I am cleaning it. The new PCV valve and valve cover's arrived and it is booked in on the 28th to have them installed