Update on project Marseille, E31 850i
Added 2021-04-13 22:54:17 +0000 UTCGuess who came back from the dead -- she's alive again, boys!
Man, what a struggle though. I repaired stripped spark plug threads with the head in situ, I'll talk about this more in the video, but used axle grease on the tap which minimizes the amount of shavings that land in the engine, which is inevitable with this method.
After enlarging the threads, used timesert (a sleeve with threads) that goes onto the spark plug and was able to torque all 3 plugs to 30 Nm. Now when I remove plugs, timesert stays in the head and you replace spark plugs as you normally would. This is a permanent repair for that.
I gambled with this method as aluminium shavings are soft and the risk of them doing any damage is low, in theory they melt upon start up and go out through the exhaust valve. Plus M70 can take a beating!
Happy to report that after everything that this turd has been through, it survived! Running okayish, got it up to temp and stays in the middle, doesn't overheat. Then I pulled the plugs out and performed a compression test. Remarkably got between 180-200 PSI across all 12 cylinders so it's very healthy. Used endoscope and cylinder walls are perfect, no scoring. Bit of carbon on pistons but normal given the age and kilometres.
In not so good news, the timing chain noise is present. You can actually hear it in the video, that humming/scratching noise, that would be it. I had the same on project Bilbao (green E31) and was resolved by replacing the timing chain tensioner, but here when I let off the throttle and it's coming back to idle, there's also rattle and loud mechanical noise. It's not happy! Tomorrow going to put engine flush, then drop the oil pan and see what lurks inside.
Out of all E31s that I revived, this was the most difficult one and all becuase of improper starting procedure after 10 years of sitting and stripping the spark plug threads which I still cannot comprehend.
Anyway, I gave it my best and it's running again with healthy compression which is a huge achievement given where we started. Every muscle hurts from leaning over that engine bay, but tomorrow back at it again!
Not sure yet when the video will drop, probably next week but lets see. Thank you for being here and for your kind support!
Comments
Legend! Nice work, I love your videos :)
Ian Thomas
2021-04-16 21:35:27 +0000 UTCMy dad told me he put some paper/cloth or something similar over the cylinder to pick up any shavings/grease from the treadtool. Was totally clean inside when he "fished" the paper out
2021-04-16 11:20:43 +0000 UTCIs there a way to get the metal shavings out before sturtup? Like Using a small hose and a makeshift-ducktape adpter to a vakuum? Or is it not worth the effort because the metal flakes melt anyways?
2021-04-16 09:28:49 +0000 UTCThank you for all of your content. I've always had a soft spot for the "older" BMW's, but your videos really made me fall in love with the E31 and I hope to own one of those beauties one day. For now an E46 328CI will have to suffice, although I must confess that it's not a punishment having to drive one of those. I went through all of your videos after watching part 1 of project Raleigh, which randomly popped up in my YT feed. Recently, I decided that your channel deserves a little more reward for the effort that is being put in all of those BMW's and videos. Which resulted in me becoming a Patron. Keep up the good work, and I hope we can continue to enjoy your videos for years to come! And maybe, just maybe, someday I'll take one of those revived E31's off your hands.
Silverium
2021-04-15 19:28:07 +0000 UTCWhere's evil twin? ๐ค He must be up to something for being gone like that! ๐
2021-04-14 21:39:53 +0000 UTCNice! Thank you. Saving for the Milwaukee aswell haha :)
2021-04-14 21:05:29 +0000 UTCIt's a cheapo from Amazon/eBay, Anesty is the name I believe. Bought it as temporary solution until I saved up for Milwaukee, but it's been year and a half since and this thing has done everything I needed it to do, so I'll keep using it until it dies. :)
M539 Restorations
2021-04-14 21:04:22 +0000 UTCThank you, Jose!!
M539 Restorations
2021-04-14 20:59:59 +0000 UTCHi Sreten, Frequently in the videos youโre using an electronic wrench. Which one is it? Is it a Milwaukee? Grรผsse aus der Schweiz ;)
2021-04-14 20:48:55 +0000 UTCI am very happy about this sneak peak! :)
2021-04-14 18:56:29 +0000 UTCItโs alive, itโs alive! Only you could bring an abandoned and neglected project such as this back to life and make it seem so easy. Itโs your tenacity and attention to detail that brought me to your channel and I intend to stick to the end come what may, and I see many, many more rescues on the way! Iโm happy to see this one running even if it was just a short snippet, but I eagerly await your witty banter, jokes and your dry German humor, just love it. Only you Sreten could make an American love a German brand so much, I hope to get my first one soon, a running one though and then try some of your witchcraft and magic to bring it back to as close to itโs majestic factory look and performance, any suggestions on a good starter car for someone with some mechanical know-how, computer knowledge and just willingness to learn and get my hands dirty. Iโd like to start with a nice 3 series, but itโd like it to be reliable and not too old if possible, I see a lot of listings for some 3 series from 2006-2012 between 6-12K American and Iโd really love your help on what to look for and what to avoid if you have the time to help. Itโd be greatly appreciated my friend. Good look on this one, it looks like a handful.
Jose Martinez
2021-04-14 11:04:11 +0000 UTCYou should get some donated beers.
2021-04-14 09:36:02 +0000 UTCOoo, Great news,
Trond Jarle Pedersen
2021-04-14 08:30:12 +0000 UTCWow, nice work! Wheeler dealer saves cars on the brink, and you save cars well past the brink! This car was in the hands of baboons.
2021-04-14 05:07:46 +0000 UTCIt started!!!!!! And runs!!!!! Without out a doubt you have the touch when it comes to BMW V12's. The MASTER strikes again. Bob/ATL
Bob MacGaunn
2021-04-14 05:07:36 +0000 UTCKeep them videos coming! Love from Poland!
John Smith
2021-04-14 04:38:54 +0000 UTCOoouihhh a new Video shortly after the last one! Iโm very excited :)
2021-04-14 04:32:12 +0000 UTCHad a similar stripped spark plug problem on the head of a Jaguar XK120 I owned years ago. Not as big a problem as valve guides and the annoying problem of adjusting valve clearance with shims. Keep the great videos coming. I hope this full time job works out for you.
David Benefiel
2021-04-14 02:28:27 +0000 UTCDid not realized, it was just a peek, was avid for entertainment. Sound healthy and strong, it's a good engine. Keep repairing BMWs that were good cars, not like BMW of this era. Did not knew those v12 engines were so reliable. Many years ago a stumble a 850i, but got scare of unknown issues with that engine. Keep us entertaining, Thank you!
2021-04-14 02:06:31 +0000 UTCHell yes!! Very nice! Glad fixing the threads was not too bad!
2021-04-13 23:32:10 +0000 UTCNice! Pleasant surprise, thanks!
2021-04-13 23:31:44 +0000 UTCWell done!
2021-04-13 23:27:43 +0000 UTC1400 euro! Definitely not doing that, it's absurd, shouldn't cost that much and don't want to approve such behavior by buying it. It'll be a permanent loan and when the time comes to revive that E32, I'll get a used one and send it for refurb, found a guy who's active on German forums that can test and refurb them.
M539 Restorations
2021-04-13 23:10:56 +0000 UTCSo the MAF from Project Holland worked. Is that a permanent loan or will you get a new MAF? I remember you said it was around $1300 US. EEEEEEEK! Beautiful work as usual, sir.
2021-04-13 23:03:31 +0000 UTCNice to hear that itโs running Sreten, good job! Thanks for the information!
2021-04-13 23:02:16 +0000 UTCKeep up the great work Sreten, Marseille will be a beauty when she's done.
Joseph Piarulli
2021-04-13 23:00:00 +0000 UTC
