[bmw] 1986 bmw 535i assessment

["Georg and Claire Taht" <m.five@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Richard,

With the requirement of passing smog tests in many states,
the consideration to buy a used car with potential emission
problems is like pandoras box.

My experience with aftermarket catalytic converters hasn't
been too good.  Mine fell apart after three years - right
after the warranty.

A BMW factory unit will run in the $1500 range.  There is an
aftermarket place that got some mention in the Roundel a few
years ago.

http://www.kansascityconverters.com/

You may want to check with them.

Also at 200K, you probably need a mass flow sensor.  It is
probably worn and will cause issues - like running rich.

You could easily spend $1500-2000 getting the car to run
clean assuming the engine is still OK.

With the issues described, your brother-in-law should just
about give you the car.

I bought an 87 535is and made sure that the emission
inspection could be passed.  The previous owner provided the
most recent emission results (less than 1500 miles ago) and
the car exhaust was clean.

Personnaly,  I would pay a little extra to get a car that
doesn't have emissions issues, if you live in a location
where testing is done.

My $.02 worth.

Georg
87 535is aka MOCK 5
96 328is

Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 17:17:10 -0500 (EST)
From: Richard Welty <rwelty@domain.elided>
Subject: [bmw] 1986 bmw 535i assessment

my brother in law is about to get out of his 1986 535i, and
i'm considering
whether or not it's worth a look.

it's a 5 speed, white, 200,000 miles, body ok. engine and
exhaust
are another matter. it's been an upstate ny car for most if
not all
of its life.

the exhaust is a conglomeration of parts scarfed from the
dumpster
at a cole muffler shop, no cat (can't pass inspection in NY
without
a cat, i'd have to buy and install one, $550 from rusty in
atlanta.)

the engine is running way rich, it's killing O2 sensors at a
high rate,
the current one is defunct. my brother in law doesn't want
to spend
the money to diagnose and fix this problem. if it's, for
example, an
ecu, rusty wants ~ $500 for a new one. my brother in law
doens't
want to spend the money to diagnose the problem, he really
wants
out of this car.

he wants $1100 for it. i'm pondering whether or not this is
a
fair price; Edmunds shows the car at roughly $2100 in clean
condition, $1100 in average condition.

thanks in advance,
  richard
- --
Richard Welty
rwelty@domain.elided
Averill Park Networking
518-573-7592
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