New to Forums and my car.

Hi guys, I just bought my 1989 BMW 535i. She's got her issues and I wanted to talk about the issues it has to know if It's normal or not.

Issue #1 It's a compound issues sense I think it Is a head gasket, but the car hesitates when goosing the throttle. It drives fine tho, it still has balls tho, the kicker is I drove it to walmart(1 mile away from my house) and it got to full temp by then, when I stopped I saw white smoke. And a sweeter smell. So it burns coolant. Apparently. I havnt been able to recreate sense then. Or two days. So I'm looking o other reasons. It gets to half temp very quickly but just sits there.

Issue #2 my radio powers up, all buttons work but no sound. Like the speakers don't have power, so I checked my amp and sure as .... The fuse was blown on the amp replaced it with a original spare and blew it instantly. So a got a new one, blew it instantly I put a 15a instead of a 10 in and it made the speakers make a sound but blew up instantly. I'm not going any bigger as I don't wanna wreck anything. But what could be causing it? Is the amp bad? Is a short normal?

The car has 167k hasn't had a tune up in awhile, prolly wasn't ran with premium by previous owner, has exhaust leak after cat, seen better days but that's about it.

If you are sure you had white smoke with a sweet smell, that most likely means headgasket time. The job isn't that hard, but you will be without a car for a while if you have the head checked or planed. It is not expensive if you do the work, minus machine work, yourself.

I bought my car without a head unit. The PO removed it because it was draining the battery. I have read other accounts of old head units shorting out as well. Not sure if yours is related. I ended up using a newer cd43 unit, all it needs is a sub now.

The car, if it has the stock chip, only requires regular, premium offers no benefit on this engine.

If you are going to keep the car, and do the head repair, I bet you will eliminate the other running problems. Just be ready to spend some on maintenance items. If you have to pay to repair and sort the car, you may exceed its current market value in bills.

Good Luck

Well that's what I thought. And I probably should have added I'm going to UTI's Bimmer step program next year. This isnt my first headgasket, nor my first run in with a bimmer. Just wanted to know what other 5 series owners thought.

As for the head unit, mine powers up nicely, everything works.

Also I think u joints are going, every now and then when I get on it in a low gear I feel a shudder, feels like It's coming from the rear end. Its not really audible but i think that needs a yet after that.

I read all the stickys, kind of surprised there's not more popular issues with the car. I'm not used to this proper engineering yet lol.

Originally Posted by Josh429er

Also I think u joints are going, every now and then when I get on it in a low gear I feel a shudder, feels like It's coming from the rear end. Its not really audible but i think that needs a yet after that.

There is another thread just started about this, flex disc and/or center bearing usually.

I read all the stickys, kind of surprised there's not more popular issues with the car. I'm not used to this proper engineering yet lol.

The 535 is a solid machine. The HG going at 167k is kind of early, most make it over 200k before it is needed. Then a quick freshen like yours needs and it is good for another 200k. Sounds like a good project for you. My first headgasket job was on my '75 Volvo 164e, in my parents garage, with seriously meager tools, back in 1986. Amazingly, it was successful

I bought mine as practical transportation that could also fuel my car hobby. Being cheap to buy, easy to work on, solid and reliable, excusing some demonic electrics, just made my decision easier.

Yours is the reason so many end up in junkyards these days, nobody willing to do the work.

Hmmmmm I'll look into nothing is keeping it from being really driveable. Which I'm thankful for sense my project car ate itself.

And I agree people don't realize the value of a car. Primarily why I bought my 535 I was trying to buy a car but at 500 bucks you can't go wrong. It just needs to be on the road. It loves it there.

Originally Posted by snowsled7

My first headgasket job was on my '75 Volvo 164e, in my parents garage, with seriously meager tools, back in 1986. Amazingly, it was successful

did that model have the timing belt on the back of the engine? i had a 940Turbo Touring for a while that was like that, the belt was way overdue but i investigated it and decided ill wait till it snaps coz the whole engine is gunna have to come out! amazingly, never had to do it though! lowest maintenance car I've ever owned, only thing i replaced was the oring between the turbo drain pipe and the sump! was a bit of a sleeper that car too. i wouldn't mind getting back into a Volvo one day.

Originally Posted by _Ethrty-Andy_

did that model have the timing belt on the back of the engine?

This was an inline six, I honestly can't remember but I think it was an OHV engine with the cam in the block.

Lol I can't stand push rods....bad experiences.