Anything I should do?

Hello all,

I am brand new to the forum so feel free to direct me to other posts if I ask redundant questions. So, I was recently gifted an 89' BMW that has sat for a long time. It's a bit banged up, but the kicker is that it only has 45,000 kms (28,000 miles) on it. I brought it into the shop and they looked it over: replaced fluids, original hoses, bushings etc. and I have to get new tires because the sidewalls are cracking from age. Besides that though it seems to be working well. I need to drive from Canada to California in March and I am a bit worried simply because the car is so old. Any thoughts on what I should look into if anything before leaving? Oh and the door panel glue on all the doors has worn off and the panels are peeling. What should i use to re-attach them?

Thanks

are you moving there?

if no, fly...

if yes, it has to make it anyway and we can give you a small list

• fluids
• belts
• WP
• fuses/relays

EDIT: Where are my manners? Welcome to the 'fest!

Originally Posted by Monsignor

are you moving there?

if no, fly...

if yes, it has to make it anyway and we can give you a small list

• fluids
• belts
• WP
• fuses/relays

EDIT: Where are my manners? Welcome to the 'fest!

Once those are done I would drive it regularly , half Day drives . Just to get all the little bugs out from sitting for a long time , so that it doesn't give up any ghosts in the middle of your long journey ..
Welcome to the fest
Noel
Sent from my Desire HD using Bimmer App

on journeys more than 300km from home i always take a jack and jack stands, my 100odd piece rachet kit, a multimeter and a small container of fuses and relays.

no matter what maintence you do, its still an older car! driving for 8 hours straight bursts is probably harder on the car that thrashing the hell out of it for half an hour.

not to say do not do the above suggestions other members have said mind you

The timing belt on that car is probably also cracking with age. I would definately replace it before a long trip.

I drove my 535 from Colorado to Minnesota and back last summer, loaded with four people and a weeks luggage. Mine is a '92 with 178k miles, it never missed a beat. I daily drove it for a month before I deemed it was ready

That said, it is old and anything can go wrong at anytime. There are very few things that do not give a warning. The Crank Position Sensor can suddenly stop the car. The fuel pump relay could also make for a sudden stop. Anything else may be an annoyance ie; I had to stop in Omaha and change the fuel pump in the motel parking lot Actually I didn't but it could happen to you.

Drive it a while, fix what it needs, drive it.

+1 on progressively longer local trips. Fuel filter would be a favorite of mine. Also lots of attention to battery cables, terminations and earths. Check clean and tighten all the earth points you can find in the vehicle and then check for the others you have missed, there are loads of them.
Most break-downs are fuel or cooling. From reading all forums here its seems most other problems are earth/volts related. Get in first!!
welcome and good luck on your trip!
PS: Check the spare and jack BEFORE you need them.