V-8 in my future?

[Ross]

Guys, I'm considering the plunge on a V-8 car.
Would you guys mind offering up your thoughts on stuff to look out for?
I'm aware of the nik/alusil issue, the oil pump thing and intake leaks, what else.
Where to look for the failed intake gasket?
Are the block casting #s readily visible?
The car in question is a 3liter stick.
Thanks,
Ross

[yaofeng]

Get a M60B40 w/ 6 speed. Do a leak down before committing. It is significantly more difficult to work with, especially on the driver side because of the V8.

But it has power in every gear on demand of your right foot.

[stargazer_61]

Guys, I'm considering the plunge on a V-8 car.
Would you guys mind offering up your thoughts on stuff to look out for?
I'm aware of the nik/alusil issue, the oil pump thing and intake leaks, what else.
Where to look for the failed intake gasket?
Are the block casting #s readily visible?
The car in question is a 3liter stick.
Thanks,
Ross

Block casting number is located just above the starter by the third cylinder on the right-hand side. Shine a light up there and you should be able to read it.

To test for failed intake gaskets, remove the engine cover, start the car and listen for any hissing sounds. Spray carb cleaner around the edges of the intake where it mates up to the heads. If this hissing stops, gaskets are shot. Also note that the gaskets at the front (throttle body) and rear (PCV Plate) also go bad. V8 PCV plates are notorious for failure. Winfred has made several references about them.

Other things to watch out for on the V8's:
Worn Engine Mounts
Leaky PS hoses that eat engine mount on driver side.
Leaky Master Cylinder grommets

yaofeng is absolutely right that they are harder to work on than the six. Stuff is crammed in there really tight. DS engine mount is virtually invisible from above, PS hoses are hard to get at. That said, I love my V8 E34. Granted, I have the 4.0 and an auto, but I did drive the 3.0 auto and didn't find it too bad so the stick would have to be better. Personally, I'd rather have a 4.0 auto than a 3.0 manual, but that's just me. But yeah, if I could get my hands on a 4.0/6-speed...

[pingu]

I think that the M60 has a reputation for needing new a new water pump and radiator - mine both went (on separate occasions - maximum inconvenience and being stranded) at about 130k miles. Given that petrol is too cheap to meter in the USA (except for Iran, where it's about 12 cents a litre!), why not go for the 4 litre?

[Evan]

6-speed 540. There are plenty of great examples available... don't waste your time or money on anything less.

[Ross]

I wasn't looking for an 8 but a possible opportunity on a specific car ahs come up. I drove it today and don't know why BM bothered to make a 3 liter 8cyl. engine. Both my ~300 mile 535 and my E39 528 would clean it's clock.

[ThoreauHD]

Engine mount and Flex disc were the biggest issues for me. The gaskets came in a distant second. Beyond that the engine itself is solid. You won't be racing at stoplights, but you will have power when you need it. I agree with Evan, even though it's self-deprecating.

[shurton]

6-speed 540. There are plenty of great examples available... don't waste your time or money on anything less.

+1

[Evan]

self-deprecation is a valuable quality.. as is a sense of humor.