Newbie question - Batteries.

[CamWeiss]

Hokay.

I'm looking at a car on Saturday. No, I won't tell what it is (yet).

Has been sitting for a while (at least a couple months), and the battery is dead. It hasn't been driven regularly in at least a year.
The owner is putting the battery on a charger for me, but I'm thinking that if it's been stone dead for a while, it will likely not hold a charge properly. I seem to recall that lead acid batteries need to stay topped up, hence the market for trickle chargers.

Should I budget for a new battery with the car? The last thing I want to do is kill the alternator trying to make it keep up with a hooped battery.


Thanks all...

[John Hartman]

its a good idea to budget in a battery for sure, but it may just hold a charge.  I would take a volt meter with me(unless you can get ahold of something better to test it out) and at least see if the alternator is putting out what its supposed to be voltage wize.

Also, once its warmed up and with the lights and stereo and fans etc off, it should only be making mid 13's for volts.  if its constantly going balls out then the alternator is gonna die sooner than its supposed to.

[Jason Harwood]

Change the oil before running it.
Not that you have too... but... its not a bad idea.

[CamWeiss]

Yup, already thought of that.
If I do get it, it'll be the first order of business.

Will have to inspect the timing belt as well - It's recent, mileage wise. But it's probably been sitting in one position for a long time.

[Goran Jandric]

bimmer ?

[John Hartman]

most BMW cars use timing chains

[Goran Jandric]

most BMW cars use timing chains

Yes, you are right but e30's use timing belt.

[Maurits Vos]

You're leaving the game, Cam?

[John Hartman]

really?
 
My dads E30 car(318is) had a chain.

I don't have much experience with the 2.5l engine on the older ones.  I know the newer ones are chains?

Edit for brain fart on what car he had...

[CamWeiss]

dirte30.wordpress.com

The M20 is a belt.
The battery was a goner. Needed to jump it every time after it was shut off (including me having to do a roll start at a gas station, that was fun!)

Not out of DSM's, just got tired of daily driving mine. Needed a little change. Was hankering for something RWD.

Oh, and it's a 1986 325e. Euro car -  A German import. Sedan, five speed. Neat 15" wheels on it, an older Pioneer stereo and awesome 80's speakers.

The Talon is still plated, I might just turn it into a track whore.

[John Hartman]

actually a cool lookin old car man!!

Put a 325i head and associated bits on it so it will rev and have some power to go with the torque and you should be set! This way you get the best of both worlds, the torque of the 2.7l(eta engine) and the power of the 2.5l good head.

Cool wheels.

[CamWeiss]

I had read about that. A couple conflicting views (it's no good/wont work vs go for it) out there. It's a low compression ratio - About 8.8:1 for an I-head swap. Perfect for forced induction?

Depending on how ambitious I get, possibly the i-head swap. Or possibly an M50/M52 swap. I've driven a couple M52 swapped cars - An absolute hoot. Makes me want one.
Immediate plans? Get caught up on finances. Get a limited slip diff. Find some better front seats (these are benches!), and an i exhaust - Much less restrictive than the e pieces. And mabye eventually an e36 steering rack, too. Manual steering feels great on the road, less so in the city, and is a pain in parking lots.

[Ivan Skare]

Those older bimmers are solid.

[Remi Raymond]

How pricey/complicated at the DOHC swaps (e36 M5x family engines?)

[CamWeiss]

I've driven a couple M50/M52 powered e30's.
It's definitely in the back of my mind.

I know you CAN use the stock transmissions (you need to re-do the mounts to cant it over a bit) or simply swap in the whole motor and gearbox.
Wiring all needs to be swapped over, I don't believe much of anything carries over.

Probably a few grand, minimum. Depends what powerplant you use (S54 ftw?). I know someone who'd like to do a M62 (540i) motor into an e36, so that might be a possibility down the road. Way down the road.


I autocrossed it on Sunday. A little harder to keep up with the manual steering, but is way more fun to drive than the Talon,  even if it is slower. So much better balanced!
I drove (in a very brisk fashion I might add) to and from Tofino as well on the weekend. Plus autocross. And managed 30mpg.