m88/3 valve clearance adjust

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wolfbmw
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m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by wolfbmw »

hi,
i've decided to do the valve clearances on my m88/3 engine, having got hold of the m88/3 valve tool.

is there a special precedure to follow?

bmw lists the valve clearances for both exhaust/intake at .30 to .35mm.
should i set everything up at .30mm clearance or should I open up the exhaust clearance a bit like .35mm and leave the intake a .30mm?
thanks for the help
8)
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M6smitten
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by M6smitten »

A search would have yielded many threads on this topic. Specs in manual say "Max coolant temp. 35deg C = .30mm/ Operating temp. = .35mm."
Where did you buy the valve tappet depressor tool?
Torque specs can be found in the same document - 00 Maintenance and General info >00 00 000 Specifications.

This is the factory manual for valve adjust.
http://www.malloc.nl/BMW/635CSi/pages/e ... l#refertoc
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wolfbmw
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by wolfbmw »

thanks for the reply and the especially the link
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brickwhite
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by brickwhite »

Pretty sure you need the smaller shims too. same as older VW/Audi or is it Volvo?
Last edited by brickwhite on Thu Jan 19, 2017 8:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Brucey
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by Brucey »

yup, M88 uses 30.5mm dia shims and S38 uses 36mm dia shims.

with an M88 engine you have to be sure that the camchain and guides are in good shape. Most folk just replace the lot at regular intervals.

cheers
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by M6smitten »

Brucey wrote:yup, M88 uses 30.5mm dia shims and S38 uses 36mm dia shims.

with an M88 engine you have to be sure that the camchain and guides are in good shape. Most folk just replace the lot at regular intervals.

cheers
Is 30.5 mm diam. correct? I just put the Vernier on the shims from BMW and they're 32.97mm diam. Part # 1132 1 308 224. Compared the VW shims my Tech used in the past which measure 30.96 mm diam.
Last edited by M6smitten on Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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brickwhite
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by brickwhite »

33 would be Volvo shims....

I can't remember off the top of my head I would need to look.
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M6smitten
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by M6smitten »

Really confused. BMW Mobile Trad. shows same shim/part # for S38 and M88 #11321308224

OK, just spoke to Mobile Trad. they confirmed M88 is 31 mm shim and that their web site incorrectly lists the same part.
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tdlondon
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by tdlondon »

Good morning!
Is it always necessary to do valve adjustment on the M88 engine after a certain mileage or only a “nice to have” if one is working on the engine head?
I have a M635csi with around 110k miles and unknown status if this has ever been done.
Thanks!
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wolfbmw
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by wolfbmw »

i just finished mine clearances with the engine around 130000km (m635csi 1985)
the clearances were quite off -- all were less than the .30mm spec! Anywhere from .28mm to .12mm. most of the lower figures were with the exhaust valves.
could have something to do with the unleaded fuel used without an lead additive?
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cjarvis
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by cjarvis »

tdlondon wrote: Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:40 pm Good morning!
Is it always necessary to do valve adjustment on the M88 engine after a certain mileage or only a “nice to have” if one is working on the engine head?
I have a M635csi with around 110k miles and unknown status if this has ever been done.
Thanks!
If you have an M88 with 110K on it and an unknown service history, and you want to continue to enjoy the car, it is highly recommended that you educate yourself on the proper maintenance of that motor and bring it up to date. The M88 is a work of art and will put a smile on your face. Neglect it and it will become scrap or take $10K to make it right again.

BMW recommends the valves checked and adjusted every 15K miles. There is very little wear that occurs if they are kept in spec and with regular oil changes with the right oil (20W-50 high ZDDP). Wear accelerates if not. If you don't know if they've been checked and adjusted recently, then it needs to be done.

Other things you should to confirm on the motor:

- Timing chain, sprockets, guides. A ton of threads out there with a lot of feedback on when to replace, whether to convert to double row, etc. If you dont know if your's have been done, it's time to do them. If they fail, the motor is likely scrap.
- Valve spring recall. M88s were delivered with single coil valve springs that had the potential to float a valve or break at high RPMs. They were recalled in favor of dual coil springs. It was up to the owners of grey market cars to get them replaced. Back in the day, BMW did provide the parts. Verify if yours have been done. If originals are still in place, depending on how you drive the car, you may want to replace them.
- Crank Hub, some say that the original crank hub could fail under extreme driving conditions. Frank Fahey made an upgraded hub with hardened steel that wont distort. Depending on how you drive it, it may be worth checking.

I think those are the only issues that can bite hard. Google BMW M88 and read as much as you can.

Good luck...
Craig in MI
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85 M635CSi (gone but not forgotten)
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raykoke
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by raykoke »

tdlondon wrote: Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:40 pm Good morning!
Is it always necessary to do valve adjustment on the M88 engine after a certain mileage or only a “nice to have” if one is working on the engine head?
I have a M635csi with around 110k miles and unknown status if this has ever been done.
Thanks!

Well, the clearances are pretty easy to check anyway, so I'd have a look. I don't remember what the factory recommended interval is but I'm pretty sure it's 40k miles or less.

If it were me, I'd check them. One can burn valves due to tight clearances, I hear.

Have a look at your timing chain rails at the same time. Tho one can't really tell when they may fail if they are aged and still seem to look ok. The internet will tell you 100k miles and 30 years is a long time for those components, and a failure may lunch the head.

(Apologies to OP)

[Oh I see I basically duplicated cjarvis's recommendations. I'll add that my clearances were all within spec at 70k miles]

Cheers,

Ray
'85 ///M635
cjarvis
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by cjarvis »

wolfbmw wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2017 12:30 pm i just finished mine clearances with the engine around 130000km (m635csi 1985)
the clearances were quite off -- all were less than the .30mm spec! Anywhere from .28mm to .12mm. most of the lower figures were with the exhaust valves.
could have something to do with the unleaded fuel used without an lead additive?
8)
M88s have hardened valve seat inserts, so unleaded fuel is not the issue. Shim not seated? Debris under the shim?
Craig in MI
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wolfbmw
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by wolfbmw »

being on the road I don't have my notes with me. but as far as I remember one exhaust valve had a clearance of 12mm. the other valve on the same cylinder (4 or 5) was at .19mm.
original shim on the 12mm clearance one was 3.45mm which I replaced by a 3.25mm one to get a clearance of .29mm.
can't figure out why just this one valve had such a small clearance?
concerning the shims, i used ones that were for either audi or vw. diameter is 31mm
I found a complete box by hazet with shims from 3.00 to 4.20mm. the only difference with the bmw ones is that the bmw ones' edges are a little camfered.
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by Boggie »

I just checked mine, whilst I have the valve cover off for stripping and refinishing.
Inlets were all 0,25 - 0.26mm
Exhaust pretty much 0.28mm all along.

My initial thoughts are to leave as is. They don't tap (obviously) or touch the piston crowns. OK, the valves will open a little wider and lift/close a little earlier/later, respectively, but is this enough to affect performance?

Thanks,
Ian
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ericono
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by ericono »

Rather than measuring all my valves, ordering shims and then waiting to get the shims in, I would like to get a collection of shims to have a variety handy and ready to use (for this adjustment and future ones). That being said, what is the range and increments I should be looking to get?

Thanks,

Eric
'85 M635, '00 528iT, '98 Z3
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by wattsmonkey »

When I did mine the shims were £13.85 each, so $18ish, i.e. too much to take a chance on.

Depends on your budget, so you could buy a random selection, but you don't know the sizes of the shims you've got in there already!

I needed to buy 14 shims, swapping over inlets to exhaust worked for the others. All clearances between .25 and .3. Bought: 1 x 3.75; 8 x 3.70; 2 x 3.65; 3 x 3.60.
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ericono
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by ericono »

Thanks for the feedback. You are correct, that does add up quickly. Where did you get your shims from? So far it seems like our options (for 31mm shims) are:

1) BMW
2) Audi/VW
3) I found a place in Australia that sells all sorts of shims, including 31mm
http://www.precisionshims.com.au

Does anyone know about the quality of the place down under?

Thanks again,

Eric
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

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Last edited by brickwhite on Fri May 11, 2018 2:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by wattsmonkey »

I got mine from BMW. I have heard that Volvo shims are the same diameter; but that may well be for the S38.
"Most of it necessary; all of it enjoyable." LJKS
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by wattsmonkey »

Sorry, just read wolfbmw's post above.
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by ericono »

Thank you very much for the links brickwhite. I made an offer on the big set of VW/Audi ones with a tool and they are now heading my way.

Thanks again!

Eric
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by ericono »

Got my shims in! If any of them are used, I can't tell. They all look new to me, but I am the first to admit I am no expert so maybe they are all used. Anyway, I am pretty pumped. I should be ready for whatever needs arise. I have shims ranging from 2.85 ~ 4.30mm,in 0.05 increments, multiples of each. I'll check each one with my calipers to verify the thickness before using.

I think I have all tools needed to adjust the valves and also the ITBs.

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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by brickwhite »

good luck!
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Re: m88/3 valve clearance adjust

Post by Boggie »

Let us know how you get on and it would be great if you could include some pictures!
Good luck!
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