My 1987 M6 "Refresh"

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:06 am

While not exactly a restoration project as the car is in great shape rather more of a tidying up of small sub projects that will enhance an already solid M6. I have broken the projects down into sub areas of the car.

- Under Hood/Engine Compartment
- Trunk
- Exterior Body
- Rear Passenger's Compartment
- Front Passenger's Compartment

UNDER HOOD/ENGINE
- Replace hood insulation. (already purchased).
- Replace all old, worn and cracked stickers/decals.
- Repaint certain bits and pieces.
- Reseal/tar wiring harness where it enters the passengers compartment.
- Replace any nuts and bolts that have lost their anodized finish or have re-anodized.
- Replace missing cap on electrical port near fuse box.
- Give the engine compartment a good OCD cleaning.
- Adjust valves
- Order proper tool to adjust valves
- Order VW, 31mm diameter (M88 head) valve shim kit.
- Replace fuse box cover with new OEM cover.
- Replace frayed hood to chassis ground strap
- Replaced cracked hood vent grills.

TRUNK
- Replace battery
- Source a period correct first aid kit
- Source a period correct warning triangle. M6 being different than the standard E24 635 and not easily found ay mean this takes a bit and not really a big priority.
- Tool kit is 98% complete but the tools need to be cleaned and re-chromed. I know I'm probably being picky but, all the small details add up.
- Need to find the plug spanner tool, the foam bulb/fuse holder piece and an as close to correct BMW cleaning rag.
- Toying with the idea of replacing the yellowed tool kit foam with a custom made new piece that brings it back to a nice white.
- Clean and scrub everything.
- Replace wooden spare tire cover.
- Replace cracked truck trim pieces.

EXTERIOR BODY
- lube antenna.
- Replace cracked fog light lens or just replace both lights with new ones.
- Repaint chipped and cracked front air dam.

REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT
- Clean, condition and condition some more ALL leather.
- Have separated stitching in rear seat back re-stitched. Hopefully after some conditioning the leather will soften up and this can be fixed by a pro.
- Fix the two broken clips/hooks on the sun shade.

FRONT DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT
- Replace dash is a non cracked one can be found.
- Clean and condition ALL leather
- Address some cracking on the driver's front seat leather. I will need to match the color to the passenger's seat as it is a replacement and has faded differently. Or buy a kit to recover the two front seats. Replacement seat covers are not cheap but, to me, nothing has the "wow" factor as much as two nice front seats. Or just the opposite if they are not so nice.
- Replace torn shifter leather.
- Re-dye and maybe polish the emergency brake handle.
- Replace the driver's side door pull. The leather has split at the seam.
- Replace a cracked seat belt receptacle.
- Refurbish center console. Needs some sanding, and re-dying.

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:43 am

THE CAR:
- 1987 red M6 with approximately 130,000 miles
- originally a California car that was eventually relocated to Texas
- An S38 block with an M88 head and cam cover.
- Complete body stripped of everything paint job. I have seen pictures and it looks like the shop did a very professional job.
- New Clutch
- New flywheel
- Rebuilt transmission
- transmission oil changed
- Differential oil changed
- New rear SLS accumulators. The system works as it did from day one.
- New brakes
- New master cylinder
- New "brake Bomb"
- Rebuilt brake master cylinder
- Brake booster o ring leak repaired
- Rebuilt steering system
- Heater mono valve replaced last year
- All new rear suspension bushings
- Newer Radiator
- Coolant flush last fall using BMW brand coolant
- Newer fan clutch
- New overflow tank
- New fan shroud
- All new hoses
- All new relays
- New fuel injection trumpet rubber boots
- New door seals
- New trunk seal
- 2 new kidney grills
- New blower switch
- New fuel pumps
- New crankshaft sensor
- New tires
- Updated staggered rims
- Sanden AC compressor conversion with new compressor.
- New AC evap, dryer, hoses, etc...
- Original radio
- No dash warning lights

Total invested by the previous owner as verified by receipts was $24,715.00.

I'm sure with other small items and work done not verified by receipts that over $25,000 has been invested rebuilding sub systems and maintaining the car.

m6dave · Post by **m6dave** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:30 am

The M88 head is shorter in the nose than an S38 head as the timing chest is thicker for the dual row chain. If it has an M88 valve cover on it then it must be an M88 cam box too. If you are not sure post a pic.

JCS · Post by **JCS** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:28 pm

Welcome Grunt,

I also have some m6's.
I have had my '87 for 21 years, good luck, on you quest.

Best,

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Sun Jun 28, 2015 3:02 pm

Pictures of the engine.

What says the group?

Without being with the car (I'm in Kuwait on military duty until mid August) to confirm the number on the block I would have to assume an M88/3 has been swapped into the car? Possibly out of a 5 series? Not the Euro headers from what I can tell but I'm no expert, just learning.

m6dave · Post by **m6dave** » Sun Jun 28, 2015 10:21 pm

I posted in the id my motor thread

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 9:13 am

Have ordered new under hood stickers (Paint code and the Genuine BMW Parts sticker on the hood), two new hood plastic vent grills, and a new diagnostic port cover as mine is missing, new air filer (the fram orange bugs me).

Small things I know but, all these little things add up to the overall completeness of the car.

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:22 am

New stickers I have to install. Should make the engine bay look a little cleaner.

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:44 am

I bought 4 Autopal headlights to replace my sealed beam units. Around $85.00 including shipping for the 4 so I had to give them a try.

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:53 am

I won a vintage first aid kit off EBay. Paid $91.00 for it and not sure if that is a bargain or high but, for me it was a good price knowing the kit is new old stock.

hornhospital · Post by **hornhospital** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 7:54 am

Nice!

Have you gotten and installed the headlights yet?

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 8:57 am

Found the proper Blue BMW M6 (not Euro 635CSi as they are a different size) warning triangle. The size is 18 3/4 (457mm) by 5 3/4 (135mm). The one I found is in great shape. It will go nicely with my newly sourced New Old Stock OEM First Aid Kit.

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 2:11 pm

I haven't been able to do any actual work on the car as I am deployed overseas with the military. I'll be back home by mid September and will be working on the car after I have enjoyed driving it a bit. I fully expect to get a lot done over the winter as the car will be safely tucked away in my garage out of the New England weather.

Not a mechanical addition but, I found an old Road and Track magazine on EBay that has an article on the 1987 (my year) M6. Thought for under $20.00 it would be a nice novelty to have.

JCS · Post by **JCS** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:47 pm

Here is a copy of the article

https://picasaweb.google.com/1135658876 ... 82B9JCu2wE

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 4:25 am

Thanks JCS. I'd love to find a set of owners manuals and such that are period correct for the car but, these seem hard to find or very expensive.

Da_Hose · Post by **Da_Hose** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 4:39 am

I am lucky that mine has owners manuals in original slip case.

I bought a blue triangle from Germany and customs opened the box. I ended up getting the case WITHOUT the top. I was so pissed off, but wasn't ready to battle customs over the cost.

I have now purchased a second, complete triangle. If you want the triangle with main case body, I would sell it for $35. Otherwise, I'll keep it as it's a great spare.

Jose

JCS · Post by **JCS** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 4:59 am

MSGGrunt wrote:Thanks JCS. I'd love to find a set of owners manuals and such that are period correct for the car but, these seem hard to find or very expensive.

Try Koala Motorsports

https://www.koalamotorsport.com/proddet ... 1479781952

rhanley 635csi89 · Post by **rhanley 635csi89** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 12:55 pm

Owners manuals can still be obtain from BMW dealers, I ordered and received the 89 manual from Husker, cost $15.58, The key is to know the part number, which is 01-47-9-781-952 for the 89 owners manual.

Da_Hose · Post by **Da_Hose** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:20 pm

I will take a look in my 1987 M6, confirm part numbers for the manuals and post them here.

Jose

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:33 pm

After doing plenty of research I bit the bullet and bought 3 gallons of Evan High Performance Waterless Coolant and 2 gallons of the prep fluid. Once done it is good for life unless there is a failure of some sort. I watched a video where Jay Leno has used the same coolant without changing it in one of his cars for 13 years.

I thought since my radiator and water pump, overflow tank, hoses, etc are all pretty new this would be the time to do it, especially where I would be changing the coolant in preparation for Winter storage anyway.

The key is getting ALL of the water out of the car.

-Drain radiator, drain block, drain heater core.
-Blow as much coolant out as possible.
-Button everything back up and then add the prep fluid.
-Run up to temperature
-Let cool and repeat draining everything.
-Blow out as much of the prep fluid as possible.
-Add new waterless coolant.

Per Evans instructions you only need to use 1/2 the fill volume in prep fluid.

I bought 2 gallons of the prep fluid and 3 gallons of the waterless coolant.

The prep fluid I bought off Amazon for a very reasonable $63.64 with tax and free shipping.

The waterless coolant I bought off EBay from Hoerr Racing Products for $131.70 with free shipping.

TBM · Post by **TBM** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 8:05 pm

MSGGrunt wrote:After doing plenty of research I bit the bullet and bought 3 gallons of Evan High Performance Waterless Coolant and 2 gallons of the prep fluid. Once done it is good for life unless there is a failure of some sort. I watched a video where Jay Leno has used the same coolant without changing it in one of his cars for 13 years.

I thought since my radiator and water pump, overflow tank, hoses, etc are all pretty new this would be the time to do it, especially where I would be changing the coolant in preparation for Winter storage anyway.

The key is getting ALL of the water out of the car.

-Drain radiator, drain block, drain heater core.
-Blow as much coolant out as possible.
-Button everything back up and then add the prep fluid.
-Run up to temperature
-Let cool and repeat draining everything.
-Blow out as much of the prep fluid as possible.
-Add new waterless coolant.

Per Evans instructions you only need to use 1/2 the fill volume in prep fluid.

I bought 2 gallons of the prep fluid and 3 gallons of the waterless coolant.

The prep fluid I bought off Amazon for a very reasonable $63.64 with tax and free shipping.

The waterless coolant I bought off EBay from Hoerr Racing Products for $131.70 with free shipping.

Perfect! Don't let anyone tell you this stuff doesn't work! There are a lot of wannabe's out there that are complete dunces.
Your car should run in the correct temperature zone, not put unnecessary pressure on your hoses and you wont have to worry about acidic corrosion!

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 3:34 pm

I have had about a 10 to 1 ratio of "can't see the need for this stuff, it's too expensive, snake oil", etc... comments on this stuff over on bimmerforums but, I am not deterred. Everyone has their own opinions and I respect them. If you only change your coolant once every 5 years or so and only use what's on sale at your local Wal Mart and have never had a problem then my hat is of to you. I spend more than what this cost me a month buying coffee to and from work so, this was cheap insurance. Just the higher boiling point would be a selling point for me.

My opinion is this may not be NEEDED but, IMHO, the Evans Waterless Coolant is a more advanced coolant and I have a bit more piece of mind that I am doing all that I can to protect my engine.

Da_Hose · Post by **Da_Hose** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:58 pm

For a Ford work truck, I wouldn't buy Evans. An M6 is a different ball game. I converted mine.

Jose

Da_Hose · Post by **Da_Hose** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 7:18 pm

I lost track of this thread.

Part number for the Owners Handbook is 01 47 9 770 327 US .

Part number for the matching Service Booklet is 01 77 9 780 177 US .

Sorry for not getting the numbers posted sooner, grunt.

Jose

MSGGrunt · Post by **MSGGrunt** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:14 am

Thanks for the part number Jose.

The Service Booklet comes up in a search on Real OEM but the Owner's Handbook does not. Is there a secret to getting these or are they simply no longer available?

Do I just need to go into a dealership and ask them to search for these?

bigcoupe.com

My 1987 M6 "Refresh"

My 1987 M6 "Refresh"

The Car

1987 m6

Car And Driver 1987 M6 Roat Test

owners manual

owners manual

Evans Waterless Coolant

Re: Evans Waterless Coolant