BMW L6: First impressions...

The L6 looks pretty good so far. I have found no rust (a miracle on BMWs of this vintage). The Zender body kit has grown on me. The Zender rear spoiler is still trying to grow on me. The 16" Borbet wheels will likely go away. I am having trouble deciding what to replace them with. I have a couple thoughts that I will keep to myself for now. I spent 6 hours in the garage. I was writing lists of things I need and want for the L6, as well as comparing where everything is in the engine bay compared to the M6. The M6 has the S38B35 engine, while the L6 has the M30B34 engine. Overall, the L6 is in pretty fair condition and can be made into great condition with a little money and a lot of elbow grease. I will try to provide a little of both over the winter months.

The new BMW L6!

This Saturday, I purchased a new (to me) 1987 BMW L6.

A friend of mine emailed me a link to a forum that discussed an advertisement that claimed that the Chevrolet Cruze outhandled the BMW 328xi. The link never discussed exactly what parameter the Chevy bested the AWD BMW in. Was it in the slalom? Was it the skid pad? Does it matter? Here was my response:

The reason I own six BMWs is because I love the way they drive. There are kids in turbo Honda Civics and Supercharged Camaros that could eat my cars lunch on a drag strip, but that is not where I get the most enjoyment out of my cars. I've owned a lot of cars and driven countless others. BMW knows what they are doing as far as the "feel" of control and superior handling. The thing about performance numbers in a vacuum, is that they are pure advertising fodder. When a commercial tells me that the new Hyundai has more "X" than a BMW 7 series; all I can think is: "Since when is the guy who was in the demographic to buy a 7 series even considering a Hyundai?" It only sounds cool if you were considering a Hyundai in the first place.

I don't expect the slowest, least performance oriented all wheel drive, version of the BMW 3 series to be a stellar performer. That is what M3s are for. If you are buying a Chevy Cruze this may make you feel good. If you are an automotive enthusiast, this doesn't come as a big surprise.

As of today my stable consists of: 1987 BMW L6, 1988 BMW M6, 1992 BMW 325i sedan, 1995 BMW 325iC Convertible, 1995 BMW M3, 2002 BMW 325i sedan and a 2000 Ford Expedition 4X4. I own these cars (the BMWs) because I love the way they drive. The Nissans, Hondas, Mazdas, Mercedes Benz, Chevrolets, I have driven; no matter how fast or cool looking have not lived up to these old BMWs in my heart and mind. If money were no object, I would have a barn full of old BMWs. Hell, I'm well on my way there now...

A new M6!

The M6 runs like never before! I drove it 200 miles today. The power steering and the fuel pumps are now functioning fully. The car drives as good as new.

Power steering fixed.

I spent Friday afternoon installing the new power steering hose. The old hose (likely original) that ran from the bottom of the power steering reservoir to the piping below refused to come off at first. I was eventually able to remove and replace the hose. I placed a paper towel under the car overnight to ensure that there was no longer a leak. The next morning it was clear that the new BMW hose and BMW clamps were leak-free. Sweet.

M6 up! (late post)

Late post:

The M6 has been back up since November 14th. Adam a.k.a. "The Wolf" came by and installed both the inner and outer fuel pumps as well as new fuel lines. The M6 fired right up and sounds as if it is running much smoother now. Since the car is still in the air I inspected the undercarriage and engine. I was happy to find that the car looks great from underneath. It has been well taken care of since it's 9/1987 production date and I plan to continue that trend. I also discovered the source of my power steering fluid leak: A loose power steering low pressure hose. I ordered a new BMW hose as well as the proper clamps. Apparently retail auto parts stores do not carry metric hose sizes, only SAE. The wife got a huge laugh out of it when I told her that I have been driving around for hours looking for "European hose" and couldn't find any. "American hose" just wouldn't do for what I was trying to accomplish. Thankfully Steve at Bluntech.com is already sending over the hose I need.

Fighting procrastination with power steering fluid.

Hopefully at some point this weekend, I will get the opportunity to investigate the Power Steering Fluid leak on the M6. The car made a god-awful growl the last time I drove it and I thought it might be something serious. I soon realized that the sound was actually coming from the power steering mechanism. This needs to be a simple fix, because, well I am a procrastinator and when I work on a car, I need to get it done in one day, because it might be weeks before I work on the same car again…

The new red S38 valve cover is installed! It looks pretty good to me and those who have seen it. I also bit the bullet and ordered all the parts to refresh the fuel delivery system. I ordered the in-tank fuel pump, the external fuel pump, new fuel filter, new fuel pump relay, new fuel lines, new o-ring gasket, and new clamps. This should do it. It is time to give the beast some tender loving care. She could really use a good detailing job. I will try to clean her up after I get her running smoothly again. It appears there is also a power steering fluid leak. That needs to be addressed as well.

Let's Get Started!

There are a few things that I need to do to the M6. I need to install the newly painted valve cover. I also need to order and install a new Fuel Pump and Fuel Pump Relay. My good friend and fellow enthusiast Adam recommended a small parts company named Blunt Tech. I have used them before, with good results. I am determined to make some progress this week. I will keep you posted and hold myself accountable.

-Semper Fi

///MARINE

BMW M6: A LOVE STORY

I am the proud owner of a Cinnabar red, 1988 BMW M6. Although I have six cars (five of them BMWs) I know that I will never sell this car. The BMW E24 body style is classic. It is indicative of everything that was ever great about BMW.