3.5 l engine parts

bimmerboy73

bimmerboy73

Well-Known Member
Messages
495
Reaction score
22
Location
C0ckeysville, md
**I originally posted this in the parts forum by mistake. Moderators - please delete original post**

This might be a dumb question, but i'm a new owner so please forgive me. Have only had the car for a few days but wanted to start freshening up the engine / mechanicals. Was looking into purchasing new plug wires and distributor, but am not sure if the spec is different between the 3.0 and the 3.5. The 3.5 came from a 635 euro but the year is unknown. My guess was that i should be purchasing 635 parts but i just want to be sure. Also, how much difference is there between the various production years of the 3.5l? I've noticed that different years require list part numbers but am not sure exactly how significant the differences are.

Thanks in advance!
 
Get the engine number

Originally it would have been the same as the body VIN, but anyway, it's stamped onto a flat on the block. From memory, the flat on the block where the number is stamped is near where the block meets the bell housing, left side. The numbers are thin and only about 1/4 inch tall.

When you get the number, go to www.realoem.com and enter it; the site will tell you what year and what the original specification of the VIN was. Realoem.com has the complete BMW parts fiche online and you can find out all the original stuff particular to your VIN.
 
bimmerboy73 said:
Have only had the car for a few days but wanted to start freshening up the engine / mechanicals. Was looking into purchasing new plug wires and distributor, but am not sure if the spec is different between the 3.0 and the 3.5. The 3.5 came from a 635 euro but the year is unknown. My guess was that i should be purchasing 635 parts but i just want to be sure. Also, how much difference is there between the various production years of the 3.5l? I've noticed that different years require list part numbers but am not sure exactly how significant the differences are.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Does the engine in your car have carburetors or fuel injection? If carbs, you should have no problems using a plug wire set specified for a 3.0CS. For distributor parts, you need to find the distributor Bosch part number stamped on the outside of the case. It should start with 0 231 xxx xxx and post that here. There are at least a couple different caps and rotors that fit different distributors.

If the engine is injected and has the distributor cap on "top", get the distributor part number for that. If it has the later, Motronic, injection system, the distributor cap will face forwards, towards the radiator and you could order cap and rotor to fit a 85-89 635.
 
The year is pretty important, since Euro 635's changed a lot between 81 and 85.

Email me the last 7 digits of your VIN and I'll run it through the ETK.

Between 78 and 81 the Euro 635 was the M90 (known by many as the "L" block, because of the large L painted on the side. This block originated withe M49 racing engine and was the basis for the later M6 engine. It has a highly over square cylinder architecture.
An L-Jet M90 makes 208 HP vs the US M30 from 82 on which made about 185 hp.

There is also a transitional M90 that has a Motronic system, but uses the same big bore block (This is generally pretty rare) made from 82 to about 83. The other posts are correct, the Motronic Distributor is sort of flat and mounts to the front of the timing case, while the L-Jet is a conventional dizzy that sticks up roughly at 90 degrees to the cam axis.

The early Euro also has a long water jacket on the left (US driver) side. This has two freeze plugs. In an engine that has not been painted, this is also where the venerable "L" is painted.
 
engine #

Scott,

Checked the motor for the #. Looks like its 1277358. Looked it up on real oem but it comes up as not found. This is the number on the block near the starter. Am i looking in the wrong place?

thanks
 
Look behind the head where the bellhousing bolts up, just to the left, on top of where the starter bolts in. There is a small pad which is hand stamped with the numbers. The number you found is the casting number on the side of the block.
 
Realoem won't find your VIN

Realoem won't be able to locate your VIN from the early 7-digits-only days. It lists my car as some kinda E30 to which I take significant exception!

I don't know when BMW and, it seems, all the rest, started with longer VINs.

Maybe one of the 6 series sites can help you identify your VIN.
 
Re: Realoem won't find your VIN

Honolulu said:
Realoem won't be able to locate your VIN from the early 7-digits-only days. It lists my car as some kinda E30 to which I take significant exception!

I don't know when BMW and, it seems, all the rest, started with longer VINs.

Maybe one of the 6 series sites can help you identify your VIN.
Click to expand...
Realoem and other sites, including BMW's ETK, only work with VINs after 1980, when they went to the 17 digit VINs.
 
Not exactly true -- they'll work with older VIN's that start with a 5 -- look up 5020107 and see what you get. That's the VIN from my e12.
 
at long last... having some work done on the car and finally remembered to ask my mechanic to pull the # from the engine. He turned up #8173084 which he says he thinks comes from an early 80's euro 635csi. Havent had a chance to confirm yet but if true, this is the high compression, 'dirty' motor. Correct?
 
I have the same motor 3.5 with a white "L" stamped on the block . Unfortunately mine does not have any Vin #s stamped. The previous owner had a new crate motor from BMW Germany installed back in the days . I was adviced I could use 528 parts for it . So far no probs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top