[iBenJammin]

I'm looking to get my 2004 325XI back in running condition, its been sitting in the yard for almost 3 years (been started and moved a couple times.) I believe it has somewhere around 220k on it.
I stopped driving it because of the classic vibrations of unknown origin (I've got a contingency plan to figure it out once its running) but things happened and I got busy blah blah.

Could some kind soul point me to a prioritized list of things I need to do after it sat for so long?
I've got a fresh battery to put in, oil and filter ready, but when it comes to all the other fluids, I'm not quite as confident in my google knowledge. What do I need to do for the fuel? My old man says a bit of sea-foam and a fresh fill up would work, "but I've been wrong once before" as he says...
Also, should I pull/push/winch it into my garage before I start working on it, or is it okay to get it started and limp it in?

Gotta vacuum out the mouse house in the engine... thatll be fun.
I know nothing about brake fluid / antifreeze / 02 sensors etc..
I replaced the Valve cover gasket when I bought it so hopefully I won't have too much oil leakage

Should I just bite all the bullets at once and bring it to my "local BMW dealer" thats 300 miles away? (At some point I need to do that anyways, never got the airbag recall fixed)
Or should I try to find some kind of european car expert closer to me?

Any and all help is appreciated!

 

[Open Highway Productions]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I would start with checking all the fluids, in particular the fuel. With ethanol in most fuels, I would take a sample from either the tank or from the fuel filter/regular under the car.

The BMW dealer is the last place I would consider unless it requires work no one else can perform. Find a local BMW mechanic instead.

 

[Bali]

Search and read up on the existing threads on here where folks revived a sitting car. No need to rehash this over and over when you can easily find it yourself.
Then ask specific questions.

 

[iBenJammin]

Search and read up on the existing threads on here where folks revived a sitting car. No need to rehash this over and over when you can easily find it yourself.
Then ask specific questions.

Thats actually what I meant when I said "point me" to what I need to do, I don't know how to navigate the forum all that well yet. I probably couldve left out my ramble and just asked for a link lol. I scrolled through 10 pages of the most recent posts. Don't really know what to search for but I'll give it a try.
Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Effduration]

2003 325CI sitting 7 years

Hey! I hope this is the right place to post this! Anyway, I just picked up a 2003 BMW 325Ci for $1,500. Although I've owned numerous BMWs before, and own one now, I've never purchased a used one before that hasn't been moved in years. I get a title in a week. Here is an overview of what I know...

www.e46fanatics.com

 

[iBenJammin]

2003 325CI sitting 7 years

Hey! I hope this is the right place to post this! Anyway, I just picked up a 2003 BMW 325Ci for $1,500. Although I've owned numerous BMWs before, and own one now, I've never purchased a used one before that hasn't been moved in years. I get a title in a week. Here is an overview of what I know...

www.e46fanatics.com

Thank you! I should be able to get most of what I need out of this thread 👍
I won't say no to any extra suggested posts though

 

[Bali]

I don't know how to navigate the forum all that well yet.

See the big text box at the top that says, ”Search Community”?
Enter your text there and see what you find.
Try this search link for starters.

Search results for query: sitting

www.e46fanatics.com

 

[iBenJammin]

See the big text box at the top that says, ”Search Community”?
Enter your text there and see what you find.
Try this search link for starters.

Search results for query: sitting

www.e46fanatics.com

I already got what I needed, thank you. Now I'm gonna move on and forget that you tried to explain it like I'm 3.. 🤣

 

[Bali]

you tried to explain it like I'm 3.. 🤣

Well, you are 3 (year member). LOL