I think, to be fair, that in the original (mid 1980s remember) supplements, the timing chain was thought of as a "for life" item. However relatively quickly, two things became apparent:-
1. The oil pressure fed tensioner can lead to the chain being worryingly noisy on start up if it loses pressure and your 286bhp, multivalve, race derived engine sounds like a paraffin grey Fergie for a few seconds until it builds up pressure.
2. Timing chain/guide failures at not far over 100000 miles are so far from uncommon that it is well known and generally accepted practice that the chain really should be done at around 100000 miles. The cost of a piston/valve interface is likely to reach and breach £5000. A full M88 rebuild will be nearer £7500.
The two are not related. There's is little evidence that a rattle on start up is anything to worry about and can be fixed by fitting a new tensioner. The once ubiquitous E46 M3 tensioner mod is now frowned upon as putting the chain under too much tension! Munich Legends at their best!
It's not just the chain that needs done though, you really need to replace the sprockets and all the guides. The last time I did it, the parts bill was in the region of £1500. It can be done is situ, and despite what others will tell you, it can be done without removing the head.
My first experience of the M88 was in 1991 when I bought a flat off a guy who needed the money - all of it - to rebuild the M88 in his M635 after the chain snapped!
However, it needs to be provable to have any value. I bought an E30 M3 with a receipt from "Back Street Garage Ltd." stating "1989 M3. Reg no. F??? XXX. Replace timing belt. Including parts and labour £300. VAT £52.50. Paid in full with thanks." Obvious worthless curse word based on somebody reading and listening to all the old ML sourced magazine articles about the M3 timing chain (not belt!) needing done at the same mileage and got a receipt made up! ML made a fortune out of that scaremongering too, but their tensioner mod scam takes the biscuit. The E30 M3 actually doesn't need it done because it has a duplex valve gear as opposed to the M88's simplex one. Just to confuse matters the very latest M88s had a duplex chain fitted, but it's not thought that any of these made it to the UK. They appear to be in the US.
The S38 as fitted to the E34 M5 is pretty much the same engine (at least in 3.6 form) and has the duplex chain, with no maintenance required. Fitting the duplex chain to the M88 can be, and has been, done, but is generally thought of as too much hassle. These cars are doing fewer miles and the lubricants are so much better now that a chain replacement on an M88 is now thought of as a once in a lifetime job.
So, the M88 fitted to the E28 M5 and the E24 M635 really needs to show in its service history that the chain has been done. Knowledgeable buyers will ask and at this price point will expect to see evidence of it.
I've had E30 M3s - great for half an hour, but I wouldn't have another one.
I've had a few (and still have one) E24 M635s - the ultimate.
And I've had a couple of E28 M5s - though we have two here for restoration just now. It is by far the best driving car of the three. It's superb. Surprisingly light - much lighter than the E24 that shares its floor pan. It handles and holds the road well. I have long wondered why you could buy one a useable of these - only 187 made in RHD - for under £10000. If I'd had the M5 first, I'd never have bought the M3. Miles better in every respect except all out track focused road holding.
Prices have definitely firmed up in the past year or two and there have been a couple advertised at this sort of price. I'm not certain that more than one has been sold at this sort of price though. The same thing happened with E24s when one famous car allegedly sold for £60000. A few were advertised with huge price tags. None sold and then the sale of the famous car fell through too. On the most recent evidence - and only very limited evidence - M635 prices - actual selling prices - may just be beginning to fall. That won't last long term though.
This one looks as good as any other 120 odd thousand mile example. If the market says that this price is what these cars are worth, then that's what the owner will get and good luck to him.
1. The oil pressure fed tensioner can lead to the chain being worryingly noisy on start up if it loses pressure and your 286bhp, multivalve, race derived engine sounds like a paraffin grey Fergie for a few seconds until it builds up pressure.
2. Timing chain/guide failures at not far over 100000 miles are so far from uncommon that it is well known and generally accepted practice that the chain really should be done at around 100000 miles. The cost of a piston/valve interface is likely to reach and breach £5000. A full M88 rebuild will be nearer £7500.
The two are not related. There's is little evidence that a rattle on start up is anything to worry about and can be fixed by fitting a new tensioner. The once ubiquitous E46 M3 tensioner mod is now frowned upon as putting the chain under too much tension! Munich Legends at their best!
It's not just the chain that needs done though, you really need to replace the sprockets and all the guides. The last time I did it, the parts bill was in the region of £1500. It can be done is situ, and despite what others will tell you, it can be done without removing the head.
My first experience of the M88 was in 1991 when I bought a flat off a guy who needed the money - all of it - to rebuild the M88 in his M635 after the chain snapped!
However, it needs to be provable to have any value. I bought an E30 M3 with a receipt from "Back Street Garage Ltd." stating "1989 M3. Reg no. F??? XXX. Replace timing belt. Including parts and labour £300. VAT £52.50. Paid in full with thanks." Obvious worthless curse word based on somebody reading and listening to all the old ML sourced magazine articles about the M3 timing chain (not belt!) needing done at the same mileage and got a receipt made up! ML made a fortune out of that scaremongering too, but their tensioner mod scam takes the biscuit. The E30 M3 actually doesn't need it done because it has a duplex valve gear as opposed to the M88's simplex one. Just to confuse matters the very latest M88s had a duplex chain fitted, but it's not thought that any of these made it to the UK. They appear to be in the US.
The S38 as fitted to the E34 M5 is pretty much the same engine (at least in 3.6 form) and has the duplex chain, with no maintenance required. Fitting the duplex chain to the M88 can be, and has been, done, but is generally thought of as too much hassle. These cars are doing fewer miles and the lubricants are so much better now that a chain replacement on an M88 is now thought of as a once in a lifetime job.
So, the M88 fitted to the E28 M5 and the E24 M635 really needs to show in its service history that the chain has been done. Knowledgeable buyers will ask and at this price point will expect to see evidence of it.
I've had E30 M3s - great for half an hour, but I wouldn't have another one.
I've had a few (and still have one) E24 M635s - the ultimate.
And I've had a couple of E28 M5s - though we have two here for restoration just now. It is by far the best driving car of the three. It's superb. Surprisingly light - much lighter than the E24 that shares its floor pan. It handles and holds the road well. I have long wondered why you could buy one a useable of these - only 187 made in RHD - for under £10000. If I'd had the M5 first, I'd never have bought the M3. Miles better in every respect except all out track focused road holding.
Prices have definitely firmed up in the past year or two and there have been a couple advertised at this sort of price. I'm not certain that more than one has been sold at this sort of price though. The same thing happened with E24s when one famous car allegedly sold for £60000. A few were advertised with huge price tags. None sold and then the sale of the famous car fell through too. On the most recent evidence - and only very limited evidence - M635 prices - actual selling prices - may just be beginning to fall. That won't last long term though.
This one looks as good as any other 120 odd thousand mile example. If the market says that this price is what these cars are worth, then that's what the owner will get and good luck to him.
