97 540 Issues-help

[Doddsworthy]

Recently bought a 97 540 with 85,000 mi thru a wrecked car auction (though this car is clean titled). My neighbor owns a body shop, and I fixed the car, so very few bucks later I have a very nice looking 540, but the car runs terrible.

Smoke poors out the tailpipe when I start it, and when I punch the gas.

Is it valves, rings, what's the easiest way to fix it, or should I sell the car?

Either way I'll profit on the sale of the car, but its such a nice looking car, I would hate to sell it...

P.S. My 97 528 (5-speed), which I've had for years runs perfectly, and is currently the winter beater. This car has been a dream.

Black

[Eric S.]

Originally Posted by Doddsworthy

Recently bought a 97 540 with 85,000 mi thru a wrecked car auction (though this car is clean titled). My neighbor owns a body shop, and I fixed the car, so very few bucks later I have a very nice looking 540, but the car runs terrible.

Smoke poors out the tailpipe when I start it, and when I punch the gas.

Is it valves, rings, what's the easiest way to fix it, or should I sell the car?

Either way I'll profit on the sale of the car, but its such a nice looking car, I would hate to sell it...

P.S. My 97 528 (5-speed), which I've had for years runs perfectly, and is currently the winter beater. This car has been a dream.

Black

Congrats on your purchase! Can you describe the smoke? Color? If it's white, there could be a head gasket issue $$$, if it's blueish black, then it may be bad rings and/or valve seals$$$$.

If it's thick black smoke, there could be a number of things wrong, but a common one is that the upper (upstream) o2 sensors go bad and cause the car to start to run rich. Hard to believe no check engine code has been triggered. Or has it? Anyway, the sensors are about $100 each for the parts, and in fact are a 100,000-mile replacement item on my 1999 540 (slightly different engine electronics from your '97, but probably similar O2 sensors).

[Doddsworthy]

Check engine is on, i'm going to check the codes this weekend.

Diffently a blue smoke, like its burning oil, but burns out after warming up.

Thanks for the info.