[Trizzuth]

I always end up in these threads for some reason! It must be fate.

Here's something you could do to kill 2 birds with one stone, buy a boroscope on amazon for around $150 or less, and with that you can dip into the engine oil cap and take a good peek at the U guide as well as snap some pictures to post on here for some feedback, but you can also pull the coils and plugs if you are able to do that and peek down inside the cylinders to check for any scoring.

The true best test for the guides breaking apart is to drop the pan and pull the oil pickup screen to check for bits of the guides and guide clips, that's not difficult to do at all since the pan is staring you in the face under the car.

Otherwise I believe if it has been taken care of well (meaning well maintained in the engine and driveline area at least) and as you say has no or minimal rust, this car would still outlast any of the newer M5's hands down, regardless of its mileage!

Also agree with what Sarb2133 says here, however that's only if you can afford it, lower mileage clean examples that are well maintained are now fetching pretty good $$$, where as a seemingly well used 300K mile one may be had for bargain prices (but don't forget to add in thousands after you buy it and taking that risk if it was NOT well maintained).

 

[Trizzuth]

Congrats!! I hope you bring her back to life properly! from your pics, it looks like you had some hazing or condensation on the lens of the boroscope as all pics are very difficult to see. From what I can see of your chain, it looks origianal as the edges are varnished even though the links in between are shiny. You are taking all the right steps to address things, so keep at it.. best thing you can honestly do is dropping the oil pan to check the pickup screen for bits of timing chain guide. Good luck as you move forward, toss us some pics of the car when you have a chance!

 

[Trizzuth]

Good question indeed! ZOINKS that salt is everywhere.. but you are in Canada so.....

 

[Trizzuth]

^^^ THIS

 

[Trizzuth]

zOINKS that is a LOT of timing chain guide plastic you found, good on you for dropping the pan and inspecting the pickup tube, and just imagine the reduced oil flow from the screen being partially blocked by all of those pieces! That's way more guide material than I found in mine, mine was only 3 of the U guide clips or so...

I wouldn't chance driving this car as it could get catastrophically worse, quick. That was my concern, so I parked it and did the job until it was done, in the end the car sat for about a month or so, but the peace of mind was well worth the effort and money.