Posted by Mike W. on September 13, 2003 at 16:29:20 from 198.81.26.75
In Reply to: confirmed: engine dead on my '81 posted by Christian SF East Bay on September 12, 2003 at 12:27:13:
If it is zero on one cylinder it is probably a valve issue one way or another. One real basic thing to check is simply the valve adjustments. I have seen cars that would barely run simply due to the valves being out of adjustment. I haven't actually done a compression test on them, but some I have been able to hear the "dead" cylinder while cranking. But it may very well be more serious than that, pulling the head will tell lots more if your valves are in adjustment. If you are into serious do it yourself, the Pick and Pull chain of junkyards have a nice selection of BMW's. Not always what you want, but often enough and cheap enough to be a valueable resource. The Newark yard is good, the Oakland one is the worst I've been to, Richmond is OK and Sac has an import only yard. Used heads are in the $60 range and engines are about a hundred and a quarter. Downside is you have to be a detective there and figure out what is good and bad and why it is there.
Work ahead, but good luck on it.
Mike