I'm looking at a wrecked 1990 740 GLE with the 16 valve engine. It is hit in the front and the major impact missed the front bumper taking out the hood and one fender as well as breaking one of the cam gears.

Someone attempted to start the car in this condition (??) and of course the cams didn't turn. He said it turned freely and "didn't hit nothing". Once the belt is off and the engine is turned over the interference comes into play doesn't it? Wouldn't some of those valves have to be bent at this point??

What components on this car would be the same as the B230F? Do they use the same fuel pumps? Are the majority of the relays the same? What about the transmission?? I'm thinking of parting it out and could use a little input. Thanks for any insight.

Randy

I suppose it is theoretically possible for both sets of valves to be closed at the same time is the belts / cam gears are off/ broken. So spinning the engine then would do no further damage. But I doubt that was the case.

As for differences, the short block is the same but tranny, electronics, exhaust, etc are all likely different. Chassis is the same.

Bill

The short block is different, having two counter rotating balance shafts, machined surfaces on the block for mounting the balance shafts, oil supplies to the balance shafts, and higher compression pistons. The crankshaft should be the same, and I would expect the connecting rods to be the same, but I am not sure.

I stand corrected. The left (looking from the front) balancer is external to the block, is it not? I thought the casting was the same as for the B230F and that differences were in the post machining. Just my delusion, I guess.

Thanks,
Bill

I think you are correct about the casting being the same and differences are in the machinging.

The transmission is an AW 72L, specific to the 16 valve engine. The gear ratios are different from the AW 70 and AW 71 (which have the same gear ratios). The rear end will have a 4.10 ratio. The LH 2.4 Jetronic is also specific to the 16 valve engine. The AMM, ECU and fuel injectors are different.