Ignition timing specs for 1980 3.5 liter?

don · Post by **don** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:16 pm

Euro engine..the only info I can find says: "See attached microfiche" which doesn't exist.
Thanks'
Don

thomas_m535i · Post by **thomas_m535i** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:05 am

You're very lucky; I probably have all the information you need. Basic timing is 22 degrees BTDC @ 1800 RPM.

Ignition advance checks (without vacuum, with basic timing!!):
9-14 degrees, 1000 RPM
22-28 degrees, 2000 RPM
29-35 degrees, 3000RPM

Source: autodata (M535i E12).

What more do you need to know?

don · Post by **don** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:08 pm

Thank You Thomas,

For now that is the information I need.

Cheers,
don

T.Hanson · Post by **T.Hanson** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:39 am

2.8 gets the mark on the flywheel, bell housing, centered at 2200 rpm. ( Using FAQ as timing guide.)

Do I understand the 3.5 gets the mark centered at 1800 rpm. ?

Not too fluent with the light to know how to use the figures stated.

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:52 pm

T.Hanson wrote:2.8 gets the mark on the flywheel, bell housing, centered at 2200 rpm. ( Using FAQ as timing guide.)

Do I understand the 3.5 gets the mark centered at 1800 rpm. ?

Not too fluent with the light to know how to use the figures stated.

Yep, that's the way to do it. There may be others, but BMW is the only one I know to time it to X degrees at a certain RPM, not at idle.

Sog · Post by **Sog** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 9:18 am

Bumping thread. I'm into the same thing now. I'd originally followed the FAQ and did 2200 RPM with the "ball", but found another thread on here that said 1800 RPM. Now I've found this one. Here's the background:

- At 2200 RPM I saw the "ball". And timed it to that. The car felt fine, but didn't have the full gusto it'd had before. In order to time it to 2200 RPM I turned the distributor maybe 1/6 of a turn counter-clockwise.
- At 1800 RPM, I didn't see/find the ball, but did find a triangle or arrow. Anyone else seen that before? Essentially at the triangle/arrow I turned the distributor back to where it was, so 1/6 of a turn clockwise. The car is running like it's never done before, in a good way. The only way I can describe it is before it was like the Tasmanian Devil, now it's more refined, but hasn't lost a step.

I'm just worried about doing damage and wondering if anyone else here has timed against he arrow/triangle. I haven't had time to go back and find the "ball", but looking for some guidance if anyone has some.

Patient is a 1980 M535i.

PS: I'd normally have checked the M635csi site http://www.malloc.nl/BMW/635CSi/start.html but that appears to be down. Anyone know or have a suggestion of where I can find that manual? I wouldn't mind parting with cash monies to obtain it.