1986 760 GLE: good PRV or bad?

A friend of a friend is selling a 1986 760 GLE with the V6 engine.
I've read in this group that 1987 was the first year of production of
the non-notorious version of the V6 engine, however some say that some
1986's models were sold with improved engine.

How can I tell if this of the 1986 models that escaped the curse?

I have a strong desire not to get the wrong one: I previously bought a
1980 264 GLE with this engine cheap, though not cheap enough. The
seats were comfortable, though.

 

The 1987 model was available from September 1986 so if the car was clear of this
date you should have no worries. Main thing to check is it's manufacturing date.
If it was actually made after September 1st 1986 then you are OK. It should also
be on a label saying either B28F or B280F (USA/Canada and with suffix E for
European), the former being the one with dodgy oilways to the camshaft.

Cheers, Peter.


: A friend of a friend is selling a 1986 760 GLE with the V6 engine.
: I've read in this group that 1987 was the first year of production of
: the non-notorious version of the V6 engine, however some say that some
: 1986's models were sold with improved engine.
:
: How can I tell if this of the 1986 models that escaped the curse?
:
: I have a strong desire not to get the wrong one: I previously bought a
: 1980 264 GLE with this engine cheap, though not cheap enough. The
: seats were comfortable, though.

 

I think "good PRV" is a bit of an oxymoron, though the '87 and later ones
were better. Still if you intend to work on this thing yourself I suggest
passing by, even if they were as reliable as the redblocks, they're a real
pain in the butt to work on.

 

The newer (better) version had the distributor on the front left, as
opposed to the rear right. Other major differences: electronic vs.
mechanical injection, and even firing.