E30 Zone

Took the 320i on a Gravel Slalom the other week. Gave it a bit of a thrashing
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BTpOu6UA8EE

It'd been drinking water all day and on the way home it started to spit oil smoke out the back. Towed it home and it's sat outside since.

I'm pretty sure it's had a cooling problem for a while, regularly drinks coolant, heats up a lot and sometimes spits all it's coolant out the header tank (I've started to leave the cap off)

I'm hoping the problem is something like water pump impeller has gone of something. There's no mayo in the engine and I haven't anyway of doing a compression test.

If the worst has happened (head gasket, possibly head) should I:
a) Fix it and carry on
b) drop in a 325i lump
c) drop in a less fragile engine

I have a rather heavy driving style so I have a tendency to break things, what engine is more capable of being thrashed than the M20?

(B) a perfect excuse to drop in a 2.5

(B)

I'm concerned though,
I had a 325i (Alpina Replica) a few years back and that was forever blowing head gaskets and warping heads. It seems to be a common problem with the M20 (when thrashed)

Is there much that can be done to prevent me killing the engine?
I've already replaced the fan with an electric one, I'm wondering if it's worth/possible fitting an electric water pump also? Then I could leave the pump and fan on while the engine is off to give some serious cooling.

Is there much that can be done to prevent me killing the engine?

keep it well maintained, dont thrash it

bugger that drive it like you stole it if she is on her last legs give her a good send off

ive had a few 325s and ive been known to give them a hard time and ive never managed to kill one yet.. ive killed a couple of 1.8s and 320s but not a 325i yet.. get a good m20 b2.5 high comp in there youd be fine

If you look after them they will take a shed load of abuse! bang in an m20b25 or m50. Either way can I have your 320i conrods please lol

Keep the oil clean and it will take a beating time and time again. Then some more and then a lot more......

The main thing seems to be overheating problems, leading to warped heads, my 325i had two in two years.

AdamG wrote:The main thing seems to be overheating problems, leading to warped heads, my 325i had two in two years.

In that case you should have sorted the cooling system out!
No aftermarket parts required - just OEM stuff, but in good order.
I've spent 200,000 miles trying to kill a M20B25 without success. It's regularly been used to tow various heavy trailers at high speed, which loads the engine far more than 'enthusiastic driving'.

jbh wrote:ive had a few 325s and ive been known to give them a hard time and ive never managed to kill one yet.. ive killed a couple of 1.8s and 320s but not a 325i yet.. get a good m20 b2.5 high comp in there youd be fine

+1

My 325 gets driven hard (once warm) and there has never been a problem (in over 60K miles)...
Headgasket was replaced as a precaution around 120K miles (before I owned it) along with later spec headbolts...

It has been well maintained, but is in rude health with over 186K miles...

The 320 touring is also driven well...spends a lot of time around town with the occasional motorway thrash, and is also in tip-top condition with around 120K miles and no engine woes or past rebuilds...

The M20 isn't the last word in modern technology, but it also isn't excessively fragile...
Make sure your cooling system is in good order, though...

Right, I think the best idea is going to be to check the water pump and thermostat, replace if needs be. Then new head gasket and see how we go. I'll also start being more careful to let her warm up and cool down properly when I'm thrashing her about.

Where's the best price for head gasket and head bolts? GSF? ECP? or local motor factors?

The part that does the actual cooling is the radiator, and they don't last forever!

It had a new rad about 6 months ago, so thats one thing ticked off the list.
(old one popped and sprayed all the coolant out the front grille).