E30 Zone

Hello all...

Any ideas how much an Engine Rebuild would be for an '89 F 325i SE Auto?

Or, am I better of getting a recon engine?

Ta,

DB.

U can pick them up in the for sale section in good nic, I know fowler has a 325 and gear box for £250

Spent about £1k rebuilding mine, doing everything I could myself (i.e. machining was all given to a local and trusted machine shop)

Sorry to hear about need for an engine rebuild.

There's a 2.7 engine for sale in for sale section built by a gent called Argos (who''s a well respected fella).

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&t=38080

Well, it's hard to put into words how incompetent I am mechanically so let me draw you a mental picture... Imagine a chimp, high on a cocktail of speed and coffee and waving a hammer around in the Antique Porcelain section of the British Museum...

Perhaps though a £1k is a bit rich for my pocket... I only really want the engine checked for leaks, gaskets and hoses replaced and perhaps the cylinders cleaned out (?).

Maybe that is a grands worth

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I went to Ant's last week and learnt (since he knows his stuff) that the usual suspects for leaks are rocker cover gasket and camshaft oil seals (scraper and o-ring seals).

It's worth changing water pump with timing belt (& tensioner) if they haven't been replaced for 3 years or so, along with the above all at the same time (factor about £400 or so I should think).

Cylinders probably won't need cleaning out but I read in another of your posts that you had sludge in it and you feared a blown head gasket. If so (comiserations, and) change that along with all of the above (now, ah er about £800). Yes it's expensive but the need for a compete rebuild is probably small if it hasn't done huge mileage and has been looked after fairly well during it's life.

Chimp... heh heh... I'm thinking of the PG tips adverts... knowwhatImean?

Whereabouts are you? I'll happily have a look at it for you.

Cheers,
Chris

OK, well can anyone suggest a decent garage or specialist 'Dahn Sarf' who might be able to look at the beast and come up with some suggestion and (honest) advice?

Or, given that I am due to spend about £600 getting the paintwork down should I just sell it and buy something that's had all the work done already?

(Hmmm, I think I know the answer to that one already... )

Just buy the engine off argos, it's a bargain!

DA-BEAST
If the general consensus on here was to sell the car it would be a nice excuse to buy the convertible you mentioned

It would be wise to get it sorted mechanically (if it does need sorting) first, then consider selling it for the soft top replacement. You wouldn't much for it if needs mechanical work.