Cracked the sump on a speed bump

[Bump]

As above I hit a bloody speed bump I didn't see, cracked the sump, it dumped the oil and I now have a dead 325i touring sitting in the car park at my block of flats in Highgate after getting towed back there by the AA.

Can anyone advise me how much a replacement sump and fitting will be please? Absolutely skint at the moment unfortunately.

I used to go to A-Tech but need someone new now Ant's gone if anyone can recommend someone please in North London?

Anyone able to do an onsite visit else it needs a tow?

cheers

[G-Bear]

Put an add up in the wanted section, someone will get back to you in no time. It's not a big job you could do it yourself with basic tools. Otherwise labour wise it shouldn't be more than a 1/2 hour job in a garage...

[Grrrmachine]

G-bear, are you sure? I thought the sump on an M20 engine was a pig of a job to do.

[Dezzy]

G-bear, are you sure? I thought the sump on an M20 engine was a pig of a job to do.

It is!

Engine supported and crossmember out or engine lifted to get the sump off.

[ross_jsy]

Half an hour job? Lol

I've never done it but it looks like a pig. I would lift the engine up as far as it would go and try from there

[red50x]

there is no pressure in the sump .. just drain the sump ,clean all traces of oil from the crack and use one of the many metal based puttys to plug it . there is no reason why it should not last for many years

[Grrrmachine]

Can't believe I missed the opportunity to post this:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/M20#Sump

[Bump]

there is no pressure in the sump .. just drain the sump ,clean all traces of oil from the crack and use one of the many metal based puttys to plug it . there is no reason why it should not last for many years

Now that sounds like a very cheap solution to me that's got to be worth a first go.

I think it's fair to say the sump is drained already!

[Bump]

Can't believe I missed the opportunity to post this:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/M20#Sump

ha ha yes I already read that and just thought, 'bollocks, I can't do that'.

[Bump]

So the sump is aluminium right?

Does that mean I have to get some aluminium putty stuff or will the steel kind work on the aluminium casing?

cheers for the advice

[G-Bear]

Sorry sorry. Too much haste to help. I was going off having done it on a M42 and assuming only changing the oil pan of the sump. I'll address wiki next time before I jump in...

[kieran325]

G-Bear go and stand in the naughty corner and hope bss325 doesn't spot it

[MattTheHat325]

That's what I did, just undid the engine mounts and jacked the engine up as much as the bulkhead would let me! It is a bit fiddly wiggling the sump in and out past the cross member but just whistle or sing so you don't get annoyed, once you start swearing at yourself just go and have a cup of tea and come back to it!

[G-Bear]

G-Bear go and stand in the naughty corner and hope bss325 doesn't spot it

I'm in the corner, studying exploded diagrams of M20's awaiting a round from the kane..

[Speedtouch]

I had a lowered Merc 190E that had a cracked alloy sump (like that when I got it).

I found that Chemical Metal/Leak Fix stuff to partially work, but as it is porous, oil will seep through it if the crack is of any appreciable size (mine was about the size of a 5p piece), so I had to make up a sandwich of the stuff with some foil as well to stem the leak.

Of course, the slightest knock on a speed hump will rip the repair out and make it leak again! In the end, I raised the front suspension back up and took it very carefully over speed humps.

Ideally, you should get it welded, or fit a replacement sump.

[Brianmoooore]

Check out the oil pump when the old sump is off, if there's any chance that it might have been hit as well.
You wouldn't be the first to replace a M20 sump and then find they still don't have any oil pressure, even with a full sump.
Wouldn't be a bad idea to lose the silly front springs as well!

[aimlessrock]

im in agreement with Brian, i also changed the sump on my M20 a few months ago, you can do it with a jack to lift the engine up off the mounts but its a bit scary...i would recommend a Crane ..far safer and you have more control.

Once the sumps off make sure you change the gasket...if its anything like mine you will be pealing bits of gasket off with a razor...

Replacing the oil pump is a smart move while you are at it... they are not expensive and easy to fit (would use oem).

A messy but straight forward job.

[DanThe]

JB Waterweld is good, if your looking for a quick temporary fix. You should jack the front up to get any remaining oil away from the crack and wash the cracked area with carb cleaner to get rid of any oil before bodging.

If changing an M20 sump in situ is anything like an M50 its a major PITA!

[Bump]

its a bit scary...messy but straight forward job

This really does sound perfect for someone else who knows what they are doing.

I'll have to try the bodge fix short term otherwise I'll have to pay for it to be towed to get it fixed anyway.

Will get it fixed properly when funds allow. Any idea what a garage would charge for this?

cheers for all the advice

[kitch]

When I did my sump I got a replacement one for £35 and was charged around £60 for fitment.

[aimlessrock]

Bump, not trying to scare you mate..i only said "scary" when supporting the whole engine on a jack, as you have to get under the cars and the prospect of a 6 pot engine off its mounts supported by a trolley jack whilst i am under the bay is a bit to risky in my opinion.

The job is fairly straightforward, you only need to left the engine about 3" to allow the sump to clear the crossmember..

I hired an engine crane for about £30.00 for the weekend and did the job in about 2 hours which included cleaning the sump in a parts washer etc.

[E30S]

mine had been welded or filled and i wanted it replaced after buying the car (it was leaking). Bought a brand new main dealer sump for £170 (only one in country at the time) and then had it fitted - one of the sub frame bolts cracked, garage then used a jack to lift engine and replace the sump. Couple of weeks later i had the car back in to drill the bolt out and tap and dyed new bolt in its place. Cost probably £400+ in the end but nice to know the subframe is all loose now!

[hazd31]

Used sump will set you back around £50
£10 for a new gasket

I can change one in an hour, i unbolt the steering rack, and my engine is alreay reased 15mm, and i have done it 4or 5 times now! garage it will be a 2-3 hour job!

[ross_jsy]

You would have thought after 4 or 5 times you would either raise your car or learn to drive it so you aren't smashing sumps off

[Bump]

I've already raised my car to grandad spec owing to the amount of speed bumps round my way..

[rh306]

I've already raised my car to grandad spec owing to the amount of speed bumps round my way..

..I'm in N6 too, it's awash with 20mph zones and speed humps. The humps combined with a general lack of maintenance, make some roads more like cart tracks than paved highways at the moment

[aimlessrock]

...you should try Manchester M8...some of the humps require a compete stop and crawl over else your sump is a goner...

[G-Bear]

I've already raised my car to grandad spec owing to the amount of speed bumps round my way..

3rd this.. I live at the bottom of the hill from you..

[hazd31]

You would have thought after 4 or 5 times you would either raise your car or learn to drive it so you aren't smashing sumps off

20000 miles a year in a -80mm lowered e30, is always gonna happen, only once on a speedbump so far, the rest just the road and one a cats eye!

I refuse to drive grandad spec springs!

[lukec88]

unfortunately no putty could have fixed my hole when i hit a drain with my sump. luckily i broke down outside a house with a 325es outside that had been sat for years and he asked if i wanted to buy it. so i did and took the sump, leather, sold the alloys and sold it on and made a nice profit. but i fitted the sump myself in the snow on my gravel driveway. i unbolted the mounts, hoisted the engine up, dropped the subframe down and took it out. was a bit of a fun job but easily done by anyone tbh. from looking on ebay a second hand sump is roughly £60-£80 and fit it yourself.

[ross_jsy]

Think you are confusing grandad spec with driveable.

[Jhonno]

Think you are confusing grandad spec with driveable.

[Ninja_Penguin]

thats an epic hole.

[Bump]

unfortunately no putty could have fixed my hole when i hit a drain with my sump. luckily i broke down outside a house with a 325es outside that had been sat for years and he asked if i wanted to buy it. so i did and took the sump, leather, sold the alloys and sold it on and made a nice profit.

This is like somethign out of the Fast Show.

"I broke down outside the BMW factory and after a quick coffee and some chocolate biscuits they decided to sign all the rights of the company over to me..which was nice"

I'm not jacking up my car in the snow on a gravel drive and putting my head underneath.

That's what other people's heads are for.

[Bump]

I've already raised my car to grandad spec owing to the amount of speed bumps round my way..

..I'm in N6 too, it's awash with 20mph zones and speed humps. The humps combined with a general lack of maintenance, make some roads more like cart tracks than paved highways at the moment

3rd this.. I live at the bottom of the hill from you..

pretty bad round our way isn't it?

what cars you both got? mine's the black 325 touring.

there's a silver touring couple of roads down from me and some 2 doors further down the hill I occasionally see