The story so far...get the hankies out

[georgee]

Hello

I have been lurking on this forum for a while try to pick up tips on buying an e30.

I have been looking since last year and I thought I found a good one last week. It was a bit expensive at 4250 for a K 90,000 325 cab but the guy had done a bit of work and the head gasket had been change in 2002 so I thought it meets all my need of a face lift diamond bland with black leather. I went to see it and it look good small spot of rust on the side of the boot but that's all arches scuttle boot, locks looked fine. Roof was a bit tatty (no rips/tears though) but a clean and a new glass would soon sort that out. No rips in the leather...anyway
No mayo in water or dip or cap

Picked it up on Wednesday and drove it home I was pleasantly surprises by the performance and handling. I was also happy to arrange the pickup of a diamond black mtech 2 kit from Bristol.

I had planned to check the oil and water again before leaving for the 2 hour drive but I was running very late because of some whatless managers at work. I did check these were ok the day before
I set off from North West London at 09-09:30 and arrived in Bristol 2/2.5 hours later never going over 100 mostly doing 70-85 due to road works and the lack of knowledgeable about speed camera outside of my area. Everything was fine

On the way home the drama started to happen. I was so happy to get an e30 and my diamond black mtech-kit I did notice how hot the car was running. Pulled over before I got to the motor way and saw the water was leaking/spiting from the coolant tank. I had a bottle of water so I waited for things to cool down and empty the whole two litres in to the tank. I wait for 30 min before checking the temp back to half way
So I took of slowly. I was still quite a way from the motorway so I would see how things would go. Everything was ok strangely the engine was cooler at 60 then 50 got to the motor way ok. and set off with one eye on the side skirts sticking out the back and the other eye on the temp gage (one day I will laugh about this but not any time soon and not until the credit card repair bill is history)
Everything was ok got on to the motor doing 60 and stayed there just as I passed a service station the temp hit the roof again. I pulled over and called the AA. The guy to ages to come (priority my arse) and then tried his hardest to get the engine to cool down by pumping the hoses and ensure the circulation was correct. When he did that I started to see something in the water and my first thought was I hope that is not oil. the longer the engine ran the hotter it got the oilier the water got so now I know my brand new toy is broken after 178 miles (yes, I do want to drive it through the guys front room)

Anyway after 3 tow trucks I got home at 06:30

Anyway checked the car today. a jar of helmanns (well not really it looks like rancid jelly) in the coolant tank none on the dip and tiny small teaspoons worth in the cap why me. I wasn't going to ruin the car I was just going to keep it garaged with a few slight mods(wheels,brace,mtec,smoothed indicated) and just cruise. Fucking blue skies today too roll on winter.

I am absolutely gutted because I thought that car was absolutely lovely and was ok about paying a little extra as long as it was mechanically sound oh boy how wrong was I. I think I will endure with it and fix it. Another reason for buying an e30 was to gain some mechanic skills as I really would like to do something like rebuild and engine but I thought that was at least 5 years aware of constant tinkering. A head gasket (or even the head, I hope not ) seems a little too big for me.

I will post for help in the other forums and maybe somebody will be willing to do it for me (for a price or course) and I could assist them.

I was contemplating getting rid of it for how many pennies I can I even blasphemed and said I cursed bmw. Which if you knew me you would never believe that would come out of my mouth apart from a sentence with the 1,z3 and/or x3 in it(hope I haven't offended just IMHO, anyway I am sure yours works)

I had plans to put up photo of the cars transformation including simple fitting guide for anything I do. I am a newbie and I would mind a pictorial post of something as simple as changing the side indicates etcs

I had plans for this car but they are all on hold for now and may never come to fruition

I thought I would share my story with you guys

I am off to sob in the corner

[e30-320i]

sorry to hear this mate you must be truly gutted don't give up hope though a couple of hundred quid for an engine and a weekends work and your back on the road.
where are you from i'm sure you could get some help from a zoner local to you for a few beer tokens

[georgee]

ok cryings over.

let say it is the head what are my option

get a new on (OUCCHHHH!!!!)

get a replacement which might crack the very next day after installing but the chance of that are ohhhhhh 1 in a million surely

get a new engine: Although I though about engine conversion way, way in the future I just really would like to have the car as close to what BMW intended it to be. Again nothing stopping that engine from f'ing up on me I guess I become a fast learn. If I save 2 everyday I could afford to change the engine every summer

Could somebody tell me the london/SE prices for each 3 option.

[georgee]

Thanks.

I am in West London,Northolt (you probably have driven through it to get to Heathrow)

I hope one of the zoners will help me out give me a few tips too?

drinks money!! you guys must be alch-ies

[Globulator]

Well it sounds like you have a serious cooling issue - regardless of what that has now done to the engine.
Sounds like you bought it with the fault though.
It might be as simple as needing a new fan viscous coupling + thermostat to something else - probably what killed the last head/gasket.
These cars do not like being overheated.
You'll only know if it just needs a gasket or more by taking the head off - find a friendly mechanic/garage or not too busy zoner mechanic... or get rather more involved - but beware of snapping studs etc which you may not be prepared to handle by yourself.

[e30-320i]

drinks money!! you guys must be alch-ies [/quote]

its my car that has the drinking problem not me

[julianm40]

Thats a nasty story mate, would probably drive me to tears! I used to have a mega overheating problem on an old 316, luckily it was just the thermo. Hope everything works out for you.

Julian

[fuzzy]

nightmare mate,did you contact the tosser who sold you it?

[bootyman]

Easy mete. I'd just ring the seller and give him 2 options. 1. Give me all my money back and take your car back or 2. Give me enough back to get the problem sorted. I will them give him 3days and turn up at his house and we will sort it out one way or another. Happened to me a couple of years ago with a cab i bought. Funney how people are quick to give you your money back when you turn up with a Van laod of doormen

Have you considered buying a new 325 lump. They are cheap and lots about. Might be cheaper and safer than having your current engine fixed

[georgee]

I am in DISCUSSIONS with the seller


funny I look like a bouncer. I will go up to speak to him but if we get in to an argument I can see the prosecutor pointing to exhbit A 1 blood splatter BMW jack



I am honestly surprised how calm I have been I wont be when I see him fast to face he has already asked me "how was I driving the car?" which has earned him a bonus prise if it does kick off.

with 178 miles on the clock I would have thought even if I was driving it like a mad man(which I wasnt I was too scraed of the speed cameras,just got another 3 point ) a car which he claims to have had the gasket raditor hoses etc recently changed should still not have conked out.

Thanks for the support. I let you guys know

I am leanning to an engine swap. hopefully a zoner recommended mechanic/meber can help me out. I dont want to take it to a garage because I wont learn anything that way

[bootyman]

Ant, demlot are just a couple of people who can help you. Make sure you get about £300 for a new engine and about £500 for the replacement and dont take any less. If you need help i can always be rented and i'll bring a couple of boy's for free

[ClemQjeronimo]

the seller probably put in some rad weld and thought he'd get away with it. bad story dude.

[jonb]

george

ive only just read this. im ever so sorry to hear this mate.

6.30am! fucking hell. the best thing to do is to source a good second hand head and get that fitted.

[Hyperion]

sorry to hear this georgee. It think this is a little nightmare for me and all of us. You did the research, got your facts straight, went looking for a car, found car, did the checking and everything was rosey until you parted with our cash and drove off....
Hope you get it sorted out with the seller, an engine swop should be fine,and i am sure a fellow zoner will either help you out or point you in the right direction.

[Ant]

A sad but all too familiar tale dude, gutted for you

as has been said, its not the end of the world, and I'd certainly be looking to the seller for some £Â£ to cover the cost of repairs.

I'll be up for the persuasion trip if required, strictly hands off of course

[Quaser]

HI Mate

Sorry to hear about your bad luck - but i think we need to look forward now rather then back.

I live in Hayes, Middx we can meet if you want to discuss a few options.

Firstly, even though the head gasket went - the price you paid for the car is very good. Once the mtec 2 is on, it should be worth around 6.5k if it mint as you have a late cab. All is not at a loss!

1. Engine Replacement: There are a couple of engines available on the zone at the moment (inc one from me!) - is your car a manual or auto? Looking at £200 - £300 for replacement.

Issue here is what if the head gasket goes again - also need to do timing belt whilst your at it.

£250 - £300 to change the engine from a garage.

2. Headgasket replacement: Need to get the head pressure tested, plus all the bits to change the gasket - about £100 - £150.

Again - looking at £200 - £300 for this job, but at least you know its done. If the head is cracked - looking at around £150 - £200 for a replacement!

Which ever you decide to do, make sure that the thermostat (£10), and viscous coupling (£40), are replaced as these are reletivly quite cheap but failure of these can cost you a lot! Also check that the radiator does not leak!

Q

[Gouki]

thats a really bad break, sounds to me that the car had the problem already when you bought it. Be cheaper to get a replacement 325 engine in, luckily there not expensive as you may think as people have mentioned. If you say its decent for what it is, then you aint gonna lose much money on it, or we could all pack together like wolves and go chase the man who sold you the car!

[georgee]

" the price you paid for the car is very good. Once the mtec 2 is on, it should be worth around 6.5k if it mint as you have a late cab. All is not at a loss! "

6.5!!!! it's not a motorsports I thought that was motorsports prices but then again I have seen motorsports for 8,8.5 but i thought that was m3 prices all in the condition which in my amateur opinion look good not a1 mint but not much to be IMHO(amateur) have to put that it on you pro's will slate me.

well thanks for the option list and thanks for the offers of help if the seller doesn't come through I will be calling on you.

well it doesn't look as pricey as I thought but still more than £0

The seller is trying to arrange for the car to be towed to his local garage so everything looks ok but we aint talked money"he will fix it on the cheap" doesn't sound like "i will take care of it all" which I guess legally he doesn't have to but we will see.

the engine replace sounds good but him and his mechanic advise NOT to change it. (can I really trust them though, this mechanic didn't do the head gasket replacement before you ask ) he kept banging on about how good the pistons were when I brought it. Well lets see how good they are now

I will keep you guys updated

look at the fucking weather this is fucking England grab every second of it

Thanks again

[Quaser]

personally - i'd get him to give you the money for the repairs to be carried out!

find out how much the mechanic will charge him to do a head gasket and get that money from the seller - and get your own mechanic to sort it out.

This way you can get it done properly - i.e. head pressure checked, skimmed, new timing belt, new head bolts, new gaskets, coolant properly cleaned out etc

might cost a bit more - but at least you know it's done properly!

Q

[stonesie]

personally - i'd get him to give you the money for the repairs to be carried out!

find out how much the mechanic will charge him to do a head gasket and get that money from the seller - and get your own mechanic to sort it out.

This way you can get it done properly - i.e. head pressure checked, skimmed, new timing belt, new head bolts, new gaskets, coolant properly cleaned out etc

might cost a bit more - but at least you know it's done properly!

Q

Exactly

If he says he will change the gasket the liklyhood is thats all he will do, probably just squint at the head and proclaim it to be ok rather than getting it pressure checked and skimmed, from the sound of it i wouldn't put it past him to re-use the cambelt (somthing i never do and would not recomend anyone else to either)

[georgee]

personally - i'd get him to give you the money for the repairs to be carried out!

find out how much the mechanic will charge him to do a head gasket and get that money from the seller - and get your own mechanic to sort it out.

This way you can get it done properly - i.e. head pressure checked, skimmed, new timing belt, new head bolts, new gaskets, coolant properly cleaned out etc

might cost a bit more - but at least you know it's done properly!

Q

Exactly

If he says he will change the gasket the liklyhood is thats all he will do, probably just squint at the head and proclaim it to be ok rather than getting it pressure checked and skimmed, from the sound of it i wouldn't put it past him to re-use the cambelt (somthing i never do and would not recomend anyone else to either)

Hello

I knew about the skimming and the timing belt,and gasket s but I will get the boot and coollant done too thanks.

still have to get the car up for further investigation I will let you guys no how its's going.

[Globulator]

Do not forget to factor in fixing the original problem - viscous coupling / thermostat / water pump - and I'd use original blue BMW coolant too.

Good luck.

[georgee]

Hello

Well I got the sorted out new head cylinder and associated parts the pump was new so it hasn't been change. I was still dubious about what caused the head to go in the first place, but the only culprit is a loose collant cap which sound a bit like BS to me as the car was spewing water when I stoppped so it wasn't bone dry. however I have had it running for a few weeks now and everything is sweet so far.

well thanks again for the support. You probably see me posting a bunch of newbie question(I promise to do a seach before I do though ) and pissing people off (not on purpose,i just seem to have that knack)

[bootyman]

Post some pics up dude Well done and enjou the car

[Conan]

Awesome to hear its all sorted. Now lets get some piccies up so we can all admire the finished article.

[georgee]

ok. I will give it a clean and post some this weekend.

now wehere did I put that digicam

[E30BeemerLad]

loose coolant cap, hmmmm. Usually that would be a symptom of someone who knew there was a problem with the system pressurising and therefore running the car with the cap loose to help prevent water/oil contamination caused when the system is running under pressure.

At least it is all sorted out now fella and you can hopefully start to enjoy the car.

[georgee]

or the idiot buyer who did tighten it back tight enough when he came up to check it out a few days earliere.............hence why there has been no fist flying because I cant say it wasn't totally my fault

shame my bank manager does believe in the old saying of you live an learn