New engine in 1992 320i cabrio?

Post Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:36 pm

Very sadly, my engine just blew it's head gasket for the second time in a year, but this time, my mechanic tells me, it's not only buggered the valves, but there are also a coule of con-rods bent. So, I need a new - well, recon - engine, but I'm just wondering if I should put the 'cost' of this towards upgrading to something better. I'm intrigued about the idea of moving to an M50 engine, but I can't find any real information about just how big a job this would be. Is it largely a 'drop-in' option, or is it (as I suspect) something that's a rather more extensive job?

My constraint is that, somehow, I need this car back on the road by next Monday (6 August) at the latest! Seems that Simon here has said that dropping in a 325 engine is a pretty straightforward job, so maybe that's the quickest option in the time available? But the M50 option does look preferable, for all sorts of reasons!

And, err.... what recommendations does anyone have for the best place(s) to get hold of recon engines?

Cheers
Nigel

Post Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:26 pm

Nigel,

The head gasket going fubar wouldn't cause any damage to engine parts, are you sure you didn't snap the cam belt? That will really fuck things up if you were moving at the time.

Head gasket going just makes a mess, unless your really unlucky and burn some valves up and maybe warp the head but you would need lots of heat for that too happen.

2.5 & 2.0 blocks are the same size, just need the ECU and maybe a few odd bits that are bigger on the 2.5 but overall a easy fix and more power as a added bonus!

Try A-Tech as Ant has a few engines kicking about, if not I'm sure he can source a good one.

And where are you bases? Might help other zoners to know that info.

HTH, Mark.

Post Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:05 pm

m20 2.5 or 2.7 sounds about right for you, keeping things almost like for like swap.

Post Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:39 pm

fozzymonster wrote:Nigel,

The head gasket going fubar wouldn't cause any damage to engine parts, are you sure you didn't snap the cam belt? That will really **** things up if you were moving at the time.

Apparently, where the gasket failed, it let water through and filled the cylinder on either side - and water doesn't compress quite so easily as fuel-air mixture - apparently!

And, FTR, I'm based in Herefordshire, right next to the Welsh border....

Thanks for the info, Mark

Nigel

Post Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:51 am

nigelh wrote:
fozzymonster wrote:Nigel,

The head gasket going fubar wouldn't cause any damage to engine parts, are you sure you didn't snap the cam belt? That will really **** things up if you were moving at the time.
Apparently, where the gasket failed, it let water through and filled the cylinder on either side - and water doesn't compress quite so easily as fuel-air mixture - apparently!

And, FTR, I'm based in Herefordshire, right next to the Welsh border....

Thanks for the info, Mark

Nigel

Hydraulics! Been there myself but only under starter motor conditions, the times it has blown when running it's held the water out till the engine off, so I guess your just really unlucky. Well not that lucky as I have to fit a new heads gasket everytime!

As your that way, try JonB, he's based in Bristol and has lots of engines, cars etc.

HTH, Mark.

Post Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:38 am

fozzymonster wrote:As your that way, try JonB, he's based in Bristol and has lots of engines, cars etc.

HTH, Mark.

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the info, again.

Can you let me have contact details for JonB, please?

Cheers,
Nigel