Reputable dealer for used engines?

[bosun73]

Hi All,

Sorry if I am posting this in the wrong sub-group...

My 325i E30 died on the motorway a few months back, and after getting the car back to my local mechanic, he told me that there's no compression in any of my cylinders, and that it's probably the timing belt that has snapped, but in any case he told me that the engine is kaput and needs to be replaced... (It's weird because I had the belt replaced only 6 months before).

So, I'd like to swap into the car an M52B28 engine (might as well have a few more hp if I am going to all that expense of having the engine replaced).

Anyway, are there any reputable dealers in used engines? I'd like to buy a second-hand engine where I can be fairly certain of the miles it has done.

Thanks for your help.

[paultv]

How much noise did it make when it "died"

Paul

[bosun73]

How much noise did it make when it "died"

Paul

Hi,

I was on the motorway, driving quite happily, and I noticed a kind of faint rattling on the accelerator. This went on for a few minutes. And then I noticed a lot of smoke, or exhaust, trailing behind me, and at the same time I was losing power and speed. I struggled to overtake a truck, and as soon as I did I pulled over onto the hard shoulder... I don't remember there being any loud, or sudden, noise. There was smoke coming out from under the bonnet, and when I opened the bonnet a lot more smoke came out (although no fire!). I tried to start the car again, hoping for a miracle, but it wouldn't start at all, just completely dead. It was at that point that I phoned for assistance... Not a happy day...

[boiliebasher]

From what you've described above that doesn't sound like a cambelt snapping. That would be a bit more of an "instant"death rather than a smoke trail for a few miles, then a slow loss of power. Plus the fact that you mentioned it was replaced only 6 months ago doesn't make much sense to me. IMHO sounds like the engine overheated. What was the temperature gauge doing at the time?!

[bosun73]

From what you've described above that doesn't sound like a cambelt snapping. That would be a bit more of an "instant"death rather than a smoke trail for a few miles, then a slow loss of power. Plus the fact that you mentioned it was replaced only 6 months ago doesn't make much sense to me. IMHO sounds like the engine overheated. What was the temperature gauge doing at the time?!

That's interesting....

The temperatue gauge was in the middle, perfectly normal, all the time.

... The mechanic said he could spend about 4 or 5 hours figuring out what actually went wrong, but at the end of the day the engine needs to be replaced anyway, in his opinion, so he suggested there was little point in looking further to see what actually went wrong, as it would be money wasted. I took his word for it, and now the car is sitting on my front drive while I figure out what to do next.

[Cloggy Saint]

My advice would be to get a second opinion, none of this sounds right.

[bosun73]

My advice would be to get a second opinion, none of this sounds right.

Okay, will do. Only problem is that the car is immobile. I'll have to try an get a mechanic to come and have a look at it at my house. Or get it taken back to a garage on a trailer.

[paultv]

You can easily check a number of things...is the oil white custard? Ie. Water in the oil..pull the dipstick and open the oil filler cap...any signs of creamy sludge?

Remove the rocker cover...very easy..you can then see the cam gear at the front..is the timing belt in place or gone or loose...turn the engine over by hand...spanner on the front crank bolt...does the cam gear turn...if the cambelt broke at speed you would have heard the damage...

Is the water in the header normal or empty? Would indicate a head gasket failure hense the smoke/ steam .
These simple things will tell us a lot about the failure...some bloke telling you ya need a new engine is a bit of an odd diagnosis...he may be correct but you need to know what happened...difference between 200 quid and 5000 quid...

Paul

[bosun73]

You can easily check a number of things...is the oil white custard? Ie. Water in the oil..pull the dipstick and open the oil filler cap...any signs of creamy sludge?

Remove the rocker cover...very easy..you can then see the cam gear at the front..is the timing belt in place or gone or loose...turn the engine over by hand...spanner on the front crank bolt...does the cam gear turn...if the cambelt broke at speed you would have heard the damage...

Is the water in the header normal or empty? Would indicate a head gasket failure hense the smoke/ steam .
These simple things will tell us a lot about the failure...some bloke telling you ya need a new engine is a bit of an odd diagnosis...he may be correct but you need to know what happened...difference between 200 quid and 5000 quid...

Paul

Thank very much Paul for the list of things I can check by myself... I will give it a try when I get back home in a few weeks time (I'm not currently near the car). Actually, I see that you are based in Germany, I am based in France, which maked us next door neighbours! lol. I actually bought my new car (to replace what was my daily driver, the E30) from Hamm, which isn't that far from you, it seems.

[paultv]

Where are you in France? I used to live in the Lot near to Cahors... and yes Hamm is 50km from me!

Paul

[bosun73]

Where are you in France? I used to live in the Lot near to Cahors... and yes Hamm is 50km from me!

Paul

I live in Besancon, which is about 2 hours from Freiburg... Do you know any specialist E30 garages/mechanics in the south west region of Germany?

If you used to live in France, that means you must be at least tri-lingual! I am barely able to speak one language properly! lol

[paultv]

mmmm...well my French is better than my German which is a pretty crap .. very hard to learn properly, at least for me - I also lived in Ibiza
and learnt some Catalan - also a bit tricky too... thank god everyone speaks a bit of English - apart from the French - on principle !!!

Paul

[bosun73]

mmmm...well my French is better than my German which is a pretty crap .. very hard to learn properly, at least for me - I also lived in Ibiza
and learnt some Catalan - also a bit tricky too... thank god everyone speaks a bit of English - apart from the French - on principle !!!

Paul

Yeah, I know what you mean about the French! I've lived here for 12 years, and I'm still making basic grammar mistakes!

Getting back on topic, do you know of any engine dealers in Germany? And/or any E30-experienced garages ?

[paultv]

Sorry I do my own engineering...car hasn't been to a garage in 10 years apart from mot, I know a couple of engineering shops in Dortmund who know M20's but I guess that's not really helpful ...too far away.

Paul

[boiliebasher]

Where are you in France? I used to live in the Lot near to Cahors... and yes Hamm is 50km from me!

Paul

Haha! Small world! I lived near there for a while too! Cahors is beautiful and the local wine is truly excellent

[boiliebasher]

Yeah, I know what you mean about the French! I've lived here for 12 years, and I'm still making basic grammar mistakes!

Getting back on topic, do you know of any engine dealers in Germany? And/or any E30-experienced garages ?

Where abouts is the car stranded in France? I'm currently near Limoges if that helps

[bosun73]

Yeah, I know what you mean about the French! I've lived here for 12 years, and I'm still making basic grammar mistakes!

Getting back on topic, do you know of any engine dealers in Germany? And/or any E30-experienced garages ?

Where abouts is the car stranded in France? I'm currently near Limoges if that helps

Hi there. The car is in Besancon, in the Doubs department (25), so not really just down the road from you! Thank you very much for your offer of help though, it's very kind of you.

[bosun73]

Sorry I do my own engineering...car hasn't been to a garage in 10 years apart from mot, I know a couple of engineering shops in Dortmund who know M20's but I guess that's not really helpful ...too far away.

Paul

Okay, thanks, no worries. Yes, Dortmund is a bit of trek...

I'm going to check the things that you have suggested when I get back home, and take it from there.

Thanks.

[bosun73]

HI, just wanted to add a quick update: I contacted the garage where I had the belt replaced back in November, and he replied as follows:

"Very sorry to hear about your bad luck with the car.

Looking at your failure it would suggest an over heating or oil problem as stated if a cam belt fails it will fail in a sudden and the car would just cut out. With the loss of power and smoke would suggest overheating or oil starvation."

So, (probably) not the belt then...

I'm going to get a second opinion when I get back home...

[paultv]

I would suggest most likely a head gasket failure - but check the things I listed and it will point you in the right direction - I blew mine up on the A10 south of Paris on my way to Bordeaux a few years ago -

Head gasket had been incorrectly fitted as one of the location pegs was missing setting the rear of the gasket off centre, it slowly burnt through and water filled the engine - tons of steam and smoke, power loss, cylinders full of water, oil full of water. I stripped it, cleaned everything, checked the head, new gasket, replaced all the fluids - it took about three weeks and 3 oil/filter changes to clear the last water residue - god was it a stinker! but I've since driven 20K km since - all good - so there is HOPE!!

Paul

[bosun73]

I would suggest most likely a head gasket failure - but check the things I listed and it will point you in the right direction - I blew mine up on the A10 south of Paris on my way to Bordeaux a few years ago -

Head gasket had been incorrectly fitted as one of the location pegs was missing setting the rear of the gasket off centre, it slowly burnt through and water filled the engine - tons of steam and smoke, power loss, cylinders full of water, oil full of water. I stripped it, cleaned everything, checked the head, new gasket, replaced all the fluids - it took about three weeks and 3 oil/filter changes to clear the last water residue - god was it a stinker! but I've since driven 20K km since - all good - so there is HOPE!!

Paul

Thanks very much for this, and for the previous tips too... It's good to know that all is not lost! I'll keep you posted in a few weeks time, once I get back.