Here's the deal...
It's a 1984 528i Euro w/ the dogleg CR ratio box. Mileage is 155K.
Current options right now are:
1) Pull the head to get a damage estimate. If it's just the head then source another one from a E12
2) Swap motor, tranny, and ECU with a US spec 535i
3) Sell the car in it's present condition and cut my losses short
At this point, I'm looking for the most cost effective solution. I've run out of time and $$ with this car.
TIA for the help,
Mike
:@
My Euro just threw the timing chain - what are my best optio
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Guest
[QUOTE="Mike K"]Here's the deal...
It's a 1984 528i Euro w/ the dogleg CR ratio box. Mileage is 155K.
Current options right now are:
1) Pull the head to get a damage estimate. If it's just the head then source another one from a E12
2) Swap motor, tranny, and ECU with a US spec 535i
3) Sell the car in it's present condition and cut my losses short
At this point, I'm looking for the most cost effective solution. I've run out of time and $$ with this car.
TIA for the help,
Mike
:@ [/QUOTE]
Bummer, that sucks Mike.
Todd
It's a 1984 528i Euro w/ the dogleg CR ratio box. Mileage is 155K.
Current options right now are:
1) Pull the head to get a damage estimate. If it's just the head then source another one from a E12
2) Swap motor, tranny, and ECU with a US spec 535i
3) Sell the car in it's present condition and cut my losses short
At this point, I'm looking for the most cost effective solution. I've run out of time and $$ with this car.
TIA for the help,
Mike
:@ [/QUOTE]
Bummer, that sucks Mike.
Todd
[QUOTE="Mike K"]Here's the deal...
It's a 1984 528i Euro w/ the dogleg CR ratio box. Mileage is 155K.
Current options right now are:
1) Pull the head to get a damage estimate. If it's just the head then source another one from a E12
2) Swap motor, tranny, and ECU with a US spec 535i
3) Sell the car in it's present condition and cut my losses short
At this point, I'm looking for the most cost effective solution. I've run out of time and $$ with this car.
TIA for the help,
Mike
:@ [/QUOTE]
Get a long block from a 535i with good compression. Pull your engine and bolt the required parts from your old engine (fuel injection, manifold, and all accessories) onto the long block 3.4 engine, and reinstall. The compression will be lower (unless you find a B35 block with the correct mounting bosses), but the larger displacement will make up for most of that. You might be money ahead to buy a complete engine, they run around $700-800 used around where I live, or about the same as a new complete head.
It's a 1984 528i Euro w/ the dogleg CR ratio box. Mileage is 155K.
Current options right now are:
1) Pull the head to get a damage estimate. If it's just the head then source another one from a E12
2) Swap motor, tranny, and ECU with a US spec 535i
3) Sell the car in it's present condition and cut my losses short
At this point, I'm looking for the most cost effective solution. I've run out of time and $$ with this car.
TIA for the help,
Mike
:@ [/QUOTE]
Get a long block from a 535i with good compression. Pull your engine and bolt the required parts from your old engine (fuel injection, manifold, and all accessories) onto the long block 3.4 engine, and reinstall. The compression will be lower (unless you find a B35 block with the correct mounting bosses), but the larger displacement will make up for most of that. You might be money ahead to buy a complete engine, they run around $700-800 used around where I live, or about the same as a new complete head.
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Velocewest
- Posts: 1558
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: UK
It's hard to know where you really are on this -- your options run the gamut from "do a bunch of work" to "take a loss".
What I would do (and this is just because I know what it would cost) -- pick up a used head from the U-Pull-It, $55. Get a new timing chain, tensioner piston and rails, and a head gasket set, another ~$150. Fix it. Your investment is ~$200 and a Saturday. Then if you still want the car, you're back in the saddle for minimal expense, and if you're sick of it, it's worth a lot more as a running car.
What I would do (and this is just because I know what it would cost) -- pick up a used head from the U-Pull-It, $55. Get a new timing chain, tensioner piston and rails, and a head gasket set, another ~$150. Fix it. Your investment is ~$200 and a Saturday. Then if you still want the car, you're back in the saddle for minimal expense, and if you're sick of it, it's worth a lot more as a running car.
mike where are you located?? im in mass and am seriously considering selling the engine out of my 1988 535is 130k on it. Runs smooth and strong, doesnt leak anything. i am in the process of buying a 745i turbo engine with computer ect . . . does anybody know if i need my ecu from the m30. if not ill sell that with it.
badger
badger
What were the circumstances of the timing chain problem? Were you idling or under about 2k RPM? If so, you may get by with just a head swap. If you were at WOT at 4k RPM, you may have bigger problems.
That's a cherry car to be dumping with a suh-WEET transmission. If you were going with an M30B34, I'd keep the CR box in there!
However, I would personally keep the engine the way it is and just replace what broke. Once again, that's a cherry car to be dumping!
That's a cherry car to be dumping with a suh-WEET transmission. If you were going with an M30B34, I'd keep the CR box in there!
However, I would personally keep the engine the way it is and just replace what broke. Once again, that's a cherry car to be dumping!
Thanks for all the replies.
Here's "where I'm at" with this car. Replaced several big ticket items including fuel tank, pre-pump, alternator, gauge cluster (and motherboard), blower motor, etc. and lots of little stuff that's been nickle and diming me. Admittedly, I haven't done any of the work myself, so labor is factoring in, but my indy mechanic has reasonable rates and always "works" with me. Adding up all the receipts over the last year, this car is almost costing me more to run than my M5 with the timing chain & crank hub refreshing included.
And while it is a "Cherry" car (thanks Shifty for the words of encouragement), and a rare one at that, at the end of the day I still have a 21 year old E28 with unknown problems lurking underneath the skin. Not knocking the E28, but this car is old AND it's a Euro which makes certain parts harder and more expensive to find.
Bottom-line is I need something that is going to be reasonably inexpensive to maintain and run daily. Don't think I'm going all soft and purchasing a Lexus, but something like a E30 325is seems to be better suited to these requirements.
Thanks again for all advice. Oh, and if anyone is interested in a Euro E28, stay tuned. Mine is going up for sale shortly (will be fixed first).
Mike
Here's "where I'm at" with this car. Replaced several big ticket items including fuel tank, pre-pump, alternator, gauge cluster (and motherboard), blower motor, etc. and lots of little stuff that's been nickle and diming me. Admittedly, I haven't done any of the work myself, so labor is factoring in, but my indy mechanic has reasonable rates and always "works" with me. Adding up all the receipts over the last year, this car is almost costing me more to run than my M5 with the timing chain & crank hub refreshing included.
And while it is a "Cherry" car (thanks Shifty for the words of encouragement), and a rare one at that, at the end of the day I still have a 21 year old E28 with unknown problems lurking underneath the skin. Not knocking the E28, but this car is old AND it's a Euro which makes certain parts harder and more expensive to find.
Bottom-line is I need something that is going to be reasonably inexpensive to maintain and run daily. Don't think I'm going all soft and purchasing a Lexus, but something like a E30 325is seems to be better suited to these requirements.
Thanks again for all advice. Oh, and if anyone is interested in a Euro E28, stay tuned. Mine is going up for sale shortly (will be fixed first).
Mike
[QUOTE="Mike K"]Thanks for all the replies.
Here's "where I'm at" with this car. Replaced several big ticket items including fuel tank, pre-pump, alternator, gauge cluster (and motherboard), blower motor, etc. and lots of little stuff that's been nickle and diming me. Admittedly, I haven't done any of the work myself, so labor is factoring in, but my indy mechanic has reasonable rates and always "works" with me. Adding up all the receipts over the last year, this car is almost costing me more to run than my M5 with the timing chain & crank hub refreshing included.
And while it is a "Cherry" car (thanks Shifty for the words of encouragement), and a rare one at that, at the end of the day I still have a 21 year old E28 with unknown problems lurking underneath the skin. Not knocking the E28, but this car is old AND it's a Euro which makes certain parts harder and more expensive to find.
Bottom-line is I need something that is going to be reasonably inexpensive to maintain and run daily. Don't think I'm going all soft and purchasing a Lexus, but something like a E30 325is seems to be better suited to these requirements.
Thanks again for all advice. Oh, and if anyone is interested in a Euro E28, stay tuned. Mine is going up for sale shortly (will be fixed first).
Mike[/QUOTE]
Cash and the e28 for the "buzzbomb"? It'll be available in June. I know you want it. And it's only 16 years old.
Todd
Here's "where I'm at" with this car. Replaced several big ticket items including fuel tank, pre-pump, alternator, gauge cluster (and motherboard), blower motor, etc. and lots of little stuff that's been nickle and diming me. Admittedly, I haven't done any of the work myself, so labor is factoring in, but my indy mechanic has reasonable rates and always "works" with me. Adding up all the receipts over the last year, this car is almost costing me more to run than my M5 with the timing chain & crank hub refreshing included.
And while it is a "Cherry" car (thanks Shifty for the words of encouragement), and a rare one at that, at the end of the day I still have a 21 year old E28 with unknown problems lurking underneath the skin. Not knocking the E28, but this car is old AND it's a Euro which makes certain parts harder and more expensive to find.
Bottom-line is I need something that is going to be reasonably inexpensive to maintain and run daily. Don't think I'm going all soft and purchasing a Lexus, but something like a E30 325is seems to be better suited to these requirements.
Thanks again for all advice. Oh, and if anyone is interested in a Euro E28, stay tuned. Mine is going up for sale shortly (will be fixed first).
Mike[/QUOTE]
Cash and the e28 for the "buzzbomb"? It'll be available in June. I know you want it. And it's only 16 years old.
Todd