what are my options

bobin fudge

have a 1990 bmw 520i E34, passed the NCT first time in august, body work is flawless, interior very nice etc, last week was driving it and the head gasket/ cracked cylinder head possibly.
I dont think it makes economic sense to get this fixed, however i think the car is too good to be scrapped, would it be worth putting on done deal outlining the issue etc?

pics to follow when Im next up at the car

Capri

It's taxed etc.? Just get a GOOD mechanic to give you a quote and get it fixed, otherwise you're into selling a dicky yoke and then buying another car you're not sure of

bobin fudge

yeah taxed, insured, nct'd etc. I have been thinking about getting it fixed as well, case of my heart ruling over my head

w124man

Sorry but the truth is its a BMW so therefore you should scrap it. Once you have a certificate of destruction you should then present yourself to your nearest friendly firing squad .......

2cv

w124man wrote: »

Sorry but the truth is its a BMW so therefore you should scrap it. Once you have a certificate of destruction you should then present yourself to your nearest friendly firing squad .......

nasty

Grimreaper666

If I was you i'd pick up a secondhand engine instead of doing the head gasket. BMW engines don't work out too well after doing the head gaskets, the head bolts tend to strip the treads in the block making it impossible to tighten the head and also they tend to burn oil at an alarming rate.

carchaeologist

Friend of mine has a 1993 316is and it was a dog. Looked amazing with its leather interior, body kit and wheels but man what a ****ter. Always had something wrong with it. It's been parked in a shed for the last three years with a tarpaulin over it. A true barn find maybe for someone someday.

bbsrs

I'd say your best option is remove anything that is easily sold , sellit he rest for scrap , get a certificate of destruction and claim back your road tax . €170 scrap plus your unused road tax returned I think it must be more than 3 months remaining to claim it back though.

bijapos

If the rest of the car is good (which it must be having passed the NCT easily) then it probably makes sense to change the engine.

Two ways to do this:

1. Get a second hand engine off a scrappie or someone like Traynors.
2. Buy a second E34 if you have the space and use the engine off this, you can either keep the car and use it for parts or else strip this car and sell it for parts thus reducing some of the outlay for the engine swap.

Get a quote off your mechanic as to how much the engine swap will cost as well. I'd definitely try to save the car, it will probably be cheaper in the long run to do so.

bobin fudge

thanks for the reply, yes apart from a new radiator a few months back, car hasnt needed anything doing under the bonnet, for the age and mileage is in very good condition, will certainly think this over

Basil Fawlty

Its cheaper to fix it. Any car you buy you will also have to fix. It should cost around €300 to fix.

bobin fudge

300? would it be as cheap as that? I thought alot dearer as timing chain etc would also then need doing?

Tzar Chasm

Sod chains and stuff, whole engine transplant best way to go, if you can do it yourself. as was said once the engine goes on a BMW its gone, you may get it running but it'll never be 'Right' engines are surprisingly cheap for that model.

bbsrs

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

Sod chains and stuff, whole engine transplant best way to go, if you can do it yourself. as was said once the engine goes on a BMW its gone, you may get it running but it'll never be 'Right' engines are surprisingly cheap for that model.

I've replaced the head or head gasket on quite a few BMW M20 Engines and never had a problem with them after as long as the head is tested prior to installation and new bolts used it should be grand but saying that, it is cheaper to replace the engine in that model unless you can do it all yourself.

Pdfile

buy a second one, prefferably a bigger engine but thats just temptation setting in... after all, if you needed a heart transpalnt, why not upgrade ? :pac: