BMW E39 M54 Engine repair/rebuild

Curry Addict

I have low compression in a couple of cylinders, misfires and oil burning. Its time to get my engine sorted. Its a 2.2 M54 engine. Any recommendations for someone who can do this for a reasonable price in the Dublin area? what can I expect to have to pay?

Alanstrainor

Moved seeing as this isn't DIY.

Was this caused by a cooling issue? As in, HG failure?

livingthedream

Hi,

I'm assuming as it is an M54 block that it is a later model E39 and not one of the earlier Nikasil lined blocks? I believe they were on the M52 blocks?

When you say misfires, have you read any error codes for the car? Possibly faulty coil pack on a given cylinder?

What kind of values and what % difference in compression are you seeing across the different cylinders?

What kind of mileage is on the car?

Foxhole Norman

My first thought was head gasket failure too. According to the mechanic I bought mine off, if it's been replaced the engine will never be the same as a non damaged unit.

Idbatterim

I wonder if it might be cheaper to get a donor engine or if its economical to repair at all... suppose it depends on its current value...

Alanstrainor

Idbatterim wrote: »

I wonder if it might be cheaper to get a donor engine or if its economical to repair at all... suppose it depends on its current value...

Unless this car is in some way special it would most certainly not be an economical repair. I have heard similar about repairs on failed head gaskets(that they weren't 100% after), but its hard to know how true that actually is, or whether it was a fault with the repair.

Idbatterim

particularly if its an SE, I would say its an immediate write off, probably better to get money for scrap for it or sell it to someone who might want to take on the project themselves or buy it and sell it for breaking...

Foxhole Norman

OP, see if you can get it to Valdas in Motorconfidence, he'll be able to tell you what's what.

Curry Addict

its a later model E39 so the Nikasil issues doesn't apply.
No issues ever with the head gasket.
116,000miles on the clock
13years old, well taken care of for the 7 i have owned it.
A lot of troubleshooting done and issue with with 2 cylinders, one is only 25% compression, the other is better but still throws misfires.
A donor engine is too big a risk for a car out of production for 13 years imho.

The economics are dubious no doubt. What can i get to replace it for the price of the repair? an old cookie tin i could buy for 2-3k? if i get it sorted i would expect to put up another 100k miles on it and that will take 10 years and i can do most of the repairs that pop up myself. Maybe i am being unrealistic?

Any recommendations for someone who can sort the engine for a reasonable price in the Dublin area? what can I expect to have to pay?

Foxhole Norman

Curry Addict wrote: »

its a later model E39 so the Nikasil issues doesn't apply.
No issues ever with the head gasket.
116,000miles on the clock
13years old, well taken care of for the 7 i have owned it.
A lot of troubleshooting done and issue with with 2 cylinders, one is only 25% compression, the other is better but still throws misfires.
A donor engine is too big a risk for a car out of production for 13 years imho.

The economics are dubious no doubt. What can i get to replace it for the price of the repair? an old cookie tin i could buy for 2-3k? if i get it sorted i would expect to put up another 100k miles on it and that will take 10 years and i can do most of the repairs that pop up myself. Maybe i am being unrealistic?

Any recommendations for someone who can sort the engine for a reasonable price in the Dublin area? what can I expect to have to pay?

Throw it in here:

Valdelis at Motor confidence, Unit 14B, Knockmitten lane ,Western industrial estate, Naas road Dublin12

Curry Addict

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

OP, see if you can get it to Valdas in Motorconfidence, he'll be able to tell you what's what.

thanks for the recommendation!

Foxhole Norman

Curry Addict wrote: »

thanks for the recommendation!

Pretty much the best BMW specialist in the country, I'd be there, only that it's in Dublin :P

livingthedream

Curry Addict wrote: »

its a later model E39 so the Nikasil issues doesn't apply.
No issues ever with the head gasket.
116,000miles on the clock
13years old, well taken care of for the 7 i have owned it.
A lot of troubleshooting done and issue with with 2 cylinders, one is only 25% compression, the other is better but still throws misfires.
A donor engine is too big a risk for a car out of production for 13 years imho.

The economics are dubious no doubt. What can i get to replace it for the price of the repair? an old cookie tin i could buy for 2-3k? if i get it sorted i would expect to put up another 100k miles on it and that will take 10 years and i can do most of the repairs that pop up myself. Maybe i am being unrealistic?

Any recommendations for someone who can sort the engine for a reasonable price in the Dublin area? what can I expect to have to pay?

Hmm, well if it is looking like it is related to something in the block then the unfortunate thing is that you are going to spend a chunk of money paying someone just to strip it back and investigate.

It may then be repairable, or not...

I'd say, if you haven't already then get someone to 'sniff test' it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCPMW84_zAc) to see if there are some HG issues before spending cash on a physical stripping of the engine..

It's a shame, only 116k miles.

I sold my '97 Nikasil blocked 523i with 160k on it only a few years ago and it was running great..

~LTD

An Ard Ri

It's not the head gasket. I'd bet it's the Pistons. Try Courtney motors in North Strand. I'll send you a message.

Curry Addict wrote: »

its a later model E39 so the Nikasil issues doesn't apply.
No issues ever with the head gasket.
116,000miles on the clock
13years old, well taken care of for the 7 i have owned it.
A lot of troubleshooting done and issue with with 2 cylinders, one is only 25% compression, the other is better but still throws misfires.
A donor engine is too big a risk for a car out of production for 13 years imho.

The economics are dubious no doubt. What can i get to replace it for the price of the repair? an old cookie tin i could buy for 2-3k? if i get it sorted i would expect to put up another 100k miles on it and that will take 10 years and i can do most of the repairs that pop up myself. Maybe i am being unrealistic?

Any recommendations for someone who can sort the engine for a reasonable price in the Dublin area? what can I expect to have to pay?

Voodoomelon

If you plan to keep it for 10 years, then I see no reason not to throw a couple of grand at it. As you say yourself, you'll get nothing else remotely close for the same money comfort/quality wise.

Ferris

You could always put a 3.0L in....

Foxhole Norman

Ferris wrote: »

You could always put a 3.0L in....

Feck that, find an M5 for breaking and huck in the 5.0, dat SE sleeper yo

Curry Addict

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Feck that, find an M5 for breaking and huck in the 5.0, dat SE sleeper yo

lol i wish :P

Asmooh

Curry Addict wrote: »

I have low compression in a couple of cylinders, misfires and oil burning. Its time to get my engine sorted. Its a 2.2 M54 engine. Any recommendations for someone who can do this for a reasonable price in the Dublin area? what can I expect to have to pay?

Just swap an M3/M5 engine instead, or GM LS engine