M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: m42mccabe on February 07, 2008, 01:51:26 PM

Title: Could use some help
Post by: m42mccabe on February 07, 2008, 01:51:26 PM
Maybe my last post wasn't straightforward enough. So I need new piston rings, my engine has 163k on it, what else should I replace since I'm going in so far? Trying to keep it somewhat low budget but I want the engine to be pretty solid. Bearings? Gaskets? Any help would be great.

Thanks :)
Title: Could use some help
Post by: swiss318is on February 07, 2008, 02:00:56 PM
replace every bearing and gasket! and when you have the engine apart weight every piston and rod and try to make 4 sets with almost the same weight. if you want to you can balance the crank in an engine shop!
thats all i have done on my stock block...the head is a different story!!


how "LOW" is your low budget?
Title: Could use some help
Post by: m42mccabe on February 07, 2008, 02:52:26 PM
I need to replace all the timing chain parts which is about $400 so on top of that maybe like $600-$1000. I want to keep it somewhat minimal cause I know going all out will be very expensive. I just don't know what parts to order cause they're all spread out on BMA. I'm not really an engine expert yet so I don't know what all the bearings are called. I'm guessing I need the rod and main bearing sets, engine block gasket set, cylinder head gasket set, piston rings... I know there's much more but I'm not sure what.
Title: Could use some help
Post by: swiss318is on February 07, 2008, 03:13:42 PM
go to realoem.com there you find all the parts and the partnrs. you need
Title: Could use some help
Post by: m42mccabe on February 07, 2008, 04:11:43 PM
Thanks, RealOEM is great. Would you recommend buying the parts from BMA or Pellican if they are cheaper?
Title: Could use some help
Post by: Wise Old Dog on February 07, 2008, 05:04:22 PM
autohausaz.com has always been good to me. Good prices on most items, but of course you need to shop around.
Title: Could use some help
Post by: m42mccabe on February 07, 2008, 10:19:27 PM
For the crankshaft and rod bearing shells should I get the standard or oversized sets. What does it change when they're oversized?
Title: Could use some help
Post by: Wise Old Dog on February 08, 2008, 01:55:21 AM
Oversize bearings are used when the crank bearing surfaces have been turned down to a smaller size by the machine shop. Normally, if you rebuild an engine before it "blows up" , all you need is to have the crank polished. Standard size will be good in that case. Let the machine shop guide you.
Title: Could use some help
Post by: swiss318is on February 08, 2008, 02:49:11 AM
dont ask me about buying parts in the usa. i am from switzerland.. i buy the original parts directly from bmw to have at least one 318is full original! for the other two cars i buy the parts all over the world depends where they are the cheapest
Title: Could use some help
Post by: Artem on March 05, 2008, 01:29:35 AM
I suggest buying a newer low-mileage motor, which is what I ended up doing after my oil pan got cracked and the engine itself was a bit noisy and the price of the car allowed me to not care about it until I had some money to spend on it.
Title: Could use some help
Post by: Artem on March 05, 2008, 01:31:13 AM
Oh - just remembered to post prices - my motor cost me about $330 whole with a 30-day warranty from the wrecker, and complete after shipping it was about $520 with alternator included.


-Artem
Title: Could use some help
Post by: D. Clay on March 05, 2008, 07:41:23 AM
Also check the crankshaft endplay. The M42 only has a thrust surface on the fourth main bearing and then only on the upper half in the block. Nothing on the cap. There are oversize thrust bearings for that one. They give part numbers with two oversized specs. The crank surface is also subject to wear and can cause wear on the oil pump. Pressure from the pressure plate pushes the the crankforward when the clutch pedal is depressed. My engine at 200,000 miles had a crankshaft that had gouges in the thrust surface and was basically trash.