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

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: carlos318is on June 19, 2009, 06:05:05 PM

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: carlos318is on June 19, 2009, 06:05:05 PM

My E30 318is M42 is coming up to the 200.000 mile mark and I don't know the full service history. Oil is seeping from just about everywhere and I have a ticking noise on start up so its time for a strip and rebuild of the engine. So I need a bit of help in knowing what I need to get before I start doing this.

To start with I will need

head set kit
sump gasket
rocker gasket

but what else:confused:

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: DesktopDave on June 19, 2009, 08:42:14 PM

You need two sump gaskets.  I'd do the oil housing gasket & o-ring too.  I'd also check compression...just to be sure if it's all worth the effort.  If compression is low a used engine could do all the following cheaper.

The ticking is the chain tensioner or a loose hydraulic valve adjuster.

If you have a lot of cash, I'd check the timing chain & housing, R&R all that and replace the front gaskets and front main seal.  That should get you another 100,000 easily.

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: carlos318is on June 20, 2009, 07:12:53 AM

So you recommend not doing a full strip down

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: Wizard on June 20, 2009, 07:21:23 AM

Quote from: carlos318is;73945

So you recommend not doing a full strip down

Guess it depends on how much you want to spend....
Rebuild head
Re-ring
All new gaskets and oil seals
Timing rebuild
The list goes on.......

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: DesktopDave on June 20, 2009, 08:51:46 AM

It really does come down to budget.  You could do a stroker too:
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1385

Or have Metric Mechanic do it professionally:
http://www.metricmechanic.com/pdfs/metric-mechanic-m42-and-m44-engine-booklet.pdf

Or the ~$2-3k on a performance blueprint rebuild at a race shop?

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: carlos318is on June 20, 2009, 09:31:53 AM

I dont know now do I strip and rebuild or just replace all the gaskets apart from the head:mad:

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: carlos318is on June 20, 2009, 09:34:19 AM

Money is tight at the mo but I cant afford to ignore this cuz if my engine goes bang I will be in trouble then

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: DesktopDave on June 20, 2009, 09:39:09 AM

Me personally?  I'd do a compression check and see if the cam chain is OK.  If they're both pretty good, I'd just replace the gaskets on the pan, chain & oil housing.  I'd do the front main seal too.

If the compression is good and the cam gears are shot, I'd do all the above and replace the bad bits on the front cam drive.

If the compression is bad and the cam drive is badly worn I'd go looking for a lower-mileage engine.

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: JoeDellio on June 20, 2009, 11:52:34 AM

Like DD says, if compression is on the low side, you cant go wrong gettting a used longblock from a salvage yard. Then you have your extra engine for parts or what not.

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: carlos318is on June 20, 2009, 01:32:42 PM

Thanks guys the option of getting a second hand block is going to be a problem as there is not many 318is M42 in scrap yards over in the UK

Title: Need some help and advice
Post by: DesktopDave on June 20, 2009, 07:18:37 PM

Swap it with another four-pot like an M44...or a diesel.  We wish we had them over the pond.  I'd trade you mine if low-sulfur diesel was cheaper.  It only has 268,000 miles (431,000 KM).