Author Topic: M42 = Dead (Read 5074 times)

tjcrowther · « **on:** December 22, 2009, 09:34:57 PM »

Went out to start my car this morning and was greeted with the most god-awful knocking sound I have ever heard and a big bright red oil pressure light. I quickly turned the engine off and peered under the front to see a big patch of oil slinking its way across my driveway.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af274/tjcrowther/IMG_0140.jpg

I went for a long drive through the hills late last night and must have hit a rock and not noticed (how... that I do not know!). I did notice a clicking noise on my way home that was getting progressively worse however n00bishly I thought it was my water pump because thats been getting noisier the last few days - just waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

Hopefully it will all be taken care of on insurance nice and easily however im just a little scared of them saying "yeah we will pay for your sump, but everything else is consequential and therefore not covered..."

Anyone any thoughts on how to play this one?

dwtaylorpdx · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:54:28 PM »

The worst part is it can count as a at fault accident, use a BMW dealer if you need to provide estimates... If you work it right I see a Dinan upgrade in there...

Dave

KenC · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2009, 01:18:25 AM »

A used M42 is probably cheaper than your deductible.

nickmpower · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2009, 02:29:42 AM »

how long did the engine run? was it under load? what rpm's? when you change the pan take a main cap off and check it out

visionracingdevelopments · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2010, 12:44:03 PM »

Are you seriously going to speak to insurance? If it's dead spend �200 on a new engine, rent an engine crane, drag the old donk out, new one in, job done and 1 days work.

Romrog318is · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2010, 03:32:39 PM »

Quote from: visionracingdevelopments;83919

Are you seriously going to speak to insurance? If it's dead spend �200 on a new engine, rent an engine crane, drag the old donk out, new one in, job done and 1 days work.

no not at all that cheap sorry... i called BMW to find out how much just the rebuild kit and a new block and they were asking over $900...

quinn11m20 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2010, 04:09:00 PM »

Back in 97 I did the same thing but hit a rock the size of my head. $400 was the repair bill. New pan and such. I ran the engine for a while by starting and stopping it with short bursts. Since then, knock on wood, no major problems. good luck.

bmwman91 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2010, 06:35:19 PM »

Did the motor seize?

You might be OK. The hole is small enough that the engine vacuum probably kept most of the oil in while you were driving. If the oil light never came on that is a good sign. Once you parked it, the oil leaked out since there was no longer a vacuum in there. The awful noise you heard was probably just the lifters & timing chain rail banging around since there is no oil pressure to get them pumped up. As long as you only ran it briefly, you are fine.

This exact thing happened to me a couple years ago, & I fixed the oil pan with a hammer & some JB weld (eventually got a new one).

tjcrowther · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2010, 06:29:09 AM »

Hi guys, thanks for all the replies.
I put a second hand sump on and filled up with oil. It runs however its defiantely not right so Im gonna put the old sump back on and make an insurance claim. Dumping an unknown M42 in its place is gonna cost me about 3 times as much as my insurance.
With a little bit of luck they should write the car off and let me buy back the wreck. If this happens ill have about $6000 in my pocket to get up and running again... Really trying hard not to think about the possibilities!

KenC · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2010, 01:02:40 PM »

You really think they'll give you $6k for it?

Wizard · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2010, 02:37:30 PM »

$6000AUS = $5,472.83USD
Mine is going in the river....Hell with the suspension upgrades....lol

scottb37 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2010, 04:13:12 PM »

its just the oil pan. replace, fill, and drive

3bvert · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2010, 07:12:17 PM »

replace pan, then if all is good, put on a Raceskid
http://www.raceskids.com/joomla/

ordered mine yessterday
my 318 is lowered and im tired of pucker action on speed bumps, etc

3bvert · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2010, 12:38:11 AM »

your insurance company is giving you 6k.....wow...what model/year etc

dwtaylorpdx · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2010, 02:16:11 AM »

On the other hand Dry sum it and you don't have to worry about it hitting anything....

Dave