Possible Carnage from a bad Tensioner!?!

[thisis]

Hello, im very much into e30's in general, and am looking at buying one.  However the one i have checked out (absolutely pristine condition), had a pretty bad noise that i narrowed down to a bad timing chain tensioner.  The owner realized it was a selling problem, so she fixed it.  Are there any possibilities that the engine is a time bomb?  When i test drove it with the rattling, tapping sound, you couldn't "feel" any hesitations or misfires. just the noise.

[deansweet]

it's a 20yr old car? It was cool that she fixed it. Buy it and see what happens?!

[Geoff]

are there any possibilities that the engine is a time bomb?   show me one that isnt, given enough time:)
                                                    Geoff

[DesktopDave]

Buy it!  If the body is in excellent condition, a new motor isn't that much money.  BMW made the M42 for years, e36 M42 motors are cheap since nobody wants them,  and the troubles were largely resolved in the later models.

It is just a matter of time...replacing the tensioner without checking the rest of the components is definitely a time bomb.  If the noise went away with the new tensioner, I'd guess the idler gear bearing or left chain guide is worn...essentially it's just a temporary fix.  

Adjust your offering price accordingly.

[zacrl1230]

A real rust free Body is definitely worth more than an engine

[thisis]

Thanks a bunch, gentlemen.  The body has a fist-sized rust bubble in the bottom of the drivers door, but thats it.  The interior in impeccable, especially the driver's seat.  205,000 gentle kilometers apparently. The only downside, is that i'm getting rid of an absolutely mint 2004 wrx wagon for this.  but money for school calls....

Hope to be posting more on this forum in the future!:)