Author Topic: Motor Dilemma... (Read 3609 times)

Alpine003 · « **on:** November 25, 2006, 12:15:48 PM »

Well it just had to happen on Thanksgiving. I started making my 1 hr trip up to my folks and started seeing all sorts of cars broken down on the side of the road including a newer E39 BMW. As soon as I made that comment out loud about maybe some sort of Thanksgiving curse on the highway, my car lost some power and started dieseling.

I pull over on the exit and just do some very minor inspections. I'm thinking I lost some cam timing but since the motor is still running, I managed to nurse it to my folks and back.

I didn't do a complete teardown yet but I'm going to guess it is the cam timing components and possibly a couple bent valves.

Money and time is tight around the holidays. Here's my options:

1. Pull entire M42 motor out of E36 I found at the pull it yards and do a swap. A gamble since I'm not sure of the condition of the donor motor but only $200 and my time.

2. Take apart the timing case on the E36 M42 and see if I can just use timing components if it checks out good. Probably a temp fix just to get it on the road until I decide what I want to do later when I have more funds/time.

3. Use the timing components from the E36 and also get the cylinder head in case mine has a couple bent valves.

4. Open to suggestions. My future goal for this car is to eventually do a s50 swap or rebuild the M42 and turbocharge it so I want to approach my current situation as economically as possible.

My plan is to do a compression test on my current motor and also crank over the donor motor manually and check compression as well. This isn't quite as accurate as the leak down test but it will let me know off the bat if there is anything seriously wrong with either motor.

Just thinking out loud and looking for suggestions at this point.

****Cliff Notes****
Motor broke and looking for suggestions.

Ramblin MAn · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2006, 01:45:40 PM »

I'm no expert for sure, but to be just tooling down the raod and having a cam let go seems kind of remote. You sure you just didn't lose a vacuum line or something? Maybe even some bad gas from the same station all of those other broken down cars went to?

FL318is · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2006, 03:44:32 PM »

Sorry to hear about the bad news. I would go the cheapest fix route for now. Let me know if have a parts list.

bmwman91 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2006, 01:38:26 AM »

Very odd...

Does it do this ALL the time now, or just intermittently? Is it audibly misfiring, or just feeling really jerky, but not making bad noises?

Alpine003 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2006, 09:24:46 PM »

Well, I had a chance to drive it today and it sounds normal again if I baby it, it only starts making the dieseling noise above 2300rpms at any speeds. It's almost like the chain tensioner isn't giving out enough tension at higher revs. This car was a neglected car when I got it and I suspect the po did a lot of hokey things with it. I'm doing tear down on the timing components to see if the po forgot to bolt anything or tighten things.:rolleyes: :mad: I just got back on the computer to look up a couple things as I'll probably put in another hour or so until I have to sleep for work tommorow.

silverblades181 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2006, 10:27:22 PM »

Get another M42, they're not expensive. Put that one on an engine stand and start whatever project you wanted to do and on the plus side, you'll have all the time in the world and still have a driveable car.

D. Clay · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2006, 10:42:32 PM »

Sometimes a heavier weight oil helps but then it get's pretty cold up there. They used to say the weather was "cold and near the lake"

dude8383 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2006, 11:23:01 PM »

how old are the spark plug wires and spark plugs?

bmwman91 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 27, 2006, 12:30:45 AM »

Plugs are maybe 10 months old. No plug wires to speak of on the vehicle :p

Alpine003 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 27, 2006, 08:17:38 AM »

Quote from: silverblades181;14479

Get another M42, they're not expensive. Put that one on an engine stand and start whatever project you wanted to do and on the plus side, you'll have all the time in the world and still have a driveable car.

This is a possibility but only as a last resort at this point since garage space is at a premium right now.

As for starting ANOTHER project, haha, I wish you can see my running list but here's a short and partial version:

1. Finish regut and rehab of entire second floor by this spring
2. Finish ITB's and COP for M10 motor
3. Install MSII on Tii
4. F/R BBK, bearings, rear LSD diff, full suspension, rust resto on Tii
5. Swap motor on Aprilia RSV
6. R&R Push Rod seals on BMW R75
7. Install 2nd floor loft in the garage
8. Drywall/Insulate the garage
9. Cut down big tree in front yard
10. On and on...

As for spark plugs, they are new and don't see how it can cause it to rattle. Hoping to finish dissassembly tonight after work.

dude8383 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 27, 2006, 08:21:12 AM »

oh, i forgot about the rattle..

i asked because my car would sound like a diesel past 2500rpm like 6 months ago. Turned out to be old wires and spark plugs..