Author Topic: shop (labor) hours for engine swap (Read 4468 times)

Ziggens96 · « **on:** October 30, 2007, 01:53:55 PM »

hey guys, i cracked my oil pan on a speed bump, big surprise...going to swap in another lowly m42. how many hours can i expect this swap to take in a shop, realistically? i have been told 10-11 from some people and 18-20 from others. i dont want to get ripped off completely. anybody in the providence RI/Mass. area have any suggestions for me? thanks

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2007, 02:18:06 PM »

with a little help (say 2 people working together) you can get the engine out in less than 90 minutes. It's almost freaky how fast it comes out.

The hitch is that, once the engine is out, you prolly wanna wash the engine bay down real well, do a new clutch, you have to service the radiator (re-fill, bleed it), etc etc.

anyway... I say 1 long day for a good swap....

It helps a lot if the shop has done one before. Make sure you take lots of hi-res, pictures of how everything is connected, both for the cooling, air/throttle, fuel, electrical, etc. to speed the process.

Wise Old Dog · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2007, 02:45:37 PM »

If you have everything ready to go on your new engine (clutch, waterpump, etc) and the shop doing the swap knows what they are doing, It can be done for 4 hrs labor max, plus tying up all the loose ends. 10-11 sounds excessive, or an estimate from someone not familiar with the car.

Vladi · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2007, 02:56:42 PM »

A realistic term is 2-3 days. Everytime such a big operation takes place it's imposible for something not to brake, or not to need replacing (gaskets, o-rings and such). I've swaped too many motors to talk bullshit. If you just take the engine out and just throw the other one in, i'd say 1 day, a day and a half. But it's never that easy for 20 year old cars.

sheepdog · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2007, 05:04:15 PM »

I think he is asking if a shop were to do it.
If so, no more than 10 hours I would think. Pretty easy to R&R.

christophbmw · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2007, 06:25:49 PM »

Quote from: Vladi;36897

A realistic term is 2-3 days. Everytime such a big operation takes place it's imposible for something not to brake, or not to need replacing (gaskets, o-rings and such). I've swaped too many motors to talk bullshit. If you just take the engine out and just throw the other one in, i'd say 1 day, a day and a half. But it's never that easy for 20 year old cars.

werd^^ i say a couple of days and no more than 16 hours (paid time). i took mine out in 90 minutes working alone w/ all the right tools for the job, but putting it all back together and fixing all the little things takes time if you want it done correctly. sure you can do a hack-ass job and do everything in 4-5 hours but thats how stuff gets missed (and what about al the "......while your in there" stuff).

Ziggens96 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2007, 01:18:36 PM »

hey guys, thanks for the helpful responses. sheepdog, youre right, im going to have a shop do this.

would an "experienced" mechanic/shop for this job necessarily have to know m42s/bmws well, or could they do the swap for me correctly and relatively quickly just with experience in installing engines?

im also wondering what all the major "while youre in there" stuff is...probably going to do a MM clutch/flywheel package. flush radiator, clean engine bay etc....oil cooler? hoses/vacuum lines? what is a fairly comprehensive list without going nuts? what are some things that i can probably expect to break as the new engine is taken out of the donor car (jukyard - im worried that they might be careless..) or being installed?

thanks again guys

christophbmw · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2007, 06:21:45 PM »

Quote from: Ziggens96;36960

would an "experienced" mechanic/shop for this job necessarily have to know m42s/bmws well, or could they do the swap for me correctly and relatively quickly just with experience in installing engines?

there are some thing you need to know about the M42, but any decent technichan could figure it out the motor very simple. make sure you take it to a good shop though, you get what you pay for. where are you located by the way?

Ziggens96 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 01, 2007, 09:45:27 PM »

Quote from: christophbmw;36969

there are some thing you need to know about the M42, but any decent technichan could figure it out the motor very simple. make sure you take it to a good shop though, you get what you pay for. where are you located by the way?

ok, thanks. i live in connecticut but im at school now in providence, RI.

2002maniac · « **Reply #9 on:** November 02, 2007, 01:00:41 PM »

a good shop should that has not worked on bmw's before should be pleasantly surprised at the user friendly nature of the M42 engine bay.

christophbmw · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2007, 10:51:40 AM »

Quote from: Ziggens96;37035

ok, thanks. i live in connecticut but im at school now in providence, RI.

oh, nevermind then. i could get you a deal at my dads shop (he has two technicians that have been factory technicians since the early '80's.....i learn alot from those two!). to bad your not close to nor-cal.