Advice - BMW with seized engine???

[ItsTony]

Hi,

To cut a long story short, my mums 2001, E46 316ti Compact's engine has seized. The garage has told us the timing belt tensioner has come loose and all the oil has leaked out, starving the engine of oil. She said she noticed the oil light come on so planned on finishing her shopping and taking it home, but on the way home the car lost all power and the power steering stopped working, and the car basically stopped.

I just wanted to ask people our options. The car has only done 40,000 miles but value wise, it still isnt worth much.

a) To fit a used engine is probably going to cost around £800-1000 and if the engine we get is fine, the car should still have loads of life left in it. (Alternatively, does anyone know what other engines would fit in with the current gearbox without too much work.)

b) Would BMW in anyway take liability for this. The car has a full BMW service history and hasnt had a hardlife

c) How much less would the car be worth, if we sold it in its condition now for someone to sort the engine out themselves.


Anyone got any views or ideas on what they would do in our position.

Thanx

[CarbonM5]

find a good used engine of the same code.

trying to fit an alternative would be difficult.

[bob1179]

Could be an opportunity this.

I wonder how easy it would be to drop and M3 engine in? Or even one of the V8's?

Seriously though, I'd just source a good second hand engine and have that dropped in. There are plenty of BMW breakers about that will be able to source you one for a reasonable price.

[ItsTony]

bob1179 said:

Could be an opportunity this.

I wonder how easy it would be to drop and M3 engine in? Or even one of the V8's?

Seriously though, I'd just source a good second hand engine and have that dropped in. There are plenty of BMW breakers about that will be able to source you one for a reasonable price.

I thought about this. Handling wise, compared with my dads saloon, it feels a lot more agile and is probably a bit lighter too. I could buy the car of my parents and slowly strip it myself. Fit some full coilovers and some lighter alloys. I think autocar described the brakes on the car as feeling like they had come off an M3, so maybe just fit some braided hoses, decent fluid and then some vented and grooved discs, along with some better pads, like pagids etc. Then hopefully source something like an e36 m3 engine. The 3.0 would probably do. Then use it as a track sg

But I reckon that would probably run into a good few grand on mods alone, which I can;t afford so I'll have to leave that dream, lol.


Anyway, what normally comes with the engine from the breakers. Can I get the engine without the alternator and gearbox etc for cheaper. Also, what would the old engine be worth as scrap.

Thanx for the advice.

[jamesson]

I doubt for one second BMW will admit any liability for a car that's seven years old. Even less likely if your mum continued driving it with the warning light on...