poorly E46 M3

poorly E46 M3

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Discussion

Baz Tench

5,648 posts

189 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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I'm aware that you have two, and I did wonder which one it was that was borked(ish).

'Every cloud' indeed! smile

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Just back from BMW and she is goosed. Huge nick out of the head and the block is also fked. My HG was literally split in half along it's length.The tech said it was the most impressive HG failure he has ever seen. Both block and head are fked. Price of a brand spanking S54 from Germany?????? £10,000.00!!!!!!! Yes ten grand. Which makes it an unviable option as that is more than the bloody car is worth. I took some pics of the engine and HG which I'll upload later.

Huge thank you to Jack at Rybrook BMW in Warwick though, he has helped to keep the cost down as much as possible for me, has kept me updated every step of the way and invited me down to see the damage for myself. I cannot recommend them enough. They are trying to source a low miles second hand engine from somewhere for me, if anyone has any idea where would be a good place to look I would appreciate it as I shall be searching myself. It would be cheaper to buy a nice example and swap the engine over than to buy new from BMW.

I cannot believe my piss poor luck this year with cars. 2 x HG failures.

The rest of the car is perfect. fking fkity fkity fk fk fk bks. frown

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
2700 inclusive of vat for a 60,000 mile engine with a 3 month warranty?????

Knowing nothing about engine prices does this sound reasonable?????

Sounds better than 10k to me.

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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That is a reasonable price.

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Engine ordered, garage on stand-by for swap, Going to put a brand new head gasket on new engine for my peace of mind and fit a brand new water pump. May possibly order some new headers to put on as I enquired about this before but couldn't stomach the price of fitting them but as the engine will be out anyway I might as well.

It's been an expensive day today but she should be back on the road within a fortnight.

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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Thought I'd bump this with an update. New engine is in. Picked her up on monday and she is running sweeter than ever. Had my mate in it tonight and even he commented that it felt faster.

Soooo pleased as she is a beautiful machine. I have missed her a lot.

Total cost of the HG failure was just under 6k. Ouch!

Worth it to me though as I never intend to sell.

BenGismo

297 posts

167 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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Good to hear you got it sorted out. HG failures are not uncommon on the S54 and its something I keep thinking will happen to mine eventually.

At least you can go out and enjoy it again. Id love the carbon airbox noise mixed in with some SS exhaust too!! They dont sound bad stock that combo must be nice.

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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Captainawesome said:
Thought I'd bump this with an update. New engine is in. Picked her up on monday and she is running sweeter than ever. Had my mate in it tonight and even he commented that it felt faster.

Soooo pleased as she is a beautiful machine. I have missed her a lot.

Total cost of the HG failure was just under 6k. Ouch!

Worth it to me though as I never intend to sell.
£6k? Ouch! Id have to keep it for years now to lessen the pain!

Clivey

5,108 posts

203 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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jonah35 said:
£6k? Ouch! Id have to keep it for years now to lessen the pain!
Worth it though. Especially since the newer cars just don't have the same appeal.

OP: Well done for not giving-up! clap Any pics of the car? smile

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Clivey said:
jonah35 said:
£6k? Ouch! Id have to keep it for years now to lessen the pain!
Worth it though. Especially since the newer cars just don't have the same appeal.

OP: Well done for not giving-up! clap Any pics of the car? smile
Most recent pics at the back. Had a carbon box from evolve, supersprint exhaust and new wheels fitted in the past year.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

TheProfessor

158 posts

144 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Hi did the garage give any explanation why there were lumps missing from the head & block?

Was this I wonder down to head gasket failure exposing the head to the cylinder combustion process, and it just chewed through the exposed metal?

Just curious as I'll add this to my "things to check" when I go M3 hunting next year.....


Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
TheProfessor said:
Hi did the garage give any explanation why there were lumps missing from the head & block?

Was this I wonder down to head gasket failure exposing the head to the cylinder combustion process, and it just chewed through the exposed metal?

Just curious as I'll add this to my "things to check" when I go M3 hunting next year.....
They tend to chew through the gasket between the cylinders and unfortunately this means that you can run it for a while before noticing. Mine had burnt through on all the cylinders and then I drove it from aberdeen to banbury. I should have just put it into a garage in aberdeen. I believe it is indeed just the combustion process and the pressure that destroys the metal.

If it sounds like a subaru on idle....avoid it.

R88CLY

79 posts

120 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
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My e46 M3 is currently in the garage with the same problem, cracked between cylinders 5and6 and found out yesterday there's slight damage to the head but not too much.

Waiting for him to ring me back as he's sent the head off to be inspected fully and skimmed, still no idea on £££ until we know how bad it is so expecting the worst! I spend a lot of time and money on my car but don't just have £2k (worst case scenario I think) sat in the bank as insurance, tax and service have all been paid in full over the last 2 months!

Fingers crossed!!

R88CLY

79 posts

120 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
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A couple of pics [url]

|http://thumbsnap.com/wq40glnG[/url]

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Friday 19th September 2014
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R88CLY said:
My e46 M3 is currently in the garage with the same problem, cracked between cylinders 5and6 and found out yesterday there's slight damage to the head but not too much.

Waiting for him to ring me back as he's sent the head off to be inspected fully and skimmed, still no idea on £££ until we know how bad it is so expecting the worst! I spend a lot of time and money on my car but don't just have £2k (worst case scenario I think) sat in the bank as insurance, tax and service have all been paid in full over the last 2 months!

Fingers crossed!!
Simpson Motorsport collected my car, replaced the head gasket, vanos filter and did a full oil change for 1200. Give them a call. They were very reasonable and they had the most awesome collection of cars to drool over in their workshop (2 x F40, R8 race car, M3 race car, Bristol Fighter, 4x CSL including a supercharged one). This was on my supercharged M3 as I have now had two head gaskets fail on 2 separate S54 engines this year....some guys have all the luck.

It seems to be a very common problem as these cars get a bit older. When you see just how little material is between the cylinders though it's not wholly surprising. The other problem is that because they go between the cylinders you can drive for a long time before noticing. I drove mine for about 5000 mies and had 2 garages look at it and we all missed that it was the head gasket.I believe that this is why mine ended up so fked. Luckily the block is tough as old boots so hopefully you'll be ok.

2k isn't the worst case scenario though I'm afraid. This little episode has cost me 6k.

I guess these are the risks of running these cars. I hope it works out for you as the car looks gorgeous.

On the plus side, when it's done you won't have to worry about it for a long time.

Of the 2 cars I own, this same problem is the only one that has stopped play. Generally they seem to be extremely reliable cars (to the point that the BMW techs were amazed that I had driven to the garage and absolutely gobsmacked when I told them I had driven it down from Scotland). Stick with it.

R88CLY

79 posts

120 months

Friday 19th September 2014
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Captainawesome said:
Simpson Motorsport collected my car, replaced the head gasket, vanos filter and did a full oil change for 1200. Give them a call. They were very reasonable and they had the most awesome collection of cars to drool over in their workshop (2 x F40, R8 race car, M3 race car, Bristol Fighter, 4x CSL including a supercharged one). This was on my supercharged M3 as I have now had two head gaskets fail on 2 separate S54 engines this year....some guys have all the luck.

It seems to be a very common problem as these cars get a bit older. When you see just how little material is between the cylinders though it's not wholly surprising. The other problem is that because they go between the cylinders you can drive for a long time before noticing. I drove mine for about 5000 mies and had 2 garages look at it and we all missed that it was the head gasket.I believe that this is why mine ended up so fked. Luckily the block is tough as old boots so hopefully you'll be ok.

2k isn't the worst case scenario though I'm afraid. This little episode has cost me 6k.

I guess these are the risks of running these cars. I hope it works out for you as the car looks gorgeous.

On the plus side, when it's done you won't have to worry about it for a long time.

Of the 2 cars I own, this same problem is the only one that has stopped play. Generally they seem to be extremely reliable cars (to the point that the BMW techs were amazed that I had driven to the garage and absolutely gobsmacked when I told them I had driven it down from Scotland). Stick with it.
Wow £1200 for all that seems an unreal price! I'd snap someone's hand off if I was offered that now!
Will keep that company in mind, but as the mechanic has already taken the engine apart and sent the head off to be inspected I already owe them labour, but I'll get their quote and weigh up my options.

The reason I said £2k was because the mech says there was only slight, not major damage to the head and from the research I've done that's what the price could be. Although a second hand engine at £2700 sounds promising!

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
R88CLY said:
Wow £1200 for all that seems an unreal price! I'd snap someone's hand off if I was offered that now!
Will keep that company in mind, but as the mechanic has already taken the engine apart and sent the head off to be inspected I already owe them labour, but I'll get their quote and weigh up my options.

The reason I said £2k was because the mech says there was only slight, not major damage to the head and from the research I've done that's what the price could be. Although a second hand engine at £2700 sounds promising!
I was surprised at the price too, especially when you see the kind of metal SM work with. Really nice guys and I'd highly recommend them. They are based in Gloucester.

I can give you the number of the company I sourced the engine from if you like. I believe they ship M3 parts to the middle east and usually have a good supply. The engines are warrantied too. However if it's possible to salvage the engine, and it sounds very much like it is, you'd probably be better getting it fixed.

R88CLY

79 posts

120 months

Sunday 21st September 2014
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Captainawesome said:
I was surprised at the price too, especially when you see the kind of metal SM work with. Really nice guys and I'd highly recommend them. They are based in Gloucester.

I can give you the number of the company I sourced the engine from if you like. I believe they ship M3 parts to the middle east and usually have a good supply. The engines are warrantied too. However if it's possible to salvage the engine, and it sounds very much like it is, you'd probably be better getting it fixed.
Thanks for your help mate, I've emailed Simpson Motorsport so hopefully get a reply Monday, will keep you updated.

R88CLY

79 posts

120 months

Sunday 21st September 2014
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Captainawesome said:
I was surprised at the price too, especially when you see the kind of metal SM work with. Really nice guys and I'd highly recommend them. They are based in Gloucester.

I can give you the number of the company I sourced the engine from if you like. I believe they ship M3 parts to the middle east and usually have a good supply. The engines are warrantied too. However if it's possible to salvage the engine, and it sounds very much like it is, you'd probably be better getting it fixed.
Thanks for your help mate, I've emailed Simpson Motorsport so hopefully get a reply Monday, will keep you updated.