What would you do.

[happychap]

My E46 2001 needs some work doing on it. Mechanic thinks that it may need the head taken off to determine if the exhaust vale in number 1 cylinder needs to be replaced. The diagnostic indecates the AFM may be at fault. The car will not tick over and cuts out, runs like a bag of spanners, however no knocking or ticking from the cam. The cost of stripping the head off to investigate is likely to run into many hundreds of pounds. Should I spend the money investigating fault, or put the money into another BM and scrap the car. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance for any replies.

[sparkythecat]

Which engine is in it ?

[happychap]

Sorry , not sure

[dooosuk]

You don't know what engine you have in your car?

What do the 3 numbers on the boot say? 330 or 325 or 318?

[happychap]

Silly me, 318 116.000 miles

[SBN]

"Dont know"

Classic, that made me laugh this morning

[phumy]

Do a compression test thats much cheaper than a stripdown of the head, plus it will tell you if the valve is shagged.

[rassi]

How long did you have the car? If it is otherwise in good nick, you intend to keep it and if the compression test confirms a problem, a lower mileage engine could probably be fitted for less than £1000.

[happychap]

The car is generally in good condition, the mechanic that's had a quick look at it has done a compression test on cylinder 1 and it is ready about 100psi, he tells me it should be about 180psi. As a guide, what would be an approximate cost of stripping the engine dowm and doing the neccessary work.

[phumy]

happychap said:

The car is generally in good condition, the mechanic that's had a quick look at it has done a compression test on cylinder 1 and it is ready about 100psi, he tells me it should be about 180psi. As a guide, what would be an approximate cost of stripping the engine dowm and doing the neccessary work.

But if he has a done a "full and proper compression test" he can tell from that if it is a valve or rings/bore, so it either needs a head off, or an engine strip down, its really not rocket science...

[Fox-]

Stick a low mileage engine in it. I cannot see how its economical to strip these engines down with the prices of used engines now.

If my engine gives up in my 530i I'll simply get a used low mileage one fitted for likely no more than the cost of stripping the whole thing down.

[rumple]

Why didnt the mechanic do a wet compresion test? this would have told you without taking the head off. Id get a second opinion.