Discussion
Hi
I own and love my E46 325i Msport Touring but at 140k miles shes starting get me down.
She drinks more than i do....
about 15mpg, about 800miles/ 2 liter oil and this winter shes guzzling antifreeze.
I think this is a blown head gasket.
If i sell her ill get well under £1k and i can only afford a crappy 4 pot 1.6 diesel or something else depressing...I cant have that..
How about an engine rebuild??
I get all this for around £2500k and ill have my straight 6 back in the game, like new!!!!
Collection of your vehicle from CT14 Area (your area of choice).
Removal of your original engine including a full dismantle of all components into a bare block.
The reconditioning of the Cylinder head includes:
Skimmed (To the Minimum It Needs)
Valves Replaced, Lapped In & Vacuum Tested
Valve Stem Oil Seals Replaced
Chemical Bathed To Remove Any Excess Carbon
All Valves and Guides Replaced
Pressure Tested (Hot)
Head Gasket
Camshafts
Tappets/hydraulic lifters
Cam-carrier
An Uprated modified timing chain kit which was introduced in 2012 by BMW will be fitted.
All the following components are replaced with brand new authentic (OEM) parts:
Piston rings
Head gasket
Main end bearings
Big end bearings
Crankshaft
Oil pump
The engine block will be either rehoned or rebored depending on the outcome of our assessment.
Once the unit has been fully assembled, a full 100 point health is conducted of the vehicle which comprises of:
Tyres
Braking system
Filters
Exhaust system
Suspension
Wishbone/balljoints
Any advise on rebuilds or replacements is most appreciated.
Rich
I own and love my E46 325i Msport Touring but at 140k miles shes starting get me down.
She drinks more than i do....
about 15mpg, about 800miles/ 2 liter oil and this winter shes guzzling antifreeze.
I think this is a blown head gasket.
If i sell her ill get well under £1k and i can only afford a crappy 4 pot 1.6 diesel or something else depressing...I cant have that..
How about an engine rebuild??
I get all this for around £2500k and ill have my straight 6 back in the game, like new!!!!
Collection of your vehicle from CT14 Area (your area of choice).
Removal of your original engine including a full dismantle of all components into a bare block.
The reconditioning of the Cylinder head includes:
Skimmed (To the Minimum It Needs)
Valves Replaced, Lapped In & Vacuum Tested
Valve Stem Oil Seals Replaced
Chemical Bathed To Remove Any Excess Carbon
All Valves and Guides Replaced
Pressure Tested (Hot)
Head Gasket
Camshafts
Tappets/hydraulic lifters
Cam-carrier
An Uprated modified timing chain kit which was introduced in 2012 by BMW will be fitted.
All the following components are replaced with brand new authentic (OEM) parts:
Piston rings
Head gasket
Main end bearings
Big end bearings
Crankshaft
Oil pump
The engine block will be either rehoned or rebored depending on the outcome of our assessment.
Once the unit has been fully assembled, a full 100 point health is conducted of the vehicle which comprises of:
Tyres
Braking system
Filters
Exhaust system
Suspension
Wishbone/balljoints
Any advise on rebuilds or replacements is most appreciated.
Rich
There’s a good chance it doesn’t need a rebuild- probably just has a coolant leak on the cooling system, 15mpg possibly down to an air leak and oil consumption - ok possibly needs valve stem seals or it might just need the breather doing. Why not get someone who knows what they are doing to check it over before parting with thousands for something you do not need.
Also, lots of cowboy engine builders out there - I’d do plenty of research on the company before letting them take your car
Lastly - that might be the common rebuild on an n47 diesel 4 pot that had uprated timing chains and guides in 2012
Also, lots of cowboy engine builders out there - I’d do plenty of research on the company before letting them take your car
Lastly - that might be the common rebuild on an n47 diesel 4 pot that had uprated timing chains and guides in 2012
te out there though so be careful.Other faults are.
The revs fluctuate at low revs- 30ish mph.
It seems to splutter at low revs which i can boot through.
It makes a whining sound from the engine on start up.
After research i think the CCV needs replacing.
In the time iv owned (50k over 3 years although this will be far less now) its had a fuel pump and 2 alternators and 3 batteries plus 3 injectors so it has cost me and i can only see it getting worse, thats why i was thinking of the rebuild. All in 1 go! Im only looking at the moment and the quote i have is only the first of many.
I found another firm who just swap and garantie the engine with a refurbished who say its basically a new engine that has to be run in..
What quality of parts have you fitted? Cheap alternators never last long IME.
Alot of your issues sound like either cheap parts, air leaks which do make them drink like George Best (RIP) and maybe a VANOS issue ; seals are cheap to change. M54s do have a few places they can leak from too, although it doesn't help that they like oil either even when new.
As others have said I'd be tempted to 3.0 it if you have to go that way. A decent secondhand engine from a bent car would be the way forwards.
FWIW I have 3 cars here on higher miles than yours and here's what they've needed and what they do.
Mondeo 2.5Ts : One is on 170k, other on 162k. Both have needed cambelts and that's it besides regular servicing. Both do around 25-34MPG depending on the driving
E46 M3 : 137k. That still does 25MPG average and only a few months ago I hit 33MPG going through France with the AC and a loaded boot. That's needed work but nothing too scary for the age so far (alternator, oil cooler, coil, VANOS) as well as the Inspection and oil changes.
W124 250D : That does 37MPG and is now doing over 40MPG on motorway runs. That's on 189k and is not far off rolling onto 190k this week.
Alot of your issues sound like either cheap parts, air leaks which do make them drink like George Best (RIP) and maybe a VANOS issue ; seals are cheap to change. M54s do have a few places they can leak from too, although it doesn't help that they like oil either even when new.
As others have said I'd be tempted to 3.0 it if you have to go that way. A decent secondhand engine from a bent car would be the way forwards.
FWIW I have 3 cars here on higher miles than yours and here's what they've needed and what they do.
Mondeo 2.5Ts : One is on 170k, other on 162k. Both have needed cambelts and that's it besides regular servicing. Both do around 25-34MPG depending on the driving
E46 M3 : 137k. That still does 25MPG average and only a few months ago I hit 33MPG going through France with the AC and a loaded boot. That's needed work but nothing too scary for the age so far (alternator, oil cooler, coil, VANOS) as well as the Inspection and oil changes.
W124 250D : That does 37MPG and is now doing over 40MPG on motorway runs. That's on 189k and is not far off rolling onto 190k this week.
Edited by SebringMan on Monday 26th February 20:02
Edited by SebringMan on Monday 26th February 20:03
When I was considering saving my old E46 325 which had dreadful oil consumption (estimates from 2 specialists were £800-1k£ to repair as it was head gasket off job) I contacted a reputable breakers Quarry Motors Sheffield and to buy, and for my local guys to fit, a second hand engine (@about 50k miles) came to around 1500£
Was in 2014 but 2500£ seems high so maybe explore getting a good engine off a broken car ?
http://www.quarrymotors.co.uk/
Was in 2014 but 2500£ seems high so maybe explore getting a good engine off a broken car ?
http://www.quarrymotors.co.uk/
Bet there is nothing wrong with the engine.
It's an m54 so the CCV plumbing is probaby all gummed up. The low MPG is probably a stat or sensor. Do we have any codes to work with?
Oil leaks are common.. VCG, oil filter housing being favourites. Rear main seal not unheard of.
M54 drink a little oil anyway as the ring design changed from m52tu.
Coolant leak not exactly unheard of on e46 either.. radiator bowing at the bottom? Leaking bottom left corner.. split expansion tank?
It's an m54 so the CCV plumbing is probaby all gummed up. The low MPG is probably a stat or sensor. Do we have any codes to work with?
Oil leaks are common.. VCG, oil filter housing being favourites. Rear main seal not unheard of.
M54 drink a little oil anyway as the ring design changed from m52tu.
Coolant leak not exactly unheard of on e46 either.. radiator bowing at the bottom? Leaking bottom left corner.. split expansion tank?
Edited by bmwmike on Monday 26th February 20:33
Good advise so far..Thanks
I didnt know if i could name the companies but i will now in case any know them.
http://www.enginereconditioners.co.uk/ for the replacement.....no quote as yet though.
www.germancartech.co.uk for the £2500 rebuild
I didnt know if i could name the companies but i will now in case any know them.
http://www.enginereconditioners.co.uk/ for the replacement.....no quote as yet though.
www.germancartech.co.uk for the £2500 rebuild
[quote=Rich007]
Other faults are.
The revs fluctuate at low revs- 30ish mph.
It seems to splutter at low revs which i can boot through.
It makes a whining sound from the engine on start up.
After research i think the CCV needs replacing.
In the time iv owned (50k over 3 years although this will be far less now) its had a fuel pump and 2 alternators and 3 batteries plus 3 injectors so it has cost me and i can only see it getting worse, thats why i was thinking of the rebuild. All in 1 go! Im only looking at the moment and the quote i have is only the first of many.
I found another firm who just swap and garantie the engine with a refurbished who say its basically a new engine that has to be run in..
[/quote
Split intake boot
2 alternators and 3 batteries sounds a excessive if they were all new and not used/recon. As I'm sure you're aware they are not really relevant to oil consumption and coolant use.
Honestly just trying to save you money. Get someone who knows these cars on the case not some back st garage
Other faults are.
The revs fluctuate at low revs- 30ish mph.
It seems to splutter at low revs which i can boot through.
It makes a whining sound from the engine on start up.
After research i think the CCV needs replacing.
In the time iv owned (50k over 3 years although this will be far less now) its had a fuel pump and 2 alternators and 3 batteries plus 3 injectors so it has cost me and i can only see it getting worse, thats why i was thinking of the rebuild. All in 1 go! Im only looking at the moment and the quote i have is only the first of many.
I found another firm who just swap and garantie the engine with a refurbished who say its basically a new engine that has to be run in..
[/quote
Split intake boot
2 alternators and 3 batteries sounds a excessive if they were all new and not used/recon. As I'm sure you're aware they are not really relevant to oil consumption and coolant use.
Honestly just trying to save you money. Get someone who knows these cars on the case not some back st garage
I do trust my garage, hes well known with a big business but hes not a BMW specialist and he always says i should scrap it.
I know he fits good new parts but i dont think OEM.
He quoted £700 for the head gasket. What do you think??
Is there a site that tells the time a job should take??
I know he fits good new parts but i dont think OEM.
He quoted £700 for the head gasket. What do you think??
Is there a site that tells the time a job should take??
700£ is not a bad price for a head gasket. But it doesn’t sound like it needs it.
Where in uk r u? 1 hour with a decent Bmw Indy should tell you all you need to know
An engine rebuild won’t intake pipes, which are probably split - giving you low mpg and stuttering at low revs. It won’t involve replacing the breather either, and if your leak is in your rad, expansion tank or heat exchange, that won’t be fixed
All your ancillaries will be untouched with a rebuild either.
Don’t do it
Where in uk r u? 1 hour with a decent Bmw Indy should tell you all you need to know
An engine rebuild won’t intake pipes, which are probably split - giving you low mpg and stuttering at low revs. It won’t involve replacing the breather either, and if your leak is in your rad, expansion tank or heat exchange, that won’t be fixed
All your ancillaries will be untouched with a rebuild either.
Don’t do it
Rich007 said:
I do trust my garage, hes well known with a big business but hes not a BMW specialist and he always says i should scrap it.
I know he fits good new parts but i dont think OEM.
He quoted £700 for the head gasket. What do you think??
Is there a site that tells the time a job should take??
No offense but everything you've written there would make me think "back st garage".I know he fits good new parts but i dont think OEM.
He quoted £700 for the head gasket. What do you think??
Is there a site that tells the time a job should take??
Even quoting for a HG. Bet he wouldn't even change it. The head bolts can pull the threads on the m54 so it can be a risky job.
Honestly get it to someone who cares and knows about these things or better still do it yourself and you'll save a few quid. Bet that could be had running for under 500 quid and a few hours.
OTOH if it is HGF and it confirmed through proper diagnosis by your trusted garage then personally I'd go a warranted used engine route but you will still need to refresh cooling etc.
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