Bmw head gasket failure?
Discussion
So.. hello guys! First time posting here.
Im basically in the process of buying an E46 and i may have found a good one for a reasonable price, the only snag is the head gasket is 'gone' or on its way out apparently. Been over and took it for a test drive and all seemed well no white smoke and no miss fires. I cant tell if the coolant is bubbling because of the expansion tank is broke and leaking fluid. The lad doesnt know loads about cars but his mechanic told him it was on its way out. He's replaced the water housing, thermostat and the fuel pump but apparently still to no avail. Im hoping that i can change the expansion tank and run some steel seal through it to clog the gasket failure... if there is one. It just doesnt seem like the head gasket is going and the garage is just having his eyes out. Im just pretty sceptical for such a good deal close to home. Even he said i might have a great car foe dirt cheap he just doesnt know.
Any advice guys?
Cheers
Im basically in the process of buying an E46 and i may have found a good one for a reasonable price, the only snag is the head gasket is 'gone' or on its way out apparently. Been over and took it for a test drive and all seemed well no white smoke and no miss fires. I cant tell if the coolant is bubbling because of the expansion tank is broke and leaking fluid. The lad doesnt know loads about cars but his mechanic told him it was on its way out. He's replaced the water housing, thermostat and the fuel pump but apparently still to no avail. Im hoping that i can change the expansion tank and run some steel seal through it to clog the gasket failure... if there is one. It just doesnt seem like the head gasket is going and the garage is just having his eyes out. Im just pretty sceptical for such a good deal close to home. Even he said i might have a great car foe dirt cheap he just doesnt know.
Any advice guys?
Cheers
Head gasket is either sound or it's not, there really isn't a middle ground of "on its way out". And they rarely fail, usually damaged by some underlying root cause. For example driving round with a leaking cooling system.
A cheap BMW is not a cheap car to run. Come to think of it an expensive one isn't cheap either because a lot of them aren't actually that reliable and the dealers are rubbish.
As someone else said, find another shed. There are heaps around in that price range. I sold my old e46 323i for under 700 notes and that was a good Un so they are out there.
GL!
A cheap BMW is not a cheap car to run. Come to think of it an expensive one isn't cheap either because a lot of them aren't actually that reliable and the dealers are rubbish.
As someone else said, find another shed. There are heaps around in that price range. I sold my old e46 323i for under 700 notes and that was a good Un so they are out there.
GL!
It's not unusual for expansion tanks on these to split - I had a new one on my 325ti Sport compact when I had the bowed radiator changed! (I only sold the car a month ago - less than £1,500 and on just 103K miles).
If you like it in every other way, could you get a compression test done on it?
If you like it in every other way, could you get a compression test done on it?
I might be able too. Unfortinatley i dont have a compression kit near where it is, im just afraid that the extra compression from the tank without the split will start producing smoke as it'll force the coolant into the head. Its a brilliant car and its had quite a bit of work done, it just seems that the expansion tank is the only problem and an engine warning light. I pretty much live between 2 homes, one in the north east and one in the north west (at my girlfriends) im just hoping if i do go for it that it will over heat on the 200 mile drive home haha.
So if it's a 320i E46 it'll have the 2.2 litre version of the M54 6-cylinder engine.
While I haven't read much about M54s having head gasket failure, I've read plenty about (and experienced) cooling system issues.
If you can't get it pressure tested, I guess it depends on whether you feel lucky!
While I haven't read much about M54s having head gasket failure, I've read plenty about (and experienced) cooling system issues.
If you can't get it pressure tested, I guess it depends on whether you feel lucky!
It sounds to me as though the cooling system let go, the engine overheated, with the temp gauge going into the red, and rather than stopping the engine immediately, the owner owner carried on driving, and now the engine has issues.
My advice: Walk away - It sounds like a whole lot of (expensive) misery and a money pit!
My advice: Walk away - It sounds like a whole lot of (expensive) misery and a money pit!
4rephill said:
It sounds to me as though the cooling system let go, the engine overheated, with the temp gauge going into the red, and rather than stopping the engine immediately, the owner owner carried on driving, and now the engine has issues.
My advice: Walk away - It sounds like a whole lot of (expensive) misery and a money pit!
I'll go with this ^ an E46 with a suspected HG issue is never going to be cheap or indeed a bargain purchase My advice: Walk away - It sounds like a whole lot of (expensive) misery and a money pit!
like mentioned earlier find another and I agree Corey6 said:
Okay guys. Cheers for your advice, ill hold off for a bit and see what crops up! Hopefully it'll be in better condition even if it is high milage.
Not a problem if it's the right car.I once owned a low owner 944 S2 with 120k on the clock. It cost me far far more to run than my 170k Turbo ever did. Why? the turbo had been through better hands, where it was a money no-object exercise to keep the car well. I did more miles in the turbo too.
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