Bangernomics Fail - The Next step???
Discussion
Ok, as some of you know I have a 175k mile 1995 328i Touring, that’s developed a overheating problem.
Following lots of buggering about bleeding the system, changing the waterpump & checking the thermostat, its still not fixed so, we think it needs a new Head Gasket Dohhh!!!
The car is by no means mint, with pretty ruff paint, a couple a damaged panels, However it does has almost no rust which is obviously rare on a e36 like this.
So my dilemma, should I?
1). Bite the bullet and spend more than the car is worth on getting a new head gasket fitted?
2). Get a lower mileage 2nd hand engine and try to fit it myself, for probably similar money?
3). Take the hit, sell for spares & move on?
4). Full M3 running gear conversion, Like I’ve always wanted despite having no money or time to complete such a project at the moment?
Following lots of buggering about bleeding the system, changing the waterpump & checking the thermostat, its still not fixed so, we think it needs a new Head Gasket Dohhh!!!
The car is by no means mint, with pretty ruff paint, a couple a damaged panels, However it does has almost no rust which is obviously rare on a e36 like this.
So my dilemma, should I?
1). Bite the bullet and spend more than the car is worth on getting a new head gasket fitted?
2). Get a lower mileage 2nd hand engine and try to fit it myself, for probably similar money?
3). Take the hit, sell for spares & move on?
4). Full M3 running gear conversion, Like I’ve always wanted despite having no money or time to complete such a project at the moment?
Car cost £800 about 3-4 months ago.
I've spent £35 quid and a few grazed knuckles on a new water pump.
I've seen breaker selling 100k engines for around £300-500 mark.
Whilst I probably wouldn't try a head gasket change as I'm not confident inspecting the head etc... I would consider a changing a sealed engine.
I've spent £35 quid and a few grazed knuckles on a new water pump.
I've seen breaker selling 100k engines for around £300-500 mark.
Whilst I probably wouldn't try a head gasket change as I'm not confident inspecting the head etc... I would consider a changing a sealed engine.
I'd say dump it in that case. If you'd said you paid £500 for it and then spent another £500 on full service (plugs, fluids, filters, leads) new brake pads, tyres etc then you know that you've got the consumerables covered for the next year or so. Spending a few hundred on fixing the engine would seem worth it.
But your proposing spending a few hundred on a car that could require all manner of further expenditure in the next 6-12months (and that's just on more obvious wear & tear parts).
But your proposing spending a few hundred on a car that could require all manner of further expenditure in the next 6-12months (and that's just on more obvious wear & tear parts).
There's quite an art to bleeding the cooling system on those.
I've heard tales of jacking up the front and then opening the little bleed valve to purge air.
They are very prone to air pockets which cause overheating.
Have you tried something like this?
Unless of course you have proved beyond a doubt that the headgasket has gone?
ETA: also ensure the heater valves are fully open when bleeding the system.
And apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here..
I've heard tales of jacking up the front and then opening the little bleed valve to purge air.
They are very prone to air pockets which cause overheating.
Have you tried something like this?
Unless of course you have proved beyond a doubt that the headgasket has gone?
ETA: also ensure the heater valves are fully open when bleeding the system.
And apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here..
Edited by TonyRPH on Thursday 27th May 11:50
Why on earth have you been changing stuff without diagnosing what the problem is first?
Spend £15 on a compression tester, find out if the head gasket has actually gone and then decide.
Bangernomics does not mean randomly replacing parts in the hope they might be the one thats broken. Thats a main dealers job.
Spend £15 on a compression tester, find out if the head gasket has actually gone and then decide.
Bangernomics does not mean randomly replacing parts in the hope they might be the one thats broken. Thats a main dealers job.
TonyRPH said:
There's quite an art to bleeding the cooling system on those.
I've heard tales of jacking up the front and then opening the little bleed valve to purge air.
They are very prone to air pockets which cause overheating.
Have you tried something like this?
Unless of course you have proved beyond a doubt that the headgasket has gone?
ETA: also ensure the heater valves are fully open when bleeding the system.
And apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here..
Thanks Tony, I've played around with this, with the front up on ramps as I've heard the same as you, but to no avail. Not 100% about the head gasket as there's no mayo or other common signs.I've heard tales of jacking up the front and then opening the little bleed valve to purge air.
They are very prone to air pockets which cause overheating.
Have you tried something like this?
Unless of course you have proved beyond a doubt that the headgasket has gone?
ETA: also ensure the heater valves are fully open when bleeding the system.
And apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here..
Edited by TonyRPH on Thursday 27th May 11:50
musclecarmad said:
sell the car for a few hundred quid if poss - get out with a little loss.
get another banger and off you go
I agree. I had a 750i which was a dream that turned very sour. Should have binned it early when things started going wrong, but persisted and it ended up costing me a fortune.get another banger and off you go
shouldbworking said:
Why on earth have you been changing stuff without diagnosing what the problem is first?
Spend £15 on a compression tester, find out if the head gasket has actually gone and then decide.
Bangernomics does not mean randomly replacing parts in the hope they might be the one thats broken. Thats a main dealers job.
Very true... The Water pump was not providing the pressure it should have been and did need replacing, and at £35 I hoped that was all. But then I don't know how much damage I've done to it when it first overheated?Spend £15 on a compression tester, find out if the head gasket has actually gone and then decide.
Bangernomics does not mean randomly replacing parts in the hope they might be the one thats broken. Thats a main dealers job.
Where would I find a compression tester fro £15 BTW?
paulpsz008 said:
Thanks Tony, I've played around with this, with the front up on ramps as I've heard the same as you, but to no avail. Not 100% about the head gasket as there's no mayo or other common signs.
It is losing water, or just getting hot? If you aren't constantly having to top the coolant up then I doubt that it is the headgasket.When it is warm feel the top hose leading into the radiator, if that isn't scorching hot then the coolant is not circulating properly for whatever reason (probably an airlock).
paulpsz008 said:
shouldbworking said:
Why on earth have you been changing stuff without diagnosing what the problem is first?
Spend £15 on a compression tester, find out if the head gasket has actually gone and then decide.
Bangernomics does not mean randomly replacing parts in the hope they might be the one thats broken. Thats a main dealers job.
Very true... The Water pump was not providing the pressure it should have been and did need replacing, and at £35 I hoped that was all. But then I don't know how much damage I've done to it when it first overheated?Spend £15 on a compression tester, find out if the head gasket has actually gone and then decide.
Bangernomics does not mean randomly replacing parts in the hope they might be the one thats broken. Thats a main dealers job.
Where would I find a compression tester fro £15 BTW?
Each cylinder is pressurised in turn (through the spark plug hole) when at TDC (both valves closed) and then they look for traces of air bubbles in the coolant - this is usually quite a definitive test.
For what it's worth - I overheated a 520i I once had (almost the same 6 cyl engine as yours) and I drove it for 5 miles with the temp gauge pegged into the red.
It didn't blow the head gasket....
paulpsz008 said:
Where would I find a compression tester fro £15 BTW?
http://bit.ly/aSWVvWhttp://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p390...
Edited by mft on Thursday 27th May 12:07
paulpsz008 said:
Car cost £800 about 3-4 months ago.
I've spent £35 quid and a few grazed knuckles on a new water pump.
I've seen breaker selling 100k engines for around £300-500 mark.
Whilst I probably wouldn't try a head gasket change as I'm not confident inspecting the head etc... I would consider a changing a sealed engine.
depends on whether you are really considering this a 'banger' or not I've spent £35 quid and a few grazed knuckles on a new water pump.
I've seen breaker selling 100k engines for around £300-500 mark.
Whilst I probably wouldn't try a head gasket change as I'm not confident inspecting the head etc... I would consider a changing a sealed engine.
If you can get a replacement engine for ~£300 to £500 max then its 'just' about on, as long as there is nothing else about to go, and you are planning on keeping it a few more years..
Anything more expensive, and you should be binning it and buying a new banger, with that money...
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