Sorry to hear about your misfortune, too bad you don't live closer, I am buying the salvage back on my M5 as it was a total loss due to rear ender. It only has 69,000 original documented km's. What does a good used engine go for these days? Don't let your car die, I miss mine already and it has only been 6 weeks. good luck with the repair's later Brian Steel
Really sorry to hear that your car has been thus afflicted and like others I have been there done that with mine.
The thought process that I went through was this....
Options
1. Get a second hand second hand engine
Great but you do not know the state of the replacement engine which may or may not be in a better condition to your current block. Also you do not know the amount of parts that you are going to have to change.
2. New engine from BMW
Very expensive but you will have the assurance that the block should be ideal as a basis for your "new" engine.
3. Have your engine rebuilt provided that the block is good
Keep the same engine and rebuild it knowing that you can uprate and replace all the parts that are worn. You can also uprate parts and have the reassurance that you are working with more known parts.
This is a cheaper option than a new engine while still giving you the "new engine". Also as an aside you get to continue your cars life with the original engine.
4. Break the car and start again with another car
Get some money for parts from your car and getting a new car to you but you have no idea if this new one is going to be a good one or not.
When I was faced with these choices I choose option number 3 which for me worked pretty well. The car was rebuilt and the engine run in properly - i.e. according to the manufacturers instructions.
If you want another opinion give Phil at CPC a call as he is only up the road as Richard stated and his number is 07960 280 953 or 01923 283 274.
PM if I can be of any further help and indeed take some time in making your decision.
I've also been going through the same thought process.
A secondhand engine is not really an option for me as at this stage of their lives most if not all of these engines are an unknown quantity. My own engine was pulling like a train, made 290bhp on the dyno with a perfect power curve and was running like a dream just 1k miles before the failure.
An engine rebuild is certainly one of the viable options but to do it comprehensively actually ends up costing around the same as a replacement engine from BMW (unless you have the ability and the facilities to do it yourself). The only real advantage of doing this is being able to retain the original engine number.
Scrapping the car is simply not an option. All the major systems have been addressed including a rear suspension overhaul, complete respray, new clutch, all engine sensors including MAF and a total front suspension rebuild only last month. The car is just too good to walk away from now.
The other option is to bite the bullet and get a re-manufactured engine from BMW. Although this is incredibly expensive (£8600 + VAT) it does come with a 2 year warranty from BMW and will give me total peace of mind. I will of course have to keep the car forever - which has always been my intention anyway.
So I do have a tough decision to make, but I am leaning towards the RMFD engine at this point. I'd better do a little overtime!
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'90 E34 M5 3.6 Sterling Silver
'03 E39 540i Sport Touring Mora Mettalic
'95 E34 525i Petrol Mica SOLD
'05 KTM 990 superduke
True,
looks like you have thought this through!
A rebuild only really makes sense if you do it yourself, or want to upgrade the original engine with hotter cams, high comp. pistons etc.
One thought though, if you get a replacement engine, who will install it? Personally I would not, unfortunately, trust my BMW dealer to even do an oil change...
the OEM engine is not that bad in relation to some other engines....
for my Ducati Monster S4 (916 engine) the price is about 11000 eur and thats a two pot 4-valve lump....
A Toyota hiace diesel is also more costly in relation to the M5 engine I believe it cost about 16000eur.
Rebuild should not go over 8600+ VAT.....I think. as you don`t have to buy everything through BMW(piston for example..) and you may be able to reuse the head... or other parts....
You should open the engine and look what it ate
Good luck
Sakke
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"You can´t afford cheap things if you´re poor"
Rebuild should not go over 8600+ VAT.....I think. as you don`t have to buy everything through BMW(piston for example..)
From the experiences I am currently gathering with my E28S M5 it will be a close call. The price difference between Mahle pistons from Mahle directly or through the BMW channels is not that much so there is nothing to gain there. You can opt for after market pistons (JE, Wiseco) to save some money, but these are on special order only and I doubt they are as good as the OE Mahles.
The rest of the short engine is obligatory, waterpump, oil pump, ting chain / guides / sprockets/ bearings.
You may argue why the pistons need replacement, but at 140k miles, it is likely the piston to cylinder wall clearance has exceeded the manufacturers maximum spec of 0,15mm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrSakke
and you may be able to reuse the head... or other parts....
The head can be reused, but may need a rebuild at this stage. Valve seats and valve guids may need replacement and possibly the cylinder head itself to. Add to that 24 new valves, grinding them etc. With a proper rebuild, you end up replacing all moving parts, bar the cranckshaft and camshafts. It doesn't make sense to spend a few thousands on a partial rebuild and discovering a few thousand miles later that it wasn't carried out properly.
I have great sadness for you Dan and can totally appreciate what you say when you state that scrapping the car is simply not an option - even in the relatively short time I've owned my car I've lavished so many new parts and preventative maintenance, plus you get to know the distinct 'character' of your own car, that in the worst case I'd keep the car garaged until such time that finances allowed to rebuild/replace the engine. I appreciate this isn't feasible for everyone but I couldn't dream of parting with the car; especially under such circumstances.
I am far from as well informed as many of the contributors here but from what you say I would be inclined to go for the new engine from BMW. There doesn't appear to be much in it from what Raymond and others describe and a rebuild could spiral out of control where as a new unit is a fixed cost at least.
Has anyone got any guide to what it would cost in reality for a new engine from BMW? Surely there is scope for a decent discount on the retail price? Can anyone give some real quotes to what they have paid or been offered?
I think you should investigate the rebuild option a little more thoroughly as this may not cost you as much as you think especially if you get the right person to rebuild the engine, it really depends on the condition of the engine once this has been opened and examined.
As for the new engine from BMW I know when I looked at this option it was for a short engine which would have to be "dressed" i.e. have many ancillaries added to it to make the complete engine and thus could cost you even more.
The other point is, as pointed out by Lantz is that who are you going to get to install the engine. Most if not all of the current BMW dealers will not have seen an E34 and will have no idea of what they are doing. Let alone rebuilding the car engine.
The other point and this is more of an emotional one, as i was discussing with Jon Baker this afternoon the car's engine is its heart and if at all possible it would be nice to preserve this same heart and give her a rebuild not a transplant. Of course if the block is damaged then you are in a different situation but if it were me this would be in there as a factor in the "what do I do next".
Cheers
Simon
The Following User Says Thank You to Simonal For This Useful Post:
I have had two 3.6s with new BMW supplied and fitted S38B36 engines at a cost of approx £9500 in 1999 .
Both cars were extremely strong and felt quick .
As some of you may know , Mauritius Maria still lives strong .
Alpine Amy detonated piston #5 , illustrating the fact that even a new engine needs to be treated with respect and be well set up !
I personally would go for a new engine if I were to keep the car forever , although I could never pledge my life to anything other than a human being !
D
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