HORRIFYING Repair Bill Moment of Truth Stories- WTF should I do?

[DaButt]

HA! That's why I love R3V.

So hateful, yet helpful and comforting. Well, I'm already out the $410 for the bell housing shit, I'm told them to do it.

And the head gasket is leaking from the Driver's perspective F/R. Up there by the distributor cap.

where do I source an OEM head gasket? Already bought a Reinz product... are they shitty?

And yeah, i'd be willing to pay a R3V member to help me out, absolutely. I've actually got a real guest bedroom.

[Rugbyfan]

If its drivable, drive your happy ass to Atlanta. I know for a fact that there are a lot of shops in the area. I used to live in Columbus and its really not that far away. That is if you're dead set on a shop doing it.

[5Toes]

Might not be headgasket.. but the cam timing wheel seal thing

[TurboJake]

I can understand if you have zero mechanical inclination. It's not everyones thing.

But, if you do, all of this will take less than a day... You have to do the timing belt when you do the headgasket, and all in all will cost less than $250.

Headgasket is $100, and a FULL contitech timing belt kit w/water pump and thermostat is $115.

[nando]

HA! That's why I love R3V.

So hateful, yet helpful and comforting. Well, I'm already out the $410 for the bell housing shit, I'm told them to do it.

And the head gasket is leaking from the Driver's perspective F/R. Up there by the distributor cap.

where do I source an OEM head gasket? Already bought a Reinz product... are they shitty?

And yeah, i'd be willing to pay a R3V member to help me out, absolutely. I've actually got a real guest bedroom.

dude, just leave it alone. it's fine. 99% of M20s leak from there. not worth the hassle over an '84 eta motor.

most likely you could spend $500+ replacing the gasket, and it will end up leaking from the same place anyway.

[ButtJuice]

Sell your 84' eta, and buy a 325i/is.

I sold my automatic eta and bought a late model 5 speed 325is and holy shit, my life has changed for the better.

[gp.plus]

most likely you could spend $500+ replacing the gasket, and it will end up leaking from the same place anyway.

This... Ask me how I know

[kronus]

HA! That's why I love R3V.

So hateful, yet helpful and comforting. Well, I'm already out the $410 for the bell housing shit, I'm told them to do it.

And the head gasket is leaking from the Driver's perspective F/R. Up there by the distributor cap.

where do I source an OEM head gasket? Already bought a Reinz product... are they shitty?

And yeah, i'd be willing to pay a R3V member to help me out, absolutely. I've actually got a real guest bedroom.

yeah, VR gaskets are not good. People use 'em because they're twice as cheap as OEM ones and widely available.

Also, a lot of M20s leak from there. How much is it leaking? A few drops after some hours, or a fair bit?

[DaButt]

It's leaking a lot.

When I stop, I can see the drips forming a puddle. it blows back and generally A. Burns on my exhaust, if i'm driving or B. drips from the bellhousing or exhaust if i just parked.

I add probably a 1/2 quart a week.

Oh, and my expansion tank has oil in it. stuck my finger in there and it came out black.

[LJ851]

stuck my finger in there and it came out black.

[Bretts85E30]

Thats not headgasket BTW my head cracked and pissed oil into the expansion tank u need a new head

[DaButt]

Thats not headgasket BTW my head cracked and pissed oil into the expansion tank u need a new head

You sure? Any diagnostics I can run to verify that? I figure a stealership is going to go 'doomsday' as often as possible.

could be a good reason to go "e to i" if it is the head.

[Bretts85E30]

Just pull off the valve cover and inspect for a crack under the cam my crack was 5inches long my suggestion just get an I head and do the stroker

[jlevie]

Columbus isn't that far from Atlanta, where there are several excellent BMW idie shops. Drive the car up and leave it and fly or take a bus back to Columbus. In week or two you can go back up and pick it up. I recommend Harrison Motorsports.

Once out of warranty a newer BMW needs $1500-2000 (in parts & labor) spent on it per year to keep it up. An E30 is simpler and needs a bit less, perhaps half that. But if neglected the bill eventually comes due. I'll bet that you 84 needs a lot more spent on it to make it right than this repair estimate. And those kind of numbers aren't limited to BMW's. Most any make has similar needs, it is just that most of the time car gets scrapped before the bill can't be ignored.

[DaButt]

Columbus isn't that far from Atlanta, where there are several excellent BMW idie shops. Drive the car up and leave it and fly or take a bus back to Columbus. In week or two you can go back up and pick it up. I recommend Harrison Motorsports.

Once out of warranty a newer BMW needs $1500-2000 (in parts & labor) spent on it per year to keep it up. An E30 is simpler and needs a bit less, perhaps half that. But if neglected the bill eventually comes due. I'll bet that you 84 needs a lot more spent on it to make it right than this repair estimate. And those kind of numbers aren't limited to BMW's. Most any make has similar needs, it is just that most of the time car gets scrapped before the bill can't be ignored.

Everything this ^ guy says is gospel truth.

Thanks R3V- I'm determined not get polerailed by the dealer...

Now, who wants to take a road trip this weekend and help me get to it?

I already have a Reinz gasket set, so I'll ask again, where do I source OEM HG Sets?