In a bit of a pickle.. Locked up M20 engine

[himandey]

Hey guys, so I haven't been able to drive my E30 for the past couple months due to various reasons and it was in need of a new starter since it wouldn't start after I filled up the tank. I wasn't able to get around to it until this past week where I had it towed to the nearest reputable mechanic in Atlanta to get the starter installed. The mechanic installed the starter and found out that the engine had locked up and his advice is that I buy a new engine and get it installed quoting me around $2500 for the new engine with a 90 day warranty and labor. Now I bought the car for about $2500 as well so I'm not looking to double my investment especially on a college kid budget. I've also found a M30B35 for $350 but I'm sure installation would be way out of my budget as well.

What would you suggest I do? Find a junkyard engine for cheap get him to install that or what? I'm really looking to save my wallet as much as possible and I really need my car back for going back to work in mid-January. What do I do?? :(

[jlevie]

A used engine is going to be the cheapest fix. The engine isn't the driver in the cost, the labor is.

[dnguyen1963]

Round up some users in Georgia...buy a lot of bear and pizza and they can put the engine in your car.

[himandey]

Hmm that's not a bad idea. I don't have the resources or tools at all to drop an engine in my car though..