broken chain - repair or replace?

[MasteroftheRoad]

Hey everyone, i found a 91 318is that im looking at picking up and the guy claims it doesnt run anymore, im going to look at the car tonight, but im basically assuming the chain is blown on it since that seems to be the common problem.

Obviously it could be something different but we'll see.

so anyway, if its a broken chain, Can i just rebuild the head, replace the chain/tensioner/guides/ect and go from there or am i better off just replacing the motor?

I figure if i put another m42 into it ill replace all the timing parts before reinstalling it anyway

Whats the best thing to do?
The car has about 175k on it and i dont know how well it was maintained

[Massimo]

Broken chain isn't a common problem. Actually I don't think I have heard of one ever. If it starts but dose not idle then it would be the ICV.

The motors a very strong if it is not running it is most likely an electrical issue weather a bad wire, fuse or sensor. It would probably be a bad fuel pump.

[bmwman91]

Yeah, it is ridiculously unlikely that the chain itself broke. There are some things that the chain works with that can break. Honestly, I have run pistons into valves pretty hard on this motor & it still ran A-OK after getting the timing chain assembly put back together.

You'll have to find out more about the "not running" symptoms. There are countless things that could cause that, and many of them are simple fixes.

[Dj Buttchug]

buy the car

[MasteroftheRoad]

ok, went and looked at it, heres the owners story -

Driving on the interstate home, car started overheating (i noticed the clutch fan was very very easy to spin) But was close to home so tried to make it. According to him the car just kinda puttered out (for lack of a better word)

If you try and start it (which i did) It seems like its only hitting on one cylinder, it wont run but you can hear it hit and try, It didnt really sound like it was free spinning from a lack of compression but it did seem to turn over pretty easy.

So now im thinking headgasket/warped head?

Car has been sitting for a year but the oil was clean on the dipstick, didnt look like there was any water in the oil


He actually had a stack of paperwork of all the maintenance done to the car, chain, gears and guides were all replaced, even has receipts for the new roundels on the hood and trunk.

[bmwman91]

If it had been sitting for that long, the oil & water have probably separated if there was a HG failure. If it was badly overheated, you should only buy it if you are OK with the possibility of a head overhaul. Alternatively, maybe the heat messed up a couple of spark plugs & that's all you need. It's hard to say without really digging in.

[Massimo]

Still doupt it is the chain. I think the hg gave up in a bad way causing to much water into the cylinders and that is the why is puttered out. Or hg gave up causing the over heat, which warpped the head causing more water into all cylinders then dying.

If the fan clutch gave up while on the interstate it would make no differance as it is only needed while you are stationary.

[110stx]

Get the car for $500 and pick up one of the used M42s floating around for cheap.

d.hitchcock

[MasteroftheRoad]

thats the plan, ill post up pics of it after i pick it up.

Car is COMPLETELY rust free, the clear coat is peeling though.

Im hoping its just a headgasket, ill start tearing it apart this weekend hopefully. I figure i can deck the head if its not terrible or get it straightened

[MasteroftheRoad]

Guy also said there was oil around the plug boots, i figure thats just a leaky gasket not too concerned.

Im not worried about a head overhaul because i anticipated an engine overhaul lol

[Massimo]

lol that can happen easily. If you find a good seller you can get a head real cheep.

[MasteroftheRoad]

only other problem was the guy took the carpet out, he had a battery leak on it and removed it.

Anyone successfully make their own carpet from a roll instead of using molded?

Not really the right thread for this but what the hell

[bmwman91]

People have done all sorts of "creative" things in cars. You could probably hit Home Depot for a new interior. Personally, I would grab a used one off of someone doing a part-out or at a wrecker. Just make some careful cuts up around the heater core/HVAC section (with the center console out) and you won't have to remove the dash! I slit it all the way around to get it out, and none of the cuts are visible unless the center console is out.

You can also make a couple of cuts up around the pedals to get it out easier.

[MasteroftheRoad]

yeah after posting i just did a quick google and found a few people that have layed down sheets of foam then covered it with unbacked carpet and had some pretty good results

I might even just start off by coating the floor in lizard skin or something similar to that as a sound deadening. i just dont want to add a lot of weight

[MasteroftheRoad]

the more i think about it, the more iffy i am about it just being a head job. Ill drain the oil and see if theres any water in it, but im afraid if it ran too long with water in the oil that its junked some of the bottom end.

He says it never rattled or even had a timing noise, I'd just hate to put a bunch of time and effort into a junk motor...

Any thoughts?

Anyone got an m42 close to wv?