Is the M42 F****d? FML

[fiftytakedowns]

sucks

Lol right?

Jean, we can high five to the unlucky e30 owners club!

[fiftytakedowns]

SAme shit happened to mine like a month ago and haven't got to it but the thing made a noise like a TDI... I was freaking out specially when driving to school.. I even drove the car back home like that, no loss of power, no coolant on oil, car sounds good and runs fine but sounds like we have the same problem except I didn't have a floaty inside my cover.. this weekend will be checking the timing tensioner and chain... good luck with your car hope is not the engine!!!!!!

Let me know how that goes man, thanks!

[Jean]

haha, no dude, i think yours is in better shape still considering how many things I had to change on mine to make it nice.

but on a more serious note, m42s aren't expensive and maybe instead of dumping money into it, get the 2002 fixed, drive it and swap something else in the e30? :)

[Dj Buttchug]

welp from the looks of the pics good news is that piece didnt eat up a cam lobe or destroy your head.

Bad news. you need a timing case overhaul. to clarify, the new timing guides do not come with that part you are holding. they have an updated style which is much better.

Get some guides and make a day of it. Its a fairly easy job, just somewhat time consuming

[fiftytakedowns]

welp from the looks of the pics good news is that piece didnt eat up a cam lobe or destroy your head.

Bad news. you need a timing case overhaul. to clarify, the new timing guides do not come with that part you are holding. they have an updated style which is much better.

Get some guides and make a day of it. Its a fairly easy job, just somewhat time consuming

Do I need to pull upper and lower Timing chain covers to check? I dont have the tools for the lower I dont think (here in davis at least) and Im not sure which ones I should grab for this.

anyway, how sure are you that it is that stuff per se? and would the actual long block still be in tact? or would it kinda be bent valve fubared ETC...

Thanks

JEAN:
'haha, no dude, i think yours is in better shape still considering how many things I had to change on mine to make it nice.

but on a more serious note, m42s aren't expensive and maybe instead of dumping money into it, get the 2002 fixed, drive it and swap something else in the e30? '

As far as this goes, winter break for school is coming up next week, so that is what I am going to be focusing on mostly. hopefully Ill get it up and running, on some really low boost to break in the engine. meanwhile, I am anticipating just doing an m42 swap. but if some mysterious pot o gold appears, maybe ill swap m50 or something. Ive always been inclined to do a camm'd and Carb'd m42 old school style.

Im not stressing to hard, Its just a huge inconvenience, and im not sure how much it would cost to tow it to san rafael 75 miles from here, I have triple A but it only does like 10m iles.

[Dj Buttchug]

Do I need to pull upper and lower Timing chain covers to check? I dont have the tools for the lower I dont think (here in davis at least) and Im not sure which ones I should grab for this.

anyway, how sure are you that it is that stuff per se? and would the actual long block still be in tact? or would it kinda be bent valve fubared ETC...

Thanks

yup both covers gotta come off to get to the guides. tools... mmm your gonna need some. off the top my head

sockets: 10mm 13mm 22mm
extensions
allen key set
fan clutch slim wrench
new gaskets, or permatex
theres more i am forgetting.

Pretty sure your engine is ok. Bent valve wouldnt be the case, unless something got into the combustion chamber... which is really hard.

[fiftytakedowns]

I wish It was legal to work on it here Inthe APT parking lot without getting screwed, not to mention better working conditions.

[Jean]

Here is your engine, free. GO GET IT and rebuild it

http://forum.norcale30.com/showthread.php?t=6798

[fiftytakedowns]

Fucking titties, I sent him a PM.

[Dj Buttchug]

yo fifty... lemme get on of those m42 valve covers???

[10Toes]

Owch. So your timing chain guide broke and it jumped some teeth.

[fiftytakedowns]

Owch. So your timing chain guide broke and it jumped some teeth.

yikes, still crossing my fingers against valve contact.

[GDA]

I'd be very suspect of timing chain/guides but based on my experience you might also want to check the water pump as I've heard several metal impeller BMWs sound like that when the impeller was chewing itself up on front internal surface of the water pump.

BTW - owned an M10, M42s, M50 and my S38 over the past 20 years so seen quite a variety in this area.

[10Toes]

yikes, still crossing my fingers against valve contact.

Arn't your pics showing that the cams are not lined up properly?

[fiftytakedowns]

The pics showed that I found a little Chuck in the valve cover, Unless I missed it, I think the cams are lined up correctly...