Is the M42 F****d? FML

[fiftytakedowns]

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.

Hmm, Ive never heard of that. I'll start the teardown pretty soon though. trying to get my hands on a different engine.

[10Toes]

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...

OK, the cams look right now that I look again.

[gearheadE30]

That piece is a retainer for one of the timing chain guides if I remember right from taking mine apart....that would mean that somehow one of the bolts holding the guide in broke or fell out, and is probably sitting in the oil pan... can't say I've seen that one before, but your engine i likely okay as long as nothing got chewed up...

[328ijunkie]

It being an M42 its 98.342% most likely related to the timing chain,tensioners, guide rails.

[fiftytakedowns]

I picked up a spare M42, and I started to part it. Soon i'll be towing my car here (gf's) so I can start compression testing, or tearing apart the engine in the car.

what do you recommend I do rgiht now?

[fiftytakedowns]

here is the spare engine thst I just pulled apart. Ill get my car towed here, and start tearing it apart to see what is going on with that engine. but it looks like this engine only had a blown headgasket, and a broken rail just as the one above you showed.

I wonder what would be the cheapest way to do an R&R.

just replace the engines as a whole, or pull the head of the other one. and just swap over.

thanks

[hyperE30]

fifty.. finally got to work on mine before we got snow.. so this is what happened to mine.. luckly the bolt didnt brake in the head:)

[fiftytakedowns]

Im about to tear mine apart this weekend and see what is up!

[hyperE30]

Im about to tear mine apart this weekend and see what is up!

Well hope is something minor.. I shouldn't of bought all those damn parts before opening it... but at least most will be replaced.. good luck man

[fiftytakedowns]

Thanks, first thing Im doing is pulling the plugs and hand crankin it to see if there is any contact. maybe a little camera thingy..... not sure. if no contact then Ill go with the timing system, and if so ill pull and check for damage.

[blalor]

So the replacement engine had some piston/valve interference, too?