Timing belt broke

[Hawk]

Well yesterday night I was on the onramp to highway at about 4k on the tach getting ready to shift into 4th when all the tires felt like they came loose for a split second when that happened I immediately clutched it knowing something wasn’t right, the engine slowly came down to idle where it sat for 2-3 sec and then proceeded to die. I pulled over and attempted a restart and engine sounded like it wasn’t getting any compression so I immediately stopped. I called AAA had it towed to my house. This morning I went out to investigate and checked fuses coolant for oil so on and eventually had my friend crank it for 2-3 sec and looked at cam shaft and its not spinning so I believe the timing belt is broke. I’m towing it to the mechs in morn to have them look at how bad the damage is but I was wondering if you guys had any advice or thoughts on what to do and repair costs. Its a Alpine white II 88 325iX with 207k paint is 80% interior is 90% and drive train is flawless. I have a magnaflow exhaust and bout 2k in sound system (which is movable).

The reason I believe it broke was mileage related on my door it said it had been replaced at 140k but mech records showed 170k so I trusted them as to when it needed done had them inspect it and they said it showed no signs of wear. But I now believe the 140 was correct.

I have been looking at replacing it with an e36 328is or e34 540i or getting another e30 just am sick that this happened. And not sure if it’s worth putting a new engine into or finding a new car any help is greatly appreciated.

[James Crivellone]

Well before you jump to conclusions I would yank the head and inspect the damage, always a small chance in hell that the piston damage is not that bad,

At that point just toss a new head on it and your good to go.

[DoriftuEvo]

The shop that broke the timing belt on my first E30 quoted me ~2000 to fix it. Replacing that was the first project for my new E30.

[Madhatter]

Not really piston damage you have to worry about, its the scores of bent valves.

[nando]

if you want to sell it I may have a buyer for you.

[TwoJ's]

The damage to the pistons should be minimal or non-existent. I just had my head rebuilt from a broken timing belt. Your motor should be fine, just as stated before, probably just a new/rebuilt head. Yank it off and check it out.
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Honda RC110

[Jordan]

So wait.. you can't afford to do a $50 maintainance on a m20, so you are selling the car and going to buy a MUCH higher maintainance car that you WILL have to PAY someone else to work on for you?

Brilliant plan!

[T.Dot E30]

Exactly the reason why if you dont know for sure when it was last done, you do it anyways.

[Hawk]

Actually I can afford that and was under the belief that me mech was right since he has worked on the car before I owned it and had I no reason to doubt him. He has worked on my familys Bmws for over 25 years. This is irrelevant anyways the belt broke due to tensioner letting go and letting belt slip a few teeth. Then it broke. Not high mileage.