Part out or repair, advice?

[turbospeeder]

Hey guys, I had my E30 for 3 months and I loved it. However, recently I found the headgasket is blown. I called some shops and they quoted me more than $1700 to repair. The car is relatively clean, and the interior is nearly perfect. 89 325i with 4.10 LSD, Z3 short shifter. Shall I part out or sell the car, or have it repaired?

Thanks a lot.

btw, any suggestions of cheap shops or individuals that can do the repair will be great. I'm in Seattle.

[Van Westervelt]

Grab some beers, order some pizzas, and offer it up. Lots of experience on the board, especially in the PNW. A saturday/sunday gtg and you can get it done yourself with a bentley and some supervision.

150=200 in parts, and you are golden.

[turbospeeder]

Grab some beers, order some pizzas, and offer it up. Lots of experience on the board, especially in the PNW. A saturday/sunday gtg and you can get it done yourself with a bentley and some supervision.

150=200 in parts, and you are golden.

but the problem is i'm in college, and i don't have a garage nor tools. so pathetic...

[Van Westervelt]

Hit it up, there should be lots of people willing to lend a hand. Give it a lil time, and maybe post a willing to help? in the PNW regional section.

If you were in Portland, I could do it here, or a few other member's homes.

[mitch500]

but the problem is i'm in college, and i don't have a garage nor tools. so pathetic...

how would you part it out then.......

[grantlacey11]

even if you invest in a nice socket and wrench set, and some other tools, it will be wayyyy less than that quote. get that bentley and get crackin!!

[Need4Speed1299]

$1700!?? Does it come with a flux capacitor?? For less than $1700 you could buy me a round trip plane ticket, the tools and parts and have me do it. (im down?)

You can get all the tools.. water pump, timing belt, and head gasket for under $250.

[MR E30 325is]

Definitely do not part out.

Plenty of members here to help.

[Dirtsquirt]

Just a headgasket?

I can help you with that. PM me!

[turbospeeder]

Hit it up, there should be lots of people willing to lend a hand. Give it a lil time, and maybe post a willing to help? in the PNW regional section.

If you were in Portland, I could do it here, or a few other member's homes.

Thanks a lot! I've got a Bentley's manual, and I started reading. It could be a good project for me. But I'm very worried because I have absolute 0 experience working on cars.

how would you part it out then.......

It would be the last option, it's a nice car and it got plenty life on it.

even if you invest in a nice socket and wrench set, and some other tools, it will be wayyyy less than that quote. get that bentley and get crackin!!

$1700!?? Does it come with a flux capacitor?? For less than $1700 you could buy me a round trip plane ticket, the tools and parts and have me do it. (im down?)

You can get all the tools.. water pump, timing belt, and head gasket for under $250.

Definitely do not part out.

Plenty of members here to help.

You guys are great!

Just a headgasket?

I can help you with that. PM me!

pm'd


Thanks all of you guys. I will post some pictures of the engine maybe tomorrow. I saw a leak from the third cylinder, right behind the exhaust manifold. I guess it's between the cylinder block and head, so I assume it's a blown head gasket. My car leaks a lot of coolant and the engine oil is like a chocolate milkshake. And it overheats a little bit. I'm pretty sure the leak just came up recently. Hopefully I didn't crack my head or cylinder block.

[scabzzzz]

Id reach out to the local community bro. I dont know how shit is up in the rainy yankee town, but down here you make phone calls to friends and knock it out over a weekend and some brews.

[QUKBMER]

Save it and fix it. There is no need to part it out.;)

[turbospeeder]

started reading the bentley's manual. will post some pictures of the leak soon.

[BoxDriver86]

It could be a good project for me. But I'm very worried because I have absolute 0 experience working on cars.

When driving an older car, it is in your best interest to start learning. If you can handle college, you can easily repair a car. Don't be intimidated and start getting your hands dirty. As you complete projects your confidence level in working on your car will increase exponentially. In addition, as other things go wrong you will be able to diagnose things more accurately and be more willing to dig in and fix it. These cars are not complicated at all and with the exception of a tight working space, are an excellent car to wrench on for beginners. Use the folks in your area for assistance and get started on being a shade tree mechanic. Good luck.

[mkcman17]

^ great advice. I'm 20 working pt and a full time student, and I still knock projects out on my car weekly. The comment about gaining confidence is absolutely true. Take a saturday, get a set of sockets and torx and get to work. 1700 is absolutely bonkers, you can buy like 8 running m20s or two of my cars for that price.