I'll set the stage.
Since my ownership of the 87 325i vert, it's had a moderate oil leak from somewhere in the engine bay - I was topping off about 2 quarts every two weeks. In my sheer lack of time, I just haven't had the chance to chase down the culprit - and everything's pretty wet down there, so finding it is easier said than done. Performance was more than adequate, so I didn't think much of it. Proves me the idiot, eh?
Anyways. Heading down the highway today, doing roughly 45-50, I changed lanes and shifted to 3rd from 4th. I heard a loud pop and then the engine got real loud. Rough idle, smoke everywhere. I quickly pull over and realize the car is still running. Odd. I pop the hood but realize I'm in harm's way with no shoulder and almost on an onramp. So I get back in and turn the key and she starts right up. I take it easy and drive to the next exit, smoke billowing from behind, and luckily made it to my buddy's Meineke. I parked it and shut it off, and watched what was left of my oil - at least 3 quarts - dribble to the pavement underneath it and make a lovely puddle in his lot.
We push it onto the lift and get under it. Oil EVERYWHERE. Everything is drenched - even the midpipe and catback got some of it. We find a lovely hole near the motor mount in the block. T-riffic.
This is my main and only mode of transportation. I have a full time job that I have to get to. I have a yard full of cars, but not really any reliable drivetrain - aside from an e drivetrain, but again, high mileage, etc.
Here are my choices.
1) Pull the existing block and head, grab the high mileage i block in my yard and cross my fingers
2) Put an entire e motor in with necessary components
3) Source an i bottom end locally and use that with my head
4) yank the super eta engine from my 88 and use that
5) yank the super eta engine from my 88, pull the pistons, drop them off with an e block and get the bottom end put together
6) source an entire i engine and put it in for now, figure out what's going on with my engine later
Here's what I have for parts:
-My i motor: 137K miles, head should be ok, block clearly no good, internals questionable.
-ETA motor from 85 burgundrot car: still intact, newish clutch and flex plate, 200K miles on it
-ETA bottom end from 85 euro car (not euro pistons): 285K on it, but ran well.
-87 ETA engine (still in car): 160K, bad t-belt, so maybe ok bottom end, no good top end most likely.
-86 ETA engine (still in car): 230K, runs fine, needs pan (drain plug was stripped when I got it)
-88 Super ETA engine (still in car): 200K, super quiet, ran very well, very strong.
I'd love to hear suggestions. What I want is a good->better solution for low->medium costs.
Thanks guys.
Since my ownership of the 87 325i vert, it's had a moderate oil leak from somewhere in the engine bay - I was topping off about 2 quarts every two weeks. In my sheer lack of time, I just haven't had the chance to chase down the culprit - and everything's pretty wet down there, so finding it is easier said than done. Performance was more than adequate, so I didn't think much of it. Proves me the idiot, eh?
Anyways. Heading down the highway today, doing roughly 45-50, I changed lanes and shifted to 3rd from 4th. I heard a loud pop and then the engine got real loud. Rough idle, smoke everywhere. I quickly pull over and realize the car is still running. Odd. I pop the hood but realize I'm in harm's way with no shoulder and almost on an onramp. So I get back in and turn the key and she starts right up. I take it easy and drive to the next exit, smoke billowing from behind, and luckily made it to my buddy's Meineke. I parked it and shut it off, and watched what was left of my oil - at least 3 quarts - dribble to the pavement underneath it and make a lovely puddle in his lot.
We push it onto the lift and get under it. Oil EVERYWHERE. Everything is drenched - even the midpipe and catback got some of it. We find a lovely hole near the motor mount in the block. T-riffic.
This is my main and only mode of transportation. I have a full time job that I have to get to. I have a yard full of cars, but not really any reliable drivetrain - aside from an e drivetrain, but again, high mileage, etc.
Here are my choices.
1) Pull the existing block and head, grab the high mileage i block in my yard and cross my fingers
2) Put an entire e motor in with necessary components
3) Source an i bottom end locally and use that with my head
4) yank the super eta engine from my 88 and use that
5) yank the super eta engine from my 88, pull the pistons, drop them off with an e block and get the bottom end put together
6) source an entire i engine and put it in for now, figure out what's going on with my engine later
Here's what I have for parts:
-My i motor: 137K miles, head should be ok, block clearly no good, internals questionable.
-ETA motor from 85 burgundrot car: still intact, newish clutch and flex plate, 200K miles on it
-ETA bottom end from 85 euro car (not euro pistons): 285K on it, but ran well.
-87 ETA engine (still in car): 160K, bad t-belt, so maybe ok bottom end, no good top end most likely.
-86 ETA engine (still in car): 230K, runs fine, needs pan (drain plug was stripped when I got it)
-88 Super ETA engine (still in car): 200K, super quiet, ran very well, very strong.
I'd love to hear suggestions. What I want is a good->better solution for low->medium costs.
Thanks guys.
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