For all of you who don’t know I have an 88 325ix that is in pristine condition. In September my timing belt snapped due to bad advice from my mechanic they said it was a 60-70k belt instead of a 40-50k that it is. As I merge onto the highway at 3-4k snap. After they removed the head there were 3-4 bent valves and minor piston damage.
So I bought a salvaged head from dirty German who by the way is great to work with. They sent it to machine shop to be cleaned and "rebuilt" I also bought a schrick 288 cam and springs from them. (there is a debate weither they are necessary but I thought id play it safe $400 is cheaper than a broke engine or head). I also purchased a Jim C chip. New rockers. And was told by the mech was going to be all new we were just using the core.
3 months later and 3.2k I turned the key and drove away. Did break in and let them readjust at 500mi. Only to drive it another 700mi, and look behind me and see a huge cloud of white smoke I pulled over turned it off got out. Attempted a restart to no avail as the engine locked up. As it was put on tow truck coolant was coming out exhaust. Had it towed back they finally got to it after a week pulled spark plugs and #6 was busted (or they told me they put a stick in it and said it wasn’t moving and declared a rod had broke). I said I didn’t have cash to pay them to take it apart so I had it towed back to my place so I could do the work myself.
2 weeks later I had head off, I don’t have much extra time lol. Anyways I turn it over only to see a valve stem completely broke off and valve driven into head and guide and coolant jacket and massive piston damage 3-4 1/4in divots in piston. The cylinder walls have scratches so bottom end is toast now too. So I take head back to them so they can look at it they pry valve outta head and declare there was no interference other than when the piston drove it into head. And tech says he needs to talk to shop owner and they will call on Monday. So I call them at 5 since that’s when they close get shop owner and he says oh I looked at it we used the valves outta the salvaged head and it failed its not my problem. I said we be talking further bout this matter. I was told it would be completely rebuilt not using used valves.
My family has been taking BMWs to this shop for over 20yrs and I have since I was 15 (so five). I think they need to take responsibility for this. What’s you guys take on all this?
P.S. I have pic of the head its pretty gnarly. And I can get pics of the piston damage.
So I bought a salvaged head from dirty German who by the way is great to work with. They sent it to machine shop to be cleaned and "rebuilt" I also bought a schrick 288 cam and springs from them. (there is a debate weither they are necessary but I thought id play it safe $400 is cheaper than a broke engine or head). I also purchased a Jim C chip. New rockers. And was told by the mech was going to be all new we were just using the core.
3 months later and 3.2k I turned the key and drove away. Did break in and let them readjust at 500mi. Only to drive it another 700mi, and look behind me and see a huge cloud of white smoke I pulled over turned it off got out. Attempted a restart to no avail as the engine locked up. As it was put on tow truck coolant was coming out exhaust. Had it towed back they finally got to it after a week pulled spark plugs and #6 was busted (or they told me they put a stick in it and said it wasn’t moving and declared a rod had broke). I said I didn’t have cash to pay them to take it apart so I had it towed back to my place so I could do the work myself.
2 weeks later I had head off, I don’t have much extra time lol. Anyways I turn it over only to see a valve stem completely broke off and valve driven into head and guide and coolant jacket and massive piston damage 3-4 1/4in divots in piston. The cylinder walls have scratches so bottom end is toast now too. So I take head back to them so they can look at it they pry valve outta head and declare there was no interference other than when the piston drove it into head. And tech says he needs to talk to shop owner and they will call on Monday. So I call them at 5 since that’s when they close get shop owner and he says oh I looked at it we used the valves outta the salvaged head and it failed its not my problem. I said we be talking further bout this matter. I was told it would be completely rebuilt not using used valves.
My family has been taking BMWs to this shop for over 20yrs and I have since I was 15 (so five). I think they need to take responsibility for this. What’s you guys take on all this?
P.S. I have pic of the head its pretty gnarly. And I can get pics of the piston damage.
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