Need your thoughts: Buying new used engine

[Mad Chemist]

Evening all,

I recently bought a 1988 325ic. The engine has been pretty well taken care of but the previous owner is estimating that it has close to 300K miles on it. Odometer died and wasn't fixed for several years. Current mileage is right around 197k. It is burning a little of oil but looks like it might be coming from the oil pan since there is seepage present.

My last e30 had the engine combo of eta bottom with an 885 head. It was a blast to drive, really enjoyed the torque and had the potential of a turbo. So i went looking on craigslist and found pretty much the same setup (eta bottom, i head). The owner of the engine says the rings and rod bearings are good, new head and intake gaskets. The engine is currently pulled from the car since he is planning to do a V8 swap. Is there any way to confirm the condition of the engine without it being a car?

Also, he is asking 900 for the engine along with a trans with 89k on it. Is that a good price these days?

Any help would be appreciated. This forum has always had great insight. Thanks for the responses.

[roguetoaster]

Taking it apart, at least partially, is the only good way to inspect it.

As to price, it really seems quite variable by market and even season. In the DMV area B25s seems to trade around the $500 mark with 260s commanding $200 tops. If you could get the setup down $100 you might be in good shape to purchase it.

Ultimately, the only sure way to know what's going on with an engine is to build it yourself. As even the most honest sellers gloss over things, forget problems, and generally cannot give you every detail, especially on an engine that has already been removed. Further, if the bottom end hasn't been rebuilt, or at least disassembled, he probably does not know the actual condition of components in the first place.

[McGyver]

You can do a leakdown test with the engine removed to figure out what condition it's in.

[Exodus_2pt0]

$900 is crazy. Keep looking.

I paid $250 for a m20b25 in Jersey back in 2011.

I would rather buy a stock engine than a Frankenstein.

When I bought mine I asked the guy in person if to the best of his knowledge, that the motor was good. He said yes, I checked the timing belt, and took it. Everything worked out well. You aren't going to get around the risk with something like this. All you can really do is check the timing belt (brand new is NOT a good sign), open the cap and look for sludge, and feel the guy out for any indications that he is hiding something.

I've personally never had an issue, and I've bought a few engines without guarantees.

If I were paying top dollar, like $900, I would want receipts, compression test numbers, and a video of the engine running just before it was pulled.

[2mAn]

Me personally, Im a masochist so I would rebuild the original motor, add a M52 crank, try to increase the compression slightly and add all new rings and bearings...then enjoy it for another 300k miles. It will probably cost a grand to do that

[Nick's e30]

I got around $1000 for all of my low mileage stuff less than a few months ago splitting it into major parts (total engine, total trans package, etc). $900 is fair. Not a steal but fair. A friend locally to me held out and recently just sold an engine, trans, harness, ecu ETC for around that, so if you think you can get him down any, give it a shot.

[TobyB]

in Jersey back in 2011

Feed Mr Fusion, and hit the button, McFly, we're going back to 2011. And put some shit in your hair- It's Jersey Time!

You have to gamble on stuff like this.
If $900 is play money for you, do it. If you HAVE to have a running
car for $900,
don't.

Around here, $900 running and driving would be fair. But a lot for something that rattled.

The leakdown test is not a bad idea. But short of taking the pan
off and the bottom apart, there's no way to check the rod bearings.
You can carefully rock the crank, and you'll find something catastrophically
wrong- maybe...

t

[Exodus_2pt0]

Common now, did the prices really jump $650 in 5 years?

[Mad Chemist]

Thanks for the input so far. I am not sure what I am going to do yet. I have always liked the idea of going 24v but it might be a bit out of my league. I am definitely not the best fabricator.

[jeffnhiscars]

Silly question but...is the trans a 5spd ?

[dnguyen1963]

If you guys know where to buy an M20 for around $250, post the links. I might buy a couple for rainy days. Seriously, outside of Cali and PNW, there is nothing cheap to find.

[staysideways]

Me personally, Im a masochist so I would rebuild the original motor, add a M52 crank, try to increase the compression slightly and add all new rings and bearings...then enjoy it for another 300k miles. It will probably cost a grand to do that

Isn't the m52 chain driven? Is it possible to remove those sleeved pulleys? I was thinking about this the other day

[TobyB]

did the prices really jump $650 in 5 years?

They did around here. I was buying "quality things " (read, 'shit') for cheap
in 2011- 2012, and now, the price of "quality things" has more than doubled.

And a $1500 big bumpered car now goes for $4000.

I blame the hipsters. And the stance...

t