E30 leaking a quart of oil each month

[laeltaba]

Hi Everyone!

I'm about to check out an 89 325i. The seller informed me that the car leaks oil (had to fill quart each month). What do you folks think is wrong with the car? How much do you think this will cost me to have it fixed?

The seller is asking for $1500, interior is still in good condition and body is in good shape. Should I stay away from it or is this still good buy?

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

p.s.
timing belt and water pump has not been replaced recently so I need to take care of that if i decide to buy the car.

[Jesse30]

oil pan gasket, or stripped drain plug threads. thats if its LEAKING. car could just be eating oil.. its not a big deal. buy it, do the tb and waterpump, drive it like you stole it.

.02

[z31maniac]

Rear main seal?

[Jesse30]

Rear main seal?

touche

[Intro]

There are a number of possibilities.
Does the engine smoke? if yes, then it is either Valve guide gaskets, headgasket, or rings are completley done.
All of these are going to involve removing the head and if its rings, removing the engine. Are you ready for that?

If it is just leaking oil, then i would suggest giving it a look underneath to see from where. Check oil pan, valve cover gasket, sides of motor, oil filter housing(lines, and cooler), the tube that connects the intake manifold to the oil pan. All of these would not be to hard to fix (a weekend job). If you need to do the rear main seal this involves dropping the tranny, thats a pain.

Do you want to do the work? If yes take the car, if no forget about it, 1 quart of oil a month is something that needs to be fixed.

[laeltaba]

Thank you all for your responses! I'll be checking the car out tomorrow, hope the leaks are not major.

[JPL]

always about gaskets

[Intro]

most likely about gaskets

fixed
it could be a stripped oil pan gasket, a crack in the oil pan, a crack in the block, etc..

[Collin]

for 1500 I would buy it and take the 1k I saved and fix the leak. Could be pan gasket, rear main seal, valve cover gasket, hell it might have worn rings and excessive burning. I've seen many many many people with double gasketed oil filters that thought there was something seriously wrong with their cars.

Any of these can be fixed for significantly less than 1k.

It would help if we could have details on where the oil is collecting on the motor or trans to determine where the leak is coming from.