1989 325i Project.

[Frankensteined]

Here it is... My project.
I've searched for a while for my e30. My goal was to find one thats Clean Title, red, has black interior that is fairly clean, and had reasonably low mileage.
Then bam! All the way in San Jose. This red beauty!
... no? well at least for me it was...

Yes, It was all mexican-ed out! No offense to any on here.



The Jack is there because the wheels had to go!







So I bought it for 1200, Yes a bit too much, but it had the main things i wanted.
Red, A clean black interior, and 164k miles

The bad?
Aside from being destroyed by the Chrome rims and Flaming Exhaust...
The engine was knocking. I didn't really care since its all going to get rebuilt.

Since, I sold the rims and tires for 250, lol. Surprised someone bought them. Guess who?
The guy was going to put them on a 2006 sentra. I know sad...

[XW70]

Nice car minus the wheels! In for the progress

[Frankensteined]

I put stock basket-weaves on.
At first it was towed to my buddy's house over the weekend because the shop was closed.
Then I didn't want to pay another $40 to tow it to the shop so, I decided to drive it there.
It was knocking really bad but it got there. Even drove up to the lift. Total of about 4 miles.
The person I bought it from told me he drove it back home when the knocking started.
So it was quite a few miles with the knocking. Im saying this since what happened next shocked me.

The next thing after the wheels was the engine that had to go.
Up on the lift. Sorry for the bad phone pix, Ill try better in the future.





Started unhooking everything from the top, then we raised the car to work on from the bottom.
The whole time I thought the damage was on the inside...
I had to use a flashlight then I spotted this:







And, OH, wait... More!



About half of the oil pan is gone, and there is a hole in the block. and 5th piston rod is not even in the engine.
I thought ppl use the phrase "threw a rod" figuratively, but this engine really tossed it.
Wait what??? This engine drove over 4 miles??
Yup, no oil whatsoever... Kinda tells you how these cars were built.

Post up some opinions of what caused this.

[TimKninja]

You didnt think to check oil? Or notice any leaks?

Lolwat.

[Frankensteined]

I knew it leaked, but not that i cared in any kind of way, I knew the engine is fudged.
When i went to look at it it was at night(i know not the best time).

[SkorcherX]

Well.... M50 swap? What are the plans now? You have lots of choices.

[XW70]

thats amazing that it ran so far like that.

[MattAvino]

crazy haha good luck

[LivingLegend06]

Awesome, I love to see carnage.

[amcink]

In for the built. Also I'm in Sac and I'll be getting ready for a swap but later this year. So we can help each other.(I'm considering and M30 swap)

[Frankensteined]

In for the built. Also I'm in Sac and I'll be getting ready for a swap but later this year. So we can help each other.(I'm considering and M30 swap)

Sure thing... I know quite some ppl in the e30 scene..

[AbsorbantNut]

Good luck with this! You have a chance for change & I'd love to see which direction you take.

[TrentW]

$1200. Engine knocking--no, pounding. No 5th rod to be found whatsoever. Check the oil? Why, the thought never crossed my mind.

That's not the fault of a chip, that's low oil level and/or pressure son.

[Frankensteined]

$1200. Engine knocking--no, pounding. No 5th rod to be found whatsoever. Check the oil? Why, the thought never crossed my mind.

That's not the fault of a chip, that's low oil level and/or pressure son.

Like stated, I did not care about that engine. When i pulled up, I saw it leaking, and i started it and it was knocking. (yes pounding)
Why i say that a chip might have caused it, is because, when i tore apart the engine, a rocker arm was broken, and a valve was bent, Timing belt was fine.
I assume the chip caused the over rev and the piston reached and hit the valve...
Will be posting more pix in the evening.

[e30shmobberr]

wow quite a surprise there