So I have to do something w/ the ol' M42

[iamsam]

Turns out the head gasket has sprung a bit of a leak and coolant is getting into one of the cylinders.

So I can either do a HG on the ol' 236k mile motor, ORRRRR swap in another motor.

First swap idea is just a decent M50. Cheap, and then the infrastructure will be in place for an S50 swap down the road, and it will just be a bolt-in affair.

Or I could just find another M42 and bolt-in.

Or just do the HG.

If anyone has some honest input, that would be appreciated.

Keep in mind, I am on a limited budget at the moment. I do have an E28 I can drive if need be in the meantime (once I get around to continuing the 5-speed swap), so it's not like this has to get done tomorrow.

Thanks guys.

[blefevre]

If you are on a budget then just do the HG.

If your car has no rust and you have time/a little money then swap a M52 and turbo it "down the road"

[iamsam]

If you are on a budget then just do the HG.

If your car has no rust and you have time/a little money then swap a M52 and turbo it "down the road"

yeah it seems hg is the cheapest overall route.

the car has rust, but that hasn't got anything to do w/ engine choice. I plan to do a full body resto anyway one of these years.

[blefevre]

I would buy a clean shell before you but heavy money into it, but that's just my opinion. But I would agree that HG is by far the cheapest.

[BMWchubbs]

Just throw the entire car in a dumpster and start fresh :P

[monkeytaco]

swap!

[iamsam]

Just throw the entire car in a dumpster and start fresh :P

Don't start with this shit

[MasterOfPuppets]

So here's where I make the obligatory LS pitch... find some wrecked '98 to '04 F-body, rip out the engine and trans, cut out your firewall and trans tunnel, and bolt the sucker in. Drive the E28 in the meantime.

Or, even better, find a wrecked C5 and adapt the whole rear-transaxle setup into the E30. It would kill your rear seat space, but... imagine the weight distro, not to mention the sheer awesomeness.

Don't start with this shit

He may have a point, though... for instance, you could start again with a C4...

But seriously, you only have one head, and it's tiny... the HG is probably the best immediate term solution.

[blefevre]

And with the HG you can clean up and check all other parts. The car will run for years after that.

Save money, then start with another E30 as a swap or something later on.

[Bimmerman325i]

If money is the issue (sell the 540i/6?), do the HG. When you do though, make sure to get the head decked and checked out by a machine shop. If the head is warped your replacement HG will just blow again. Chris had his head done by a shop in your neck of the woods, give him a call to see what they charged. I remember it was a quick turnaround time though.

What I'd do though: sell all your random e28s and e30s and silly parts, and just S50 swap your E30 with Critter's longblock or Conway's rebuilt motor. Then sell the swapped e30 for more than you put into it and buy yourself another one. BAM you make money, have S50 car to drive for a little while, you gain experience on the swap, and get rid of the boat anchor.

I'd guess that replacing the HG will likely be ~$250-500+ in parts and machine shop labor.

[iamsam]

But seriously, you only have one head, and it's tiny... the HG is probably the best immediate term solution.

And with the HG you can clean up and check all other parts. The car will run for years after that.

Save money, then start with another E30 as a swap or something later on.

It's true, i Do want to say the M42 can run past 300k miles, and no engine pulling required, but one good point was that the M42 has alot of miles on it and it may not be worth putting money into AND the bearings probably took a beating by running coolant through them mixed with the oil.

[iamsam]

If money is the issue (sell the 540i/6?), do the HG. When you do though, make sure to get the head decked and checked out by a machine shop. If the head is warped your replacement HG will just blow again. Chris had his head done by a shop in your neck of the woods, give him a call to see what they charged. I remember it was a quick turnaround time though.

What I'd do though: sell all your random e28s and e30s and silly parts, and just S50 swap your E30 with Critter's longblock or Conway's rebuilt motor. Then sell the swapped e30 for more than you put into it and buy yourself another one. BAM you make money, have S50 car to drive for a little while, you gain experience on the swap, and get rid of the boat anchor.

I'd guess that replacing the HG will likely be ~$250-500+ in parts and machine shop labor.

yeah it is tempting to use this an an excuse to start a 24v swap, but if I DID swap, why sell?

But yes I WILL be selling all E28 related material that I own to pay for the stuff I need to pay for, but until the E30 is drivable again, I will need to drive something, like my E28, once I get the 5-speed swap done.

Looks like i know what I am doing this weekend....

[MaksV]

M50+boost ftw.

at least thats the route i am going.

[Roland H]

M50+boost ftw.

That's kinda pointless. If you're going to boost an E30, boost an M20 or M42. If you're dying for a 24v, at least do an M52 (dirt cheap, and arguably the best 24v motor to boost for the money).

[iamsam]

That's kinda pointless. If you're going to boost an E30, boost an M20 or M42. If you're dying for a 24v, at least do an M52 (dirt cheap, and arguably the best 24v motor to boost for the money).

Right. The idea here is to just get something, anything from the M50 family in there for now so i can drive the dang thing, and then when I DO acquire a low mileage minty mint S50 or S52 I can just drop it in.