M20 Engine rebuild in Portland

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  • mcdougal
    Wrencher
    • Nov 2014
    • 251

    #1

    M20 Engine rebuild in Portland

    Hey all,

    Thinking about picking up a 325i with a blown motor. Is there anywhere local that sells rebuilt m20 motors? If not, are there any independent shops in the area that you'd recommend for a rebuild? I'd even let a forum member do it in his garage if he/she knows what they are doing.

    What does it usually cost for a full rebuild?

    Thanks!
  • mcdougal
    Wrencher
    • Nov 2014
    • 251

    #2
    Also, if anyone has a used m20 for sale let me know.

    Comment

    • TimeMachinE30
      No R3VLimiter
      • Jun 2014
      • 3749

      #3
      Metric Mechanic. VAC. BimmerBuddies. Lots of choices.

      Need to know if you want OEM, slightly tuned, turbo, race car...
      ACS S3 Build / Dinan 5 E34

      Comment

      • mcdougal
        Wrencher
        • Nov 2014
        • 251

        #4
        M20 Engine rebuild in Portland

        The plan is to run it n/a for a while and then throw a turbo on it. From what I've read an upgraded head gasket and arp head studs will be necessary but everything else can be oem.

        MetricMechanic starts at $7k which seems crazy.

        Maybe a good condition used motor with a refresh, head gasket and head studs is the way to go.

        Comment

        • TimeMachinE30
          No R3VLimiter
          • Jun 2014
          • 3749

          #5
          Plenty of knowledge on these boards. If you want to refresh, bimmerbuddies head on a good condition bottom end should do the trick.
          ACS S3 Build / Dinan 5 E34

          Comment

          • mcdougal
            Wrencher
            • Nov 2014
            • 251

            #6
            Thanks for the tip

            Comment

            • shameson
              E30 Mastermind
              • Jun 2012
              • 1507

              #7
              Look into Munich Motorworks on Holgate. Ive heard a lot of good things about their work and I know its a shop supported by the CCA
              '84 Alpine 325e (Gone)
              '91 Alpine 318i (Gone) Click Here
              '92 Alpine 325i Cabrio (Gone) Click Here
              '91 Alpine 318is

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              • e30austin
                I waste 90% of my day here and all I got was this stupid title
                • Sep 2010
                • 15382

                #8
                Originally posted by mcdougal
                Hey all,

                Thinking about picking up a 325i with a blown motor. Is there anywhere local that sells rebuilt m20 motors? If not, are there any independent shops in the area that you'd recommend for a rebuild? I'd even let a forum member do it in his garage if he/she knows what they are doing.

                What does it usually cost for a full rebuild?

                Thanks!
                For the cost of an engine rebuild on your M20, you could stick a 24v motor in there and be done.


                Comment

                • Batz
                  Grease Monkey
                  • Aug 2013
                  • 303

                  #9
                  Why not do the rebuild yourself?
                  The m20 is really not a hard engine to rebuild. Everything is pretty simple and straight forward. Im build a 2.7I atm, and its pretty simple, so far everything costed me around $1200-1500 for the whole rebuild engine. Way cheaper than you will find anywhere else.

                  But if you have money, try catuned. They usually have rebuild engines for sale, and if not atm im sure they can build one for you.

                  Comment

                  • mcdougal
                    Wrencher
                    • Nov 2014
                    • 251

                    #10
                    M20 Engine rebuild in Portland

                    Originally posted by Austin!
                    For the cost of an engine rebuild on your M20, you could stick a 24v motor in there and be done.

                    If I want to turbo the motor I the future im not sure if a 24v makes sense. I know the m20 handles boost pretty well and while a 24v motor makes more power n/a, it wouldn't be noticed with a turbo. Maybe I'm wrong.
                    Last edited by mcdougal; 11-21-2014, 09:57 PM.

                    Comment

                    • mcdougal
                      Wrencher
                      • Nov 2014
                      • 251

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Batz
                      Why not do the rebuild yourself?
                      The m20 is really not a hard engine to rebuild. Everything is pretty simple and straight forward. Im build a 2.7I atm, and its pretty simple, so far everything costed me around $1200-1500 for the whole rebuild engine. Way cheaper than you will find anywhere else.

                      But if you have money, try catuned. They usually have rebuild engines for sale, and if not atm im sure they can build one for you.

                      I've thought about trying to rebuild it myself. What will your total all in cost be when you're done?

                      Seems like the thing to do might be to just go with a good condition used m20 and run it till it blows.

                      Comment

                      • Batz
                        Grease Monkey
                        • Aug 2013
                        • 303

                        #12
                        Originally posted by mcdougal
                        I've thought about trying to rebuild it myself. What will your total all in cost be when you're done?

                        Seems like the thing to do might be to just go with a good condition used m20 and run it till it blows.
                        Most likely less then $1500. That is with me buying an an I engine, then an eta block, and having my head rebuild in the machine shop, and all good quality parts. Buying just an i also not a bad option either, i got mine for $350, that supposedly run perfectly.

                        Comment

                        • mcdougal
                          Wrencher
                          • Nov 2014
                          • 251

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Batz
                          Most likely less then $1500. That is with me buying an an I engine, then an eta block, and having my head rebuild in the machine shop, and all good quality parts. Buying just an i also not a bad option either, i got mine for $350, that supposedly run perfectly.

                          Thanks. $1,500 would be doable. Any chance you could provide a list of parts and their respective costs?

                          Comment

                          • Batz
                            Grease Monkey
                            • Aug 2013
                            • 303

                            #14
                            Sure, I have somewhat complete list on my computer. I'll send you tomorrow if I won't forget. If I do tho just pm me to remind me.

                            Comment

                            • mcdougal
                              Wrencher
                              • Nov 2014
                              • 251

                              #15
                              Thanks Batz

                              Comment

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