my e30 323i has blown up!!! somehow... :D

[BMR_PWR]

hey guys, if u dont know i have an e30 323i, the road was wet as i pulled out of work today so my foot slipped onto the accelerator (dont ask me how :-p) and was doin approx 5500rpm in 1st when i changed to 2nd the car made zizzzz sound then no power or gears and engine stalled. any attemps to start the engine failed with the only sound being an "erh" like it trys to turn for a split second but cant. i had my mechanic come and look at it and he said doesnt look good mayb something in the internals(piston, rod etc) or could be a cam belt or sumthing :S he also said its like the crank is stuck.... i think, anyway he guessed i am looking at round bout $2000 could be more (hasnt had a real good look at whats wrong with it) to fix. any idea's whats the best thing to do,
A)sell as is to wreckers or private sale
B)fix it
C)do an engine conversion(mayb with a M50) or with another 2.3 ltr
D)strip and sell in parts

any idea's or comments will be appreciated, thanks Brad

[MaDhAtTeR]

crank is probably stuck because the pistons are smashing into the valves.

The sound you described, the no start, the unable to turn the crank and the sudden event all point to a cam belt failure.

Sorry to say this, but if this is the case, toss the engine in the bin.

wreckers or private will mean the car is worth just about nothing, a non running 323i is pretty worthless.

well, i wouldnt bother to fix the motor, but id probably pull the head off if it turns out to be a broken belt and just see how much damage has occured. At the very least it will have damage to the pistons and a whole stack of bent/broken valves. At the worst, head/rockers will be cracked, piston(s) will be damaged, rod(s) will be bent or destroyed.

have you got the money for the conversion?

again, probably not worth much in parts unless you have some good bits.

Shortest and probably cheapest thing to do would be to drop a 2.3L M20 motor right back in place. Should be able to pickup a tested one from a wrecker for under a grand these days (i reckon maybe around the $600 mark if you are lucky).

Get your mechanic to check it over for sure, but be prepared for bad news. How many kms is on the car and how many since it had a known belt change?

[BMR_PWR]

yeh i definatley agree, i dont think ill fix as ill probably spend more then the car is worth. the car had 220ks on it not sure about the belt though. I have seen a 2.3l m20 on ebay for $650 if i remember correctly with 202ks on it tested, thats in qld though so to tas is probably another $400. i have about $5000 i could use but im still wondering if its just better to buy a new car and scrap that 1, depends, any idea's on how easy it is to do an m50 conversion? i heard that it just fits in and most of the wiring is already there? there is a wrecked car on ebay with an m50 that someone was going to use for a conversion for an e30, but cant now, for sale for $1750 i think he wants for it. yeh the mechanic is away for 2 weeks so ill either have to find some1 else or make a desision. I thought there might have been a demand for parts on e30's because mine is in pretty good cond but ah well, i heard there is a guy in town that buys e30's so i might give him a call, anyway thanks for your comments any others would be great too, thanks Brad

[MaDhAtTeR]

i honestly think 5k probably wont cover all the bits and pieces needed for the M50 conversion, including the motor, especially if you are paying someone to do the work.

Yes it fits, but it isnt just a bolt in proposition, things like steering rack, brake booster, radiator, exhaust, sump, have issues i seem to remember reading. There are M50 threads about the place, even a couple owners on here, might be worth speaking to them if you really want one.

[BMR_PWR]

yeh i had a read on m50 conversions thread and i think your right, someone would have to do the work because i dont have anywhere to do it nor the tools or knowledge. so after seeing whats involved ill prob give that a skip too. thanks for your help and as always comments are welcomed , thanks Brad

[Tassie_328i]

Damn, that sucks man.... brings the launceston numbers back to 1!
Hope to see a big 5er cruising the streets soon.

Who do you get to look at your car?

[acarr87]

Originally Posted by Tassie_328i

Damn, that sucks man.... brings the launceston numbers back to 1!
Hope to see a big 5er cruising the streets soon.

Who do you get to look at your car?

im from lonny as well, so numbers are up haha... not good news there mate, i know that a mate takes his e36 to the mechanic opposite cash convertors in kings meadows and swears by him if thats any help to ya...

[BMR_PWR]

well nice to see the tassie bmw scene booming! lol. Yeh i go to Rob Williams who is a guy in behind sth mc donalds and carey hire. Its like a family tradition we all go there, but then saying that he is a really mechanic especially on cars built in the 80's to mid 90's, he has also done a few targa cars and bathurst cars in his time so he knows his stuff even if his age is nearing retirement lol. Hey ive seen ur car around acarr87 very nice!!! anyway thanks for the info guys, Brad

[acarr87]

Originally Posted by BMR_PWR

Hey ive seen ur car around acarr87 very nice!!!

thanks mate... it probably isnt worth wrecking your car down this way, not enough demand for parts, hence the reason we always have to look interstate lol... so id personally be replacing the motor, whether it be the same type of engine or a better one is your choice, but thats what id do...

[MrBlonde]

Sorry to hear about your problems. Can you confirm how many headrests are in your car?

[BMR_PWR]

its just the 2 front seats that have headrests, the rear seat doesnt. cheers Brad

[2bluBmws]

Originally Posted by acarr87

ii know that a mate takes his e36 to the mechanic opposite cash convertors in kings meadows and swears by him if thats any help to ya...

maybe take the car to cash converters instead of the mechanic?

MrBlonde
are 2 e30 front headrests all that stand between you and completing your 1,202 day phase 8 build.... or do you need the rears as well?

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by 2bluBmws

maybe take the car to cash converters instead of the mechanic?

MrBlonde
are 2 e30 front headrests all that stand between you and completing your 1,202 day phase 8 build.... or do you need the rears as well?

Actually it's 1,305 days today, been a while since I updated my sig.

[BMR_PWR]

its totally sad lol non of the wreckers want an e30 bmw!!!!! apart from 1 who would give me $100 for it if i delivered it lol. i almost said i can get more for the brand new radiator that i just put in 3 weeks ago lol! I do have a private buyer that might b interested but im not sure what price i should put on it, i know that just with a few parts on my car i could get atleast $500........if i parted it......ARRRHHH! any suggestions?? thanks brad

[2bluBmws]

does the car have a perfect dash? no cracks. if so theres $300 straight away. what about alloys, good tyres. hows the exhaust?
if you know how to take a car apart you can make some money out of it. if you got the time and inclination. MrBlonde already has dibs on your headrests, tho im not sure if he remembers the interior colour of his car anymore.
stick it in the garage, put it up on bricks and strip it bit by bit.
but if you dont have the time, patience or tools, theres no use bitching about what could have been.
have you even taken the head off yet? you cant f@#k it up any more than it is. rip it off and have a look. post up pics on here and get some half assed opinions on if it could be rebuilt cheaply.