Just bought a 318ti with a cooked engine
 

Greetings.
My girlfriend and I just bought a beautiful '98 318ti ($1800), which the previous owner had overheated. For the time being, all I've done is wash and wax it, push it into the garage and look under the hood.
Somebody had removed the spark plugs and cranked the engine, and I can see that coolant was blown out of the CCs. So, I guess it's obvious that it has at least a blown head gasket.
I'm not at all familiar with Ultimate Driving Machines...if you cook an M44, is it most likely destroyed? I'm trying to decide whether to spend the time taking it apart, hoping that it's only the head gasket, or if that'd be a waste of time and I should just get a new engine.
Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Phil

Alot of people have put the M3 engine in there cars on this sight...It boosts you to around 230 hp or something like that. I think it is like 6g's if I remember reading right...could be a little more maybe even 8 thousand...how many miles are on the frame and body of the car...if you got it for $1800, and soaked another 8g's into it, it would still be an awesome car and you wiould probably would not have been able to buy that car for much less anyways if it had a good engine....

The car has 88K miles on it and is in almost pristine condition, with the exception of a cigarette burn in the headliner near the sunroof (who on earth smokes in a BMW???). At this point, I think I'd prefer to stay with the M44, but this does give me the opportunity to build it up the way I want it...within reason.

If it were me I would just get a used engine from somebody who did an engine swap and plop that in there and call it good. People pretty much give M44's and M42's away.

I agree, at least the car can be driven and enjoyed :)

Good luck with the new car :)

I believe there is someone in TX either on this list or on the Yahoo group looking to swap out his M44 with a supercharger already on it. Lots of info on this list on the Downing Atlanta supercharger route (99% of it favorable). Then again, I agree just putting in a good M44 4cyl motor would be economical. In case you are not aware, the 1995's had the M42 motor. 1996 and on have the M44. It matters most about the electronics- stick to an M44 and the swap is easier.

Can anybody offer any advice on the chances that all I need is a head gasket and maybe a new head? Is it more likely that the entire engine is trashed? I realize this is a pretty vague question, but some engines (Isuzu 4-bangers, for example) have virtually indestructible bottom ends, while others are almost guaranteed destroyed if overheated.
Again, I realize it's a vague and probably stupid question...but any opinions greatly appreciated.
I also seem to be reading conflicting stories on the water pump, with regards to whether the '98 has a plastic or metal impeller. I can see that the housing is plastic.
Lastly (for now), what might be some common causes for an M44 with only 88K miles to overheat? I wouldn't have expected that...not on a late 90s vehicle.

Thanks in advance...it's tough trying to get familiar with a new ride.
:_paper:

I'm not sure which years had plastic impellar water pumps...but i didnt think the housing would be plastic (although I could be wrong). You sure you're looking at the water pump? If I were you, I'd pull the water pump out, pull the head off, check for warpage and cracks, replace the head gasket, replace water pump if needed...hell, replace it anyways, and change the oil a couple times. The bottom end of the engine SHOULD be ok. The big problem is the head since it's aluminum and may crack easily. Besides the water pump failing, another cause for overheating could have been a blown heater hose, or just plain low coolant. Oh yeah, replace the heater hoses while doing the head gasket too, since the intake manifold has to be off anyways to get to the hoses. Was it leaking coolant when you bought the car?

I would pull the head, replace the water pump, and look at the cylinders I am going to say that more than likely the bottom end will be fine. Now you may not even need a new cylinder head, I would take it to a machine shop and have them deck the head, so if there is any warpage that it won't be a problem later on down the road. Then replace the head gasket, and put the head back on, install your new water pump, flush the coolant system, replace the thermostat, and pressure test the cooling system. Drive it around and see how she runs, more than likely that is all you will need to do.

Good luck man, sounds like you got a great deal on the Car.

We have had 6-7 M42 and M44 come in overheated. Three have had severe pitting Between the valves on the leaking cyl. If this is the case you are better off getting a new motor. I still have access to a brand new M44 that was a spare for a race team that was never used. they want $2000. it has all the sensors, wires, intake, header, everthing.

With all due respect, get the engine taken apart and inspected. Anyone who guesses on what the problem is without inspection isn't doing you any favours. They may also set the wrong expections and unintentionally upset you. In the long run, it will cost less to do it right once, than doing it wrong several times.

Good luck with it.

I'm getting ready to...pretty soon. I was just trying to guage the feasibility of tearing into it, as opposed to simply swapping out the entire engine.
Thank you all for the advice.

I have a nice, perfectly running motor for you. Removed for my M3 conversion, resting quietly in my garage. I bought the car new, have full service records. Needing a new home.

Now accepting offers...

Same situation...
 

Me too!

I'm in a similar situation and am deciding what to do.

Our daughter drove her '96 318ti with zero coolent at 70+MPH. When she eventually pulled off the interstate the engine died. Won't start. Cranks slowly and sounds like it is binding. It also sounds like one cyl. has no compression. I'm sure the engine is toast. I assumed pulling the head was a waste of time.


Car is mine now :) So now I have a '96 with 135,000 miles on it. Car is in good but not pristine condtion. And it's an automatic :( I have no idea if the transmission is still good.


I'm planning on selling my 1990 535i and using the proceeds to make the ti my weekend car.

My budget will be $2000 to $3000

I had been considering an engine and manual transmission swap, maybe from a '96 328.

Should I consider getting a clean used M44 and installing a DASC? (I'm in Atlanta!)

Or getting that unused M44 for $2000? M44 + automatic is not enough power.

I think you answered your own question. :rolleyes: