Considering 318Ti Project Car
 

How easy are parts, new and used, to find. I found a 1995 with a cracked head with 137K miles. The interior needs little repair, door panels, headliner and dash switches/knobs. The auto transmission is another unknown. For my daughter so a switch to a manual is not being considered at this time. I would need more info on cost benefit. Suspension and brakes seem OK. The concern is what caused the damage. If it was from overheating what caused it and what other damaged could have occurred. I would be doing the work myself and have a good engine shop in North Atlanta to do the block, cam, crank and head machining. I just completed a 88 535is drive train and brake system rebuild and about to start on stiffening the suspension. I need to determine what parts from the other 3 series and maybe 5 series are interchangeable. The engine is an M42. I expect to rebuild the engine if not now before she goes to college. I am considering getting a worn out engine to rebuild and use the head to check the engine in the car. I could get just a head but the little research I have done seems to show a rebuilt head in the $500-$700 range and a used high mileage engine for rebuild in the $400-$600 range. Even if the head on the worn out engine needed rework, I would be in decent shape and if the existing engine is still OK I would have a bottom end as backup. Replacing the engine with an M44 or M50 if more available is a possibility. Again I would need to know what would be involved. , If anyone has advice, part contacts, opinions or parts, I would appreciate it.

The ti is a cool little car so I hate to say it, but if you have a cracked head - basicly a bad motor you can pretty much buy another car for what the rebuild is going to cost. I can't say anything on the 5 series changes over. Many people like the idea of putting m50 in these, I like the idea myself but a lot of work and cost. There are some cooling issues with these cars. Two plastic water line connectors that break and cooling fan relay issue many have. As for parts available, I've never had a problem walking into the parts store and picking stuff up. Odd as it sounds I've been treated very well for parts from the dealer as well. Unless you intend on building a m50 monster, I'd keep looking for another 318ti needing less work. I've seen a few with coolant leaks that were being almost given away cause the owners didn't want to deal with them. Good luck

Still considering Ti project Car
 

Thanks for the reply. I may be able to get the Ti for less than a grand. With the miles on I am already planning a complete rebuild. I do all my on work except machining and automatic transmission rebuilds. This way I will know its condition. I could spend $2000 plus on a running Ti but still do not when or what may fail.

With a cracked head and assuming it was from overheating, how likely and what could be damaged in the block?