RE>Barvarian Engine Exchange

["Chao, Harvey" <harvey.chao@xxxxxxxx>]

Fellow Digester Dave Rich asked:  "Was looking at the Barvarian Engine
Exchange ad in the Roundel and their prices seem too good to be true. Anyone
had any experience with them?"

I asked essentially the same question a few months ago, and to paraphrase
the answer I got from one of the folk on the digest who lives near them -
They are a BMW wrecking yard, and have a large number of engines as
potential material to work from.

I looked at their web site (www.bavengine.com), and from what I saw there, I
am guessing that they are basically doing cylinder head work, picking and
inspecting blocks and selecting those with cylinder bores that are still in
spec and with sound crankshafts (or selecting sound crank shafts from other
blocks.  Sounds like they are thus assembling a block, crank, rods, and
pistons that are used and within tolerance, matching up with what sounds
like a rebuilt head and putting it all together.  They do not appear to be
doing anything like re-boring cylinders, reworking cranks, rods, pistons,
wrist pins etc., but just re-assembling "in spec" components with new main
and rod bearings.  I am not a mechanic, and although if they are mixing and
matching it is not ideal, but it might work  reasonably well enough. ???   

I am starting to consider the following possibility - suppose that, as I do,
you have an older car - mine is a '86 528e with body and suspension in good
condition, and high enough miles that you are facing major engine work
(could be 200K - I know of digest members at those mileage numbers).  The
car itself may not be worth sinking a new, factory or commercially fully
rebuilt or re-manufactured engine into, but still worth keeping for the
price of an engine that Bavarian Engine Exchange is charging.  They warranty
for 2 years unlimited miles (I think) and up to $500 labor to remove and
re-install the replacement warranty engine.  MAYBE - for that scenario, a
brand new or equivalently re manufactured or fully re built engine might be
not be justifiable to keep an older "daily driver" going, but a Bavarian
Exchange might be "good enough" ???  Like you, I live in the SF Bay Area
(Santa Clara) so the body is in good shape and not subject to rust and road
salt attack from winter conditions.

Am not anticipating having to personally answer this question in the near
future but perhaps others on the digest might care to provide their insight?

Harvey
Standard disclaimer - not in any way associated with Bav Eng. Exch, etc. ...

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