Re: 320i

[Sarah & Jacob <chemist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gary,

If the body and interior are in good shape, and you like the car. Just get the head redone. Or replace the
valve seals. This won't cost you a lot of money and the car will probably last another 250K at least. When
you start talking about 6-cylinder transplants then you need several parts from an E21 323i, the front
crossmember. Might as well get the rear disks while you are collecting 323 parts.
3-4K for an engine rebuild seems a little extreme? Have you checked the prices on rebuilt engines, they go
for a lot cheaper than that. Join the E21Digest also, they can answer a lot of your questions about your
car.

Jacob


>
> Date: Thu, 02 Nov 2000 15:17:26 -0800
> From: "Gary Dietz" <DietzGW@domain.elided>
> Subject: What to do with my 320i?
>
> I've got a bit of a dilema that some of you may have been through and
> may be able to help me sort it out.  I've got a 1980 320i that I have
> owned since new.  It has over 250,000 miles and has never had the head
> or pan off.  Runs fine except for some oil smoke at startup from worn
> valve guides, but doesn't smoke after the initial startup.  The car has
> always been garaged.  The paint and interior are nearly perfect.  It has
> been a great car!  But - even though it is running ok I fear to get too
> far from home with it.  Anytime you put that many miles on a little
> 4-banger (even a BMW 4-banger) you have to expect that someday it will
> give up on you.  But what to do with it?  It's far too good to toss
> away, but probably has very little resale value.  I could have the
> engine rebuilt, but I'd probably be into it $3k to $4k (after rebuilding
> the engine, replacing injectors, starter, clutch assembly, and all the
> other things you might as well do while the engine is out).  The only
> way I could ever hope to recoup that investment would be to drive it for
> another 250,000 miles since, even in excellent shape and with a rebuilt
> motor I probably couldn't sell it for that much.
>
> - - Do I rebuild the motor and then try to sell it?  Or keep driving it?
>
> - - Do I try to sell it for whatever I can get out of it, without putting
> any $$$ into it?
>
> - - What about engine transplants?  Can a guy pick up a used 6-banger out
> of a wrecked 325 and stick it in the 320 cheaper than rebuilding the
> stock 4-banger?  If I'm going to keep it I'd like to make it a little
> more interesting to drive and this would help!
>
> I'm torn between the sentimentality of keeping my "baby", and the
> practicality of just cutting it lose and moving on with life.  Note that
> this is my daily driver, but is not my sole vehicle, so I don't really
> have to depend upon it for long trips or anything.  I'd be interested in
> hearing what direction any of you who have gone through a similar dilema
> have gone.
>
> Gary Dietz
> dietzgw@domain.elided

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