530i E39 engine cooked - what options do I have?

[joburgred]

I've just been told by JSN motors that my beloved E39 530i (170K on the clock) engine is fried from a blown head gasket and that I should just come and tow it away because it isn't worth repairing. I was wondering if there is any advice to my options. Replace the engine? Sell it for scrap / parts?

 

[Sankekur]

I would say replace the engine (or upgrade to a V8 ), I don't think there is much point in trying to rebuild the engine, but i am by no means an expert and someone else will probably have better advice

 

[sclass]

...:thinker:well you could give me your PCV Valve + hoses, Air Flow Meter, Viscous Fan, Fog lamps, 2 front PDC sensors, spare wheel, CD shuttle cartrigde...

I'm sure the guys on the forum have ideas but some more info would help. How 'fried' is fried? How was the car behaving before you took it to JSN? Basically the more info/background the better...

 

[joburgred]

...:thinker:well you could give me your PCV Valve + hoses, Air Flow Meter, Viscous Fan, Fog lamps, 2 front PDC sensors, spare wheel, CD shuttle cartrigde...

I'm sure the guys on the forum have ideas but some more info would help. How 'fried' is fried? How was the car behaving before you took it to JSN? Basically the more info/background the better...

I'm no mechanic, but they are talking about having to replace the manifold, gasket, pressure regulating valve, coolant system, thermostat, etc., etc...

My son was driving at the time, but apparently it started cutting out on the off-ramp of the highway and he wanted to get it out of the traffic flow, so he started it again and nursed it around the corner out of the traffic. It sounds like the thermostat had gone already so it didn't show any overheating....

---

...:thinker:well you could give me your PCV Valve + hoses, Air Flow Meter, Viscous Fan, Fog lamps, 2 front PDC sensors, spare wheel, CD shuttle cartrigde...

I'm sure the guys on the forum have ideas but some more info would help. How 'fried' is fried? How was the car behaving before you took it to JSN? Basically the more info/background the better...

I'm no mechanic, but they are talking about having to replace the manifold, gasket, pressure regulating valve, coolant system, thermostat, etc., etc...

My son was driving at the time, but apparently it started cutting out on the off-ramp of the highway and he wanted to get it out of the traffic flow, so he started it again and nursed it around the corner out of the traffic. It sounds like the thermostat had gone already so it didn't show any overheating....

I have accepted that the engine is unlikely to be repaired, so I guess my question is really more whether it is worthwhile replacing the engine or not. Any ideas on what a new engine would cost? Are there reputable engine suppliers that know how to put it all together (what with all the electronics involved)? And will it ever be the same again? :dunno:

 

[sclass]

Your car must have been in pretty bad shape before your son's trip. Surely it was exhibiting symtoms in the weeks (months?) prior? Overheating, smoking, rough uneven idle? But from JSN's description, buying a good second hand engine is going to be the more cost efficient option. Just my opinion though...

 

[P1000]

zaleonard said he knew of an engine for R25k at one of the scrapyards. An overheated alu engine does not rebuild well - the temper changes and you can't even torque the headbolts without stripping the block...

Good luck, and keep us updated on what you decide to do + costs.

 

[Hellas]

Eish man. But like above, your best bet will be a 2nd hand motor swap. Pull out, pop in. Make sure you get some sort of history on the donor motor if you can.
If you get a recon motor, a loose rule of thumb is that the recon motor will only last 50% of it's original km's. Say your donor motor had 250k km on, then the recon should be trouble free for at least 125k km.

 

[zaleonardz]

Woooahhh....

Yea it is beyond economic repair if BMW is going to do it at R700 an hour with a 200% markup on spares, then nobody can afford it.

Did they tell whats wrong, crack in the block, heads wrecked, a small family of squirrels took up residence in cyl 5 ?

I would get a second opinion before declaring it dead. I have a few contacts that you can try, but did the cooling system explode ?

What are the symptoms, does she turn over now, does she smoke, is there water in the oil, does she run hot ?

Give some more technical details

 

[joburgred]

I'm back again... I've decided that I am not going to have a replacement engine put in - mainly because I couldn't find a suitable engine, plus I wouldn't be able to trust someone to put it together the way I would want it.

So, I would want to sell it as is to someone who has the ability to do these things. Is anyone interested? (I would be looking for around R55k)...

 

[P1000]

I'm back again... I've decided that I am not going to have a replacement engine put in - mainly because I couldn't find a suitable engine, plus I wouldn't be able to trust someone to put it together the way I would want it.

So, I would want to sell it as is to someone who has the ability to do these things. Is anyone interested? (I would be looking for around R55k)...

Images won't show. Good luck finding someone willing to pay that much for it.

 

[freerider]

agreed, good low km running examples can be had for around 75k now

 

[zaleonardz]

Realistically, your looking at getting about 15 to 35k for the car.

E39 540 saw the other day, cooked motor, was going for 20k and I am sure it sold for that price.

Sorry to rain on your parrade dude, but you wont see that kind of cash...

 

[rick540]

Sadly yes, to be totally honest, cooked it's worth max 25K

 

[clutchplate]

I'd probably give you 25 or 30K for it ..

please upload some pictures...

 

[zaleonardz]

Seniore carslut strikes again

 

[clutchplate]

any news on your car dude ? did you manage to get an engine ?

 

[Hellas]

Seniore carslut strikes again

Right on cue

 

[rabdos]

clutchplate this is a kind offer!!!! joburgred, keep the car for spares and get one (or two) just like it. That is what I did with my fried 540i. Suddenly you have a full donor car with almost spare of everything. It is exiting!

 

[clutchplate]

@HELLAS & Leonard... go play lol

 

[Hellas]

We know you WANT to...