BMW 328i engine problems, new engine or not?

[hparbhoo]

I am new to this so please bear with me. I currently have an E46 328i 2000 model with 298 000km on the clock. I am very happy with the car in general but over the past year it has been giving me a lot of issues and I am continually having to get things fixed which is burning a hole in my pocket. I recently had a completely huge service where the mechanics placed the following new parts:

Gasket Kit
Heater Pipe
Thermostat
Radiator
Oil pipe
Cylinder head recon

This costed me 15k and it runs smoothly but the problem is ever since they touched the cylinders the car takes forever to get going, its lost all its power.

I really love this car and I thought instead of spending around 200K getting a new car, I could get a new/rebuilt engine for my car and gearbox. Also get new shocks, bearings ect.

What would be a better option and does anyone know where I can get a low km's 330i engine or a place where they can build a brand new engine for me?

Will a 330i engine fit into my car without issues?

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[zaleonardz]

wooahhh...

Your next step, take the car for a compression test, and evaluate the health of your engine.

Once you have had that done, then decide what to do, I have seen these old school 328's with over 600,000 on the clock....

Yea a 330i motor would fit, but dont do it until you need too.

 

[moranor@axis]

if you rebuilding its probably better to stroke it out than fit a 330i engine because you will need the electronics from the 330i to make the engine work...

 

[Nic_s]

Also try and make sure the Mechanics didn't mess something up while they were busy with it. Might just not have connected a pipe properly or something. It's happened a lot to me where the mechies replace or fix something and I have to take it back because of things not fitted properly. And then it's the more expensive places to boot. :shakehead:

 

[P1000]

It sounds a bit like they did not set up the vanos correctly after they took off the head.

 

[zaleonardz]

+1

It sounds a bit like they did not set up the vanos correctly after they took off the head.

 

[hparbhoo]

Thanks guys, I will take it to them again this weekend as I am also leaking oil now! I will ask them to do a compression test and check if the vanos is set up correctly. Should I rather put in a new head and cylinders? I heard that its usually a hit or miss when they redo the cylinders (it can either give you more power or if not done correctly less power).

 

[netercol]

I heard that its usually a hit or miss when they redo the cylinders

any mechanic that operates like this should not be in business..

 

[Raybimmer]

A compression test will indicate pressure differences between cylinders and also the difference between original pressure and present pressure .Wear in the cylinders can be seen as the cylinder having a bigger diameter at certain spots and the rings do not seal properly or are also worn .Reboring the block where the cylinders are recut to say 84,5 mm diameter from 84,0 mm standard size then needs pistons of 84,5 mm diameter .Some blocks can be bored out bigger and new liners fitted which will enable you to use your old pistons ( if not worn or broken )with new rings .
Your cylinder head would most likely have seen new valve guides and valve stem seals fitted .A check of the working face for flatness would be done and if say 0,2 mm out of flat would then need the head to be skimmed to restore flatness , and ensure good sealing of the head gasket between head and block .
Your vanos has to be refitted if removed with the cams locked . If incorrectly fitted the power will be down or may only increase at high revs ( 4000 plus ) .
Good luck . Keep us posted .

 

[hparbhoo]

Your vanos has to be refitted if removed with the cams locked . If incorrectly fitted the power will be down or may only increase at high revs ( 4000 plus ) .
Good luck . Keep us posted .

Thanks, at the moment even if I press the accelerator flat down the car accelerates slowly and only increases after a long time. Also I have an automatic and with the accelerator pedal flat down you can "click" the pedal down for more speed but now that also only responds once in a while after a few clicks down. I will definitely ask them about the vanos.

Will update next week.

 

[Diablo Jnr]

Check with Hybrid on the forum, he had a 330i he was stripping not too long ago...not sure what he has left on the car, but its worth a try

 

[Jandre]

Take it back to the mechanics and get them to fix their mistakes.

I paid nearly 3k to have an oil leak fixed the other day, and after that Rick540 and myself had to redo half the work.

This is the last time I will just sit back and apply the KY.