New Engine: When is it necessary?

[Caddy101]

Hi guys

I think my mate is being f#cked by his mechanic.

The car is question is a 318i (M43) with 211 xxx km on the clock.

Now, the car has been having some problems. Rough idle, power lag and some point it had a misfired.

He took it to Village Auto in Irene and they gave him a quote for R18k. On the quote, they are pretty much replacing EVERYTHING!!!
>Head gasket
>oil pump
>they are even skimming the block
>replacing pistons and rings.

These are just some of the things on the quote

But when he asked what was wrong with the car, they couldn't really give a straight answer.

I just want some opinions.

Is this mechanic right and my buddy should just pay the money?
Should my buddy just get a new engine?
Is the mechanic smoking his socks?

:thumbs:
Thanks in advance.

 

[rick540]

Hi guys

I think my mate is being f#cked by his mechanic.

The car is question is a 318i (M43) with 211 xxx km on the clock.

Now, the car has been having some problems. Rough idle, power lag and some point it had a misfired.

He took it to Village Auto in Irene and they gave him a quote for R18k. On the quote, they are pretty much replacing EVERYTHING!!!
>Head gasket
>oil pump
>they are even skimming the block
>replacing pistons and rings.

These are just some of the things on the quote

But when he asked what was wrong with the car, they couldn't really give a straight answer.

I just want some opinions.

Is this mechanic right and my buddy should just pay the money?
Should my buddy just get a new engine?
Is the mechanic smoking his socks?

:thumbs:
Thanks in advance.

Get a second opinion, the M43 is a good engine and should not wear out at that mileage.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

+1 on the second opinion.

Something does not sound right

 

[///MALCOLM325]

I agree with Rick, the M43 is reliable and quite a easy-to-maintain 4 pot.

Some mechanics wont do the basic checks like MAF, Coils, Sensors etc so if I were you, get a mechanic like Duncan Ross in Midrand or S&N in Centurion to give it a once over before forking R18k for a rebuild.

 

[M318is - zn]

Sounds like an electrical fault to me in your description.

Also get a cylinder leak down test done? then you will know weather the rings need changing or not.

+1 on a second opinion...:thumbs:

 

[Raybimmer]

Are you guys mechanically inclined ? Ok you are ....
Rough idle - one cylinder misfiring ?
Start the car and let it idle for 2 or 3 minutes or till slightly warm - not hot as you may burn yourself then switch it off.:thumbdo:
you need to get to the coil packs so covers need to be taken off .
Take the connector off from cylinder 1 coil pack . Start the car and check if it misfires and how bad . Now repeat with cylinders 2 , 3 and 4 .
If you were lucky the car had a slight misfire and with one of the plugs disconnected the idle was the same as it was before the test .
If this is so take the coil pack from the misfiring cylinder and swap it with cylinder 1 or 2 if 1 had the miss .
Start the engine and check for the miss , check the cylinder where the coil pack from the misfiring cylinder is , if it misses there then suspect the coil pack .

You may have a supply voltage problem if the coil packs are ok . Check for voltage ( 12 or 23 V d.c. ) at the connector with ignition on .

If all is ok then remove the spark plugs and do a dry compression test on each cylinder and record the values , now put a teaspoon of oil into each plug hole and do the test again . Any values that increase indicate the oil is sealing the rings /bore and may indicate a rebore/ recon is needed .

A low value in the dry comp test followed by a low value in the wet test would most likely be a valve seating /bent valve type of problem .

Have a diagnostic test done if possible , it may be a camshaft position sensor problem .
Good luck .