Well guys, looks like my engine seized. Unless I put a whole new engine in it, its no good to me. I loved that car too, but I think its time to move on. Depending on the situation ahead, I might keep the 320i and throw a new engine in, or just buy another BMW (e30).

But it sucks, my car was soo cool. and all of the sudden it just went to crap. But I just wanted to thank each and every one of you guys, you all helped me with my car in some way or another and I dont think I would have made it this far if it wasn't for your guys' help and knowledge, you all taught me a lot about cars. When I came into this I didn't have any car knowledge.

So thank you all!

M10s are readly had for a song. Grab one and slap it in. Or find another 320i.
If the car was good I would replace the engine.

Later,
J

+1

you are on the left coast, go find yourself another motor.......or go find a wrecked e30 and go crazy like some other person on this board.....i don't know who was putting an ETA motor in their US spec e21 but the guy was pretty much done with it for very little cashola......

M10s are readly had for a song. Grab one and slap it in.

Later,
J

Oh, but that song could be a sad one indeed!:cool Broly is local to me and one of the forum admins on our local PNWBB.COM website, and yes- there are a lot of motors to be had. He can have 1 that I know of for free, but it has sat, and when purchase wasn't started due to bad FI system. I know of another that could be had with under 100K mi for *maybe* $200, with great compression in 3 cyl, dreadful compression in cyl 4. Like, 90. If it's the head, no biggie, but if it's the piston rings, it prob scratch the cyl bore and the whole engine needs redone. So, there is always the catch-22 of unknown engines, and this guy needs a good one NOW.

waferman

BTW Boly? This summer, if you can scrape together $500-$600 you could rebuild your engine for a project! :cool As long as you have another car to depend on until then...

That is what I was thinking John, Having my dad pop out for a e30. Then I can save some money and do the work I wanted to do on my e21, so that way the e21 isn't a daily driver anymore.

On a good note, I am talking to someone in my area, was on craigslist. A white e30 cabrio. Really nice looking.

honestly a new motor would be the best alternative. if you start looking for an E30 your going to find that most will be high in milage and the last thing you want is an E30 that has a timing belt ready to go out. and most of the E30s i found to be in my price range when i bought my E21 were beat way worse tehn my e21.

personally id just start looking for an M10 to either swap in or rebuild from the ground up and swap in. didnt you say that your dad was willing to help you out in the build up of your motor a while back? this could be the excuse you can use to build the crap out of your engine.

just my $ .02

honestly a new motor would be the best alternative. if you start looking for an E30 your going to find that most will be high in milage and the last thing you want is an E30 that has a timing belt ready to go out. and most of the E30s i found to be in my price range when i bought my E21 were beat way worse tehn my e21.

personally id just start looking for an M10 to either swap in or rebuild from the ground up and swap in. didnt you say that your dad was willing to help you out in the build up of your motor a while back? this could be the excuse you can use to build the crap out of your engine.

just my $ .02
+1

Check Roadfly, there is a ton of E30's.

http://www.roadfly.com/bmw/classifieds/cars/listads.php?cat=203

lol, you guys are hilarious. On the e30 forum they're all talking about their babies, and you guys are all like, e30 for a DD e21 for a garage queen. Such opposites.

But with how my car was acting recently, I am willing to put $ into an e30 and pick up the e21 again later when I have money to do what I want towards it. I love the e21 sure, by in the past two months everything started to go in my car, and I bet as soon as I would drop a new engine in it, my clutch would die, or my exhaust would break.

Im willing to spend the $ to buy a new timing belt as soon as a get an e30. My dad turned his back on my e21 said he would only buy me a newer car than the car I had. He felt it wasn't as reliable and he didn't want to spend money. But if hes willing to buy me a car and help me with parts, im just gonna go with it.

But I will def. keep my eyes open in the future for an e21 project, so I can build it how I always wanted it.

Broly, it is only going to cost me $312.46 for my engine rebuild, inc. new rings bearings and shop fees. Thats if I put it back together my self. They want $225 to put the pistons and crank in for me. If I have to bore it, then I will need new pistons. Then if I assemble it, it will be just over $400.

You can do this given the time. Remember though, E30's cost more to maintain by an order of magnitude than E21's. The newer, the more $$. O2 sensors, water pumps, etc cost more. You will have to rely on parts cars in junk yard quite a bit more. But, a well maintained E30 is just as bulletproof as a well done E21. If you get a 318i or iS, you have a timing chain instead of a belt. Make sure that the belt has been changed in the last year, so you can drive it for a while with out worrying, and beware of sellers stating that "it was changed in 95, but only 8000mi were put on". Time degrades these things as much as miles; my parents bought a MINT '90 525i with 24K miles on it; I drove it from WA to ID to deliver it, and made my dad put it in the shop for a full once over. They did the 50K mile service early; the belt was connected by threads in several places. :eek: I was lucky it didnt break on the freeway. Good luck on the E30 cabrio thing; you don't know how close I came to getting one last summer! There is a white one at Pacific Motorsports right now; Pristine! $4000 or so. Check it out!

John

You know, I would have kept my car if only the engine would have seized. But soo much stuff has been happening constanly, I just can't trust my car as a reliable DD, My next car could be the same who knows, but I know right now, my car was going out all over.

You know, I would have kept my car if only the engine would have seized. But soo much stuff has been happening constanly, I just can't trust my car as a reliable DD, My next car could be the same who knows, but I know right now, my car was going out all over.

If you start on the big stuff like fixing the siezed engine, the little stuff will follow. Its 80 percent of the big stuff that is what you need to focus on.
The other 20 percent will follow...

I can offer in a few months a free 2.3 stock 323i engine.

But with how my car was acting recently, I am willing to put $ into an e30 and pick up the e21 again later when I have money to do what I want towards it. I love the e21 sure, by in the past two months everything started to go in my car, and I bet as soon as I would drop a new engine in it, my clutch would die, or my exhaust would break.

Im willing to spend the $ to buy a new timing belt as soon as a get an e30. My dad turned his back on my e21 said he would only buy me a newer car than the car I had. He felt it wasn't as reliable and he didn't want to spend money. But if hes willing to buy me a car and help me with parts, im just gonna go with it.

But I will def. keep my eyes open in the future for an e21 project, so I can build it how I always wanted it.

bryce i know how you feel. lets see....
i change my o2 sensor and cat, my rear wheel clylinder went. then my raditor went soon there after. followed by the alternator. now im gettting ready for my new clutch. its going to be like this until you make major head way on replacing parts that are old and worn out. i mean you are driving a 23 year old car. i know its frustrating and ive come so close to just calling it quits, but you cant get that discouraged that easily. the e30 is going to have problems from age and/or neglect its unavoidable (unless you can afford a mint E30 that has been properly maintained by the past owners and thats going to cost you...)

im not going to harp on you if you choose to go to an E30. i guess that the point im tryin to make is dont let a set back discourage you.

Well I mean, if i knew what I was doing it would be one thing. If I knew had to work on a car properly, or how to take care of an old car the right way. it would be one thing, but I dont and I didn't have a dad or uncle or anyone close to show me. But I do have some portland guys that help, I just feel like I would be burned, "Oh can you come take the engine out of my car" "oh can you also help drop a new one in".

But I have found a nice E30 that I might buy, its a 91 cabrio. They always take it to the local BMW only shop and had all performance parts in it, its very well maintained.

it doesnt sound like a e30 is gonna be a very good car for you either then, as you will have similar problems with things going out just because they are getting old too. if you want a car you dont have to work on you should try to save your money or barrow some and get a e36.

I really dislike the e36. I found a car that has been well maintained its whole life, little miles. Great car.

If you start on the big stuff like fixing the siezed engine, the little stuff will follow. Its 80 percent of the big stuff that is what you need to focus on.
The other 20 percent will follow...

I can offer in a few months a free 2.3 stock 323i engine.

I'll take you up on a free 2.3 ltr stock engine.....I might be able to use the head on it in the old 325e. Let me know

Well I mean, if i knew what I was doing it would be one thing. If I knew had to work on a car properly, or how to take care of an old car the right way. it would be one thing, but I dont and I didn't have a dad or uncle or anyone close to show me. But I do have some portland guys that help, I just feel like I would be burned, "Oh can you come take the engine out of my car" "oh can you also help drop a new one in".

But I have found a nice E30 that I might buy, its a 91 cabrio. They always take it to the local BMW only shop and had all performance parts in it, its very well maintained.

I highly recommend getting an E30 318is. Those are getting rare. Use that as a daily driver and baby it. While you have the E30, pull the motor yourself. All you need is a hoist and 600lb tie-downs or chains. It is soooo damn easy. Even your girlfriend can do it (if you have one:dunno). It took me no more than an hour and a half to pull the whole motor out. Unplug the few wires connecting to the starter, alternator, ignition, ground, etc. Unbolt the tranny, and engine mounts. and unhook the radiator hoses.

It sounds complicated. But it's really not. But drain the oil and radiator. Lets not leave that out. Please don't post a thread in a few months saying your parting her out. I'll drive out to Oregon and pick it up myself before I let another perfectly good E21 be parted. Hang on to her and let her know she is gonna be back soon.


BY THE WAY... Don't buy an E36. The M50 and M52 are notorious for head gasket and / or cylinder head problems. Not sure about the 318 E36 M42 though.

keep the e21 or go the e30
e36 are shocking 318i are gutless...especially(someone teach me to spell:stickoutt) if auto. they are bad for cracking heads at the drop of a hat.

thats what I was thinking about. I can't make anything off my car I know that. SO I will keep my car, grab an e30 DD and if I find the right engine, drop that sucker in there.


If you start on the big stuff like fixing the siezed engine, the little stuff will follow. Its 80 percent of the big stuff that is what you need to focus on.
The other 20 percent will follow...

I can offer in a few months a free 2.3 stock 323i engine.

Why a free engine? that would require a 323i sub-frame right?

I'll take you up on a free 2.3 ltr stock engine.....I might be able to use the head on it in the old 325e. Let me know

I have an eta core thats rebuildable and exactly what you are need.
I pulled it of an 87 325i but its really an eta head.
So I am not using it. It needs to be rebuilt. Let me know if you want it.

Broly yeah you have to change some stuff, but I will have this sucker kicking around and I am not going to use it after my swap.

later,
J

I myself am not good with engines, so what things would need to be replaced?

Then how much for shipping from Boston to Portland... Probably crazy.

I myself am not good with engines, so what things would need to be replaced?

Then how much for shipping from Boston to Portland... Probably crazy.

A bunch of stuff is needed like the 323i subframe, and 323i engine mounts...
and well you need the complete fuel system for the 323i.

The shipping wouldnt be that bad - cause I could jettison the 2.3 block and you could look for a 2.7 eta one to slap underneath.

later,
J

ebay alert! 323i subframe on ebay, 3 bids, 20.50, less than 7 hours. someone please get this. it has the mounts already.
Jake