melekin
08-10-2006, 01:59 AM
So...
I've owned the car for 1 month today - drive it home from work, and I get the cool EML light. Naturally it feels like 75HP, and goes no faster than 45... Limp home is good.
So I owe a decent chunk of change for car still...
Anyway, after reading around a bit, I whip out the trusty multi-meter, and it indicates the battery is in good shape. So I start it, to check the voltage while running, to see if the alternator is working... White smoke pours out of the tailpipes, and I have the distinct smell of burning silicon & antifreeze. Great. My thoughts are a blown head-gasket. Going to contact a BMW specialist with a good reputation around here, and see what he thinks. (Can't possibly afford a dealership) I'm thinking it could be a freeze-plug out as well, I imagine I have a couple of those...
So if it's the head-gasket, it looks like a heinous bitch to fix.
Advice?
So far I've gotten the advice to JB-Weld it, and pawn it off to the next unsuspecting moron. (someone like me)
I'm thinking about finding a place to park it, try to fix it - and that failing start stripping off parts and ebaying them. In the very least I could probably sell enough stuff to pay off the 4k loan. And after I got it below 2000 dollars, I can take the insurance off of it. (210 a month) It will at least save me a little money on gas, now that I can't drive it anymore... I have also been debating selling non-essential parts to try to pay it off, and when I get to wanting to work on them, I could turn it into a hot-rod...
On the otherhand it would be nice to have something productive to do, while inhancing my mechanical skills. I am far from a mechanic, however I've successfully rebuilt a few 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines... But the V12 is ... tough. I lack the tools to do anything extensive (like remove the engine) to the car now.
What do you think?
Anyway, no need to lecture on the car, I knew it was a bad idea when I bought it, I've known it ever since I bought it. I still love her intensely, and it really hurts to talk this way about her - this is my first BMW, and while one might expect this to sour me to the whole brand, I find myself still loving them - even ol' Emily...
Anyway, I'm not looking for sympathy, just honest advice - this is like #20 on my list of things to stress me out.
Thanks!
I've owned the car for 1 month today - drive it home from work, and I get the cool EML light. Naturally it feels like 75HP, and goes no faster than 45... Limp home is good.
So I owe a decent chunk of change for car still...
Anyway, after reading around a bit, I whip out the trusty multi-meter, and it indicates the battery is in good shape. So I start it, to check the voltage while running, to see if the alternator is working... White smoke pours out of the tailpipes, and I have the distinct smell of burning silicon & antifreeze. Great. My thoughts are a blown head-gasket. Going to contact a BMW specialist with a good reputation around here, and see what he thinks. (Can't possibly afford a dealership) I'm thinking it could be a freeze-plug out as well, I imagine I have a couple of those...
So if it's the head-gasket, it looks like a heinous bitch to fix.
Advice?
So far I've gotten the advice to JB-Weld it, and pawn it off to the next unsuspecting moron. (someone like me)
I'm thinking about finding a place to park it, try to fix it - and that failing start stripping off parts and ebaying them. In the very least I could probably sell enough stuff to pay off the 4k loan. And after I got it below 2000 dollars, I can take the insurance off of it. (210 a month) It will at least save me a little money on gas, now that I can't drive it anymore... I have also been debating selling non-essential parts to try to pay it off, and when I get to wanting to work on them, I could turn it into a hot-rod...
On the otherhand it would be nice to have something productive to do, while inhancing my mechanical skills. I am far from a mechanic, however I've successfully rebuilt a few 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines... But the V12 is ... tough. I lack the tools to do anything extensive (like remove the engine) to the car now.
What do you think?
Anyway, no need to lecture on the car, I knew it was a bad idea when I bought it, I've known it ever since I bought it. I still love her intensely, and it really hurts to talk this way about her - this is my first BMW, and while one might expect this to sour me to the whole brand, I find myself still loving them - even ol' Emily...
Anyway, I'm not looking for sympathy, just honest advice - this is like #20 on my list of things to stress me out.
Thanks!