About to pull the plug!

[craigster]

Hi all, I have a 1979 320i that I purchased in the early 80's from a guy who worked for BMW. The car was upgraded with a number of 1980s options. I sold the car and then got it back in a twist of fate. Family matters have kept me from diving into the rebuild I intended to make. For the last 6 months my son and I have been working to restore the car. Alas we have reach a decision point. After a new radiator, water pump, cooling system flush, reactor manifold gaskets and more. The car ran for about a week with a water and flush solution. Then we added fresh 50/50 coolant and developed a coolant leak into the #2 cylinder. The top radiator hose had come loose and was leaking coolant into the air intake snorkel. Our thought was that hydraulic compression had damaged the head gasket. We pulled the head and found a crack from the coolant channel to the exhaust valve. I've looked for a new head and they are not cheap. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of walking through junk yards looking for and removing a donor head. That head would probably need rebuilding.

My thought is to give up on the car and part it out. Here is a list of the parts I think are desirable and a few I'm not sure about.

Getrag 245/4 - 1980 donor car
Shorter drive shaft
BMW issue Recaro seats
All black vinyl interior seats and panels
3 spoke steering wheel
13" gold Mahle BBSs (original not painted)
Brand new tires (less that 50mi.)
LSD differential
Bilstien struts and springs (car is lowered)
Blaupunkt radio
4 speed tranny w/original driveshaft
New head gasket.
New intake manifold gaskets
New valve cover gasket
New high-dig spark plug wires

So, here's my question . What can I get for any of these parts if I decide to part out the car and junk the rest? Should we consider another option?

[Somjuan]

Depends on the condition of the items, I'd take some photos. That said, there's bound to be someone around here with a spare head they'd be willing to sell you.

[dumbclub]

In case you will still consider fixing the car, good cylinder heads are out there for what many people would consider reasonable money. Sounds like you still have the original '79 2-liter engine which has an "E21 2.0" head. They come up regularly on eBay and better yet, you can probably find a forum member here who has one they might part with.

Here's one I found in California for $475 in an eBay search for "e21 cylinder head":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-2002-E21...9ZF3ur&vxp=mtr

[craigster]

The interior stuff is in real good shape. There are pictures in my photo album. I'll add more. I was unsure about the head. I found this one on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-1-8-2-0-...3D302235268299

But I searched for M10... some ads say they fit the 320i but they came off the E30. Supposedly all M10s are the same head, is that correct?

[craigster]

The interior.
IMG_0649.jpg

[Thecatmilton]

I have a '83 cylinder head if you want it for $40 plus shipping. I don't know if its any good though.

[Somjuan]

I've got a core, but more importantly I'll pm you a guy parting out a '79. I haven't seen the engine, but it may well be good still.

[craigster]

The '83 is 1.8L. Is the head the same? Can you send a photo of the intake port side?

[craigster]

I've got a core, but more importantly I'll pm you a guy parting out a '79. I haven't seen the engine, but it may well be good still.

A core? do you mean a head I could use?

[Somjuan]

Just something you could exchange if needed, it's cracked.

[inkatouring]

How you can tell you're on an enthusiast's forum: you ask how much parts are worth and the responses all focus on fixing the car instead.

If you have and want to sell a crack-free dash, let me know please.

[jaredmac11]

That car is too nice to part out.. : (

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That car is too nice to part out.. : (

I have an e30 M42 sitting in my garage (in parts, head is mated to block) and a whole 2.0L M10 but the M10 needs to be refreshed.

[Tom D]

hey craig, you want to have some real fun? swap in a M42.

[dumbclub]

Getting back to the cylinder head for your M10, if you want to keep the original K-Jetronic system that came on your car, you'll need to stick with the 1977-79 style head that has "E21 2,0" cast into the side. It works with the curved aluminum intake runners that have ports for the fuel injectors.

The later heads are marked "1,8i" and are made for the later style K-Jet with the fuel injectors mounted in holes in the head itself. The two different heads are not interchangeable with the two different versions of K-Jet.

[craigster]

Getting back to the cylinder head for your M10, if you want to keep the original K-Jetronic system that came on your car, you'll need to stick with the 1977-79 style head that has "E21 2,0" cast into the side. It works with the curved aluminum intake runners that have ports for the fuel injectors.

The later heads are marked "1,8i" and are made for the later style K-Jet with the fuel injectors mounted in holes in the head itself. The two different heads are not interchangeable with the two different versions of K-Jet.

Precisely what I need to know. Thanks.

I got advice from a local mechanic to use their trusted machine shop. The mechanic said they might be able to grind, weld and resurface my head. Any advice about this process from the community is requested. Thanks in advance

[craigster]

Here is the piece with the injectors.
IMG_1082.jpg

[Bimmerknut]

Here is the piece with the injectors.
IMG_1082.jpg

So Craig, I've been gone quite awhile from BF, so excuse me if I'm not up to date on your dilemma. Are you say in this post that you don't need a head but need the intake manifold to receive the injectors?

[Layne]

Getting back to the cylinder head for your M10, if you want to keep the original K-Jetronic system that came on your car, you'll need to stick with the 1977-79 style head that has "E21 2,0" cast into the side. It works with the curved aluminum intake runners that have ports for the fuel injectors. The later heads are marked "1,8i" and are made for the later style K-Jet with the fuel injectors mounted in holes in the head itself. The two different heads are not interchangeable with the two different versions of K-Jet.

That's not exactly true. You can install a 1.8 head provided the pistons are stock (flat top). This will lower the compression ratio, and you'll have to find some way to plug the extra injector holes. So it's not ideal.

The "E21" head is also found on 1976 model only 2002's, but that one has a fuel pump hole you'll have to cover. They 2.0 heads are very frequently cracked and I wouldn't buy one without a return policy.

[Somjuan]

I'd plug it and use the early manifold myself like Layne said. You could use the later intake manifold, but then it cascades to needing other things down the line from it

[craigster]

So, here's the latest. I got over my discouragement and decided to look into fixing the head. I took it to Velios, a local head mechanic to be tested. He quoted me $500-600 to weld, resurface and rebuild the head. I told him I wasn't willing to pay that much. He said for $50 he would clean and estimate how much work it would actually take and call me before proceeding. A week passed and in the meantime my son found a guy who said he would do it for half the price. I went to pick up my head and the guy said it was almost ready and asked me for $450. I was shocked. Long story short, I told he didn't have a go ahead and told him I would only pay $250. He refused so I got it back welded for $50.

[Thecatmilton]

So, here's the latest. I got over my discouragement and decided to look into fixing the head. I took it to Velios, a local head mechanic to be tested. He quoted me $500-600 to weld, resurface and rebuild the head. I told him I wasn't willing to pay that much. He said for $50 he would clean and estimate how much work it would actually take and call me before proceeding. A week passed and in the meantime my son found a guy who said he would do it for half the price. I went to pick up my head and the guy said it was almost ready and asked me for $450. I was shocked. Long story short, I told he didn't have a go ahead and told him I would only pay $250. He refused so I got it back welded for $50.

So. I am assuming your head was repaired for $50?

[craigster]

Nope, I took it to the guy for the additional $250. It's not back yet.

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BTW, it just needs the new valve seat installed and resurfacing, maybe less that $250...

[craigster]

Nope, I took it to the guy for the additional $250. It's not back yet.

- - - Updated - - -

BTW, it just needs the new valve seat installed and resurfacing, maybe less that $250...

Final bill.. $145 total cost.

[charter21p5]

Congrats. The interior looks exceptionally nice. What are your plans next for this car?

[joepalmer]

If the seats aren't spoken for I am interested; please keep in mind shipping cost and reupholstery add to the ultimate cost. Would also take interior black panels as mine are blue.

THX joe

PS only reason I mention it is there is a seller asking almost a grand for a trashed pair; add new kit at $500, shipping at $150; labor at $300 and its cheaper to buy from Aarvaark at $1500 plus shipping