Geyser coming from expansion tank when thermostat opens

[WEDGEHEAD01]

got a 2000 323 and its bubbling a small amount when cold up through the radiator cap. I've replaced the water pump,thermostat, all hoses, pulled the radiator and made sure its flowing through it like it should.
When its first cranked with the cap off you can see small bubbles coming up through the expansion tank. When the thermostat opens it's like a geyser blowing out the expansion tank.
I just did a compression test on it. All plugs look normal and dry, compression is from 170 to 190 cold and dry.
Anyone have any suggestions.
Thanks ,Thomas

[White94RX]

You're getting compression gasses into the cooling system. You've got a bad head gasket, or cracked head, or warped head. Time for major repairs.

[WEDGEHEAD01]

What's the ball park charge for a job to fix it

[dworthy]

A new engine isn't cheap, and about 8 hrs to install, so ballpark of 1.5k to 3k depending on location, ect.

[White94RX]

8 hours to install? Not a chance! Maybe actual time, certainly not book time. Even warranty pays about 15 hours on a 4 cylinder. I can't even do an N20 in less than 10 or 12 hours. I can't see an E46 going any faster than an N20

[dworthy]

Note I said install, not pull out and swap.

Typically I can do it in 7 hours if everything come apart smoothly, but on a 20 year old car, not happening. Remember that these older cars have less wiring to mess around with than the N20 motor, no turbo.

[325bob]

8 hours to install? Not a chance! Maybe actual time, certainly not book time. Even warranty pays about 15 hours on a 4 cylinder. I can't even do an N20 in less than 10 or 12 hours. I can't see an E46 going any faster than an N20

I can't imagine how an engine swap could take so long, albeit, I'm old school, but have never needed more than 2 hours to pull an E24/28/30/36, with tranny?, guibo,bitch clip, tranny & eng.mts, a few wires,fuel & p/s lines, radiator and hoses, head pipe nuts can be a problem,but a torch is fast.,and I'm on the floor, no lift..

[White94RX]

Like you said, old school. I'm sure it's a lot simpler on those cars. I can typically have an N20 out of the car (cradle, engine, trans, on the engine lifting table) in about 2 hours. Swapping everything over is where the time gets eaten up. N63's, which I have done more than I could ever count), still take 2.5-3 to get out of the car and on the ground.

[325bob]

Like you said, old school. I'm sure it's a lot simpler on those cars. I can typically have an N20 out of the car (cradle, engine, trans, on the engine lifting table) in about 2 hours. Swapping everything over is where the time gets eaten up. N63's, which I have done more than I could ever count), still take 2.5-3 to get out of the car and on the ground.

I hear ya, a couple of tranny bolts on my son's 300 z twin turbo took about a half hour,and every extension I own.!

[bmwdirtracer]

Excuse me?
8 hours out, eight hours swap parts, eight hours in. Twenty four hours . That is book time. If there's someone here who can swap an M52 Tu or M54 in an E46 in eight hours, have fun. I do not want to watch.

[White94RX]

Thank God someone to back me up, Chris! I feel like I was even being optimistic on my times I posted.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[dworthy]

Yes we all know book time, which is at times, can be a bit off. I am not saying that it won't take that long, for we all had a motor or two that crap just didn't want to come off.

If you are getting a junkyard motor, then most of the stuff is still on the engine, now if you want to use those parts is another story.

I've had jobs that took 4 hours to complete and the book said 2, Murphy is always hanging around to throw a wrench in stuff.

[325bob]

Excuse me?
8 hours out, eight hours swap parts, eight hours in. Twenty four hours . That is book time. If there's someone here who can swap an M52 Tu or M54 in an E46 in eight hours, have fun. I do not want to watch.

Us old schoolers are particularly annoyed at jobs that were minutes in the past, now hours, like any 3/4 speed from the muscle car era was a 10 minute removal, clutch was another 10, bell housing could stay on!.