M54b30 head gasket failure

[XnWarden]

Picking up a 330i for a fix and flip. Kid blew the hg on it. I've heard these have aluminum blocks and that when they pop you gotta machine the head AND the block. I'm big into e36 and my experiences with the s52 have been very robust. This sounds like a different can of worms though

Thoughts? Experiences? Opinions? I'm weighing out a hg replacement vs an engine swap. Skill level is no issue here. Strictly going by the $$$

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[bluptgm3]

I have heard that the block will need threaded inserts, and probably need to be decked.


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[flyfishvt]

The aluminum block will need timeserts installed. That requires a special tool. If you can get your hands on the tool it's not very difficult. If you're not doing this work yourself it's probably cheaper and easier to just swap the engine out with a known good one

[dworthy]

+1

You can always loosen the head bolts, and re tighten them to see which ones pull out.

[jclausen]

Yup that's the test

[XnWarden]

The timesert kit is $500. The dual vanos jig is $400. All the parts costs stack on top of that. A used engine is $800 on ebay. Im thinking that's the move.

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[XnWarden]

Bonus pics of the chassis in question. She needs a bath. Been sitting for 2-3 years the po said



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[dworthy]

Might just as well as add all brakes to that list, for after sitting so long, you might just as well write them off.

MY-00 or MY-01? I would look around for a new motor if one bolt pulls thru. However the good part is you can get the same motor from the E-39's from MY-00 thru MY-03 and the E-60's used them for two years as well IIRC until MY-06.

[XnWarden]

Not sure what you mean by my00 or my01. The car is an '03 with a production date of 11/'02 if thats what you're asking.

Replacement engine is ordered and should be here Friday. Looked like it came with just about all the accessories. Company I got it from claims it is tested, known good, and gave a 3 month warranty on it.

Debating about regasketing everything while I have it out or just dropping it in as is. I definitely won't be doing a head gasket since pulling the head would require the special vanos jig which I am not buying. But I was considering everything else like valve cover, rear main, oil pan, etc.

Id like to spend as little as possible. But I also want it to be solid for whoever buys it. Thoughts?

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[dworthy]

MY = Model Year.

In MY-03 they moved the Blinkers up on the fender, so you have the early pre-facelift.

I would do the Valve cover(VC), Oil filter housing (OFH) gasket, the two water pipes under the intake and the Crank Case Vent (CCV) valve. This would be the easiest to do with the motor out and you will have plenty of room to do so. You could replace the intake gaskets if you want, but I don't think that would really be needed, also I would leave the front and rear main alone, for I haven't seen them leak on those motors.

Pay close attention to any rubber, for at that age I am sure some of it has gone bad. Look for any cracking, age splits, ect by flexing the hoses in your hands.