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Thread: why you should always check the oil before you buy a car..

  1. 07-23-2006, 11:20 AM #1
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    why you should always check the oil before you buy a car..

    looks like such a nice e30 right? MINT leather seats, perfect paint.. low miles.. what a dream!!
















    OR NIGHTMARE!!!






    Last edited by Snarcher!; 07-23-2006 at 11:52 AM.

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  2. 07-23-2006, 11:38 AM #2
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    Coolant and oil make for some very interesting situations.

    I wonder how much he wanted for it. If that car was mine (first knock off the vert) I would be thinking about an engine swap.

    May as well put a 2.8L engine in there. Back flush the radiator or probably replace it. New hoses. New heater matrix. New heater control valve.

    Yikes.
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  3. 07-23-2006, 11:53 AM #3
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    paid over 4k, drove it home from georgia like that! lol

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  4. 07-23-2006, 12:00 PM #4
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  5. 07-23-2006, 12:17 PM #5
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    mmmm, headgasket milkshake.......

    at least there isnt a sock in there
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  6. 07-23-2006, 12:22 PM #6
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    Damn man. You drove how far with no real lubrication? That engine is likely toast. Best of luck dealing with the seller.
    Tenured Automotive Service Professional - Avid BMW Enthusiast
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  7. 07-23-2006, 12:46 PM #7
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    It's not my car, some kid that was at the shop yesterday. We suggested taking pictures and sending them to the dealership, but they would probably say something like "well since you have the whole engine apart, how about we order you a pizza to keep you goin"

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  8. 07-23-2006, 12:55 PM #8
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  9. 07-23-2006, 01:15 PM #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Solonox
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  10. 07-23-2006, 01:33 PM #10
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    No point crying over spilled milkshake.

    He overpaid for it, obviously, but a bad engine wouldnt make me run from a car like that. If the rest is in the condition of those seats my thought process would be "M20s are a dime a dozen."
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  11. 07-23-2006, 01:41 PM #11
    chris345i
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    In my state if he bought it from an idividual he would be screwed. Its "buyer beware" and car are sold as is. Had he gotten a PPI he could have avoided this problem. If he bought if from a dealer, I would put the valve cover back on and not tell them you have opened the engine up. They probably won't fix the problem since the car has been taken apart. Believe me, most dealers will find any loophole to avoid being responsible for a problem. Kinda like the VW 1.8t engines locking up due to low oil pressure. If you misplaced one single oil change reciept you were fucked.
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  12. 07-23-2006, 01:57 PM #12
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    Get $500 back from the seller and get a junkyard M20. Done

    If he doesnt want to, small claims court.
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  13. 07-23-2006, 02:52 PM #13
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    Wow, what an idiot.
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  14. 07-23-2006, 03:56 PM #14
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    You know, I'm kind of in the mood for some nachos....

    That is some nasty stuff. Hope it gets resolved quickly.
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  15. 07-23-2006, 04:30 PM #15
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    Even if you dont check the actual oil level you should always pop off the oil cap and see the condition of the head and what color the oil is leaving behind, this will tell a lot about how well it was taken care of.

    Just to be the advocate, how far was the drive? When he left the dealer it may have been fine, had an issue on the way and when got home has tried to blame it on the dealer. There are just as many bad buyers as there are sellers.
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  16. 07-23-2006, 04:39 PM #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by maximuse30
    Even if you dont check the actual oil level you should always pop off the oil cap and see the condition of the head and what color the oil is leaving behind, this will tell a lot about how well it was taken care of.

    Just to be the advocate, how far was the drive? When he left the dealer it may have been fine, had an issue on the way and when got home has tried to blame it on the dealer. There are just as many bad buyers as there are sellers.
    i dont think it could get that bad that fast

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  17. 07-23-2006, 05:45 PM #17
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    why would you buy a fucking car without checking the oil?
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  18. 07-23-2006, 05:57 PM #18
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    Man that bites for him. Could get like that from Georgia to NY if he ran it redline, blew the gasket and just continued. Bad combo of low coolant level, more heat, and him thinking.."well, it is just summer probably always runs this hot". That's one of the problems of buying a car long distance. You get there and want it so bad to justify the trip.

    Did he finish having you guys do the work snarcher? Problem with driving it that far as well, hope he didn't warp the head or block. But man, you sure don't dump 4k into a car and then plan on dumping another grand in it when you get it home.
    Keith

    Quote Originally Posted by MrGone View Post
    It is amazing how in these situations something that is typically insignificant shows fundamental differences in principles/value recognition.
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  19. 07-23-2006, 06:08 PM #19
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    I wonder how bad the oil pan looks like.
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  20. 07-23-2006, 09:30 PM #20
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    I thought the duct tape on the coolant hose was a nice touch...
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  21. 07-23-2006, 09:45 PM #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Snarcher!
    "well since you have the whole engine apart, how about we order you a pizza to keep you goin"
    lmao
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  22. 07-24-2006, 11:40 AM #22
    chris345i
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    Quote Originally Posted by theflyingcow40
    i dont think it could get that bad that fast
    With a considerable headgasket leak that could happen in a matter of minutes. I would say this guy needs to suck it up and fix the car. It would be more of a pain in the ass to try and take action against an out of state dealer. Buy a $500 junkyard m20 and throw it in there. You would have a very hard time proving the car was in its present blown headgasket condition BEFORE driving off the lot.
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  23. 07-24-2006, 09:09 PM #23
    q5quint
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    Buy a junk e30 for 500 and swap the motor and 5-speed

    what I find odd is that the valve cover gasket looks pretty new compared to the other gaskets

    hmmmm


    or m50 swap


    http://www.e30tech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44726
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