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Thread: Engine swap or fix question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
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    Phoenix
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    My Cars
    2001 330Ci 2012 X5 3.5

    Engine swap or fix question

    I have a 2001 330Ci 5 speed with about 165000 miles on it. The oil pan is leaking and last year cylinder 1 spit out the spark plug taking the coil pack with it. Not really sure why that happened. A buddy of mine reset the spark plug using a heli coil and its been running beautifully ever since. (Dear god I love this car) My concern is that it will eventually spit that plug out again tho.
    Should I do repairs on this engine or just swap in a new (used) one?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Casablanca, Morocco
    Posts
    780
    My Cars
    2001 e46 323i
    I had the same issue with my old M52TUB25 (previous owner had put a 4cyl dipstick and it messed up the reading, the chain tensioner did not appreciate after some hard mountain drive, that's a long story...) and the helicoil did just fine. Although I'm not sure it was repaired the same way yours was (a turner created a new threading in the engine block after soldering an aluminium cylinder into the plug's housing).

    It actually survived an engine blow-up...so I wouldn't worry too much if I were you, or just wait until it actually spits it out.


    Quote Originally Posted by GriffX5 View Post
    I have a 2001 330Ci 5 speed with about 165000 miles on it. The oil pan is leaking and last year cylinder 1 spit out the spark plug taking the coil pack with it. Not really sure why that happened. A buddy of mine reset the spark plug using a heli coil and its been running beautifully ever since. (Dear god I love this car) My concern is that it will eventually spit that plug out again tho.
    Should I do repairs on this engine or just swap in a new (used) one?

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    If the repair was done properly, it wouldn't even be a concern of mine.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Phoenix
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    My Cars
    2001 330Ci 2012 X5 3.5
    Really? That's good to hear. I have faith in the mechanic who did I just had heard inline threads are timebombs. If that's not the case then I'll just fix the oil leak and keep the motor i got.
    Thanks

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Casablanca, Morocco
    Posts
    780
    My Cars
    2001 e46 323i
    My former engine was not in the best condition and maybe compressions were a bit lower than they should have been, which could (?) explain why the thread held, but I doubt that.

    If you wanna be on the safe side you can take the spark plug out in a few hundred miles/months (always on a cold engine and never tighten it back too firmly) and check it out, but your engine should be fine. Mine held on for a good 3 years after the issue even with hard driving/redlining, you name it...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
    Posts
    23,672
    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    Griff, I agree fully with White94RX. Don't worry about it....fix what's actually broken.

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

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