BMW 320I SE needs a new engine

Air_Cooled_75

Hi guys,

I want to pick your brains please. We bought a 57 plate in October and within a couple of weeks the engine light came on (local garage cleared the fault from the dash) 2 weeks ago the light came on and the dealer we bought it from has taken it in a they are replacing the engine. Now, they are putting a recon in. Would you be happy with this or do you think we should just cut our loses and get our money back?

Any comments gratefully received.

Thanks, AC

atrixblue.-MFR-.

at this stage it would be difficult to ask for you cash back as you have allowed the motor dealer to do the repair, have they commenced the repair or have they just sat it in there wating for the engine to be delivered?

forgotmyname

If the replacement engine runs well then it would not bother me.

Is it a recon unit or just 2nd hand though? Mostly likely to fit a 2nd hand engine which maybe from a lower mileage car.

But you wont know. It may have done 200,000.

TrickyWicky

As forgot says.. I wouldn't be fussed if its a genuinely good condition replacement engine but that is the problem.

Many people sell 2nd hand engines as 'reconditioned' when in fact they've done nothing to recondition it other than wipe it over with a cloth and maybe change the cambelt.

Reconditioned to me would mean a new head gasket (irrespective of the last one failing or not), new big end bearings, possibly new pistons / rings, oil pump replaced, the head being dismantled and rebuilt etc and then the entire thing being reassembled with a new timing belt, tensioner, water pump etc. THAT is reconditioning, not grabbing the first available engine they can find thats known to run and sticking it in.

swiftnick

Totally agree with Tricky on this one.

Tobster86

Find out as much as you can about the replacement engine and require paperwork evidence of everything they claim. If in even slight doubt, demand your money back.

Where there actually any running problems with the engine or just the engine management light?

It all sounds a bit weird. It generally takes something VERY noticeable to kill a BMW engine. It almost sounds like they seriously botched something when trying to diagnose the problem (like, dropped a socket wrench into an open timing chain cover!)

colino

Frankly, without a catastrophic failure and only two episodes of the eml coming on, I can't think of any decent trader jumping to the expensive conclusion of switching engines. Is there anything else going wrong with the deal, because as much as some would like you to believe, switching engines, even for a scrappy one, is several, expensive, hours that no one in their right mind would throw at a problem.

Air_Cooled_75

Thanks for your responses, some very good advice and I hadn't even considered they might just stick a second hand engine in

Bit of background, the car failed its first MOT for emissions, and then every subsequent one for the same reason. It has had 2 previous owners and has been serviced regularly. The oil light also came on between the engine light coming on but nothing else. No loss of power, no restricted revs but fuel consumption seemed excessive.

I was in Chester visiting my friend the second time the engine light came on so popped around to see my dad (a mechanic) in Runcorn on the way home (I live in Sheffield and was panicking about driving home) he said it wasn't in 'limp home mode' so I'd be ok.

Can't think of anything else at the mo but if I do I'll add! Thanks again.

Air_Cooled_75

Atrix - they are waiting for the engine to come in, they haven't really asked us about it, just went ahead on 'ordered' one.

epninety

Air_Cooled_75 wrote: »

The oil light also came on between the engine light coming on but nothing else.

There's a reason the oil warning light is red, but the engine management warning light is usually yellow!

Oil pressure failure is much more serious. eml means that 'something' isn't right, maybe serious, maybe minor. Oil pressure warning (if not sensor failure) means that damage IS being done while the light is on, if the engine is doing any work.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

epninety wrote: »

There's a reason the oil warning light is red, but the engine management warning light is usually yellow!

Oil pressure failure is much more serious. eml means that 'something' isn't right, maybe serious, maybe minor. Oil pressure warning (if not sensor failure) means that damage IS being done while the light is on, if the engine is doing any work.

when the oil pressure switch is on its dead already! damage done no going back dont pass go deal out £2000.

as for the engine on order ask the questions above and then you decide if you want the cash back under soga