RIP 1995 525iA - 300K miles

Today on the way to work I noticed a lot of smoke from the rear of the car. It looks like the head gasket is blown at the rear of the engine. The engine has a VANOS rattle and now the head gasket. So what do I do, Fix the head gasket and VANOS (don’t know price), Replace the engine with a used engine ($2500 engine and labor) or sell it. The car has been very good for its life of 302,000 miles. Rebuilt transmission last year due to an accident and a pinched transmission cooler line. I’m leaning towards replacing the engine. Any options or opinions are appreciated.

Thank you
John W. List
1995 525iA
302,000 Miles

i'd replace the engine...but that's just me.

instead of selling it, though, i'm sure you'd get more if you parted it out.
if you do, i call sideskirts and lower door trim! ;)

You spent the money on tranny... might as well go for the engine. Your cost of ownership remains extremely low.

Take a look in the back of a Roundel Magazine (BMWCCA), several places have rebuilt engines available. Sorry to hear about your loss! If you don't have access to a Roundel let me know and I'll email you some names an addresses when I get home tonight.

Rebuilding Expense = $3,000.
New Car Expense = $1,000 down, plus higher insurance, tax, licensing, loss of money already in the car ????

Found a local engine from a 1993 325iA with 86K miles for $1100 that includes 1 year parts and labor warrenty. Would this swap out be hard?

As long as it is same exact engine... pretty straightforward.... and would buy it instantly as it is covered by parts and labor!

Don't buy it just yet!! AFAIK, the '93 is "single Vanos", while the '95 will be "double Vanos". They can be interchanged but are not exact replacements (you will lose Vanos on one of your cams with the single Vanos)..


Bret

Brent,
I think your wrong. 93-95 M50TU had single VANOS. The M52 that came out in 97 has Duel VANOS.

How is the body?
I would replace the engine if the body is still in great shape...not rusting out etc...
302k miles is pretty good. I am hoping to get past that point myself...just less than 70k to go for me.