Major Contributor
Two options:
1. Sell it.
2. Take it home and start hunting for a used head or engine. Then become the wrench, glasshoppa. This is an excellent opportunity to learn car repair. When you're done, you'll be confident enough to do the majority of your own mechanical work, which will save money and impress women for the rest of your life.
On the plus side, an intake hose is cheap. I just paid £11 for a new one.
1997 535i V8
5spd, OBC, A/C, cruise, BMW phone, factory M-Tech wheel & suspension, 18" Alpinas
With option 1, do you think it would be possible to get around 1700 out of it?? 1400 for car and 240 for parts purchased to fix car.. Also, I would definitely do option number two if I had the tools or space, but I don't. I currently live downtown and the only parking is in the street
Major Contributor
$1700USD? Honestly, I doubt it. If you paid $1400 on eBay, then you're the person (at least on eBay) who was willing to pay more than any other bidder for it. Therefore, $1400 or less is probably more realistic. You could try selling the parts separately.
However, I'm more familiar with UK prices. Here, it would probably sell for about £200.
1997 535i V8
5spd, OBC, A/C, cruise, BMW phone, factory M-Tech wheel & suspension, 18" Alpinas
wow, $375 usd?
Major Contributor
Actually, with the conversion calculated as a rough percentage of take-home income, more like about $200 USD. BMWs are far more common here than in most areas of the US, and have less of a "luxury" cachet than in the US.
1997 535i V8
5spd, OBC, A/C, cruise, BMW phone, factory M-Tech wheel & suspension, 18" Alpinas
Major Contributor
Just noticed you have a space issue in one of your replies. If you had to fix or part out, you could rent a public storage place for cars. My friend pays about 65 bucks a month for his. Their only rules were no painting, and no welding, otherwise, any mechanical work is perfectly fine.
"Scarlet" `97 540/6 with sleepy mods.
"Box Car" '87 535isA - Old School Charm, new school Flair
Actually, the number one problem is money. That far outweighs everything else.
2 Grand Master
I don't believe you'll be stuk with a $1600+ bill for a used, pressure tested cylinder head. If you want too get it on the road, I suggest start phoning around for a head. I've purchased a head and block on two seperated occasions and paid less than $1600 Canadian for both combined. Find it yourself, bring it to a machine shop for a once over ($200-$300) and install it. I don't know how often a steel block would warp due to a cracked aluminum cylinder head. I'm sure it happens, but I think the odds are on your side.
You're either out a bunch of money and car (if you try to sell it and lose $$) OR you can source a head, use the head gasket you've already paid for and learn something you'll never forget. You don't need any special tools (regardless of what Bentleys states), but you might want to get on it before the snow flies
Good luck with it, hope things work out (better than they have). We'll be around
Dave M
10/90 Build 525im, 630,000+km, Eibach/Sachs, Engine Rebuild
*RIP Oskar the DOG*
Hmmm, so if I was given a quote for 2300 for all of the work done (water pump, thermostat, head gasket set, cracked head repair, battery, etc.) am I getting a pretty good deal? I guess I'm asking if you guys would pay that much for it. I really would love to get in there and work on everything myself but I don't really have the time or resources to do so. After all is said and done, I will have a nice car for around 3600. I don't know... right now this really sucks.Originally Posted by Dave M
Big, Big Time Poster
ASk how much to have them provide and install a used engine. Hate to see people heading into a $$$ pit.
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