Black Zed, Rio has a new heart

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
It's been well documented on here about my misfortune with my 2.8 auto, basically the head gasket went when I was driving through Belgium last year. The RAC bought it back home to Cornwall on a car transporter and I set about carrying out a repair.
Fitted a new head gasket, got it through it's MOT but was experiencing very high oil consumption so decided it needed further attention.
I found a replacement M52B28 single vanos engine at a BMW specialist in Bristol and agreed a deal for them to fit it into my car.
I drove up to Bristol last Friday to MPower Motorworks Ltd, and the guys told me they'd do the transplant over the weekend. I had a text on Saturday night to say that the old engine was out and the replacement was in. The job was completed on Sunday. The car was road tested today and I was notified that it's ready for collection. Unfortunately I couldn't get there to pick it up today because good old South West Trains are on strike today so I'm picking her up on Saturday when one of my sons can give me a lift up there.
The replacement engine came out of a 1997 E36 that belonged to one of the guys who fitted it to my car. It's covered 85k miles so it's 20k less than the one that's come out.
I'm looking forward to giving it a good blast back home.
 

Stevo7682

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
The M44 Massive
Scottish Zeds
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
Points
218
Location
Maybole , South Ayrshire
Model of Z
Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
Great news.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Hopefully this will be the start of a new trouble free chapter in your zeds life :)
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
Old lump out

OLD ENGINE.jpeg


REPLACEMENT NEARLY IN.jpeg

Replacement lump in situ. It needs a bit of Gizer on it get the oxidation off the aluminium block but I'll do that once it's home

REPLACEMENT ENGINE IN.jpeg


Replacement in, bodywork back in situ and ready for new oil

RIO ALL FINISHED.jpeg

Ready to come home
 
Last edited:

t-tony

The Legend
Deceased
Supporter
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Fantastic news mate, the one you need for the next Euro cruise. Can't beat an Auto :thumbsup: Also probably your first Zed outing in the New Year?, what could be better.:)

Tony.
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
Yes mate, I prefer the auto but I've bonded with Willy too, my 2.8 manual, R312WLE
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
MPower Motor Works have a facebook page, but I don't do facebook so haven't seen it myself. They specialise in M3's and mainly export to Europe, one of the partners Jozef, is Hungarian. Really nice guys
 

t-tony

The Legend
Deceased
Supporter
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Always good to get a personal recommendation on a job like this.

Tony.
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
I'm really pleased with the speed of the job. Dropped the car off on Friday and it's ready to collect on Monday. They could be pit crew =))
 

Mint

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Points
222
Location
Stafford
Model of Z
2.2 Sport Individual
Great news Garry, I'm sure you'll have a good blast home on Saturday:thumbsup:
 

Grumps

Always happy, apart from when I'm not 🤬
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Points
226
Location
Forest Town, Mansfield
Model of Z
Z4 e85 2.5i
It seems to have taken an age mate. Pleased it's sorted at last. Hope shes a peach and gives you plenty of trouble free miles
 

mwpe

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Points
178
Location
Camberley
Model of Z
3.0
Glad to hear its finally fixed good luck with the trip home. :thumbsup:
 

Mario

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Points
95
I'd be good to see if they would be willing to tackle other engine swaps rather than like for like
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
Getting excited? ;)
Just a little bit, and something else for me to think about, as I was leaving work last night my work buddy asked me if I'd consider selling my silver zed once I'd got the black one home. I just said I'd think about it
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
Got back a couple of hours ago. The 170 mile journey home went well, replacement engine is very strong. There is something though that I need to have a look at in the morning. There is a bit of vibration when I put the car into drive, that I suspect is probably an engine mount or gearbox mount that needs nipping up a bit. It's not apparent when the car is moving, in fact it drives very smoothly.
 
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