New owner looking for help.

[Terry Crow]

Hi just bought a dead 1998 Z3 from a friend and looking to having a project and being member of a club(providing the "oldies" are welcome)?
I live near Warringtong Cheshire and bought a Z3 1.9 with what appears to be a seized engine. I'm hoping the group can point me in the right direction for overhaul/ and ongoing repairs and eventually meeting up with other members to discuss grazed knuckles blood sweat and tears.
Regards
Terry

 

[Cooper]

Hi Terry, welcome to the group. From my understanding the cost of engines up there is so cheap it may be best to get a replacement one with the electronics, drop and swap. Someone else will let you know for sure. One of the forum guys @spurs fan in a coupe is awesome and he is often parting cars.

 

[Terry Crow]

Hi Terry, welcome to the group. From my understanding the cost of engines up there is so cheap it may be best to get a replacement one with the electronics, drop and swap. Someone else will let you know for sure. One of the forum guys @spurs fan in a coupe is awesome and he is often parting cars.

Thanks much appreciated. Terry

 

[BMBabe]

Welcome from Aylesbury
Good luck with the project You will find lots of help from fellow Zedders and hopefully you have someone close by to help you

 

[Terry Crow]

Thanks . Terry

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Hi Terry, take the plugs out of the engine, try turning it over. If it will not move put redex in each cylinder. Leave it for a week then try and turn it over, use a spanner on the crank to turn it over, not the starter motor. If the engine frees up, turn it over using the starter motor until the battery runs flat. Put the plugs back in, recharge the battery and try and start it. Make sure you have fresh petrol in the tank. If it starts listen for any strange noise coming from the engine. If you can run the engine it will give you some idea of the state of the engine. Make sure there is oil in the engine.

Mike

 

[Terry Crow]

Hi Terry, take the plugs out of the engine, try turning it over. If it will not move put redex in each cylinder. Leave it for a week then try and turn it over, use a spanner on the crank to turn it over, not the starter motor. If the engine frees up, turn it over using the starter motor until the battery runs flat. Put the plugs back in, recharge the battery and try and start it. Make sure you have fresh petrol in the tank. If it starts listen for any strange noise coming from the engine. If you can run the engine it will give you some idea of the state of the engine. Make sure there is oil in the engine.

Mike

Thanks, very very useful information.
The history on the car is, the owner was driving home, engine starts rattling, engine management systems lights up the dash and the engine dies. the recovery guy suspects the crankshaft and tows it home. The car is then just abandoned. Thought I might get a decent second hand motor or a reasonably priced rebuild.
The car has been towed to a local garage by a mechanic with a great reputation that we have used for many years. His advice is see what's out there, replacement/ second hand engine and he's happy to fix it. He's looking at other costs to get it back on the road tyres/ MOT etc.
If this is the help offered by the group I've made the right decision to join. Always like the Z3 and it's nice to be amongs friends. Terry

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome Terry, I've added you to the [USERGROUP=12]@M44 Massive[/USERGROUP] group. Looks like Enthuziazt has started off the advice!

Good news is that you can easily pick up replacement engines off eBay for not a lot of money should the worst have happened.

 

[jonco]

Terry from another oldie just down the road in Chester.
Enthuziast has set you off in the right direction. Notice you have it at a garage - can they read the codes? - may give some clue as to what has happened. Some of them may be historical but you never know.

 

[TaffZee]

I Agree second hand engine is the best way to go, you can pick them up for around £200, but I would want to hear it running before I committed to it.

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria. Good luck with your project.

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

@Terry Crow

As @oldcarman suggested I do have a spare engine, still running, would need collecting from Woking surrey

Cheers

 

[Zeti]

Welcome Terry!
That's the way it works here: until we start welcoming you, the problem is almost fixed!
Glad you are "saving private Ryan"! The M44 will reward you plenty!
Dan

 

[Shelly]

Welcome from me too
Good luck with your project

 

[Terry Crow]

@Terry Crow

As @oldcarman suggested I do have a spare engine, still running, would need collecting from Woking surrey

Cheers

Sounds good.
Do you have information on the engine, size/mileage/ complete/ so I can pass the information onto the mechanic. I'm sure there is a courier service to get it shipped up North. Thanks in advance Terry.

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

If it is a big end bearing shot, unusual in a BMW, then it might be worth taking the sump off and seeing if it's worth just replacing the bearings. If that is the case the engines been run without oil, so might be a leak in the engine. If so there should be plenty of evedence all over the engine bay.

Mike

 

[t-tony]

I Agree second hand engine is the best way to go, you can pick them up for around £200, but I would want to hear it running before I committed to it.

Spot on, good advice Jim. Always best to hear them run.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

Hi @Terry Crow ! Welcome from me near Lincoln, enjoy getting your car back into road going condition and reap the benefits when light nights are here!

Tony.

 

[Mrs Mint]

from Staffordshire - enjoy