E36 With a Blown Head Gasket?

[cbeebz]

So I'm looking for my first car, and I have fallen in love with BMW's. I have found quite a few good quality E36's on Craigslist for decent money, but many of them say "all it needs is a head gasket". This worries me, because head gaskets are not expensive to replace, and they may be hiding something. I don't want to buy the car then have to do a complete engine swap, I'm 16 and I don't have that much money to work with. So is an E36 with a blown head gasket worth it? Or should I just keep looking?

[cbeebz]

Oh crap, this should have gone in Engine and Drivetrain....

[SeanDub]

What's your price limit?

[Jesus Christ]

So I'm looking for my first car, and I have fallen in love with BMW's. I have found quite a few good quality E36's on Craigslist for decent money, but many of them say "all it needs is a head gasket". This worries me, because head gaskets are not expensive to replace, and they may be hiding something. I don't want to buy the car then have to do a complete engine swap, I'm 16 and I don't have that much money to work with. So is an E36 with a blown head gasket worth it? Or should I just keep looking?

its cheap to replace if you are doing all the work, but if a shop does it its pretty pricey...like over 1k sometimes. so if its truly the HG and you can do the work go for it.

i dont usually trust anyone when it comes to purchasing cars so be thorough

[SeanDub]

Head gasket at a shop on my ex's x8 was like 1600, and that was with a decent hookup, so I'd imagine that's a rather low estimate Jaze.

I'd imagine this dude would be better off holding out for a clean car. E36's aren't that expensive, especially non m's.

[Jesus Christ]

Head gasket at a shop on my ex's x8 was like 1600, and that was with a decent hookup, so I'd imagine that's a rather low estimate Jaze.

I'd imagine this dude would be better off holding out for a clean car. E36's aren't that expensive, especially non m's.

very true, its alot of labor so if the rate is 95/hr like in some places it will maybe even get closer to 2k.

you can get a decent non m e36 for 2500

[SeanDub]

$95?! Damn we're over $100 here lol

[benz88]

Depends on the shop, I know Lots of shops here range from 70-100/hr. Dealerships 110+/hr. So glad I have buddies that hook it up If i need mechanical work I dont feel like doing

[SeanDub]

Dealers here are $140 I think

[cbeebz]

What's your price limit?

I definitely want to try and keep it under $2k total. The guy wants $1k firm, and I don't have the time/space/possibly funds to do an entire engine swap. Should I just move on?

[Kielan]

very true, its alot of labor so if the rate is 95/hr like in some places it will maybe even get closer to 2k.

you can get a decent non m e36 for 2500
Damn only 95? Where are these shops that do good work at that price? Around me its like 110/hr.
Dealers here are $140 I think
That's about right for a BMW dealer around my area.
I definitely want to try and keep it under $2k total. The guy wants $1k firm, and I don't have the time/space/possibly funds to do an entire engine swap. Should I just move on?

Move on, get a Honda or a 240 is you really want RWD.

[SeanDub]

I definitely want to try and keep it under $2k total. The guy wants $1k firm, and I don't have the time/space/possibly funds to do an entire engine swap. Should I just move on?

Move on, you're not gonna get that running for under 2k if you don't do everything yourself.

[Jesus Christ]

BMW dealers here are 150/hr but 95/hr was assuming he took it to a random general mechanic.

[socalE320]

Wouldnt do it quite honestly had an E36 M3 myself at first thought it was the head gasket turned out to not only be that but a cracked head and had to replace both not to mention the cooling system..... although i did do a money shot -_-

[ezzyke]

Just a small piece of advise. Most of the E36's I have taken down with a quote "blown headgasket" have had a crack in the cylinder head. In my 11 years as a tech at a BMW dealer I have only seen one without a cracked head, and it was leaking in the back corner on the exhaust side. It ran fine and was in for an oil change when we found it.