I blew up my N52 Engine - any ideas how?

[r0gue_shin0bi]

You already have 1 car which is a going to be costly to get on the road again. Are you sure you a 14 year old 135i is the way to go?

To be entirely honest - the simple answer to this is no, but no real skin off my bones either way

Since getting the 125i up and running again doesn't seem super likely in the immediate future and there's no costs in keeping it right now (its paid off, currently uninsured as I wasn't willing to write off), I figured, let the mechanic keep the deposit for an engine and keep looking, be a little less desperate and pick an actual good engine instead of just taking whatever I can find/adapt and just buy the 135i I wanted anyway - plus its being kept in the mechanics warehouse so under cover and he's got space so not charging me for storage ( going to set up trickle charging for the battery and draining the fluids for long term storage just in case)

The Alternatives I considered at this point are the below and for their various reasons
- 2019-2022 Hyundai Kona - New-ish Car, 7yr/200 000KM Warranty, wifey can use it after, and big enough to fit my fishing gear
- 1996 E36 328i - Low Mileage, Great Condition, Cheap-ish and honestly if you do it right, an M52 can run comfortably into a 500k KM lifespan in my opinion
- 2011 135i - I wanted one, put money aside for it already (which I was willing to spend on the 125i for repairs)


So while the answer is no, its also relatively minor issue in the grander scheme of things

At the end of the day, we currently have an 2016 X3 30D Non-Msport and a (I forget the year) Hyundai Getz, both with a little over 100K Kms (X3 I think is like 112K and Getz is 110K) its the house/family cars, mum usually drives the X3, wifey usually drives the Getz and sometimes my brother when he is in town, we're currently both using the Getz as my mum runs marathons and is a doctor so usually out of the house second with me being the first, just feeling a little bad for the wife having to get up early especially after long nights working on her Architecture Degree just so she can bring the car back)

I just want my fun little car back (which admittedly I end up dailying because I love it and don't need much/don't have kids)

Not like I'm desparately in need of a car to be honest, but space just opened up for one I guess

edit: Spelling and clarity

 

[r0gue_shin0bi]

Have to agree here.

I'd have to go dig through all my invoices (ignorance is bliss and all that) but I've put well over 6 figures into my 135i for general maintenance over my 6 years of ownership. That is just normal maintenance items - nothing massive has broken (knock on wood).

A non-exhaustive list includes things like:

• Shocks (10k)
• Brakes (15k)
• Cooling componentry (Radiator, hoses etc.) (10k)
• Plugs and Coils (5k)
• DCT Oil & Filters (15k)
• Diff Oil (2k)
• Rim Refurb (3k)
• Tyres (16k)
• Belts and Pulleys (5k)
• Suspension bits and bobs (12k)

Also, let's just gloss over the abysmal fuel consumption and mod costs 💀

Got the car at 112k km, sitting at 150k now.

Based on this list alone, over the past 6 years +- 93K averaging out to around 15.6K a year? If we round up to 100K around 16.7K per year

Not great, but not terrible - although you don't seem to have racked up too much mileage over that time so likely will be a bit higher in my case - which is a bit concerning in all honesty 😅

Just out of curiosity, would you say those miles were hard driving or mostly standard/reasonable driving? did you have any mods or anything?

 

[Spanky]

Based on this list alone, over the past 6 years +- 93K averaging out to around 15.6K a year? If we round up to 100K around 16.7K per year

Not great, but not terrible - although you don't seem to have racked up too much mileage over that time so likely will be a bit higher in my case - which is a bit concerning in all honesty 😅

There's stuff missing there like oil services etc., so it's at least R125k (~R21k per annum).
During the first 3 years, the car was a weekend car as I used my Audi as a daily. Since then, the BMW has been doing weekend and daily duties.

Just out of curiosity, would you say those miles were hard driving or mostly standard/reasonable driving? did you have any mods or anything?

It's a mix - I drive spiritedly when the opportunity presents itself and the car is warmed up. I don't abuse it but I do enjoy it for what it is (that's why I bought it).

The car has been significantly modded (see sig).


But yea, if you're living that sweet DINKs lifestyle, and the costs aren't that significant to you, then go for it - just know what you're in for, at a minimum

 

[r0gue_shin0bi]

In all honesty, while it may be slightly depressing to hear

The immediate response of "this is probably a really bad idea" is quite humbling (which to some extent is what I came to this forum to hear even if I don't want to admit it😂)

Perhaps something fun, reliable and cheaper like a F30/E90 320d/330d would be a better option? I've heard a few good things up tunes making them quite fun

 

[r0gue_shin0bi]

There's stuff missing there like oil services etc., so it's at least R125k (~R21k per annum).
During the first 3 years, the car was a weekend car as I used my Audi as a daily. Since then, the BMW has been doing weekend and daily duties.



It's a mix - I drive spiritedly when the opportunity presents itself and the car is warmed up. I don't abuse it but I do enjoy it for what it is (that's why I bought it).

The car has been significantly modded (see sig).


But yea, if you're living that sweet DINKs lifestyle, and the costs aren't that significant to you, then go for it - just know what you're in for, at a minimum

Well technically not quite DINK yet 😅 Wifey went back to get her architecture degree (she was teaching before) so she's not quite bringing in anything at the moment, but will pretty much be done and dusted in around a year or 2, only big expense I see here within the next 5 years, would be if she wants to set up her own firm once done, but more likely than not will go work at a firm for a couple years to establish herself as she has a couple connections at a decent architecture firm - so I guess we're just SINKing for now (eyyyyy 😉)

While mum lives with us, she's a doctor so has her own money and does usually invite us to fun things like shows/ballets, sometimes trvael (local and international) but is not obligated to as I can hypothetically fund that myself, also at retirement age but enjoys her work so probably will just take less cases (she pretty much picks and chooses to her preference now) - she has this thing about the Government stealing her money through inheritence tax so she's rather "give it to us now"😂😂

I make decent money, not quite M Car money, but comfortable enough (although I could always, have more 😉) - I work in tech at a relatively mid-to-high level position
So mostly wife and I living off my salary and some good crypto swings here and there for now - house can be paid off at any time (keeping it open for favorable interest rate tbh - as its better than any loans I've been offered) and no real debt to speak of (Tuition is being paid in cash, and cars are all paid off/bought cash)

I have relatively decent savings, but obviously not trying to blow through them unnecessarily as I burned through quite a bit during COVID -so perhaps 20K+ yearly for general maintenance isn't the best chat

But honestly your mod list is pretty great - would use this as a basis for my wish list 😂 Although, single turbo and Seibon GT-R Style hood for me

For reference, I'm 30 this year and wifey is 28 tomorrow actually 😅 mum is 61

 

[r0gue_shin0bi]

Gonna do an affordability check 😉

Put a decent sum of money aside, and if by December I hit my goals, and the car is still available

It will be a Christmas/birthday present to myself 🤣

 

[r0gue_shin0bi]

So, a quick update for anyone who cares

I did end up jumping the gun and managed to get an AWESOME 2013 135i with DCT - came pretty much modded up how I would have done it and with around 96K KMs on the clock - honestly? No regrets at all, she has been a dream and now I am MAYBE considering forging the engine or swapping in an S55 and making an E82 Comp, just because living up to the quote in my signature is important to me apparently

On the 125i - I very luckily managed to FINALLY find a relatively low mileage imported N52B30AF engine on Friday last week (all the other ones were N52N/Pre-LCI Aluminium Tappet cover options)
And I managed to get it for quite a reasonable price as well, mechanic picked it up over the weekend and did the install and test drives, I'll probably pick it up today or tomorrow and will test it while run it to and from work while its still under warranty

All in all, to swap another engine into the 125i came up to just under R65K - considering I was expecting around R80K+, I'm quite chuffed, but we'll have to see how it goes and will chalk the discount up to the time and heartbreak fee if everything checks out

So in a brief summary - all in all the 125i was sitting in a shop for +- 8/9 months, and cost around R65K once I managed to get an engine - now to embark on the surely very quick, efficient and enjoyable mission of getting the police clearance and everything done

So, what will happen with the 125i since I have a 135i now?
The answer is: my wife will help me live out my fantasies of matching his and hers E82 coupes
When she gets sick of it or decides what car she wants, I'll slap an LSD in and turn it into my drift car

And this, should hopefully conclude the saga of me blowing a N52 engine 😅

 

[Greenz]

Nice one!

Post some pics of the 35 when you get a chance.Glad it worked out for you.

 

[Chinoza]

So, a quick update for anyone who cares

I did end up jumping the gun and managed to get an AWESOME 2013 135i with DCT - came pretty much modded up how I would have done it and with around 96K KMs on the clock - honestly? No regrets at all, she has been a dream and now I am MAYBE considering forging the engine or swapping in an S55 and making an E82 Comp, just because living up to the quote in my signature is important to me apparently

On the 125i - I very luckily managed to FINALLY find a relatively low mileage imported N52B30AF engine on Friday last week (all the other ones were N52N/Pre-LCI Aluminium Tappet cover options)
And I managed to get it for quite a reasonable price as well, mechanic picked it up over the weekend and did the install and test drives, I'll probably pick it up today or tomorrow and will test it while run it to and from work while its still under warranty

All in all, to swap another engine into the 125i came up to just under R65K - considering I was expecting around R80K+, I'm quite chuffed, but we'll have to see how it goes and will chalk the discount up to the time and heartbreak fee if everything checks out

So in a brief summary - all in all the 125i was sitting in a shop for +- 8/9 months, and cost around R65K once I managed to get an engine - now to embark on the surely very quick, efficient and enjoyable mission of getting the police clearance and everything done

So, what will happen with the 125i since I have a 135i now?
The answer is: my wife will help me live out my fantasies of matching his and hers E82 coupes
When she gets sick of it or decides what car she wants, I'll slap an LSD in and turn it into my drift car

And this, should hopefully conclude the saga of me blowing a N52 engine 😅

Wow, what a trip man but glad you're sorted.

 

[r0gue_shin0bi]

Nice one!

Post some pics of the 35 when you get a chance.Glad it worked out for you.

Thanks bud! I will definitely post some pics when I have good ones 😅

I only currently have the old pics from before I bought it (see profile pic currently😂) so as soon as I get the 125i back we're doing a car photoshoot 😎

 

[r0gue_shin0bi]

Wow, what a trip man but glad you're sorted.

Thanks bud! Quite a long and stressful journey but almost at the end game now, just the police clearance and Data-Dot inspection/verification left and she's back on the road legally again 🥲

 

[///M Individual]

Thats brilliant bud. Glad you sorted! What an upgrade as well.