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Assuming regular oil changes and timely cam belt replacements, how many miles can you expect to see from a 2.5 before a rebuild? Is 130K miles "just broken in" like in the spec miata world? I should probably ask this question in two parts, expectations for the head and the short block.
BTW, note this being my first post, I know squat about bimmer motors so feel free to elaborate with respect to code designations, etc. for the less bright amongst us.
Cheers,
Matt
I’m no expert but some of the guys who race E30’s have over 250,000 miles on engines that have never been apart.
The guys I know who’ve "rebuilt" engines seem to always have trouble with them after the rebuild.
Your best bet…if the motor leaks, have the engine resealed, but don’t take it apart unless you absolutely have to or can’t find a replacement.
Matt:
Welcome to the group!
My Spec E30 325i has 256,000 on the clock and it runs great. I have an idea about it’s life prior to getting flogged on the track and feel like it was well cared-for.
T-belts, ignition parts, and oil and it should keep going strong.
Carter
I don’t even want to jinx my own engine, but I know guys who have been taking their E30s to the track all the time and have over 200k miles.
I too have more faith in original M20’s than rebuilt ones so I try to snag up a used motor when I see one.
267k on the clock for my 91 325i with no major engine work. Still going strong and making the jump to pure track and spec e30 competition this year. As long as they are maintained, these M20 engines are solid. Just remember: DON’T LET THEM OVERHEAT!!! Keep an eye on the cooling system to make sure it doesn’t fail and cause more serious damage.
Good luck
232k miles on mine, including over 10k track/racing miles since I picked it up 18 months ago. Still going strong (where’s a block of wood when you need one…), though I have no idea how the car was cared for prior to my purchasing. I’ve never had the engine apart aside from timing belt & seal replacements.
Hmmmmm, well this certainly opens up the range of potential donors. Thanks for the info everyone.