[Hector's Dad]

Hi,
I have recently purchased a 58 plate (UK) N14 engined factory JCW with 109K on the clock. Several "bits" have been done such as new clutch / flywheel 3k miles ago. New thermostat housing, water pump, V pulley, tensioner. New valve stem seals, timing chain, walnut shell decoke on head, braided turbo pipe etc.
Recently it overheated and came to a stop. The coolant tank is pressurised on start up so I would assume the head gasket has gone but also it comes up REALLY quickly with the oil pressure light.
Doing the head gasket is the thick end of £1200 and I still don't know if it will "sort" the lack of oil pressure, so I am leaning towards either:
A. Breaking it for parts to recoup some of the costs so far.
B. Getting a recon engine.
C. Getting this engine rebuilt / reconditioned.
D. Installing a "known" used JCW engine.

So my questions if anyone can / will help me out please?
1. Is it worth having it on my driveway as I part it out (hassle Vs Recoup)
2. Can anyone recommend a company that supply recon engines (personal experience as opposed to hearsay please)
3. As above for rebuilding THIS engine.
4. Does anyone supply known, warrantied N14 engines for the R56 JCW.

I (potentially) appreciate all input and / or insights into the above.

Regards, HD

 

[CarsOrBikes]

£1200 seems a lot for just a head gasket?

oil pressure can be a few things, including eaten cam journals I believe, I have one here with them destroyed

regardless, I'd be rebuilding that motor if possible,

always nice to keep the original engine number if possible but is what it is, if the thing is a mess you have the option of finding another block, the trouble is so many of them for sale are shit, and few will be N14C16's, just B's mainly.

if you do break it I'd consider buying the dead power unit complete for what it's worth in that state but personally I'd say repair it....

is this a black one that was on ebay?

 

[Hector's Dad]

Hi there,
Decisions, decisions,........

Anyway, thanks for the reply. I truly don't know the extent of damage so will have to mull it over.

It wasn't the black one from eBay.

Regards, HD

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

 

[CarsOrBikes]

difficult if you have to get it done for you I guess, there is no lasting super cheap way, just lucky with requirements, or not.

just did one with a holed piston which sadly needed a donor block, and even that needed a re-bore, 2 con rods, one damaged, one small end worn, the guy had already bought standard pistons which couldn't be used so had to get another set, then valve guides were too worn, so with additional machine shop stuff and extra parts new or used, crank polish etc, it bumps it all up,

then another in contrast was no damage, just a hone and rings with all the seals and bearings etc but the same basic job, still time intensive, didn't need doing actually but was apart for head gasket and cleaning so did it all, on here somewhere in the projects if it helps,

well worth saving imo, then that's what I do so I'm biased, it's only a machine, best to set aside residuals with this stuff, focus on the core car state and it's actual appeal, then repair it for the right reason.

in my humble opinion ;O)

 

[knt]

Yes, don't do it just thinking that you're just throwing money at it.

Do it because you think it's worth doing or just get rid and not think about the costs involved.

 

[Hector's Dad]

It's definitely a tough one.

It's actually in really good condition and has all the bits you want / need. Even the body is on amazing condition, it's just the thought of spending another couple of grand JUST to get it running reliably kinda grates a wee bit.

Regards, HD

 

[knt]

Yeah, this is what happened to me ~3 years or so ago.

It's also who you find to do the work as well, initially found a specialist online who claimed to be Europe's best in rebuilding and forging engines for BMW/MINI.

After independent garage and engine specialist checked out the rebuilt forged engine, turns out to be just crap and not usable.

So beware who you find to do the work as not many can do a proper job.

 

[CarsOrBikes]

fwiw, even this one can go again, at a cost....



I'd consider that guesstimate if talking rebuild, especially if you have £1.2k in mind for head gasket alone,

with a hypothetical labour cost of £1.2 - 1.5k guide/ball park minimum, no idea on elsewhere if reliant on it, add machine shop stuff even if minor for honing/polish/skim if ness £150~, then shall we guess at rings £90, shells £160, head gasket £55, main bolts £30~, rod bolts £25, ladder bolts £30, head bolts £35, crank bolt £5, Vanos bolt £5, pump bolt £3, ex cam bolt £4, flywheel bolts £12, clutch bolts £6 and random bolts £20, rocker cover seals £30, front and rear main seals £80, vac pump and HPFP seals £10, solenoid seal, one way valve, oil feed/return/coolant turbo seals £15, make an assumption on clutch if recent, chain kit maybe but I wouldn't bother, most are partial and ignore the oil pump £160 excluding Vanos gear, new pump perhaps at 100k+ £240 aftermarket? Fluids £70, sundries £60, corrective work which there always is if folk have been in there already, or not, then the possibility of new pistons and re-bore £350 aftermarket, all rough numbers accepted, and bear in mind your researched minimum costs won't be the same as a repairer who makes something on parts, and likely won't use what you supply, or may charge more elsewhere when losing here, you know, those incidentals @ FOC may become not, it is what it is, then consider £3150 ^ plus donor parts if required, cams, rectangrings, followers, lifters if any are looking grim, and a thermostat housing, water pump, drive belt, valve stem seals, water pump drive, coolant hoses to aux cooling pump, turbo feed and returns, fuel supply line, exhaust manifold gasket, turbo gasket, front pipe clamp, sealant, pump drive arm, rocker cover, injector seals, all a reality, driveshaft seals also, mounts if knackered and so on, then you're heading towards £3.75k or £4k, and possibly more.

Then if sourcing used parts becomes involved, the research, time and travel costs to make it all happen for you are relevant 'if' you find someone willing to engage in it.

Just sayin' ;O) Budget for more, it runs away with itself, nothing worse than being part way in and feeling trapped, but can say the end is rewarding for people glad to have nice cars back feeling good done thoughtfully even if not all new.

It's a lot of work 'potentially'.

Many have more in store than you would first imagine, that's a fact.