2001 528i engine

My son ran his 2001 528i with a cracked radiator and ended up with a blown head gasket and bad water pump. The shop that looked at it said two of the head bolts tightened, but a third just spun so the engine is shot.

Is there a market to sell a beemer with a bad engine? It is very clean. Or, is there a reliable place to try to buy a rebuilt engine? Perhaps a BMW enthusiasts would like a project to work on...

The car is currently in the Seattle area.

Part it out. I need a fuel door.


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Originally Posted by mazzellaak

My son ran his 2001 528i with a cracked radiator and ended up with a blown head gasket and bad water pump.

This is so sad. It happens at least once a week judging from the posts we get (and you're not the first father to report that his son learned the hard lesson that the BMW cooling system is a time bomb that will ruin the engine pronto if not cared for).

See:
- What to tell people who overheated their BMW E39 engine (1)

Originally Posted by mazzellaak

Is there a market to sell a beemer with a bad engine? Or, is there a reliable place to try to buy a rebuilt engine?

A friendly suggestion, if you want to sell it to an enthusiast, call it a 'bimmer' because it's not a motorcycle.

See:
- What is the difference between a bimmer and a beemer and, um, yeah, a beamer (1)

In the thread I referenced above, there are places listed which will sell a rebuilt engine for the E39. You might want to price it out.

Originally Posted by mazzellaak

The car is currently in the Seattle area.

You can get the parts value and some reliable shops for advice from this link:

- BMWfans phantom diagrams (1) & realoem nominal prices by part number (1) & EACTuning prices by part number (1) labor rates by zip code (1) (2) (3) where to find a good mechanic (1) (2) joining BMWCCA (1) (2) & finding a reputable BMW indy in your area (1) (2) & the most often recommended parts suppliers (1)

Good luck. Let us know what you end up doing.

Fair enough if a daughter did it because, no offense bee but women know f all about cars and they car just as much.
But for a boy to have the same 0 factor? Is it just me or are the younger generation of boys just caring less about their cars?

On the other hand man these lil aluminium blocks are weak as piss!!!


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Truth be told.... If I didn't know E39 cooling systems were so prone to failure, I wouldn't know to pay any extra attention to it. Then again, I might not have bought it...


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RE: mazzellaak

You can do a used engine with a 2-year warranty. If you decide to fix it let me know and i will discount it down for you. I'll be back in the office Monday.

-Joe

Originally Posted by Joe@Bavarian

You can do a used engine with a 2-year warranty.

Hi Joe,
I'd like to add information from you to the recommendations in the threads.

Is there a specific web page listing options specific for E39 users who have blown engines (typically newbies to the forum) that I can reference them (other than the home page)?

Do you have an E39-specific linkable resource?

Bluebee

Originally Posted by bluebee

Hi Joe,
I'd like to add information from you to the recommendations in the threads.

Is there a specific web page listing options specific for E39 users who have blown engines (typically newbies to the forum) that I can reference them (other than the home page)?

Do you have an E39-specific linkable resource?

Bluebee

Sorry i just read this post, Thanks


BMW 528i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block -
Used M52
1996 - 1998 BMW 528i 4DR E39

BMW 528i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block -
Used  M52tu 1999 - 2000 BMW 528i 4DR E39

BMW 525i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block -
Used  M54
2001 - 2003 BMW
525i, 525i Wagon E39

BMW 530i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block -
Used M54
2000 - 2003 BMW 530i 4DR E39

BMW 540i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block -
Used M62
1996 - 1998  BMW 540i 4DR E39

BMW 540i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block -
Used M62tu
1999 - 2003 BMW 540i, 540i Wagon E39

BMW M5 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block - Used
S62
1999 - 2003 BMW M5 E39

Originally Posted by Joe@Bavarian

Sorry i just read this post

Thanks.

I peppered the overheat advice and engine-swap advice threads with the following table from you so that users with this problem have the information ready at hand.

Consider replacing the engine using one from the sponsors, e.g.,

• BMW 528i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block - Used
  • M52, 1996 - 1998 BMW 528i 4DR E39
• BMW 528i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block - Used
  • M52tu, 1999 - 2000 BMW 528i 4DR E39
• BMW 525i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block - Used
  • M54, 2001 - 2003 BMW, 525i, 525i Wagon E39
• BMW 530i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block - Used
  • M54, 2000 - 2003 BMW 530i 4DR E39
• BMW 540i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block - Used
  • M62, 1996 - 1998 BMW 540i 4DR E39
• BMW 540i 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block - Used
  • M62tu, 1999 - 2003 BMW 540i, 540i Wagon E39
• BMW M5 4DR E39 ENGINE - ASSEMBLY - Long Block - Used
  • S62, 1999 - 2003 BMW M5 E39

Based on yet another overheated-engine-blown thread today:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > Engine head

For the cross linked record, to help others in the future, I've compiled all the overheated-engine-blown threads I could into a set of comprehensive links as shown below:

- Summary advice to provide users who suspect a major engine repair due to overheating (1) & how to test an engine for blown head gasket, cracked heads, a warped block, cam seizures, contaminated bearings, coolant hydrolock, or piston, ring, or valve damage (1) (2) & a well researched reusable response to a particular user with a blown engine (1) & what questions to ask when severe heating-related damage is initially suspected (1) & welding the crack between cylinder #3 and the water jacket on the exhaust side (1) & what E39 engine swaps are most recommended (1) (2) (3) & how to lift & remove the engine (1) & where to obtain a new or rebuilt replacement short block or long block (1) (2) & why the E39 engines are so prone to heat-related damage in the first place (1) & real-world results from people faced with similar blown engine problems from which this advice came from (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) (28).

Go here: http://www.bavengine.com/

They are close to you and do a very good job on their rebuilt engines. Go with the 5 year warranty. Going to have to balance out whether or not it is better to finance another car or just put a rebuilt engine in this one and keep driving it. In this economy, my bet is on the rebuilt.

Hope the son won't be getting the car back anytime soon

I'd replace the engine. IMHO there's little that will replace an E39.

Originally Posted by DominguesE30

Fair enough if a daughter did it because, no offense bee but women know f all about cars and they car just as much.
But for a boy to have the same 0 factor? Is it just me or are the younger generation of boys just caring less about their cars?

On the other hand man these lil aluminium blocks are weak as piss!!!


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I think it's true about the younger guys caring less about their cars... Three of my friends have had to have their engines replaced due to overheat, my girlfriend's brother doesn't know how to change a spare tire, and all my friends (and friends of friends) come to me with all their car troubles because they don't know what to do and don't wanna pay for a shop.

I'm 19 and I've had my 2000 528i since I was 15 and have put almost 70k miles on it (got it at 100k miles) and i do all the work myself on my car and enjoy every bit of it. Maybe thats why everyone comes to me for problems... I dunno... Sorry for ranting

Originally Posted by blz456

I think it's true about the younger guys caring less about their cars...

We were all young once ...

Another overheated leaking cylinder #3 today:
> E39 (1997 - 2003) > Cylinder 3 Misfire

Originally Posted by epremsoft

I think I found the problem... its head gasket! there is a leak on cylinder 3, so it taking coolant and it mixing it with the oil! How much do you guys think its gonna cost me?

I stopped referencing the blown-engine threads in the bestlinks at 50 threads, but, one thing interesting about this thread today is that one person's catastrophe is another person's boon!
> 5 Series > E39 (1997 - 2003) > ENGINE R&R help...

Originally Posted by proheader

Grabbed a 1999 BMW 528iT wagon over the weekend. Bought it for less than most people make in one day with average wages......

Head gasket is FRIED, so thinking of doing an engine swap. I notice that the 99 has an aluminum block and the double VANOS timing system......

I put some want ads out there and I get some replies about the 328i engine will work if I switch the oil pan, then another reply said stick with the exact engine......

Another blown engine:
> E39 (1997 - 2003) > SES light

Originally Posted by jvonhorn

Well I ha sveome bad news to report. The shop say that there is no compression in one cylinder and 2 are around 60. He thinks that putting money into the engine maybe a bad idea. A used engine is 2500 online and repairing the whole thing would likely run me 4K....

Get and older 528 engine put in I have a 1998 and it doesn't have the aluminum block

For the record, another user with a blown engine today is seeking advice so I pointed him to the canonical set of replacement engine advice links, one of which is this one:

Originally Posted by canam8

I'M LOOKING FOR INFORMATION OR DIY ON AN E39! 2002 BMW 525i WITH THE SPORTS PACKAGE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WOULD BE GREAT TO ALSO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF REBUILD KITS, PRICES OR WHERE I COULD OBTAIN THEM FROM! VERY MUCH APPRECIATED IN ADVANCE. I have a cylinder w low compression and before I started pulling it apart to find out exactly what's wrong was hopin to get an idea on direction of other possible things to check to narrow the problem down a little more and a heads up on prices for things like cam valves rings gasket kits etc.....
cyl. 1,2,3,5,6 are 220 after 6 rotations. cyl 4 is 85 after 6 rotatiions!

EDIT: I also suggested these PDFs from the bestlinks:
BMW_E53_X5_M54_Engine_Training_Manual.pdf
M54_technical_information.pdf

Looks like another Bimmer bought today with a blown engine.

At least I hope these guys get 'em cheap.

Originally Posted by BlackMax540

I bought my 1999 540i a couple weeks ago and i still cannot get it to start. The engine turns over and have been consulting the bentley. I have tested the fuel pump to make sure it is running and with a jumper wire in the relay slot 6 and 2 the pump does come on. There is no check engine light on at all ... i have tested all the coils and checked the coil connectors with the multimeter with no problems found. However i believe the rear main seal is gone because there is oil coming out from the hole in the bellhousing of the transmission close to the crankshaft speed sensor( which appears to be new) also i noticed there was possibly some oil around the exhaust manifold at the back of the head. Does anyone have any ideas ... i really would like to be able to get this car running so i can experience it... I have never got to drive it yet...Where is the best place to buy parts and or for quality used engines. Please help me! Any help would be truely appreciated. Also is there anyone here from close to Myrtle Beach, SC?

EDIT:
Another blown engine today:

Originally Posted by ironman27

I just had my second diagnosis on my car and it has a blown engine. Looking to sell as i dont have the money to pay for a used one. Excepting reasonable offers. The car is located in New Jersey.

Another one, reported today, about to blow:

Originally Posted by flight203

I have let the car sit for a month now. I checked the oil and it is milky, meaning coolant in the oil. But the car does run great it dose not over heat at idle for hours. I drove the car to my fathers house 15 miles and it did not over heat but the temp did rise at red lights ?