well thats how long ive got back into the fold before the engine went.

so to say im peed off is a understatment, she was a nice motor too. went up the road and it was like

she started to miss and then cut out on me. she started and a puff of
smoke came out the back like she cleared herself but a loud ticking,
tapping, metalic sort of noise is coming from her.

so im not sure but it might look like shes dropped a valve or
something simular. dont know for sure if it is that but it sounds a
little like it to me. the sound goes faster if you rev it a bit but
turned her off and left her after i had to drive it 1/2 a mile to
saftey.

if anyone could give me some good news then i would appreciate it as
ive been trying to presuade myself it was a sticking lifter or somthing
like that but deep down i think shes blown.

depressed or what, best thing is i got things coming through the post
that i ordered for her to put her nice and tidy, eg: door mirror,rear wiper motor. talking about rubbing salt in the wounds or what

Oh Mate, feel for you. Does sound like a valve, wish I could think of something less dramatic for you.

cheers jeffthro.

think im gonna have to break her to be honest, sounds a bit like me lol.

Oh no, have you looked into a heart transplant?

no not yet geoff, shes a lovely car for the age but will have to see if its repairable fisrt which is unlikely.

should know within a few days though.

Let's hope the prognosis is positive, would be a shame if you had to let her go under these circumstances. Finger crossed

cheers geoff

Thats bad news matey...

Well, you know the Cam-cover has to come off anyway, so do it sooner rather than later... Bit of luck might be awaiting u in there like a failed tensioner for example !

thanks jim,

yeh i will be getting home one day this week and then hopfully have a look at her, so hopefully it might not be as bad as

fisrt thought, fingers crossed.

well the verdicts in and it dont look to good.

the head gasket is a gonner. the thermostat had been taken out, there was some contaminants in the water but it wasnt oil.

have been told it was a bodge up just to keep it running. strange thing is i went to it today and started her up and the knocking tapping noise went and i drove her home, she was first off going on 3 but she seemed to clear her self and she drove okish. a bit of smoke out the pipe but it suprised me for it to sort of clear itself.

i aint got any confindance in the car so im going to break and scrap it im afraid and look for another one, hopefully i can pick one up somewhere.

oh well heres hoping.

been a stressful day what with cars here there and everywhere and what with having a new kitchen in with the workmen making such a racket my head is fried lol.

Sorry to hear this bad news Steve, have you looked into a replacement motor? Well I mean once the kitchens finished, must keep the peace ah!

cheers geoff,

im starting to look into a new motor tonight to be honest, wont be for a week or two till i can get things together but just looking.

i would like another one, dont have to be a compact but just love the beemers.

yes i know what u mean about the kitchen, i left her to it while the workmen were channeling out ect, couldnt stick the noise, so had to go and sort the car out then ;-) lol

Really sorry to hear that Steve. If you read my thread about traction control not working you'll see I have been the victim of a "bodge" job by previous owner too, but nothing like to the degree you have. Just a fault re-set, a few dashboard bulbs and a couple of hours labour. Oh, and no kitchen workmen.

You say in an earlier part of the thread that shes a lovely car for the age, so gotta be worth looking for a replacement engine? After all, you know exactly what the issues are now, no more hidden agendas?