BEWARE IGNORING OIL FILTER CHANGES

[Synclare]

Well it all started when bought this little thing to break up. Head gasket apparently gone and stood year and a half.

Paint was completely dull despite what the photo shows and was running on about two and half cylinders. Quick change of plugs and coil pack and fired up on all cylinders confirming compressions o.k. Decided to mop the paint to see how it came up and the first photo shows dull flat paint on bonnet, the second a reasonable shine after mopping:

Decided it was too good to break so set about head gasket, whipped off head only to find crack between exhaust valve and water jacket

Fortunately had a spare head previously confirmed un-warped with engineers straight edge, next photo shows cracked head on left and replacement on right

Cleaned up mating faces and fitted replacement head, only to be faced with a problem of no oil pressure on firing up, not a problem before!

Took oil filter out to see the sorry state in photo, completely clogged and collapsed on itself allowing un filtered oil to circulate through by pass valve. Plugs out to unload big ends and after cleaning out filter housing cranked engine to find still no pressure Scrap the car I thought, not worth the aggro, so out with engine

Decided to drop sump and check oil pressure relief valve to find it stuck open and solid, needed a blind bush puller with slide hammer to withdraw it. Was full of crud and being plastic had crud embedded in the plastic jamming it. Full clean out and new valve fitted with nice sliding fit. Checked for pressure by fitting spare gearbox on to which the starter mounts, cranked engine on floor to see oil exiting cam spray bar - result!!

Stuck engine back in car for it to see the road again and not end up in bits Some general photos:

Cleaned out sump above

Counter balance shafts on crankshaft above

Crud in the oil filter housing mounting above

 

[andyglym]

Great work mate, mechanical Guru.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Another poorly Zed resurrected

 

[Low Rider]

An excellent write up Adrian and your right she looks to good to break

 

[Grumps]

Blimey Adrian, you know your stuff. Good work mate.

 

[Synclare]

The new oil valve assembly being fitted.

Cleaned up oil filter housing, valves cleaned out also.

Start of the job above.

Anyway the point of this tale is do not ignore your oil and filter changes, unfiltered oil circulating the system through the by pass valve due to a blocked filter ends up delivering crud where you don't want it - in this case jamming the relief valve open killing oil pressure. When it happened I don't know, was it just coincidence it happened when it did? There was certainly pressure before albeit only run a minute as no coolant in engine. No damage appears evident, no nasty noises and only a low mileage car to boot.

 

[Synclare]

If your filter looks like this it's probably too late!!

 

[Shelly]

What a great looking Z
Well done

 

[mwpe]

Well done, a good rescue. What sort of mileage had it done to get in that state?

 

[Synclare]

Using slide hammer / puller to withdraw jammed valve

 

[t-tony]

Grand job Adrian, and as you point out the results of insufficient oil and filter changes and for what it costs that's criminal.

Tony.

 

[oldcarman]

Very impressive and as been said another zed returned from the dead! JIM

 

[Marvin]

The close up photo of the paint looks liquid. Nice work.

 

[mrscalex]

An ethical breaker like myself

It's all about saving Z3s either directly or indirectly for me.

See a bargain buy it. If it's too good to break then don't. Fix it.

If it's too far gone or the timing is such that it would be better breaking it to save other cars then dismantle it.

In the last 18 months since my interest in Z3s started I've saved 2 and I'm working on a 3rd.

I've nearly finished dismantling a 150k rust bucket.

My 5th car and latest arrival is 50:50 whether to break. It's a simple repair but value will not be great when finished as it's a 100k Cat C. So as the current project needs an engine and my 2 runners need bits from it too then I'm afraid it's for the chop.

 

[Bazza]

Impressed to say the least

 

[Redline]

Impressed too. Wish I had that mechanics aptitude (and space to use it).
Had an oil filter collapse early this year. Fortunately the cavitation of the oil made such a racket it was hard to miss and ignore. Soon sorted with no harm done (hopefully).

 

[Synclare]

Well done, a good rescue. What sort of mileage had it done to get in that state?

It's only done 76K miles with nice blue seats and centre console. Not sure what the wheels are off but look quite nice. Hopefully will soon be cruising around with a new owner who will give it renewed care and attention.

 

[mrscalex]

It's only done 76K miles with nice blue seats and centre console. Not sure what the wheels are off but look quite nice. Hopefully will soon be cruising around with a new owner who will give it renewed care and attention.

Wheels do look quite nice but the centre doesn't look typically BMW. Are they possibly aftermarket?

 

[Synclare]

Could be but they are proprietory manufacturers being JWL

 

[MidlifeZ]

Respect.....Spades of