anyone work on bmw motors? Just curious about them

[ReallyRedCobra]

i've always liked bmws but i've heard the maintenance on them can be a nightmare. For example there is a 2000 740i on craigslist but it says it needs a new timing chain. So I did some research and it seems like a lot of people just say replace the motor at that point. I was also reading that the guides are plastic on them and some of the rails are prone to failure. are they just hard to work on, parts expensive? I dont know. i wouldnt mind a project but I dont want to get in way over my head either.

 

[glh_turbo22]

Chances are it's an interferance motor so when the chain goes the pistos take out the valves. That's an expensive head, probably worth the cost of a used engine.

 

[Pure84GTT]

my buddy Evan works on them a lot. if you have facebook I can get you in contact with him.

 

[cjmatt]

stay far far away. i had a 740i back in high school and it was the most expensive piece of garbage on the planet

 

[DarkoStoj]

i have one here, from what i've seen in general they aren't plagued too badly...but again it is a higher end foreign vehicle so all parts are expensive

 

[sofa king]

My friend had a 540i, but I think it has the same engine. Isn’t it a 4.4L V8? He said it was a great car, but once it got to that point where it needed work more than the typical stuff he got rid of it. As mentioned, parts would be expensive, but its an engine, so it just depends on how much work you feel like doing to drive something like that. It does need maintenance though, and upkeep….
That guy replaced the 540 with a 335, drove it like hell too, but I think he bought it after the lease, so…??? If the V8 was tough, the 335 V6 with twins on it isn’t going to be less expensive or difficult to work on.