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What to do once the engine is out...


Hodgepodge

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I had another conversation with the European engine guy at this rebuilder (P&R Engine Rebuilders in Greensburg, PA) and he was much more accomodating.  I asked around and not only do they rebuild for two of the larger independent European car places here, but they did the engine for one of my colleagues who races an E46 M3.  You have to remember that I'm just outside Pittsburgh in the heart of coal/steel/american car country, so most rebuilders are doing V-8s.  He said they typically use OEM BMW parts because that is what he is told to use by the shops that bring him the engines, probably because the wealthy car owners want to be sure they are using OEM parts.  (they are almost exclusively business-to-business.  He said a lot of DIY folks that call him don't understand what is involvd and think they can get their engine rebuilt plus 100 extra horsepower for $1000.)    It was a very interesting conversation.   Something I didn't know that maybe some of you can verify is that some late model stock racing involving BMWs requires the use of OEM parts.  Apparently, these guys specialize in getting a little extra out of otherwise stock motors.  

 

They have a trade account with FCPEuro and other original-part-but-not-BMW-stamped suppliers and get their VW, Volvo and other parts from them but he hasn't used them to get parts for BMW engines.  (I have spent thousands at FCPEuro and the other parts houses and generally trust their parts...especially since we all know they are often the same parts BMW stamps and doubles the price on.) 

 

I said I don't have an open checkbook, but I can appreciate a good engine rebuild.  We agreed that I would bring him the engine and he would start by evaluating it and then we would go through what I want in phases, much like Eurotrash put together above.  If there are any surprises, I can ask him to stop and pick it up in whatever state it is in.  (One advantage of keeping it local.)

 

The good news is that labor rates are relatively cheap here, much cheaper than the northeast or west coast.  The bad news is that the few good shops are very busy, especially as people start prepping for racing season.  

 

This is a big shop with a good reputation and I think the first conversation was an effort to let me know engine rebuilds aren't cheap...and maybe to scare me a little if I wasn't serious.  

 

However, for good measure, if anyone knows of a good engine shop/rebuilder in the Pittsburgh area (or in Columbus or Cleveland or Akron for that matter), please let me know who it is.  I would rather give the engine to somebody else than open it up and potentially find an issue that would get mein over my head and THEN have to find a rebuilder.    

 

Thanks,

 

Scott

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current: '74 2002,75 2002, 88 E28 M5(2), 92 E34 M5, 02 E39 M5, 01 E39T M5, 08 E93 328i, 08 E61 535i, 09 E93 335i, 09 E91 328ix, 12 E70 3.5i  '67 Alfa Romeo Spider; '69 Alfa Romeo Spider, '08 Dodge 1500 SLT. Past BMWs: '74 2002tii, '74 2002, '76 E12 530i, '78 E12 528i, '85 E28 535is, '93 E34 528iT, '94 E34 528i, '99 E36 328ic (2) '99 E39 528iT, '03 E46 330i convt., '07 E90 328i

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