I've found a little beemer that's only $800. I would like to have it as a 2nd car that I'll use in case something's wrong with my main car to loan maybe once or twice weekly to my neices (16 yr. old twins). The seller says it needs a valve job. My question is, will the valve job cost me more than the car?
You bet it will! A valve job may uncover valve guides that are out of specification. In which case the old guide hole will have to be drilled out and the guide hole honed, new bronze / nickel or hardened steel guides pressed back in. An ordinary valve job is relatively straight forward and easy but the labor involved with the tear down a new head and valve cover gasket without valve guide repair will run nearly $1,000 at a BMW dealership and 20 -30% less at a private mechanics shop. Most private mechanics AND dealerships do not do the actual valve job. The cylinder head with the valves are sent out to an automotive engine machine shop where the actual work is done. The dealer or private mechanic does the disassembly and reassembly of the head back on the block and gets the car running again.
almost the work is alot cause you have to practicaly take the engine apart. and its a beemer. look to spend bout 700 on the job (gaskets, labor)
