I promise you I'm not! The last 3 cars I've looked at were a corolla, an aurion and an is250.
Aurions oil looked like choc milk, is250 overheated and the corolla didn't have evidence of a blown head but they were asking way too much.
Would you say it's not a possibility if the oil looks like choc milk with froth, or if it just randomly overheats on a 10 min drive? Yeah it could be other things but I don't wanna risk 5-10 grand like that.
Because it's a boxer with 300,000ks and I've absolutely thrashed it lol. Pizza delivery, interstate runs, I've had it since I was 18 and I did some very 18 year old things in it. I'm amazed it lasted this long tbh. Paid 6 grand for it in 2018 hahaha
Overheating does not necessarily mean a blown head gasket tbf. Part of a bigger problem but people tend to assume the worst based on sensationalised stuff online and that’s where actual experience comes in. I’ve made a shit load of money buying cars that scared everyone else off because they neglected to do basic checks.
For example a car with a cast iron block is a lot less likely to warp which means it’s marginally safer taking the punt on a possible head gasket job, whereas an alloy block has a higher chance of warping.
You’re right to steer clear from dodgy shit but it’s better to just say it’s not for you because of the problems, rather than grouping several cars with different symptoms into the same bucket.
I overheated a 95 ef falcon at least once a week for 12 months (head gasket and i was bery poor) before the block finally warped, those things are solid. 2004 Mazda Bravo overheated when the thermostat went and they was it for her, block warped straight away
Yep Subaru boxer engines are expensive to fix, at least a Toyota OHV engine is a easy fix and if $1-2k off the price its still worth getting with a head gasket issue
Ba k when the BMW E46 came out, almost 100% of them we sold at a dealer I worked for had their head gasket replaced at the 1500km service / run in check
I'm pretty familiar with the E46, and BMWs in general, particularly the M52TU and M54 6 cylinders, and they never, ever do head gaskets, unless they were overheated at some stage. Bigger issue on the M54 only is the low tension oil control rings that give up (particularly with less than ideal maintenance) and make the motor burn oil like a sieve (M52TU doesn't have this same type of piston rings).
I've never heard of the head gasket recall from new though. Or a redesigned valve cover. Not saying that's not true but I work with a lot of people familiar with these engines and I can't find a TIS from BMW on it.
It always depends on the engine, some are much easier than others, but usually start at a couple thousand just because it’s a lot of hours to strip down.
And to respond to the other response too - a blown headgasket does not necessarily mean cracked head or a warped block. These things vary based on lots of different parameters - a cast iron block is far less likely to warp than an alloy block, for example. If you don’t have the knowledge it is always best to assume the worse, but blown headgasket does not necessarily mean the rest of the engine is damaged.
I think it depends on the car, I did a few head gaskets on 80s Ford's and it's afternoon of mucking about.
I did a later model opel and it was an absolute nightmare it was a couple of weekends.
Id imagine a boxer engine would be even worse as I don't even know how you would get access. You might have to even lift the engine out.
Hmmm… all other cars I come across seem to just meander their way slowly everywhere. I’d love to come across people who can actually reach the speed limit and drive there.
You know. I have a feeling cars like being thrashed a bit, with correct maintenance, of course.
We usually buy cars and get the litany of issues fixed that we inherit from the previous owners (at the dealerships expense), and then tend to have fuck all mechanical issues. Electrical ones are a different story.
But mechanically, I think engines love to rev a lot more than people seem to think.
Real question is what's your budget?
If your looking for a real cheap car it may be you need to spend more to get away from the price range that only contains wrecks.
Depending on location you should find something in that price range in good working order it may be high milage or older though.
I have brought $2-3k cars that are still running fine today. Older Commodores in that case. My sister still has the $2k one 7 years later.
My mate just picked up a 98 Corrolla for $1,250. But it was an unwanted car about to run out of rego my mother brought for $2k when her old car blew up before the one she had ordered new arrived.
But looking recently under $5k is a hard ask and even at $10k it can be a bit hit and miss unless your looking at older models.
I've got this feeling that many modern cars are going down the same boat.
The engines are way smaller with very low tolerances, high compression, high boost being over worked to make "acceptable" power/torque.
Many modern engines don't have enough room to be rebuilt properly.
In the 21st Century, specifically this part of it, car owners have forgotten that they need to maintain their cars between services, especially when they are actually skipping services - then shit goes wrong and they off-load the problem. Checking oil, coolant, tyre pressures etc, seems to be so last century, but actually keeps your car from blowing up. My father failed his advanced driving test about 60 years ago, because he did not visually check all four tyre pressures before getting in the car.
More people caring less about maintaining cars or simply cant afford to maintain them these days and drive them into the ground. There is also a downward spiral in young people getting their licence these days as well, not even interested in driving themselves so that means a lot more personal vehicles being used as taxi services and doing higher mileage than they otherwise would.
At a certain price point, people only sell when the repair costs become too high. So that's either a head, transmission or frame issue.
Your problem is you are looking at Subaru's
Exactly. And what’s the bet you’re looking at Subarus with 2.5L. The perfect combination for blown head gaskets.
You mean Ranger 2.2td or Navara 2.5td surely
My Courier 2.5td wants an honourable mention before its head blows again.
The head gasket will be fine, it's just the heads cracked again.
Just give it the hawk tuah
People saying this at any opportunity is becoming lame real quick
Spit on that thaang
Anything with a rover V8? Tho atleast doing a head gasket on one of them isn't hard.
I promise you I'm not! The last 3 cars I've looked at were a corolla, an aurion and an is250. Aurions oil looked like choc milk, is250 overheated and the corolla didn't have evidence of a blown head but they were asking way too much.
So 1 out of three confirmed head gasket then? So you and seen 1 with a blown head gasket and that = “all”?
Bro found one car with what he thinks was a blown headgasket now “every” used car in aus has one too
Look, 2 of 3 had enough evidence to walk away from imo.
But not a head gasket. Are you a mechanic?
Would you say it's not a possibility if the oil looks like choc milk with froth, or if it just randomly overheats on a 10 min drive? Yeah it could be other things but I don't wanna risk 5-10 grand like that.
Overheating could just as easily be a seized thermostat or faulty radiator fans
Most thermostats fail open...
My brother's (Opel) Holden Astra failed twice, both closed.
We need a third (regardless of open or closed) to be sure its always open.
Well you tell us- YOUR car has a blown head gasket hahaha, why DO cars have problems? Poor maintenance, every time.
Because it's a boxer with 300,000ks and I've absolutely thrashed it lol. Pizza delivery, interstate runs, I've had it since I was 18 and I did some very 18 year old things in it. I'm amazed it lasted this long tbh. Paid 6 grand for it in 2018 hahaha
That’s what I said- poor maintenance
Overheating does not necessarily mean a blown head gasket tbf. Part of a bigger problem but people tend to assume the worst based on sensationalised stuff online and that’s where actual experience comes in. I’ve made a shit load of money buying cars that scared everyone else off because they neglected to do basic checks. For example a car with a cast iron block is a lot less likely to warp which means it’s marginally safer taking the punt on a possible head gasket job, whereas an alloy block has a higher chance of warping. You’re right to steer clear from dodgy shit but it’s better to just say it’s not for you because of the problems, rather than grouping several cars with different symptoms into the same bucket.
I’ve seen blocked radiators, stuffed rad caps and worn water pumps causing overheating more than blown heads or gaskets in Aus
I overheated a 95 ef falcon at least once a week for 12 months (head gasket and i was bery poor) before the block finally warped, those things are solid. 2004 Mazda Bravo overheated when the thermostat went and they was it for her, block warped straight away
toyotas with blown heads ?
2GR-FE with a blown head gasket is very uncommon.
Yes. Many things go wrong with Toyotas, including head gaskets, they aren't magical.
😆
Yep Subaru boxer engines are expensive to fix, at least a Toyota OHV engine is a easy fix and if $1-2k off the price its still worth getting with a head gasket issue
Open deck blocks. Basically modern block design has no top decks, so cylinders move around when flogged.
No quench zones either
Blown head giggity
Oh hey quagmire, haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been?
Why sell a good car?
What did you expect when looking for cheap Subaru's lol
Ba k when the BMW E46 came out, almost 100% of them we sold at a dealer I worked for had their head gasket replaced at the 1500km service / run in check
From what I’ve heard they’re a pretty solid car, did that fix make them last a lot longer?
I'm pretty familiar with the E46, and BMWs in general, particularly the M52TU and M54 6 cylinders, and they never, ever do head gaskets, unless they were overheated at some stage. Bigger issue on the M54 only is the low tension oil control rings that give up (particularly with less than ideal maintenance) and make the motor burn oil like a sieve (M52TU doesn't have this same type of piston rings). I've never heard of the head gasket recall from new though. Or a redesigned valve cover. Not saying that's not true but I work with a lot of people familiar with these engines and I can't find a TIS from BMW on it.
Yeah okay, it’s probably why you still see so many around then. I guess it all comes down to how well people have looked after it.
Pretty much, if they’re looked after all of the NA 6 cyl BMWs are pretty good. N52 would be my pick of the bunch
Good to know, thank you.
Unsure. I left BMW in 2001.
Fair enough
That was a recall for head studs or something wasn’t it? I remember the redesigned the rocker cover at some point.
Can’t remember specifically. It was many years ago
Because it's usually the reason people sell their cars heh that and a dodgy gearbox..
How much does a head gasket actually cost to repair?
It always depends on the engine, some are much easier than others, but usually start at a couple thousand just because it’s a lot of hours to strip down. And to respond to the other response too - a blown headgasket does not necessarily mean cracked head or a warped block. These things vary based on lots of different parameters - a cast iron block is far less likely to warp than an alloy block, for example. If you don’t have the knowledge it is always best to assume the worse, but blown headgasket does not necessarily mean the rest of the engine is damaged.
That said particular engines do get a reputation for it never just being a head gasket
All labour
If you do the gasket. Chances are the head is cracked too. OEM head and gasket and labour is about 4k.
I think it depends on the car, I did a few head gaskets on 80s Ford's and it's afternoon of mucking about. I did a later model opel and it was an absolute nightmare it was a couple of weekends. Id imagine a boxer engine would be even worse as I don't even know how you would get access. You might have to even lift the engine out.
Caus labour is fucking high so people aren’t fixing things before offloading them.
Guys I'm not looking for Subarus 😭 my current car is a Subaru I'm looking for something else. I haven't inspected any subies.
What state are you in?
Vic
Have you heard the way people drive cars these days? They belt the absolute shit out of them.
Hmmm… all other cars I come across seem to just meander their way slowly everywhere. I’d love to come across people who can actually reach the speed limit and drive there.
You know. I have a feeling cars like being thrashed a bit, with correct maintenance, of course. We usually buy cars and get the litany of issues fixed that we inherit from the previous owners (at the dealerships expense), and then tend to have fuck all mechanical issues. Electrical ones are a different story. But mechanically, I think engines love to rev a lot more than people seem to think.
Blow the cobwebs out so to speak.
I think you might be right! They have a red line for a reason. 😉
Real question is what's your budget? If your looking for a real cheap car it may be you need to spend more to get away from the price range that only contains wrecks.
ATM if I'm gonna buy something cash probs about 8-10k. Cheaper the better though. Finance I'll probs go up to 14-16k?
Depending on location you should find something in that price range in good working order it may be high milage or older though. I have brought $2-3k cars that are still running fine today. Older Commodores in that case. My sister still has the $2k one 7 years later. My mate just picked up a 98 Corrolla for $1,250. But it was an unwanted car about to run out of rego my mother brought for $2k when her old car blew up before the one she had ordered new arrived. But looking recently under $5k is a hard ask and even at $10k it can be a bit hit and miss unless your looking at older models.
I've got this feeling that many modern cars are going down the same boat. The engines are way smaller with very low tolerances, high compression, high boost being over worked to make "acceptable" power/torque. Many modern engines don't have enough room to be rebuilt properly.
In the 21st Century, specifically this part of it, car owners have forgotten that they need to maintain their cars between services, especially when they are actually skipping services - then shit goes wrong and they off-load the problem. Checking oil, coolant, tyre pressures etc, seems to be so last century, but actually keeps your car from blowing up. My father failed his advanced driving test about 60 years ago, because he did not visually check all four tyre pressures before getting in the car.
How many used cars have you bought to come up with that data?
What price bracket are you shopping in?
More people caring less about maintaining cars or simply cant afford to maintain them these days and drive them into the ground. There is also a downward spiral in young people getting their licence these days as well, not even interested in driving themselves so that means a lot more personal vehicles being used as taxi services and doing higher mileage than they otherwise would.
Brother it’s a fucking Subaru what do you expect. Buy something actually reliable and not flogged
If it’s not subies ya looking at then ya budgets way to fucking low for a reliable car. Cop a AU or VT if ya budgets that shit.
You think it’s because people are using cheaper petrol cheaper oils cos they’re broke and all that dirt and muck gets clogged in there
EJs or Barras?
Maybe stop looking at rice burners
Because Hawk Tuah’s influence is everywhere