Emusification in Engine - what? Cost to fix?

[Jamie]

Hi,

Ive just had a used car check done on a 318ci which i may be buying tommorrow. All was fine apart from signs of emusification in the engine.

What is this? Is it expensive to fix? Should i walk away? Or is it an ideal opportunity to get a massive wedge knocked off the price and get it fixed myself?

Its got 89k on the clock and is a 2002 model

UPDATE:

I just rang BMW garage where it had been serviced for its life, who explained mixture of oil and water and they said that if was head gasket - they it would go imminent

BUT - the car had been standing for 1 month prior, and BMW said this can happen due to condensation and it goes. Said that you get it on a lot of new cars and those been sitting on the forecourt

Im dubious tho....

Cheers

Jamie

[ANT MAN]

Emulsification will normally show itself in the oil filler cap, it looks like mayonnaise. The dealer is correct, it could be the head gasket. However if it's not been driven on longish runs (only short journeys) then the oil will emulsify.

If you're interested, take the car for a good long run and it should all clear.
If not the head gasket's probably gone.

Cars are designed to be used and literally die when being left to stand, especially outdoors.

[Jamie]

Emulsification will normally show itself in the oil filler cap, it looks like mayonnaise. The dealer is correct, it could be the head gasket. However if it's not been driven on longish runs (only short journeys) then the oil will emulsify.

If you're interested, take the car for a good long run and it should all clear.
If not the head gasket's probably gone.

Cars are designed to be used and literally die when being left to stand, especially outdoors.

Arr ha - nice one. Its all motorway mileage, but for last 5-6 weeks just stood.
One of the dealers said this can easily be picked up on the MOT test (done right before the used car check was done) he said hydrocarbons would be 'all wrong' - but the MOT was fine...

Will check it out tomorrow - hopefully this time then - i'll have bought it!!

[Stock323iSaloon]

signs of head gasket failure (i think)...

- milky brown gunk in engine oil cap/inner surface of engine
- oil on surface of water in the radiator
- sweet smell coming from exhaust fume (probabaly easiest to spot this)
- exhaust fume is 'heavy' white (takes a while to evaporate in air)
- excessive white exhaust fume even when engine temp is hot
- touch inside the exhuast pipe - any coolant (u may find some white crystals)?
- open radiator cap and switch engine. if u see small bubbles rising then water is getting in (do this when engine is cold as water/pipes have not expanded yet)
- to be sure, remove spark plug and carry out compression test against one by one. u should be getting consistent measurement for all 4/6 cylinders (although I doubt the seller will be too happy with this)

If your head gasket is gone, it could crack your cylinder/head etc and it'll cost u silly money. But winter is known for causing condensation (especially if u mostly do short journeys as the engine temp is not high enough for long that water remains inside). i didn't follow all these signs when I brought my Passat turbo..you live and learn...

[Afif]

you learn something everyday [jam.