[sawyer_wst]

I recently bought a damaged 325i E90 with 218 bhp and found out afterwards the engine block is cracked (pictures below).
So my question is obviously can it be welded? My thought is that it can, similar alloy is used on light wheels I think so with the proper equipment it can be done, has anyone welded this..any suggestions?
The tricky part is that is cracked where the A/C compressor is bolted on the block, the back side (pictures below).
I've circled as an example on a intact block where the rupture is
Sorry if I made some grammar mistakes.

[JuniorB]

Its not worth even to cconsider repairing a block like this,by the time invested,you could have boughten a complete motor. They are in abundance and affordable.

[sawyer_wst]

Not in Romania..here people are buying diesel engines and 1.6/1.8 gasoline..fuel prices are pretty high, an engine like this costs around 1500-2000$

[08njSTEP]

Just about any metal can be welded currently. The technology in welding has been increasing as fast as computers. 7000 series aluminium wasn't weldable 15 years ago and now they make bicycles out of it. The issue will be finding someone with the equipment and knowledge to do it. This job will require an oven that can pre-heat the block to a very high temp. A very skilled welder with correct filler rod. Probably need to look in the aerospace field to find your shop. Good luck and keep us informed on the outcome.

[Twoforty]

That's not cracked. That's torn open.
It's a scrapper

[alx.]

I also believe it is beyond repair, but try with a decent welding company in bucharest, there should be a few after a google search Cat ai dat pe ea?

[F22_Raptor]

This is the point of diminishing returns.

[rjahl]

Does Romania have any of those "Draconian" laws about engine block serial numbers matching the car? I lived in Singapore for a long time and it turned out to be much easier/cheaper to rebuild a certain Fiat motor as swapping the motor was legally near impossible.

[alx.]

Originally Posted by rjahl

Does Romania have any of those "Draconian" laws about engine block serial numbers matching the car? I lived in Singapore for a long time and it turned out to be much easier/cheaper to rebuild a certain Fiat motor as swapping the motor was legally near impossible.

Yes, if you change the engine you need to have it registered so they can make sure it came from the same car. Or just scratch them off and and pass inspection as per usual The laws in our country are really dumb, for example if you have a car with a bigger engine than 3.0 it's considered luxury so you have to pay an extra fee(which is absurdly high).

A lot of people here just transplant 3.0 in their 1.6, 1.9 etc or even 2.0 and just scratch the serials off, they usually can't tell a 4 cylinder from a 6 and even if they do, 50 euros will do the trick

[hassmaschine]

It's dead. Looks like it threw a rod or something. Even if you found somebody who could weld magnesium, it's a dual-layer block - how are you going to repair the inner aluminum layer? Plus with damage that big, there's got to be more that you can't see.

[sawyer_wst]

Originally Posted by alx.

I also believe it is beyond repair, but try with a decent welding company in bucharest, there should be a few after a google search Cat ai dat pe ea?

2000€
Yeah after some thinking I agree it's beyond repair. And even so I can't be sure it would last
Better safe than sorry, if I weldet and after a couple miles it cracks again I think I would burn myself the car down
Only problem now is to find an engine

[alx.]

Originally Posted by sawyer_wst

2000€
Yeah after some thinking I agree it's beyond repair. And even so I can't be sure it would last
Better safe than sorry, if I weldet and after a couple miles it cracks again I think I would burn myself the car down
Only problem now is to find an engine

Get an n52b30, saw some on OLX .

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by alx.

Yes, if you change the engine you need to have it registered so they can make sure it came from the same car. Or just scratch them off and and pass inspection as per usual The laws in our country are really dumb, for example if you have a car with a bigger engine than 3.0 it's considered luxury so you have to pay an extra fee(which is absurdly high).

A lot of people here just transplant 3.0 in their 1.6, 1.9 etc or even 2.0 and just scratch the serials off, they usually can't tell a 4 cylinder from a 6 and even if they do, 50 euros will do the trick

Ya, Most Americans don't know that in many places around the world your road tax and other fees are based on engine capacity cc. The larger the displacement the more tax you pay. And the rates are often scaled. by the time you get into a 3 liter motor your could be paying 3 times the rate per cc for a 1 liter motor. When I left Singapore my 2.5 liter car attracted a $1,500 per year road tax while a 3 liter car would be well over $2,000.

[sawyer_wst]

Originally Posted by alx.

Get an n52b30, saw some on OLX .

N52B30 3000cc? Way to big

[alx.]

Originally Posted by sawyer_wst

N52B30 3000cc? Way to big

Yes, but it fits and the consumption is the same Perhaps 0.2 L /100km more. Also way worth it.

[roundle]

Buy your parts from Germany.

Go to amazon.de and buy yourself a better block. N52 blocks go for 300-400 EUR.

You're in EU, so shipping from Germany will be a piece of cake.

[Punisher3.0si]

I've seen someone put a hole in a block by putting too long of a bolt into the AC compressor. Just sharing my own experience here but I would check to see how the engine turns over by hand and maybe put a borescope into the hole to see if you see any internal damage. It's worth a shot at this point.

[JuniorB]

Ya,that looked pretty bad,n54s look like that when they throw a rod.

[sawyer_wst]

Originally Posted by Punisher3.0si

I've seen someone put a hole in a block by putting too long of a bolt into the AC compressor. Just sharing my own experience here but I would check to see how the engine turns over by hand and maybe put a borescope into the hole to see if you see any internal damage. It's worth a shot at this point.

The car had a frontal impact so the AC compressor got hit and broke the screw that was holding it to the block and took a chunk from the block with it, I've started the car it runs for about 5 seconds then it stops, no weird sounds, the hole front of the car is a real mess so I'm guessing I got to put all the pieces back together for it to function properly.
I'm searching for another engine but this one is not so popular in my country.

[Punisher3.0si]

That's what I thought by looking at the damage. I think the engine is still good and you just need to find someone that can fix a large hole in a magnesium block.

[sawyer_wst]

I found someone who is known for welding aluminum..does anyone knows if it can be welded with aluminum the missing piece? It would be allot easier

[hassmaschine]

it's magnesium, not aluminum. Only the inner casing is aluminum.

Magnesium welding can be dangerous.. tread carefully.