S54 Used Engine Prices

[discoelk]

What are these things worth? I found a local one with ~200k miles for $3500 with ecu, accessories, harness, ECU. I figure it will need vanos hub, bolts, rod bearings, and gasket so probably $4500+ installed. If I need to rebuild it in a few years, that's not the end of the world to me.

Good deal? Too expensive? They seem like $6k+ on eBay and copart with slightly less miles. I'd budget the same for gaskets, vanos, and bearings on a 100k mile engine.

The motor in my car is fine. This is for a swap in an older car so I need everything, not just a long block.

Thanks in advance.

[Darbshaw]

3500 with ecu harness and all is a pretty good price. I'd get it comp tested first.

If you have the extra space and money, I recommend just buying a crashed or running car and part it. I did the same and I got my engine for “free” after reselling everything

I'd shoot for less than 9–10k on an 03.5+ vert. Coupe may have a higher budget

[George Hill]

If it has 200k on it, you are doing the vanos and its out of the car I'd do a headgasket too.

[discoelk]

Yeah, a basic refresh is in the cards regardless of mileage.

Thanks for the info y'all.

[Jackaustin]

What are these things worth? I found a local one with ~200k miles for $3500 with ecu, accessories, harness, ECU. I figure it will need vanos hub, bolts, rod bearings, and gasket so probably $4500+ installed. If I need to rebuild it in a few years, that's not the end of the world to me.

Good deal? Too expensive? They seem like $6k+ on eBay and Copart, and when browsing a used engines inventory online USA, I’m seeing similar prices with slightly less miles. I’d budget the same for gaskets, VANOS, and bearings on a 100k mile engine.

The motor in my car is fine. This is for a swap in an older car so I need everything, not just a long block.

Thanks in advance.

Hey, I am the owner of a 1999 BMW 328is, which was overheating intermittently when I bought it. Because I wasn't sure of how bad the issue got with the previous owner, and the fact that I own a few cars that are more reliable, I decided to turn it into a learning opportunity and pull the motor. The M52 is currently on a stand. Long story short, because I'm learning while I go, I'm kinda enjoying the teardown process and will probably take the motor apart, even though bottom end on these motors is pretty strong. If I'm willing to do a full teardown and rebuild, I figure I might not mind rebuilding an S54. As long as it would be repairable, I also mostly don't mind worn rod bearings etc., because it's a project. I'm in the southeastern US, where might I find the most trashed S54 I can, since it'll be getting rebuilt anyway? Furthermore, how much should I expect the motor will cost if it needs a rebuild? I see these all day running on FB marketplace for 4.5-6K, but as long as the block and heads are salvageable I think I'd buy it.