[rem123]

Buying an e93 335i N55 Manual transmission privately, it has 125k miles on the clock. The now owner has only had it for a year. He has explained that there is suspected head gasket leak. Says there was an issue with coolant leak and he fixed the water pump however it persisted and he used K-seal (!!!!!????), he said this has fixed it and it can be driven hard now. couple days after using K Seal he said the heater stopped blowing hot air. He seems to think its the thermostat but not got a proper diagnostic for it (I've read online it could be the heater core?? Anybody know the likelihood of this?). To note: the car is MHD stage 1 (says he can sell with stage 2 as has license) with FBO. Is this a big job if I buy this car or can I restore it and if so how much will I be looking to spend? I am new to the forum and not really got much knowledge about these cars but I will give to bmw specialist if needing repairs but don't want it to be under the mechanic for too long as would like to drive it for the summer. He says no warning lights or faults on the OBD reader he has.

[Efthreeoh]

Walk away.

[rem123]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Walk away.

Thanks for the reply, Can you give more insight just so I know for the future?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by rem123

Thanks for the reply, Can you give more insight just so I know for the future?

K Seal. Cheap, bullshit temporary fix that fucks up the entire cooling system. If he used K Seal to try and fix a head gasket leak, it means he did not properly maintain all the other areas of the car. Only God knows what else is wrong with it.

He's trying to get you to help him get rid of his problem. Only a dumbass uses K Seal. It's a BMW for God's sake, not a 1974 Chevy Nova.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

K Seal. Cheap, bullshit temporary fix that fucks up the entire cooling system. If he used K Seal to try and fix a head gasket leak, it means he did not properly maintain all the other areas of the car. Only God knows what else is wrong with it.

He's trying to get you to help him get rid of his problem. Only a dumbass uses K Seal. It's a BMW for God's sake, not a 1974 Chevy Nova.

This. x1000.

I have a buddy that put this stuff in a diesel truck he couldn't get to stop leaking from the radiator. It plugged up all the coolers, radiator, heater core, and everything else. He basically had to flush out the entire system several times and replace all the components. The money spent was in the thousands. Replacing just the leaking radiator would've saved him a lot of grief. On a turbo BMW this is asking for financial disaster, as you never really end up getting rid of this stuff from the system. My buddy ended up selling his truck a year down the road.

[whyzee125]

Run away fast. N55 is already a problematic engine. It has a bad head gasket so in the long run it already needs a rebuild or replacement. Plus now he clogged up the heater core from using K seal. You need $10k minimum in repairs already and that's just from what you've told us.

[lowrydr310]

How the heck does this thing have a failed head gasket? That's fairly uncommon for a N55 unless someone was running a ridiculous amount of boost and just generally flogging the crap out of the car.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Walk away.

In summary, this ^^^^

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

How the heck does this thing have a failed head gasket? That's fairly uncommon for a N55 unless someone was running a ridiculous amount of boost and just generally flogging the crap out of the car.

That or a coolant leak that was ignored. Probably ran it dry and kept going to get home that last mile!

[whyzee125]

The type of owner who runs K seal and clogs his heater core is the same type who can make a head gasket blow on an engine where that's not at all common. Of course there are flukes here and there with all makes but this car was not maintained.

[Leucosticte]

Imagine if it was just an OFHG leak that caused coolant in the oil and led to him put K seal in it.

[whyzee125]

Originally Posted by Leucosticte

Imagine if it was just an OFHG leak that caused coolant in the oil and led to him put K seal in it.

Lmao the funniest part is it's probably true

[Hoody007]

Heater not working after stop leak = clogged heater core (ask me how I know, the PO did it to my car and I didn’t realize it).

Yes, you can flush the heater core but God knows what other damage has been done.

Unless you’re me and change every single hose in the system, that crap will be there forever.

Run, don’t walk.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Leucosticte

Imagine if it was just an OFHG leak that caused coolant in the oil and led to him put K seal in it.

[rem123]

An update for the amusement, I obviously haven’t gone for the car (thanks for the replies), he’s told me “k seal is better than others” lol. He also said some strange things, he said he wanted to meet in a supermarket car park because he has heard a story of someone putting coolant in the engine when seller wasn’t looking and then the engine smokes and offer a really low price because of the smoke???? I did say that could happen at the supermarket too surely and he said yeah but there’s camera’s there?! Have you guys ever heard this lmao??!! Don’t worry I’ve ran far, far, far away

[Wolf 335]

rem123 dodged a few bullets there.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by rem123

he said he wanted to meet in a supermarket car park because he has heard a story of someone putting coolant in the engine when seller wasn’t looking and then the engine smokes and offer a really low price because of the smoke????

I don't even know how that would be possible. There's nowhere you can easily put coolant in the system to make the car smoke on demand. On cars that use manifold vacuum for the brake booster you could always squirt some Seafoam in there, but not on any E90!