HI there I have a 1994 325is with 213Km on it and it is blowing white
smoke out the exhaust. Various sources are telling me its best to get a
new engine put in than to risk paying to have it torn down and examined
for bad head gasket. I have a few questions:

1) Is there any way at all to determine whether I only need a new head
gasket vs a new engine without paying several hundred dollars? for
example, after its been sitting for 24 hours or more it blows a whole
bunch of white smoke, then setlles down etc etc.. can symptoms pinpoint
the cause without tearing the engine apart?

2) If I need a new engine, how can I avoid the pitfalls involved? It
seems like everybody I call can get me a new engine with 117Km on it,
exactly. I know that can't be the accurate mileage unless everybody is
locating the same engine. I fear greatly that I'll get the engine
replaced then have some problem , then fight with everybody for months
trying to get blame accepted yada yada yada....

3) I live in Hamilton Ontario. Does anyone know a really knowledgeable,
honest BMW guy  who would help me out  ( the key word there is
'honest'!)

Any advice would be greatly muchly appreciated.