Oil seepage between head and block

[sweetride01]

I took my car in to the local BMW Stealer, thinking that my cam seal would have to be replaced for the THIRD time in 18 months. But today, they told me it was the head gasket that was leaking oil.
I'm using synthetic right now IIRC, and the last oil change gave me less than 2000 miles before the oil light came on.
The stealer said it would cost $1330 - I said "1330,- as in 13, or 1330?" They, of course, said $1330. So, I'm like, screw that. I talked to my local mechanic, (he does very good work), and he said that it would be less than that. He also mentioned that they could put on bigger bolts before trying the whole job.
Any input? This may result in me doing the whole head and valve job, and getting some Schrick 272 or 288 cams, and doing a mild port/polish.
How much power should the above setup add, presuming I get my JC chip remapped?

[nando]

wow $1300 to change a headgasket.. I'm glad I can do it myself.

[sweetride01]

wow $1300 to change a headgasket.. I'm glad I can do it myself.

How hard is it, exactly?

[nando]

well it's not too bad, but it's a lot of shit to take apart and put back together. first time took me about 2 days, second time about 7 hours. :D honestly if you're not mechanically inclined, pay somebody to do it, because if you screw it up you'll have to do it all over again, and it's not really much fun.

[Jordan]

I just swapped on my new head yesterday, and I discovered the source of my oil leak was not the headgasket.

When I had my last head machined I let the machine shop assemble it for me because I was very busy with work at the time.

They neglected to install part #8


Its a ~2in diameter oring, that seals the front cam seal housing to the heads cam bore. When I took the timing belt cover off I immediately saw the neat little trail of oil running down the center of the head where it met the block, and ran down the headgasket to the little exposed tab on the passenger side where it would pool before running down the block.

I couldn't help but laugh, despite being pissed off at their incompetence. Yet another reason why I much prefer to DO MY OWN WORK.

[EtaSport]

I just swapped on my new head yesterday, and I discovered the source of my oil leak was not the headgasket.

When I had my last head machined I let the machine shop assemble it for me because I was very busy with work at the time.

They neglected to install part #8


Its a ~2in diameter oring, that seals the front cam seal housing to the heads cam bore. When I took the timing belt cover off I immediately saw the neat little trail of oil running down the center of the head where it met the block, and ran down the headgasket to the little exposed tab on the passenger side where it would pool before running down the block.

I couldn't help but laugh, despite being pissed off at their incompetence. Yet another reason why I much prefer to DO MY OWN WORK.

ill second that. I took my car into a trusted body shop for insurance work, and they completely screwed me over. The put a used door on my car and didnt even fill over the dents. I might not be the best painter in the world, but I could have done a better job.

back OT, I would have sworn my head wasnt perfectly flat or my head gasket wasnt sealing. When I pulled the head off I saw it coming from the cam seal, and sure enough was cut in half.

[nando]

you should have seen how poorly the head I bought this summer was put together. some parts were put in backwards, a bent rocker shaft was forced in (was a bitch to get out), the o-ring was broken in two, eccentrics were missing, etc. etc. Good thing I only needed the casting itself..

[Mr.SWISS]

Yet another reason why I much prefer to DO MY OWN WORK.

Gotta +1 on that just did my head about mid August and noticed a few oil leaks 1) the tube that goes from the intake to oil pan with the spring around it I apparantly forgot to put a o ring in there and 2) The infamous "is it my head or my cam seal leak" it seems tobe coming from in front of #1 plug where the head and block meet up. I did the updated head bolts cuz the old one's seemed to have to be re-torqued after the engine was warmed up and the torx you just tak'em to 22ftlb's and then 90 degrees and repeat .no warming up. mine was clean till about a month ago.:(

[utketa]

I just replaced the headgasket as well on my '88 is. same torque procedure and now a week later i'm getting oil spots again. I guess i'll try replacing the camshaft seal and see what that does. Pretty frustrating after a freaking ton of work.

[nando]

wow old thread! my engine leaks from that corner of the block now (different engine than in 2005), but that doesn't bother me. my RMS leak however, does bother me a little. not enough to worry about adding oil between changes though.

[TS87325IS]

I had this same leak after I put my MLS headgasket on , and it was the two rubber plugs in front of the rocker shafts on the head leaking down and making it look like the headgasket was seeping , I put a bit of rtv on the plugs and it is bone dry now , I would check that too .

[utketa]

yeah replaced those plugs when i replaced the head gasket and they fit a lot tighter than the old ones did...i've just got to try replacing the camshaft seal

[bmwpower]

Anyone actually deck the block and still have it leak?