Head Gasket problems.

[BergerNJ]

Ive posted like 4 threads now. short story- squealing noise from the timing belt cover area, oil in my coolant, and slowly but surely will over heat.

Im really pissed because I've never torn a motor apart, never changed a head gasket, just simple stuff. t-stats, belts, brakes...simple stuff

So I figured why not let someone do it for me and get it right, I was quoted a little under 1400 bucks if I brought all parts to a shop, hes AAA certified and is a big shop in my area, fixes everything....he started some bs speech about how bmws are extremely hard to work on blah blah blah too much technology, weird bolts and stuff...I've read my Bentley like 3 times now, it's not complicated at all or so I think......I really doubt Ill be going back to that shop.


Should I just spend the money on tools and do this myself? How hard can it be if I have it garaged, not relying on it for transportation, and willing to spend more then a few days on doing it?

I can't find one good shop in the area I'm confident in fixing my car because I know these are quirky cars and you need to know what your dealing with......

when my water pump blew, the shop replacing it didn't know the fan clutch was reverse threaded for like 2 hours or so he said........Im sick of this bullshit.


what the hell do I do? I'm mechanicaly inclined, I fix computers for a living, and I've worked on tons of shit before......should I be intimidated by this procedure? or do I keep looking for a decent shop near me that can do it cheaper?

[stamar]

I would post an ad on craigslist looking for a mechanic experienced with it.

offer 20$ an hour.

Because the job doesnt require a shop it can be done on the street.

Interview carefully, look for someone with certifications not a tweaker etc.

Ideally someone currently employed as a mechanic or at least an e30 owner.


Or I would do it yourself. Order the parts from pelican parts. head gasket, timing belt, head bolts water pump all the goodies.


I honestly think someone youre paying is going to do a better job than you. No offense. But learning is important too.
I think this will be challenging for you, and there are a couple points to be very focused and not mess up. But you can do it.

I think head gasket repair is a valuable skill. lots of people abandon great cars because of it.
You need to machine the head so find a machine shop also.

Add up the unavoidable costs.
Then add paying a mechanic 150$ max. What do you come up with? Is that more reasonable?

[BergerNJ]

I would post an ad on craigslist looking for a mechanic experienced with it.

offer 20$ an hour.

Because the job doesnt require a shop it can be done on the street.

Interview carefully, look for someone with certifications not a tweaker etc.

Ideally someone currently employed as a mechanic or at least an e30 owner.


Or I would do it yourself. Order the parts from pelican parts.

to be quite honest I'd never pay anyone like that.......I have some bimmer friends, one who does his own turbo work so he could easily help me.....its just getting him to have the time to do it.



the cars 22 years old...I'm not a mechanic and I understand pretty much every part in this car besides a few of the sensors and signals they give to the dme, how can anyone quote me 13 hours on this type of job....I know if I rush by myself with only a Bentley I could probably handle it in half the time....

[stamar]

i would count on

5-10 hours the first time.

I believe it is a 5 hour job. not for you though for someone who changes head gaskets all day.
I honestly would seperate the job into 3 seperate days researching 2 steps of taking stuff off and one step of putting it all back together.

So like I said, look up all the costs. Whats it cost to do it yourself?

Whether or not you use a street mechanic you can put an ad for one and see what comes up. Once you eliminate the shop charge of 80 an hour, and just pay the mechanic what mechanics make its usually much better deal

[BergerNJ]

heres the thing...I know my head is worn to a certain extent: valve adjustments would only last maybe 1-2k, one of the rockers were replaced by the po-suggesting head work and I just would feel more comfortable going the entire rebuild route...Locally around here that would run me at least 1500 bucks....

mr 325 has his rebuilds going for a decent price and I'm fully comfortable just replacing what I have now and maybe using it for some sort of build way later on....so his rebuilt head with the hd rockers since I stay in the upper rpms a lot and boost would be fun maybe a year from now once I start learning the tuning side of things...

Rebuilt, Port/Polished, hd rockers, and cam-1100
head gasket set is like 150?
t-belt and water pump kit just because-370
allowance of maybe 300 for rad flush, hoses, and anything else....

sounds fine to me?

[Cabriolet]

^ nice that's my last name.
tbh if you have someone by your side and you are anal-retentive, this job isn't really that hard.
Get the head from MR325(Matt)
use this head gasket. http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...-1-722-734-BOE
get ARP head studs. http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/E30-...0headstud.html
the rest of the gasket in the VR set are good, but dont use their headgasket.
At this point I would suggest changing out the fuel lines and the hose that comes out the back of the head to the heater core.
To do it right you'll need about $500 in tools.
3 cans of brake cleaner
Fine Sandpaper (cleaning the block surface/scotch bright pads work also)
1-3 gallon(s) of degreaser
6 New spark plugs
Water pump gasket sealant
Locktite red
125ft-lb torque wrench
Socket and hand “L” shape metric allen wrenches
Full 6point and 12 point metric socket set
Zip ties and wire to hold things
To get the rotor off u need a start set, E6-E18 set will do
Plus a bunch of random (normal) tools.
Plan for 1 day to take it off and 1 day to get it back on.
There are two set pins that go into the head and block and hold the gasket in place. DO NOT damage them. Use vicegrips rapped in black tape and twist them out. I roll them around a large screwdriver straighten them.
Also a mistake I made when you disconnect the injector harness, don’t lose the plastic nut and make sure it goes back on correctly or the injectors wont fire.
You will need to remove the AC compressor to get the oil pressure wire out. PITA imo.
Go slow and take pics of EVERY part that is removed and where it goes.
Here are some of my builds

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=192482

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=214613

[BergerNJ]

^ nice that's my last name.
tbh if you have someone by your side and you are anal-retentive, this job isn't really that hard.
Get the head from MR325(Matt)
use this head gasket. http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...-1-722-734-BOE
get ARP head studs. http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/E30-...0headstud.html
the rest of the gasket in the VR set are good, but dont use their headgasket.
At this point I would suggest changing out the fuel lines and the hose that comes out the back of the head to the heater core.
To do it right you'll need about $500 in tools.
3 cans of brake cleaner
Fine Sandpaper (cleaning the block surface/scotch bright pads work also)
1-3 gallon(s) of degreaser
6 New spark plugs
Water pump gasket sealant
Locktite red
125ft-lb torque wrench
Socket and hand “L” shape metric allen wrenches
Full 6point and 12 point metric socket set
Zip ties and wire to hold things
To get the rotor off u need a start set, E6-E18 set will do
Plus a bunch of random (normal) tools.
Plan for 1 day to take it off and 1 day to get it back on.
There are two set pins that go into the head and block and hold the gasket in place. DO NOT damage them. Use vicegrips rapped in black tape and twist them out. I roll them around a large screwdriver straighten them.
Also a mistake I made when you disconnect the injector harness, don’t lose the plastic nut and make sure it goes back on correctly or the injectors wont fire.
You will need to remove the AC compressor to get the oil pressure wire out. PITA imo.
Go slow and take pics of EVERY part that is removed and where it goes.
Here are some of my builds

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=192482

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=214613

I've thoroughly read both of those threads......very jealous.

good work too. Impressive stuff looks nice.


I'm thinking maybe I should do all of this on my own since I do intend on owning my vert for a long time....what better way to get introduced to the m20.....

[e30leigh]

ok this is the low down.

this is an easy as job. its self explainatory once you get into it. 5 hours TOPS is all it should take. i think it takes me approx 1-2hours to get the head off. the same going back on. so 2-4 hours. but then again im working on bmws only all day everyday. with all the tools and info and my finger tips.
i just finished an n62tu rebuild so this is cake.

dont be afraid of it. there is next to nothing that is trick on these motors. its all simple timing. no special tools so to speek. just have a good quality torque wrench. dont scimp on those and use genuine gaskets and seals. and dont use an electronic torque wrench. even the snapon ones give room for error. we've had issues using them. so all went back to mechanical ones and all issues were sorted.
other then that. take it slow. do some reading and research and go for it.

[Chruby99]

Wow Arp studs for a head gasket job. What are you planning to turbo it. I spent like $300 in parts to do mine. It is an easy job. Do the research. No special tools are required.there is alot of good info on this site. Pelican is cheap for parts. Not to overwhelming.

[Cabriolet]

Wow Arp studs for a head gasket job. What are you planning to turbo it. I spent like $300 in parts to do mine. It is an easy job. Do the research. No special tools are required.there is alot of good info on this site. Pelican is cheap for parts. Not to overwhelming.

after having my VR ones fail on me, i went arp. it may be over kill but, my head isnt leaking any more. and i take it to 7k rpm every day.

[_r2h]

BergerNJ,

I too have always had my hands on computers. Since approx age 8 till now age 24. While I don't work on IT for a living, on skill base alone I'd make a decent wage doing it though. Decided I wanted to work on people instead and I'm now a paramedic.

Get a starter mechanics toolset from craftsman, a torque wrench, a bentley guide and dig in. For what the Bentley lacks the internet will make up for and more. You'll find that there are a lot of parallels between computer and car repair methodology.

[BergerNJ]

well I tinkered with my go kart when I was younger...when managing my fathers buisness any of his lawn equipment to his hand tools were worked on by me....hydraulic systems too. belt systems....four stroke motors.

I know whats what when I open the hood of a car, and I've done a lot of simple maintence stuff on vehicles....


I think I may just do it myself.....when ever Im fixing something for my family or someone I know...or that they need it done, I volunteer to do it because I know it needs to be done right.

Looks like I'll be anal about it and come out of it knowing a lot more about my car in a little bit....still deciding though. If I get my buddy to help I will def do it.

[Goya20]

Im recently blew my Headgasket and never did it ever in my life as well. I'm 22 as well finishing my last semester in college and need the e30 for school and work. Man it isnt complicated. Just put the bolts in half cut waterbottles and label them and it will make everything easier. The hardest thing was that damn fan nut, but getting a 32 mm wrench, a pry bar, and rubber mallet it can come off with ease.

Arp head studs
Finishing product minus exhaust and spark plug wires installed lol

[BergerNJ]

whats the bitch tube made out of? or am I even quoting the correct nickname...the intake manifold vent tube.....

if its a soft rubber, should I just plan on replacing it?

I want to eliminate ALL vac leaks when doing this.

[custom e30]

THESES CARS ARE EXTEMELY EASY TO WORK ON, AND A HEAD GASKET IS ACTUALLY SIMPLE, I DID MY IN A DAY....ONLY COST ABOUT 300 BUCKS TOTAL..HEAD BOLTS $30, HEAD GASKET SET $120, TIMING BELT $30, OIL AND COOLANT $60.....done!!!, if u have done all that other work then this is easy for u man, go for it, use this forum for advise if u get stuck...