Head Gasket job without Resurfacing the head?

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  • Butler
    E30 Mastermind
    • Nov 2009
    • 1613
    #1

    Head Gasket job without Resurfacing the head?

    Hey guys,

    I going to be replacing the head gasket on my M20B25 in about two weeks. My question is how necessary is resurfacing the head? My mechanic told me not to worry about it but my friends say bite the bullet. I want to avoid taking it to a machine shop because of cost and I'm hoping to have it done in one day.



    The car has not overheated so I'm not expecting it to be warped... Is that a safe expectation?

    180K miles on the motor it's been leaking oil like crazy.

    I'm going to do tstat, WP, T belt, belts and coolant hoses while I'm in there. :hitler:


    And where to order a complete HG kit? Thanks guys.
    -Nick
    Originally posted by 87e30
    First of all: calm the fuck down; second of all; cool story bro.
    Tags: None
    • CHIF8008
      No R3VLimiter
      • Nov 2010
      • 3447
      #2
      even if it was not warped from heat. you yourself can easily warp it just by removing it improperly.

      i didnt re-surface my head, but then again this motor is going downhill as we speak
      -FREEDOM- is cruisin at 80, windows down and listening to the perfect song-thinking "this is it"
      -The Beauty in the Tragedy-
      MECHANIC SMASH!!- (you all know you do it)
      Got Drop?? ;-)
      Originally posted by JinormusJ
      But of course
      E30s are know to be notoriously really really really ridiculously good looking

        Comment

        • dnguyen1963
          R3VLimited
          • Nov 2011
          • 2648
          #3
          You are going to remove the head so the least you can do is to bring it to a shop for them to check its condition. It is better be safe than sorry. You have to shop around for HG set. Blunttech, pelican, Bavauto, Rockauto, etc...are just a few places. Many users are staying away from VR gasket. Do a search and make your own decision.

            Comment

            • CHIF8008
              No R3VLimiter
              • Nov 2010
              • 3447
              #4
              my vr head gasket is leaking oil to the outside of the block in many places. very dissatisfied with it.

              but seriously just getting it checked out and skimmed (assuming its okay) its like less than $20
              -FREEDOM- is cruisin at 80, windows down and listening to the perfect song-thinking "this is it"
              -The Beauty in the Tragedy-
              MECHANIC SMASH!!- (you all know you do it)
              Got Drop?? ;-)
              Originally posted by JinormusJ
              But of course
              E30s are know to be notoriously really really really ridiculously good looking

                Comment

                • MR 325
                  Moderator
                  • Oct 2003
                  • 37827
                  #5
                  Your mechanic is a fucking idiot. Find a new mechanic.

                  Even if the car never overheated or blew the headgasket there WILL be some warping to the head.

                  Have it resurfaced, do it right, or don't do it at all.
                  BimmerHeads
                  Classic BMW Specialists
                  Santa Clarita, CA
                  www.BimmerHeads.com

                    Comment

                    • Cabriolet
                      R3V OG
                      • Apr 2010
                      • 9620
                      #6
                      Always have the head checked when pulling it. i'm 100% positive it's warped (enough to be out of spec.) it will need to be resurfaced. I've personally seen heads warp 2/1000" 5k-mi after resurfacing.

                      dont use victor reinz head gaskets or bolts. they are crap. bmw bolts have been fine for me and dont cost much more and ARP studs are hands down the best but cost a ton. the bmw headgasket is best stock HG for a non-turbo m20 but gotez and erling arent bad. just use copper spray on them.
                      Much wow
                      I hate 4 doors

                        Comment

                        • bernzpeed
                          No R3VLimiter
                          • Feb 2009
                          • 3917
                          #7
                          what everyone said. lol.
                          Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.
                          ---------------------------------
                          89 E30 S52
                          ---------------------------------
                          Transaction Feedback.

                            Comment

                            • jlevie
                              R3V OG
                              • Nov 2006
                              • 13530
                              #8
                              I'm with the crowd. I've never seen a used head that didn't have some warp. So I always have the head surfaced.
                              The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                              Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                                Comment

                                • sweet6e30
                                  E30 Addict
                                  • Feb 2011
                                  • 531
                                  #9
                                  im with the heard of sheep !!!


                                  but I never had issue with VR gaskit or bolts, and its 2 years running now with no issues.
                                  my build here ---> http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...ht=lemans+blue

                                    Comment

                                    • dougie30
                                      E30 Mastermind
                                      • Apr 2012
                                      • 1708
                                      #10
                                      Originally posted by MR 325
                                      Your mechanic is a fucking idiot. Find a new mechanic.

                                      Even if the car never overheated or blew the headgasket there WILL be some warping to the head.

                                      Have it resurfaced, do it right, or don't do it at all.
                                      This, and make sure to get goetze head gasket
                                      M30 is God's motor.....but Jesus drives an M60'd car -slammin.e28

                                        Comment

                                        • redlightpete
                                          Wrencher
                                          • Mar 2012
                                          • 260
                                          #11
                                          You should be able to check the head with a straightedge and feeler gauges as shown in the Bentley manual. If it's flat and clean you should be ok. A skim cut may be cheap, but you'll need to partially disassemble the head and make sure you get every last metal chip out of it. Not that handy if you were planning on leaving the cam in and the manifolds on.

                                          One advantage of the skim cut though is that you can save a lot of time not having to clean old head gasket off the head.

                                            Comment

                                            • jlevie
                                              R3V OG
                                              • Nov 2006
                                              • 13530
                                              #12
                                              Unless the head has recently been rebuilt, it should have the valves ground and new seals installed while it is at the shop for surfacing.
                                              The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                                              Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                                                Comment

                                                • Butler
                                                  E30 Mastermind
                                                  • Nov 2009
                                                  • 1613
                                                  #13
                                                  Thanks for the input guys.

                                                  I'm going to do it right, there's no reason not to, I plan to have this car for a long time. I didn't realize that heads were so sensitive to warping. Resurfaced it will be.

                                                  I still havent found a single complete package with gaskets, bolts etc. all together- doesn't matter though since I've already contacted Blunt about a "kit" for me with all the extra preventative shit included. I was surprised that I didn't find anyone that has a total package HG kit for sale. Whatever.


                                                  What should I expect to pay for the resurfacing?
                                                  -Nick
                                                  Originally posted by 87e30
                                                  First of all: calm the fuck down; second of all; cool story bro.

                                                    Comment

                                                    • Thizzelle
                                                      R3V Elite
                                                      • Oct 2008
                                                      • 4422
                                                      #14
                                                      so glad i work where we have a machine shop.
                                                      "I wanna see da boat movie"
                                                      "I got a tree on my house"

                                                        Comment

                                                        • Cabriolet
                                                          R3V OG
                                                          • Apr 2010
                                                          • 9620
                                                          #15
                                                          Originally posted by Butler
                                                          I still havent found a single complete package with gaskets, bolts etc. all together- doesn't matter though since I've already contacted Blunt about a "kit" for me with all the extra preventative shit included. I was surprised that I didn't find anyone that has a total package HG kit for sale. Whatever.


                                                          What should I expect to pay for the resurfacing?
                                                          resurfacing is about $60-100

                                                          you are right. there is not one single set that includes everything. and most of the sets are missing tons of stuff.
                                                          Much wow
                                                          I hate 4 doors

                                                            Comment

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