How often do HG's need replacing on m20's?

[volvolover]

This is the second HG job no my e30. The PO did it, now I'm doing it again.


Is this a common problem on these? kinda like timing belts and brake pads?

Mind you, I'm not losing coolant, just oil from the front corner (common from what I've heard). I'm thinking it's from using syn oil...maybe less loss with a dino 15w40?

Anyway, had them relaced the WP and rad as well. Here's to hoping it doesn't crap on me anytime soon

[13bpower]

Head gaskets are not a wear item, but a failsafe from catastrophic failure. You have either a cooling issue, warped/cracked head, or poor gasket installation.

Why was it replaced the first time?

[mr.vang]

don't go with an aftermarket headgasket because chances its going to leak again. Go with OEM bmw as they are better design. there is a thread someone compared two aftermarket HG with the OEM. It clearly shows why the aftermarket ones leak and OEM doesn't.

[volvolover]

Not sure why it was done by the PO, but my mechanic said it was replaced using a cheap "Edelbrock" HG ( I honestly never knew they made BMW HG's).

The parts I supplied consisted of the following
-VR head bolts
-VR hg set (i swapped in an OEM bmw m20 HG)
-cheapo blunt tech WP
-conti TB (tensioner and spring were replaced VERY recently as another mechanic said it was a bad crank or cam seal causing the leak). Obviously he was full of shit
-new rad (wasn't planning on replacing that, but I guess it needed one :/
-bmw coolant
-15w40 delo motor oil


From this point onwards, i'm never running 5w40 syn oil in this thing again.

Seems to do just fine with the dino 15w40. Started using it since it was pissing oil out the front.

Hopefully this will be the end of m20 maint for a while!!

[Cabriolet]

throw away the VR bolts and headgasket, unless you want to do the job again next year

[volvolover]

what's wrong with the bolts?
...never heard of them being a problem before (I think you the first to suggest this on my internet research)

Agree with the HG, I may try selling it on CL ;)

[Cabriolet]

what's wrong with the bolts?
...never heard of them being a problem before (I think you the first to suggest this on my internet research)

Agree with the HG, I may try selling it on CL ;)

the bolts fail as often as the headgasket and very often come bent.
it's srsly like 25% more for the real BMW ones. why use something cheap that is that important.

the BMW HG is made by goetze but is slightly better made. but either brand will do.

also

[volvolover]

any box of bolts could be defective. It's not like BMW individually wraps each bolt in it's packaging with cotton balls and plastice shrink wrapping

[Cabriolet]

any box of bolts could be defective. It's not like BMW individually wraps each bolt in it's packaging with cotton balls and plastice shrink wrapping

use em. i dont care. all i know is that my ARPs never fail.

[MR 325]

I've probably installed 10-20 sets of Victor Reinz head bolts. Never seen an issue with them.

[digger]

ARP are way fucking overkill for most people

[MR 325]

ARP are way fucking overkill for most people

I love ARP but in my eyes it's ONLY needed for boost.

$225 for ARP head stud kit vs. $25 for VR bolt kit. :)

[Cabriolet]

I've probably installed 10-20 sets of Victor Reinz head bolts. Never seen an issue with them.

but why buy the inferior when it's only $5 more for the BMW ones? (a BMW set costs me $26.33) i mean if the price was like 3x more then i could understand. but seeing so many VR bolts come beat up and knowing they are weaker i just cant ever justify it.

ARP are way fucking overkill for most people

duh. but so is media blasting a 4dr to remove all the bronzit from it. i just like the piece of mind and $200 extra isnt that big of a deal.