Broken Rocker

[Kate325is]

So the car I just bought has a broken rocker, any advice for what I should do? Can I replace just the broken one or is this going to require a head rebuild like I had to do on my 525 a few months ago?

Thanks!
Kate

[ieatpeople]

you should be able to just replace it, but there is probably a reason it broke. hopefully there is no other problem.

if you do replace it, don't forget to adjust the valve lash before starting the car.

[Kate325is]

The PO installed a MarkD chip and redlined it a lot I think, would that weaken it?

[ieatpeople]

more rpm= more wear, but that is not the only way to break something, also check the valve springs to see if any are damaged. if the springs bound up suddenly at high rpm, it would overstress the rocker arms.

[E30_fiend]

^^^^^^
True that.

You should just check them thoroughly and all surrounding parts. You don't need to replace anything other than the rocker if everything else looks ok.

Good luck


E30Fiend

[kenika65]

Dont forget to check compression on that cylinder, because the valve might have made contact with the piston.

So how much you pay for your new car.

[NC325iC]

i think if you take the valve cover off and spray some silver paint in there itll be fine

[Farbin Kaiber]

Dont forget to check compression on that cylinder, because the valve might have made contact with the piston.

So how much you pay for your new car.

Werd. This man knows his e30's.

[Jparkr]

Werd. This man knows his e30's.

He knows cars in general. I spray painted my timing belt last night. Thanks to his advise I should be good for another 60k now.

[E30_fiend]

^^^^^^
:rofl:


E30Fiend

[bwanac]

^^^^^^
:rofl:


E30Fiend

why do you sign everything "e30fiend" that is not even your username?

[AndrewBird]

I don't think you would have valve to piston contact if you broke a rocker arm. When the rocker would break, the valve would instantly close and stay closed. For the piston to hit the valve, the valve needs to stay open when it isn't supposed to be open.

[Sean]

Just start doing your girlfriend on the hood. And get pictures.

Then your rocker will magically be fixed.

Send me pics, and I'll MAKE SURE it gets fixed!

[bostonbmw]

I had the same problem on my e30 the #3 rocker arm on the intake side broke. I would replace all the Rocker arms on that side not just the one that broke. If you have a broken rocker arm on the intake side you DO NOT need to pull the cylinder head to replace it.I am not sure about the exhaust side but on the intake side just tap the rocker shaft out through the cam gear (See photo)

http://www.geocities.com/supertourenwagen/beforeafter.JPG

http://www.geocities.com/supertourenwagen/after.JPG

[e30s52]

its easyer to get at it if the head is off. i would replace them all and beef the cam while you are at it.