Blown HG

[Kingb]

So on my 90 325i I found the reason for my overheating besides the hole in the radiator. My oil is al milky. So when i pull the head I will get it checked to see if it is warped. My question is it worth getting it decked if it warped or find another head? And if it was decked would they have to strip to head down?

[Hallen]

Yes, it would be worth getting it decked if it was a little warped. These heads are expensive.

I don't know if they have to strip the head down to deck it, but I doubt it. I would have them do it anyway to check for seal after putting in new valve stems and seals as a minimum. It is not very expensive to do and will save you trouble later on.

[SpecM]

You can find good used heads for not-too-much, less than some machine shops charge to deck a head sometimes. Just check it out. Either way, if you get a new(ish) one or reuse yours, replace the valve stem seals while it's off.

any machine shop will have you strip a head before they cut on it. And you can't replace "valve stems", only the guides, which isn't worth it on an m20 unless they are leaking.

[rThor432]

Depends on what you want to spend really. The machine shop that I use costs $230-$270 for a head 'service'. That includes cleaning, valve stem seals, decking head, and something I'm forgetting. Cheap for what it is, but costs about the same as buying a good used head.

[Jordan325iC]

My engine shop charged me $120 to deck the head (including replacing camshaft and rocker arms) and adjust the valves.

[norwood e30]

thats a nice deal bro 120.00 is not a lot at all my man

[SpecM]

thats a nice deal bro 120.00 is not a lot at all my man

that is a good deal

OP: how much of the head disassembly can you do yourself? The machine shop will charge you a lot extra if they have to take it apart themselves.

[quikveedb2]

^truth. disassembling a head is a good diy project to save some cash. get the required tools & a six pack, and go to town. i've done several, all vw, but it's not that hard & saves some bucks at the machine shop. compress spring, remove retainer, uncompress spring, remove valve, done...basically. also you can spend a bit more time cleaning it up than a machine shop would, and it gives you a good understanding of the head's condition & function.

[Kingb]

I can strip the head. Now this is ghetto but i did on a M40 head since we don't have a spring compressor that wil fit BMW's I put a bit socket on the upper spring retainer and hit it with a hammer. The locking tabs on the valves came off and that is how I stripped the head, then took it to get redone.

I wonder how much it will be in Euro's

Oh yeah I have an extra head but it is sitting in someones basement that floods but the head has a brocken rocker arm but is still good. I might check that one out. Both are 885 heads

[Hallen]

You can find good used heads for not-too-much, less than some machine shops charge to deck a head sometimes.

I suppose so... but I was thinking of a new or refurbished head. If you get a used head off a junker, you probably should do the same stuff you were going to do on the head you just took off your car. So that means it would cost more. If you just pull one head off and put another on without having it checked... yeah, you can get away with that if you are lucky. I would most likely be one of the unlucky ones.:(

[SpecM]

I suppose so... but I was thinking of a new or refurbished head. If you get a used head off a junker, you probably should do the same stuff you were going to do on the head you just took off your car. So that means it would cost more. If you just pull one head off and put another on without having it checked... yeah, you can get away with that if you are lucky. I would most likely be one of the unlucky ones.:(

you have a point... it just depends on what he can find, and how bad off his head is

[Kingb]

I think I am going to have both of my heads checked out, that way I can make sure that I have one good head and another one that checks ok for spare