(Yet another) M42 top end refresh and engine reseal (mid-2021)

[bmwman91]

Rotation is clockwise if you are looking at the front of the engine (standing in front of the car).

There definitely are washers. Maybe the old ones were well stuck to the bolt heads or something? Sadly, if you want to be 100% "by the book" you will need to replace the head gasket and bolts after removing the current bolts to get the washers in there. It is not 100% certain that the HG will fail if you leave it in and just do the bolts, but the compression seals won't re-compress exactly the same the second time around. Do not re-use the bolts since they are TTY type.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_4373

You have my sympathies...I know all too well how the "it's turning into one of those projects" feeling is.

[econti]

If its all torqued down then you can just remove and replace one bolt at a time, it may not be BMW service department accepted but it does work fine.

[jsnppp]

Well that really sucks. Means new timing chain cover gasket too. Etc.

I used the corteco head bolts from FCP Euro. They have a large shoulder but do not have washers. I just noticed that they also sell washers separately.

These bolts --> : https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...co-11121721939 They need washers right?

I'd love to just take one bolt out at a time but if that thing fails after I've put it all back together, I'd really be sad.

Man. Ok then. Thanks for the support on this. Better now than later! It's all good.

New HG, new bolts, new washers, new gaskets.

I actually have a second HG, but its victor reinz and I started reading how people weren't happy with it so I went with Goetze.

~JasonP

[bmwman91]

If its all torqued down then you can just remove and replace one bolt at a time, it may not be BMW service department accepted but it does work fine.

This is my gut feeling as well, but I've had enough "time saving" techniques bite me in the ass that I didn't want to be the one to suggest it lol. If it is only the head and chain that are in place, then swapping HG's isn't too bad, and much more pleasant than doing it on an engine that has been run.

[bmwman91]

Well that really sucks. Means new timing chain cover gasket too. Etc.

I used the corteco head bolts from FCP Euro. They have a large shoulder but do not have washers. I just noticed that they also sell washers separately.

These bolts --> : https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...co-11121721939 They need washers right?

I'd love to just take one bolt out at a time but if that thing fails after I've put it all back together, I'd really be sad.

Man. Ok then. Thanks for the support on this. Better now than later! It's all good.

New HG, new bolts, new washers, new gaskets.

I actually have a second HG, but its victor reinz and I started reading how people weren't happy with it so I went with Goetze.

~JasonP

I wonder if you can just remove the tensioner piston and cam sprockets to give the chain some slack, and elevate the head a couple of inches to get the old gasket out and the new one in? Since it is all fresh and new, you don't need to clean anything so long as no debris is generated during the swap. That would save you from dealing with the cover again, although if the head is accidentally dropped it could bend an alignment sleeve or damage the HG. Definitely a 2 or 3 person technique...it might actually be easier to pull the timing cover and get the head fully removed now that I think about it.


As far as VR vs Goetze, what complaints have people had about VR? My first MM engine had a VR HG, and while it did fail 6 years later, I also very likely did not properly clean things before installation and it might have only failed due to the crank damper coming apart and causing some serious detonations as the timing went out.

[jsnppp]

One of the things I learned was that we could not install the upper timing case cover until after the head was torqued to the block. The reason --> The top most bolt on the long chain rail. It would not fit until the head dropped just a bit.

So we wound up doing it the way you recommended. Profile gaskets with sealant, lay head on block, torque head, install top chain rail bolt, install chain and then the install upper timing chain cover.

I'll likely just remove the head and do it from scratch again. Ordered all new stuff which should be here in a week.

Victor Reinz - you know the internet. I have no doubt VR is fine, but I read enough general threads about having a VR gasket fail that I just put a Goetze on one of my (many) orders...

~Jason

[bmwman91]

Good point yeah that upper bolt in the long guide isn't accessible with the cover...totally forgot about that (thank God, it means I have not had to mess with the tensioning system in several years lol).

Fair enough about the HG brand, if I had a choice I would also go with one of the "better" brands too. The non-"genuine" ones are all so inexpensive that it certainly isn't an issue.

[jsnppp]

Side note.

The bushing for the new style tensioner arm arrived. Lo and behold, it fits perfectly. I don't have the lower timing case off but it feels like it would fit. If so, this would enable use of the new arm in the old case.

The bushing (PN: 11311247452) is worth a try for anyone trying this. Gkwan, thanks!

So, to be clear, the photos below are the new-style timing chain tensioner arm (fits late M42, possibly M44?) with the bushing above. Together, they should (not tested) fit the early M42 case (which came stock on our 1991 318is cars). Will most likely need a longer bolt.

[Gkwan]

Awesome, glad that bushing worked out!! I know that from looking at RealOEM the later m42 timing case seemed to use a bolt rather than the early m42 post, so the question would be is if the post needs to be swapped out for the bolt, or if this bushing can be used with the early style post and c-clip. Regardless this seems like it could be a good solution to the timing chain guide issue.

keep it up!

[jsnppp]

Some side progress last night while we are waiting for the parts order. Next up will be installing the oil pans, then the steering rack.

Noticed one gasket protruded into the sealing plane. Used a razor to trim. Then cleaned all surfaces with scotchbrite pad and will use brake cleaner on it prior to installing gasket.

Also installed the exhaust but I didn't take photos of that.

[jsnppp]

Still waiting on headbolts. Have everything else. We will likely assemble it again on Thursday. In the mean time, we've pivoted to interior..

[jsnppp]

Ton of parts coming on Thursday. Wish us luck!

[bmwman91]

Awesome! Looking forward to a successful first start!

[jsnppp]

We've been able to take care of all the other things that are required anyway. Just finished replacing all fuel lines on the car (all), fuel filter, rebuilt/refreshed both front seats and installed, steering rack is 80% in, etc, etc. Once we get the head bolted up (with washers this time) it should go pretty fast. Until the next hurdle of course. In this order we have oil filter housing o-ring, dipstick gasket/o-ring, new power steering pump hoses, etc. The car is going to be great fun.

Thanks for all the support!

[jsnppp]

UPDATE.

Good progress. Installed the head, oil filter housing, water pump.

It took longer than we thought. For some reason things got in the way of another but it all worked out at the end.

Torquing the head bolts was a bit of a knuckle biter! Glueing the profile gasket and then making it all line up was also a knucklebiter. It's all a knucklebiter, especially when dropping tools while trying to line up everything etc. Couldn't have done it without my partner in crime (it will be her car, she's excited).

Now comes the easier bits. Hopefully speeds up now. I've updated the main page too.

Photos coming soon!