Question about the MEtric Blue headBolts

[jcsomerset]

^^^

Standard bmw items are torque to yield (thats what the stretch bolts are).

Dont be affraid of the high torque rating of the metric blues either, some owners have been shitting themselves because the torque is a fair bit higher than the standard bolts.

Thanks - I think it was you that turned me onto them in a previous post -

I'll get them here shortly - replace them one at the time like the book says - and torque them down to probably 70-80 lb's; it that doesnt' fix my issue - then it's head gasket time and I'll have to schedule at least a day for dissassembly/reassembly.... and as stated above -that'll make me cranky.

[Madhatter]

^^^

Standard bmw items are torque to yield (thats what the stretch bolts are).

Dont be affraid of the high torque rating of the metric blues either, some owners have been shitting themselves because the torque is a fair bit higher than the standard bolts.

[draculia]

they're not stretchbolts, you can reuse them

[jcsomerset]

No, the head bolts are not reuseable. But they're only $24 from Bav. Auto.

I'm talking about the metric blue head bolts - these are a different brand found here - http://www.mcmaster.com/

Material
Class 12.9 Blue-Coated Alloy Steel
Head Style
Standard
Drive Style
Hex Socket
System of Measurement
Metric

Thread Size
M10
Length
150 mm
Hex Key Size
8 mm
Thread Style
Standard Right Handed
Thread Length
Partially Threaded


They are not "stretch bolts" which is what the stock bolts are - you can't overtorque the stock bolts - they are likely to snap - which is why I'm going to replace them with these - I would rather install and over torque them to hopefully fix the leakage - as i don't have any nasty white smoke - but there's a "slight" film across the top of the coolant. Otherwise - with the losing coolant (cracked radiator overflow nozzle) issue excepted - the car runs fine - idles like a top and runs like a scalded dog.

A lot of the FI guys use the metric blues -

but if the Metric Blue's will not withstand 2 torquings - then I'll just get a new head gasket and rip the car apart in a weekend or 2 to replace it - which will really pi$$ me off. - I don't have time to schedule a full day to do it - but will if the metric blues won't withstand 2 torquings..

I suppose I could just get 6 boxes of metric blues and be done with it either way.. but then I'd have an extra set if the first replacement fixes the problem..

[Beej '86 325es]

No, the head bolts are not reuseable. But they're only $24 from Bav. Auto.

[jcsomerset]

About to order the Metric blue head bolts -

Can they be used more than once>?

I've discovered some seepages between the cooling and oil passageways - Not sure if it's an intermittant thing or if I've got a blown gasket that's less than a year old - :evil:

I'm going to try replacing/tightening the head bolts down to fix the gasket issue - but if they can only be used one time - I'm more likely to just replace the head gasket altogether; to make sure i'll fix the problem.

I'm hoping one of the "stretch bolts" hasn't snapped off.. cause that'll suck.

TIA guys!