M42 Pwnage.

[hamann318is]

Coolant leak all over the passenger side on a motor with 72k miles. The hoses look fine. It's night, and from what I've been able to see, there are some wet spots on the timin gcase cover around the water pump... Am I right in assuming I've been pwned by a crappy gasket?

[AdamF 88iS]

The infamous profile gasket.

Get your wallet ready, the head has to come off to change it.

[nickmp0wer]

i doubt thats what it is. Look at it when its light out then tell us what you see.

[kowalski]

wallet ready? depends if you do your own work, i did my head including reground cams, all new gaskets new headbolts for 750$ can. and i also got the head re surfaced valves done, new valve guides. if i didn't do the ehad it woulda been 450$ and if i didn't do the cams it woulda been 100$.

[AdamF 88iS]

i doubt thats what it is. Look at it when its light out then tell us what you see.

It's possible that it's the thermostat housing, but 70k miles is the magic number for the profile gasket to fail, and it's a bit early for the thermo to leak.

And yes, we all know that doing the work ourselves saves money, thank you for that.

[hamann318is]

i doubt thats what it is. Look at it when its light out then tell us what you see.

It's possible that it's the thermostat housing, but 70k miles is the magic number for the profile gasket to fail, and it's a bit early for the thermo to leak.

And yes, we all know that doing the work ourselves saves money, thank you for that.

I'm not too crazy about pulling the head my self, espically with the motor in the car.

How can I be sure that it's the profile gasket?

[bmwm3n528]

Good thing you didn't get those smoked tails, rofl.

[AdamF 88iS]

Clean up the residue and put pressure on the cooling system and watch for the exact spot where it leaks.

[trent]

Clean up the residue and put pressure on the cooling system and watch for the exact spot where it leaks.

ding ding winner!

[hamann318is]

I'm looking for leaks on the front of the block between the water pump and thermostat. Correct?

[hamann318is]

I let her idle in the drive way while looking for leaks. The car isn't leaking anymore, but low on coolant. Guess I'll fill, bleed, and try again.

When I turn the engine off, the motor makes a hissing/gurgling noise. There is still on evidence of a leak though.

[kowalski]

gurgling noise coiuld be your over flow, the water is boiling out when your running the car which would explain the gurgling noise after you turn it off.. wheres the noise commin from?

[hamann318is]

Damn it.

Drops of coolant are coming from the rear of the timing case (the side closest to the rear of the car), under the valve cover (passenger side), and from the gasket inbetween the two timing cases (oh boy, I wonder what gasket that is).

Looks like I'm pulling the head. What should I replace while in there?

[kowalski]

at the front of the engine by the timing chain? is that the gasket your talkign about if tso there is a rubber gasket kind ov like a squar but it buts up to the head so you wont have to pull the head to do that gasket... unless you want to.... then if you are get a top end gasket kit it will come with valve guides so you can just save those untill you feel like doing your head. and you could do the tensioner, i hear water pump as well, and remember to buy new head bolts

[hamann318is]

at the front of the engine by the timing chain? is that the gasket your talkign about if tso there is a rubber gasket kind ov like a squar but it buts up to the head so you wont have to pull the head to do that gasket... unless you want to.... then if you are get a top end gasket kit it will come with valve guides so you can just save those untill you feel like doing your head. and you could do the tensioner, i hear water pump as well, and remember to buy new head bolts

Uh, what?

It's the timing profile gasket. I know there are two seperate gaskets on the timing case, and the gasket that's leaking on mine is the rear one. Plus, wouldn't a leak in the front gasket be oil?

I know I'll need a new head gasket, head bolts, and obviously the timing profile gasket. I'm going to do the tensioner as well. I got to thinking that maybe I could delete the belt fan.

What parts should I replace, and what should I upgrade? Does BMW make that gasket set for replacing all the gaskets required when removing the head?