May need a new head for a M52

[Bimmer_man]

So my moms 97 328is has a coolant leak in the ear of the engine and it drips a lot on the exhaust manifold. Not the front manifold the rear one. The heater core was done recently so im hoping the leak is just someone didnt tighten the hose enough or a bad gasket. But its either that or a blown head gasket and from what i have read about the M52 engine is that it can blow the head gasket on the outer ends of it to where the cylinders are still sealed just fine but coolant will leak. Correct me if im wrong. But dose anyone know of a easy way to get to the back of this damn thing without taking the head off or engine out. If its the head gasket i was going to see if the S52 head can fit on the M52 block with not a lot of modifications. So i can do soem work to the head and give my mom the gift of more HP :o

[jlevie]

The first thing to check would be the heater hose an nipple on the rear of the head. A pressure test of the cooling system will help locate the leak.

[jalopi]

Try to get a pocket mirror - you're probably going to need one to find the leak anyway.

[Bimmer_man]

The first thing to check would be the heater hose an nipple on the rear of the head. A pressure test of the cooling system will help locate the leak.

Can you or anyone get me a pic of that thing cause i cant seem to find it at all so i know what im looking at.

[jlevie]

Part #3 on http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...07&hg=11&fg=15

[Bimmer_man]

Thank you so much now I just have to figure out how to get to the Damn thing.

[Farbin Kaiber]

You are having trouble getting to the coolant nipple, but are thinking about an s52 top end and OBD1 swap?

[Bimmer_man]

With the head still on the engine and it's tucked between the head and the fire wall yes smart one I'd rather not have to take the head off cause if I have to I'm just tossing that head and dropping on a s52 head.

[ForcedFirebird]

You are having trouble getting to the coolant nipple, but are thinking about an s52 top end and OBD1 swap?

Replied to the other thread just before reading this one and had to lol at this post.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Why "toss a head" when you can pull the m52 head, send it to a machine shop, then put s52 cams, trays and lifters onto your resurfaced and pressure tested head that is exactly the same.

[Bimmer_man]

Cause that would take time I thought about that bit my mom needs the car and can't afford to be without for a couple of weeks.

[Farbin Kaiber]

yourgonnahaveabadtimememe.png

[jalopi]

Just hit me that this is your mom's car we're talking about here... would she really notice/want/need/appreciate the extra power? I'm gonna guess not.

If I'm wrong though, you've got one cool mom

Also,

yourgonnahaveabadtimememe.png

with replacing that hose/gasket

[Bimmer_man]

Okay how in Sam hell do you get to this flange at the back of this thing. There is literally no room. Do I need to pull the head off er something?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Drop subframe 6".

When in doubt on the back of a 24v, drop it down. You could lift the engine, pull the engine mounts, then lower it down and get some slack too. Either way, it's not easy.