At my wits end.

[e30325ic]

I have had enough with this m20 engine. I have bought a differnt block, rebuilt it. I used the existing rebuilt head the came with the car. I put a new head gasket on it after 300 miles because the gasket didnt seal and was leaking oil into the coolant. Now a day after the head gasket was finished it is now leaking coolant into the oil pan. If it werent for my 16 year old son driving it I would do the m50 conversion. I guess my next step is to either find a running used engine or find a dirffernt head and have it reworked. I have built many engines in my life and done prob over a hundred head gaskets and I have never had as much trouble with an engine that I have had with this on. The engine runs great and the plugs are perfect color. I can only assume that the head has a crack in it some where. Just had to do a little rant. I am at my wits end with this one. :x

[clavinZERO]

sounds like you are more than capable of handling this one. good luck. maybe you should M50 that thing :P

[e30325ic]

I am very temped. If I had the time, I would put an m50 in my cabrio and put my engine in this car since my engine only has 125000 miles on it. But since I have so much money already in this engine I am determined to see it through.

[Matt86es]

Sounds like you son would be much safer with an eta engine! Come over to Chattanooga, swap an M50 in my car and you can have a safe, economical M20B27 for your son's protection! :)

[rs4pro3]

Sounds like the head is lightly warped. Every time a BMW head is pulled off it should be checked for flatness and machined.Every bimmer head I've pulled off has been warped somewhat.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

Did you buy new headbolts? Try using some metric blues instead of the factory stretch bolts. Also, try spraying the headgasket with copper sealant spray before you install it to make sure it seats good.

[e30325ic]

I did use a sealer on the head gasket. I did not buy new head bolts. Where do you get the metric blue one? The had has been reworked and is perfectly flat. I have checked it several times. I am thinking that the head itself my be cracked internally. I am going to pull it back apart again in the next couple of days and see whats up. I may just get another head and rebuild it.

[nando]

I did not buy new head bolts.

there's your problem.. M20 headbolts are only meant to be used once.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

I used the metric blue bolts when I replaced my headgasket and have been using them for months with no problems. Your headbolts are probably way out of spec now with removing and installing more than once. Good luck.

Metric Blue - grade 12.9 head bolts http://www.mcmaster.com/
Part Number 91303A306 $9.60 per Pack of 5. you will need 3 packs of 5.
also, use the washers from your old head bolts.

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

[e30325ic]

Thanks for the info. Do you still torque the blue metrics bolts the same as the factory torx head bolts?. I may order them and give it now more try. I looked at BMA and they list a set of new bolts for $25. I assume that they are the factory bolts.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

dip the bolts in motor oil. only dip them about half way up the threaded portion of the bolt. if the headbolts are not lubricated, that would mean you should start over and do it again according to corky bell. torque all the head bolts (in the correct order) to 30 ft lbs, wait 5 min. torque them all to 40, repeat that process untill all of the headbolts are torqued to 80 ft lbs.

thanks to e30tech.com turbo FAQ for the info

[e30325ic]

Thanks for the info. I orderd the Blue bolts. Be here in a couple of days.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

Good luck. Keep us posted on how it goes.

[e30325ic]

What do you think about trying to just place the existing bolts with the new blue ones and just retouqueing them? I dont have anything to loose. If it doesnt work I will have the change the gasket again which I will have to do anyway. I am just tired of pulling this head.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

Yeah, I know pulling the head isn't fun at all. You can try it, you won't lose anything so if it doesn't work you'll have to pull the head and do the gasket again. I'm not sure if it will seal good since the gasket has already been compressed. The metric blue bolts are reusable.