New Acquisition - Head Gasket Blown

[Disco Benny]

Hey guys, just bought a 1985 325e

The PO must have changed oil and said a couple hail mary's and me not catching water in the oil bc I have a bad white smoke prob combined with massive amounts of condensation in the oil

So I called a local "Bavarian Auto" store and they said "A couple thousand"...and that I should have the head checked too (incurring even more dollars?!)

I've rebuilt motors (1965 Corvair, 1990 Range Rover Top End), but that was in California where I had a garage and tools

I have no tools and am in Arlington North Virginia with no garage.

I got it for $1000, sell or try to rock and roll the change?

Cheers guys!

[mrsleeve]

2 G's to do a HG on a e30 ???? yeah 600 tops paying someone else to do it for you.

[Kershaw]

post in the local forum. there are local people that could do this for you, for a fraction of that price.

[Pac1373]

$2000? lol, like posted above. way too much.
easier to have someone swap a "fresh" m20 in for you, or do the HG for you. afternoon Job for someone who is handy with a wrench.

[Disco Benny]

awesome will post in the Local now, THANKS everyone!

[kingston]

I helped someone I'd never met before do one for $40 (which was just to cover gas money for all the repeated trips to his place that was 45 minutes from my house). Now he's a good pal!

[Disco Benny]

Kingston...dude that is awesome, 12er of PBR or High Life is on the ready along with some coin

...if only you were not in MO haha!

[brutus87]

Time for a 2.5 or M50 swap!

[Pantless Spency]

you can really do this yourself with a Bentley.
I'm 19 with not much mechanical background, know a few things here and there, got a garage that's very unorganized in terms of tools, and I'm about to start my blown head gasket adventure, only tool i don't have is a torque wrench and a Bentley manual, and my friend who will help me a little.

whatever you do dont give up on the car, either rebuild what its got or swap the same thing in for dirt cheap, or swap something with more oomph in!

[ohthejosh]

^ im in the same boat as you. i dont have much mechanical knowledge but im willing to try everything myself.

spency if you need any help lmk. maybe i can be of help some how.

[Pantless Spency]

Thank you josh, i will PM you if i run into any issues.
same goes for you sir, let me know if you have questions or need a helping hand.
but i wont be a whole lot of help lol

[Pac1373]

it boils down to "remove things 'till you get the head off, clean surfaces VERY well, (get head surfaced/ checked or new head) put on new gasket, and put everything back where it was"

over simplified? yes, but honestly, taky your time, take some pictures, give yourself a day-2 without the need of the car, and go to town on it. you will feel satisfied when you are done.

[Disco Benny]

Thanks for the advice everyone! Got some good gouge on leaving the exhaust manifold on along with the intake since those gaskets are good. Just ordered inverted Torx sockets too.

Does the Haynes manual encompass everything or should I just get this all over mentioned "Bentley" manual as well?

[Kershaw]

dont get the haynes. that thing is trash.

bentley is the ONLY way to go.

[Vtec?lol]

lol I thought you were in arlington tx. I was going to say I could bring you a rebuilt head and do the gasket in 2hrs tops for pennies on the buck.

all you need is a socket set 8mm-13mm, timing belt $13, and the head gasket....
should be no more than $200 if you do it yourself.