Let's make an E30 M3! (M3 S14 cabrio clone project)

[Wschnitz]

At least it didnt grenade the cylinder!

[dude8383]

Perform a leak down test.

[flyboyx]

aw damn. it does indeed sound like a valve issue. i guess it doesn't mean that you bent a valve, but its possible. you might simply have a clearance issue. you my try loosening the cam journals to relieve the pressure off your valves, then do another compression test to see if that helps.

its also possible that during assembly, some microscopic part fell down the intake and is wedged in between the valve and the head. its also possible that one of the spacers between the cam and the valve is stuck.

if you do pull the cams back off, run the number 4 cylinder to bdc and tap on the top of the valves with a mallet. you should be able to feel if one is stuck.

[IronJoe]

Update: I ended up checking the valve lash, and found the culprit.

Exhaust valves on #4 had 5x the lash as the rest of them - obviously they aren't closing fully. I suspect they are bent, so I ordered new ones and will be pulling the head off shortly to replace them. I have the OEM headgasket and other associated gaskets on order.

It's a bummer, but in the long run I'll be happy I have a new headgasket on the S14 as I've run her for 6+ years and have no idea when it was last done.

[IronJoe]

It's really a bad sign when your head gasket kit arrives like this:






The perfect curvature for a head gasket -_-





More waiting. :(

[AWDBOB]

What HG Kit did you get?

[2mAn]

It's really a bad sign when your head gasket kit arrives like this:

Its hard to be at your house and NOT a little erect

[igor700]

Love this build. Keep at it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kershaw]

Lol, it looks like it was run over.

[bobaflesh]

Oh crap, not good on that HG.

[IronJoe]

What HG Kit did you get?

Goetze. According to a few folks on S14 it's a reasonable replacement for the Genuine BMW gasket which has been on national backorder. No way in hell I was going to put a Victor Reinz hg on this car.

Its hard to be at your house and NOT a little erect

Good point. Probably shouldn't blame UPS for this one ;)

[kid325e]

How anybody packages a gasket like that then assumes it will arrive without any damage is beyond me. That sucks!!

[Fucatypr]

Sucks about the headgasket. I can't wait to see the car finished.

[AWDBOB]

Goetze. According to a few folks on S14 it's a reasonable replacement for the Genuine BMW gasket which has been on national backorder. No way in hell I was going to put a Victor Reinz hg on this car.

Awesome, thanks! I've been dealing with that same internal battle with the Goetze sitting in my 'cart,' knowing there is no way I'd put a VR on the car.

[Eric]

Your dealer is doing something "right" to be able to make that work - but I suspect they'll get their hands slapped by corporate at some point. Take advantage while you can, and don't publicize their name. ;)

This exact thing happened to my dealer! I was ordering euro parts long after I saw people being denied on here from other areas of the country, then one day my dealer was shut off too :(