1989 325i Sedan

[EREKSHUN]

have a look at the end of the cam if you get a chance. if it was reground then it's standard practice for the machine shop to etch the profile on the end of the cam. this is to inform the engine builder of the profile and timing changes.

Great information man. I will try to check that this afternoon after work.

[82eye]

have a look at the end of the cam if you get a chance. if it was reground then it's standard practice for the machine shop to etch the profile on the end of the cam. this is to inform the engine builder of the profile and timing changes.

[82eye]

head bolts look standard at least for the later model. if the head had come off previously they would have been replaced with that style any way.

[EREKSHUN]

just to be clear febi is the oem supplier. the difference is the original rockers would have had a bmw branding and not the febi symbol on the rocker. i've never seen the febi branding on an original rocker.

Thanks for that information. I also noticed the star style head bolts. I think the factory is a normal bolt pattern. It may have been rebuilt i am now very interested if the cam was reground or replaced also. It was pretty peppy when i had it running correctly but its been years since ive driven it.

[82eye]

just to be clear febi is the oem supplier. the difference is the original rockers would have had a bmw branding and not the febi symbol on the rocker. i've never seen the febi branding on an original rocker.

[EREKSHUN]

do you know the history on the head ? febi is an aftermarket brand suggesting the head has had previous work. i'd be curious to know if the cam has been upgraded or reground.

You know i was curious about that also. We actually purchased the motor out of a burnt up convertible a couple years back from Harouts in Sun Valley. So i dont really have any history besides knowing it was and I model. Great catch with those eagle :crazy: eyes.

[82eye]

do you know the history on the head ? febi is an aftermarket brand suggesting the head has had previous work. i'd be curious to know if the cam has been upgraded or reground.

[EREKSHUN]

1989 325i Sedan

Not much progress this weekend but I did clean up the pistons a little bit. This is about 2/3 hours of scrubbing. Not the best pics sorry.

Before:

After:



I’ll be dropping the head off to get rebuilt in the next couple weeks as well as hitting the purchase button on a top end gasket kit. I was looking at the package that bimmerheads offers. Has anyone picked up their “M20 ultimate head gasket set”?

https://bimmerheads.com/products/m20-ultimate-head-gasket-set

I see CATuned has a similar set up for about the same price.

https://catuned.com/ajusa-m20-head-gasket-set

Any suggestions before I purchase anything?

I also see a price difference in the Gates timing belt but they seem to have the same part number T131RB. Does anyone have any idea if there is any difference in the two besides the vendor?
Bimmerheads:

https://bimmerheads.com/products/gates-racing-m20-timing-belt?variant=8345201672234

Catuned:

https://catuned.com/gates-timing-belt-m20-t131rb-bmw

Thanks again always looking forward to anyone’s advice.


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[2mAn]

Is this broken or does it just come out like that? Seemed to have just been sitting in there.

that looks broken! haha take a look at the other exhaust manifold, it was there in an earlier pic, its probably still connected to it

[EREKSHUN]

Ima try to get them cleaned up this weekend.

So when I was taking Everything apart I came across this.



Is this broken or does it just come out like that? Seemed to have just been sitting in there.


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[2mAn]

I wouldnt worry too much about the one piston that looks like it got nicked... at least not yet. I would clean those piston tops as best you can and assess the damage then

[EREKSHUN]

1989 325i Sedan

Sunday funday.

Removed the head and intake manifold today. Pistons have minor damage on them. Has anyone had success stories with slapping a rebuilt head on pistons in this condition? Couldn’t do a compression test with the head locked up but it seems to cycle fine can’t hear or feel anything crazy. Was able to set it to top dead center.

Here’s some pictures.

















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[EREKSHUN]

Thanks guys. I just wasn’t sure since I wasn’t at top dead center. But I guess I can always set that after the heads off the car. I’ll upload some images once I get the head removed. I’m crossing my fingers but not holding my breath lol.


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[zwill23]

I agree with superj, just pull the head.

I was in a very similar situation to yours when I first bought my car - broken rocker arm on cylinder 6 and every valve was bent. Thinking the bottom end had to be toast, I was delighted to find the bottom end looked perfectly fine. Not even a mark on the pistons (that I could find). After sourcing a new head she fired right up.

Hopefully you have a similar result! M20 bottom ends are pretty tough.

[superj]

just pull the whole thing. the arms are broken from the pistons hitting the valves and forcing them back upwards. the bottom is probably still good so you can get another head or get one of those 300 dollar engines and drop it in for now, for cheap, and work on this in the spare time to build it as a back up.


I wish I could find a 300 dollar engine still. once people figured out e30s were badass drift cars, all of them disappeared here. I still need a replacement head or engine but there is nothing within 3 hours drive