Bad day for the iS

[bassjamm]

Hey all...

So I put my 318iS into the mechanic to check a few things out yesterday, an oil leak and a strange noise from the o/s rear wheel.

The strange noise is a string in the brake pad area, simple enough fix and the whole lot will be replaced both sides.

The oil leak has turned out to be the bad news...the head gasket has gone bad times.

Also turns out that the rear bushes need replacing. Now has anyone upgraded to Powerflex bushes? Any opinions? I was considering this at some stage anyway, so now's as good a time as any I guess.

Also the o/s steering boot needs replacing, another simple fix.

Bit gutted really on the head, but there we go...good jobs it's a minter!!!

So advice on the rear bushes would be appreciated. Along with any sympathy, ha!

Thanks
Jamie

[Blitz]

Rubber is better and cheaper.

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/B ... f12&000273

[bss325i]

Are you sure its the head gasket and not the profile gasket?

[bassjamm]

Are you sure its the head gasket and not the profile gasket?

My mechanic diagnosed as being the head gasket and I've no reason to believe he's wrong pal. Used him for a while now.

Why d'you ask?

[bassjamm]

Rubber is better and cheaper.

Hmm...I'd heard the opposite, but thanks for the tip pal.

[318isPMK]

Must be the month for Broken iS's good luck!

[bassjamm]

Must be the month for Broken iS's good luck!

You feeling the pain too?

[318isPMK]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... sc&start=0

Yip post 1 should help explain so far paid over the odds for a good un lasted less than a week i now have a replacement engine and weeks later Im still carless!

Should be sorted tomorrow or Thursday though.

[bassjamm]

Ah no...just had a quick goosey...gutted man!

Mine lasted 3 weeks before I found this out.

Still, good job they're such awesome cars otherwise I'd be majorly upset.

Hope your's gets back on the road for you asap pal.

[318isPMK]

aye i can tell its gonnae be a money pit that i'll gladly chuck cash at good luck to u too mate!

[Kedge]

If the head is coming off hasn't the profile gasket got to be replaced anyway? And if it had been diagnosed as profile gasket wouldn't you do the head gasket at the same time?

Rubber is better and cheaper.

Hmm...I'd heard the opposite, but thanks for the tip pal.

Another vote for rubber beam mount bushes.

[polsta]

The strange noise is a string in the brake pad area, simple enough fix and the whole lot will be replaced both sides.

what is the strange noise ? front or rear ?

if the rear, is the hand break fine ?/perfect ?

on my old is, and a common fault with e30s, is the hand break shoes in the rear drums, its held in via a pin in the backing plates, the hole rusts through and the pin comes out and the break shoes come loose, and make a funny noise


but, e30s are old cars and always need things doing every year

[bassjamm]

on my old is, and a common fault with e30s, is the hand break shoes in the rear drums, its held in via a pin in the backing plates, the hole rusts through and the pin comes out and the break shoes come loose, and make a funny noise

I believe that's the issue yeah...something's come loose in the o/s rear brake department, and the gubbins inside the shoe are all rattling around.

[capri_rob]

If the head is coming off hasn't the profile gasket got to be replaced anyway? And if it had been diagnosed as profile gasket wouldn't you do the head gasket at the same time?

Rubber is better and cheaper.

Hmm...I'd heard the opposite, but thanks for the tip pal.

Another vote for rubber beam mount bushes.

And another one.

Lemforder OEM rubber bushes from ECP with bush void fillers from danthe.

[bassjamm]

Lemforder OEM rubber bushes from ECP with bush void fillers from danthe.

That's all jibberish to me I'm afraid pal...are you saying Lemforder make the OEM rubber bushes, which I can buy from ECP (who're ECP?), and get bush void fillers from Danthe?

Sorry dude...bit early for me today!

Mind me asking why there's all the love for rubber bushes and not the poly ones?

[magpie]

oil won't leak down the block with a fecked head gasket,the car will fail to start first with oil and water mixing in the engine and fowling the plugs.


i'd be suspicious or maybe your mechanic isn't that clued up on the m42 ?

[Brianmoooore]

Plastic aftermarket stuff is no 'upgrade'. BMW didn't design these cars to a budget, and the OE rubber bushes are far superior to anything else.
You say a steering rack boot needs replacing. Is this because it's dripping fluid?
If so, I have some more bad news for you. There shouldn't be any fluid inside the boots, and they should have a small hole in them somewhere. If there's fluid inside a boot, the rack needs replacing.

[capri_rob]

Lemforder OEM rubber bushes from ECP with bush void fillers from danthe.

That's all jibberish to me I'm afraid pal...are you saying Lemforder make the OEM rubber bushes, which I can buy from ECP (who're ECP?), and get bush void fillers from Danthe?

Sorry dude...bit early for me today!

Mind me asking why there's all the love for rubber bushes and not the poly ones?

Lemforder make bushes for BMW - but can be bought from Euro Car Parts ( ECP ) for considerably less than you'll pay at BMW.

We have a zone discount scheme with ECP - contact meatballs82 and tell him what you need.

Danthe selles the bush void fillers - if you fit them to new bushes they will make them last a lot longer.

Polybushes are considered a no-no for road cars as they are too stiff and transmit too much noise and vibration into the car as well as affecting the handling.

Good quality rubber bushes with void fillers will last a long time and the car will handle as it was designed to.

[bassjamm]

Thank you sir...most helpful indeed

[capri_rob]

Thank you sir...most helpful indeed

Glad to help - its an arse of a job to do the bushes so like to see people doing it right so they only have to do it once

[Andyboy]

The aftermarket Lemforder bushes aren't that great. I've used them and they're shagged again in 2 years. I'd fork out the extra and go for genuine BMW ones.

Also, I doubt the head gasket has gone. More likely is the profile gasket at the very front of the engine or the cam cover rubber gasket - but you don't say where it's leaking from.

[magpie]

i have a used p/s rack in vgc with no noises or leaks if needed .

[bassjamm]

Also, I doubt the head gasket has gone. More likely is the profile gasket at the very front of the engine or the cam cover rubber gasket - but you don't say where it's leaking from.

I couldn't find it...other than the oil all over my drive anyway.

My mechanic diagnosed it and I've no reason to doubt him, he's a good guy and has never tried to do me in any way.

He traced the leak back and cleaned it all up to find it's the head.

[Jhonno]

Which is where the profile gasket is..

Does the car use water? Does it mix oil and water? Does it overheat? They are headgasket symptoms.. I have never heard of an oil leak from a failed headgasket.

[bassjamm]

Hmm...I'll give my mechanic a ring and see what he's got to say.

[bassjamm]

Anyone got any pics of the profile gasket? I'm going to pop down to the workshop to have a gander and take some pics...hopefully take some pics anyway.

[gurj247]

Good luck with resolving the issues that you have mate.

I know that my lil iS had a slight oil leak a while back and it was solved by replacing one of the gaskets.

[bassjamm]

Thanks pal...

I'm trying to find out the difference between the profile and the head gasket.

Kind of feel bad questioning my mechanic as he's never done me wrong, but we're talking about a lot of money here I guess.

[Sanchez]

Number 10 is the profile gasket.
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/2 ... ming_case/

Number 1 is the head gasket.
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/2 ... hed_parts/

[randomspeedfreak]

Polybushes are considered a no-no for road cars as they are too stiff and transmit too much noise and vibration into the car as well as affecting the handling.

Good quality rubber bushes with void fillers will last a long time and the car will handle as it was designed to.

what do you mean poly will affect the handling? i dont see how that works?

cheers,
matt

[Morat]

Less flex in an area that was originally designed to flex...

[bassjamm]

Thanks for those...where about are they both located in this picture please...

http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/m42top.jpg

[Sanchez]

The profile gasket at the front of the engine and the HG is between the block(lower engine) and the head(upper part of engine)




Capish?

You mechanic should beable to show you the line between the block and head and where the HG sits.

[Sanchez]

should red should really be a little more the the right as you look at the pic but its a good indication.

[Jhonno]

Less flex in an area that was originally designed to flex...

In the name of comfort..