E30 Zone

hi all the head gasket blew in my 316i. need info on whats my options?? no 325 conversions though!!!
is there alot of work in fixing the head?? any help would be great??

If you're just going to change the gasket should take about half a day I would think since you're not really stripping it down much.

Just don't forget to buy new head bolts.

Skim?

I was thinking would it need this?
If you had owned the car for years and without a doubt could say that it hasn't overheated would the head get away with just a new gasket and bolts. If money was tight and it is for most, would this be worth a days work for a novice and the £40 odd (I'm guessing at the price) for the bits?

Sorry asked three times there.

If the head gasket has gone you would have a pressure test and skim as a matter of cause it not just to waste money (imagine doing all that work and finding out the head was craked you would be pissed) It should cost you to do it yourself no more than £200 for head set pressure test and skim new bolts anti freeze and cam belt kit

It'd only really need a skim if it's overheated I would think, if it's had no temp issues prior to the gasket going then I'd say you'd get away with it. Although I'd visually check the face for any obvious defects/cracks etc. just to be on the safe side.

Banjo1981 wrote:It'd only really need a skim if it's overheated I would think, if it's had no temp issues prior to the gasket going then I'd say you'd get away with it. Although I'd visually check the face for any obvious defects/cracks etc. just to be on the safe side.

The problem lies if it has cracked some where you cant see and it will need a skim i can guarantee that

I'll bow to your experience on this one town. reminds me actually, keep meaning to talk to you about a bit of welding.

Cheers Town was just seeing if I could get an old 316 touring on the road again as the cost of a head skim is out of the question.

Really? a company down the road from me quoted £60 for a skim and test. I thought that was pretty cheap tbh.

£60 would be a result but with fuel, bits etc it'll still come to nearly 200.
Sorry guys not trying to piss on your parades.
Maybe a second hand 316 complete head would be a cheaper way to go.

As above if I could sort this out on route to a long weekend walking. Well the Breacons (sp? its been a while) aren't in need of an excuse to visit, but at this time of year a little karma wouldn't go amiss.

The only problem is if you buy a secondhand head you dont know the history of it so this means you have a big chance of being back to square 1

True.

Oh well looks like the dogs going to the south downs next weekend.

cheers for all the replys. il inspect the head and prob will skim to be safe. many thanks

why not run a straight edge across the head ? with a torch behind the straight edge your soon see if the heads warped.. before you do that though make sure the surface of the heads clean. if you dont opt for skimmimg i find a bit of wet & dry say 600grit and some wd on a block always gives the head a nice finish.

Cheers for the info and tips guys.
Sorry for jumping on ya wagon fella.
Best of luck with ya head