E30 Zone

The dreaded has happened (i think?) - and the head gasket on my C2.5 (1991 - 112000 miles) touring has failed. Loss of coolant (fairly slow) and milking white deposits on the underside of my oil filler cap.

What now? - since I'll have to replace the head gasket (and I'm not that technically orientated) what else is worth replacing at the same time?

How much is this likely to cost from a 'good' specialist?

Any advice appreciated.

Kind Regards

Most important thing is to get the head pressure tested to make sure its not the head thats at fault. Unfortunately it always seems to be the head that has cracked on these cars and Id love to know why.
Mine had the same problem and so have the vast majority of people on here who have a 2.5.

ProfDMW wrote:The dreaded has happened (i think?) - and the head gasket on my C2.5 (1991 - 112000 miles) touring has failed. Loss of coolant (fairly slow) and milking white deposits on the underside of my oil filler cap.

What now? - since I'll have to replace the head gasket (and I'm not that technically orientated) what else is worth replacing at the same time?

How much is this likely to cost from a 'good' specialist?

Any advice appreciated.

Kind Regards

i sympathize, mate happened to me recently, but cost was too high, just bought an engine, as it was cheaper, adam's right, most times its the head. hope you get her sorted mate.

they crack round cam bearings,due to not a lot of meat to start with -so ill maintenance will catch up in the end,,,i.e poor lube intervals inpast causing wear here and also poor antifreeze or non at all causing corrosion from the other side both of these and an inefficient cooling system and there goes the head and or gasket

anyway all is not lost as maybe just a coolant leak,heater core,rad,hoses????is front carpet wet???

I also have loss of coolant on my 1990 C2.5 with 100k on it. Just been to a specialist today and was quoted cԚ£700 to have head skimmed, new gaskets (head and exhaust manifold) bolts, oil, filter, and timing belt.

The guy also told me that this is very common around this mileage and he always gets the head checked and skimmed rather than just replacing the gasket due to cracking etc.

When you break down the costs you can see how this ends up an expensive job.

I will probably be going ahead with this.

Prof - I see you're based in the north east. I've just had a quote of around Ԛ£500 from BMW Care in Pudsey, Leeds for the HG replacing on my 318iS. That includes skimming etc. You'll find their number on the web.
I've found a cheaper place in Keighley to do the work but if you're wanting to entrust your motor to BMW specialists, this place has a good rep. Hope helpful - Nick.

Thanks guys for the response - much appreciated!

Whilst I have given the car lots of attention in the time I've owned her, she did have a period in storage, which in hindsight hasn't helped with these problems.

I'll keep you all informed as to how things progress.

Regards

With an alloy head on an iron block there is differential movement every time the engine warms up and cools down, and as a result of this the head gasket will eventually fail.
If you get the cooling system up to temperature and pressure and run the engine with the rocker cover off, you can usually see beads of water coming out from one of the cam bearings if it is cracked. Second from the back is the favourite one.

Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations on who can carry out this work? - and what for novice like me, does it entail?

Whilst the cars having this done, are there any other jobs that should or could be done at the same time?

Cheers Guys!

where u at m8?

I'm up in the North East, near Stockton-On-Tees - but I would be prepared to take the car some distance for a recommended garage.

Maxus wrote:I also have loss of coolant on my 1990 C2.5 with 100k on it. Just been to a specialist today and was quoted cԚ£700 to have head skimmed, new gaskets (head and exhaust manifold) bolts, oil, filter, and timing belt.

The guy also told me that this is very common around this mileage and he always gets the head checked and skimmed rather than just replacing the gasket due to cracking etc.

When you break down the costs you can see how this ends up an expensive job.

I will probably be going ahead with this.

That's a nice price. I was quoted Ԛ£500 more by one garage. Still need a second opinion on why my car runs so poorly. I suspect its partly down to fueling, perhaps an air leak somewhere. Who knows.

prof,im close to you do you know bonlea in thornaby???tesside autotech are bmw specialist with good service,pricing is good too.

Cheers gcorky - I'll get in touch with them. I just hope that it doesn't cost me both my arms and legs! The general feeling seems that the cost ranges from cԚ£500 to Ԛ£1000+ (Gulp!). I guess it depends on how much work is required - since its seems a big job, I might get a general referb to the engine done at the same time.

right ,head set about 90-95 but doesnt include the actual headgasket??
which is around 45.belts,oil,filter,coolant etc 40-50 odd quid.cracktest and skim on head around 50 quid plus.if anyplay on water pump worth replacing now at around 25-30 pound.(

this is parts assuming head is not goosed.if it is the hunt is on.


labour depends where you go,but its things like exhaust bolts/studs breaking that can bugger the job up.

ProfDMW wrote:Cheers gcorky - I'll get in touch with them. I just hope that it doesn't cost me both my arms and legs! The general feeling seems that the cost ranges from cԚ£500 to Ԛ£1000+ (Gulp!). I guess it depends on how much work is required - since its seems a big job, I might get a general referb to the engine done at the same time.

the place ive mentioned will do a good job, and shouldnt be more than 500-600 m8...

I was going to recommend Teesside Auto Technical Services in Thornaby, know the family that own it through Kart racing years ago. Good independent BMW specialists. I'm from Stockton/Billingham originally.

Cheaper alternative is an engine swap, but you are flying blind to a degree and could have the same problem happen on a swapped unit in a short space of time.

If your head turns out to be goosed, I have a 325 head in my garage from a 1990 Sport, but I could not guarantee it as it has not been pressure tested.

Thanks - I notice I'm not the only poor sod with this problem on the zone at the moment!

you are by no means exclusive when it comes to head problems mate. I have a headgasket problem which was pressurising the water system and chucking it out the expansion tank overflow when you stopped. Chucked in a bottle of this stuff Kalimex K-Seal and not looked back, it is guaranteed for the life of the engine. www.kalimex.co.uk

prof reading your original thread ,may just be a coolant leak and some condensation in rocker cover.when was oil changed last?????if you want i will pressure test your cooling system and have a quick look for you before you shell out?glad to help a fellow zoner in need!!!

mail me at
gcorking@hotmail.com

Thanks to all fellow zoners for their advice and expertise - as always its much appreciated!

E30BeemerLad - might take you up on the offer of a replacement head if my has cracked (which I think it might have) - I forgot about an overheating problem I had on a trip to Nottingham in september (D'oh!) - I was told at the time it was just the thermosat - all seemed ok at the time, and I've not had (until yesteday!) and other associated problems. Out of interest - do you still have any friends/family in Billingham? just curious as that's where I live.

Regards to all

83-88 i was at campus,grew up in swaledale crescent.

Not too many left in Billingham I know now, i used to live at the top of the bank and used to drink in the black horse on the green, then moved over to high grange and drank in the stoney. Moved from teesside 10 years ago. Know a couple of lads who live near the green stillbut that's it.
My car used to be in Billingham until about 2 years ago.

billy bank has marks up it now from me spinning most of the way up lol

drank in both the stoney (not recently - either I'm getting old, or the cliental is definatly getting younger!) and the black horse. Small world!