Big job changing inlet manifold gasket?

Post Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:10 pm

Ive found out where the hissing noise is coming from and its where the inlet manifold joins the head near the bulkhead side. Hopefully its just a worn gasket.
Is it hard to change these? Anything else I'll need apart from a new gasket?

Ive got an exhaust gasket and studs on order too from BMW as it is blowing out too!

Hopefully when I get both sorted the car will run a little smoother and I wont be stinking of fumes each time I drive it.

Post Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:15 pm

Make sure you continually drench the exhaust manifold stud bolts in WD40 or whatever you use for days beforehand. Snapped bolts are all too common, and then they have to be drilled out v. carefully...

Good Luck!

Post Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:23 pm

Not a really difficult job, but there's a pipe that runs from the block to the inlet that can be a pain to get fitted properly when re-fitting the inlet. It's spring loaded and sometimes doesn't sit properly, best thing to do is cable tie the springs until fitted, then cut the cable ties when it's all together.

You will need -
New inlet gasket set
New throttle body gasket
2 new o-rings for the above mentioned pipe.
You could also when it's apart have the injectors sonically cleaned (well worth doing) and change the o-rings on these too.

Post Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:48 pm

AlpineCab wrote:Make sure you continually drench the exhaust manifold stud bolts in WD40 or whatever you use for days beforehand. Snapped bolts are all too common, and then they have to be drilled out v. carefully...

Good Luck!

Alrite Adam..

Use a 6 sided hex socket as the 12 sided type can round the corners off the nuts..

Post Sun Mar 20, 2005 9:02 pm

to make life easier change the manifold gasket when the engine is very warm! a tip Ant told me

Pads went on ok then mate?

Found out more about the Alpina sport pack?

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:03 am

I did this last year and found it relatively easy, though it took me a fair while. Points to watch out for:

1. Make sure you've got plenty of extension bars etc. for your socket set as some of the bolts are very difficult to access.

2. Take meticulous care in cleaning up the surfaces on both the cylinder head and the inlet manifold before putting it all back together. Rightly or wrongly, i used gasket sealant (the red stuff) on both sides of the gasket before reassembly and it's still sealled really well.

3. The trick with the tywraps to pre-tension the spring at the bottom of the breather pipe is an excellent one - i ended up doing it with cotton thread and it was very fiddly. Make sure you renew the seals at the top and bottom of this pipe too.

4. Also definately worth taking the fuel rail/injectors out to give them a clean whilst your there. Saves a lot of hassle later on.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:19 am

yes , i had this one last year and the bolts on the end snapped , got em drilled out by a professional for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£80.
apart from that the fob is straight forward as is all jobs if bolts and screws are not siezed, this is my biggest drama on Beamer repairs
good luck too all

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:08 pm

Ive got a nasty feeling this is gonna be less straight forward than I hoped.
The worst thing though is that I changed the coolant and power steering fluid yesterday and although the water was clean and the car isnt heating or burning oil or smoking there was a tiny tiny dot of mayo on the top of the oil dipstick. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Im gonna wait a while and see if the head gasket goes as there is no point in changing the others until I know if needs done too.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:12 pm

pray it's the gasket and not a cracked head!

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:13 pm

Tell me about it, Ive been seeing huge bills in the back of my mind all day.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:40 pm

Adammcf wrote:Tell me about it, Ive been seeing huge bills in the back of my mind all day.

Ignore him, it's probably just some condensation.

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:58 am

Can you get condensation on the top of the oil dipstick? I did find it strange that the water was clean and its not heating up etc.
Ive never had this on any other car including the GSI even though it was parked up for almost two months over the winter.
If it is just this I will be over the moon as I just want to get out and have some fun in the damn thing after buying it instead of forking out hundreds for a new gasket or head.

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:01 am

Can you get condensation on the top of the oil dipstick? I did find it strange that the water was clean and its not heating up etc.
Ive never had this on any other car including the GSI even though it was parked up for almost two months over the winter.
If it is just this I will be over the moon as I just want to get out and have some fun in the damn thing after buying it instead of forking out hundreds for a new gasket or head.