More E36 Questions...

[Motorhole]

Just a quickie...

How involved is a headgasket change on a 328i??

Cheers!

[Andyboy]

Very! Don't get involved if it's been cooked, you'll need an engine. Have a go, but it's quite likely/inevitable that the threads in the block will strip on retightening and you must only use the correct BMW head bolts (new of course) as too many of the GSF/Euro Car Prats bolts are in fact M50 iron block ones and don't have enough thread. Once the block threads are gone, it's scrap and cannot be successfully repaired - helicoils just rip straight out as they cannor take the stress of the angle tightening. Even if it seems to work the head will lift in less than 1000 miles. You'll need the tool to lock the Vanos unit up unless you've done loads before and know exactly how to remove and refit.

Owners of alloy block 320i and 323i's can just dump an earlier iron block motor in, 328i owners can't.

[stuartgallafant]

andy is bang on there, if its been cooked, its a gonna... however, if you have mild symptoms and suspect the H/G, then its gonna be an all day, even all weekend job for a beginner. book time is about 3 or 4 hours for this i think. still a big job, coz you will need the special tools to lock the camshafts and the VANOS unit up

[DanThe]

The camshaft locking tool is £250 + VAT by the way

[stuartgallafant]

The camshaft locking tool is £250 + VAT by the way

ouch!! have you ever seen one? with the correct measurements, you could easily make one from a block of steel...

[DanThe]

I know, they are very simple, straight edge does me fine.

A mate told me he once timed up an iS with a brick

[kam-325i]

A mate told me he once timed up an iS with a brick

I thought that story was a myth.....

[DanThe]

Story?

[kam-325i]

Ive heard of "Others" using the brick/breeze block technique before......

[DanThe]

Well there ya go

[Motorhole]

Thanks for all the info folks :p Kinda glad the car got sold before I went look at it now