E46 330Ci Head Gasket

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:40 pm

Hi all again. Been told today it sounds like the previous owner had put some rad seal in the car to hide a leak. Seeing as its using a fair bit of oil, had blockages in the matrix and blew the expansion tank. Going to get the coolant checked for the gasses escaping on weds mornin but he reckons if its the headgasket then its Ã‚£1000 minimum! Ã‚£1700 if its done any damage to the engine. Im fairly hands on but no mechanic so this could be abit too much for me to do and Ã‚£1700 is alot of money! Any suggestions pleeeeease?

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:56 pm

Quite unusual in M54 engine. What is the history of the car?
Jan

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:08 pm

It has full BMW service history. Thats about all I can tell you on the history. Its done 96,000 miles. I have replaced the water pump, thermostat and heater valve.

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:13 pm

Any abnormals in it? Check it carefully and try to ask SA in these dealer services what kind of a person was the previous owner.
Jan

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:17 pm

not really nope. previous owner didnt use the best brand of oil and think he had a heavy foot.

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:18 pm

Rik178m wrote:It has full BMW service history

Rik178m wrote:previous owner didnt use the best brand of oil

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:37 pm

Dont get it mate what you sayin?

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:38 pm

If it has full BMW service history, you would expect it to have the correct oil...

Post Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:43 pm

ohhhh soz Im abit slow tonite. It had the right grade but he was topping it up with a cheap brand that I cant remember the name off. Since done an oil change with castrol edge 0W-30. about 4 weeks ago.

Post Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:03 pm

As said HGF is rare with that engine.
When I worked for BMW they'd put 0W30 in an e30 on the rare occasion one came in.

Post Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:50 pm

Head gaskets are anything but rare on the M54. Like the steel liner M52's the alloy can sink between the liners if it's got hot. M54 heads are not cast like the old heads, but are made from compressed alloy balls and are more prone to cracking and issues. I've seen a couple of E46's with engine issues plus later E39's with the M52TU which is basically the same engine.
I wouldn't even attempt a head gasket - just put another engine in. If the head comes off yours and you find the block has sunk, that means it need a complete strip and a block skim - that means it's scrap. Then you have the problems of the block threads pulling on reassembly. Like so many modern engines, it's lovely when it's running but nasty when it isn't.
Does it overheat? The thing is, 330i's can use a lot of oil anyway and a sniff test (testing the coolant for exhaust gas) doesn't always work. Sounds like it needs to be cleaned up and sold sharpish.

Post Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:05 pm

It doesn't over heat at all. Isn't too bad on the oil. What other tests can I do to check?