m30 head gasket + head

[mybmw6]

I'm about to install the head and head gasket on my M30 but I've noticed the block has the wide channels whereas the head and head gasket I've chosen are the newer type with the round channels.

Block with wide coolant channels


Block with round coolant channel Gasket


Head with round coolant channels to match gasket


Is it going to be a problem installing this head gasket with this block and head combination? My understanding was that the heads were interchangable between the m30's?

[Andy335Touring]

They both look like later gen' b35(e34/2) units(block/head) to me as the squish area on the pistons and head chambers match up ?

Is the gasket ment for b35 or b34 ?

Don't be overly worried about the holes matching up as it's only the oil drain off chanels from the head, the oil reterns back to the sump via this chanel and via the timing chain case.

If you look carefully at the waterways in the gasket/head/block the holes get bigger towards the back cylinders as the rear cylinders tend to get warmer than the front ones iirc.

When you're putting the head back on make sure the cylinder bolt holes are properly cleaned out and you put some oil on the bolt threads and washers, not loads, just a light covering.

Put a thin smear of instant gasket on both sides of the head gasket where the timing chain covers meet the head/block.

HTH Andy

[gareth]

Alright Andy How's things? Not seen you in a fair old while

[Cypriotgeeza]

hmm now im no expert but when i done my Headgasket on my m30 it was the same i.e big holes on the block and small on the head:



that was with the old headgasket- note the way the gasket covers the square holes

this is without the gasket->


And here is the cylinder head which came off it-->




Hope that helps

[mybmw6]

I scrounged around and found the original head gasket. It was the same as the new one, you could see the square impressions on the gasket from the block.

Thanks lads for all your help and advice, greatly appreciated!!! BTW I noticed the square hole gaskets seem harder to find than the ones with the round holes? Not that it matters.