M40 top end rebuild?!?

[nico2580]

Hi I have a tidy 318i with the dreaded M40 engine... and guess what the top end tappets are making a racket!

I have been wanting to upgrade to an M42 unit for a while but am unsure on my ability to carry out the conversion and don't have the funds to pay someone else to do the work (if i did i would have bought an E30 M3!!)

In the meantime I was thinking of getting one of the cam kits from Eurocarparts and rebuilding the top end myself.
I have limited experience working on engines but want to learn.

I am wondering if any of you have done this to your own cars and if its a big job for someone who is mechanically minded and generally good at fixing things but with no experience working on an M40 unit.

P.S. if there any type specific tools needed for this job?

Cheers
Nic Sadler

[eric]

I've thought about doing this to mine also, how much is the kit from eurocarparts?

As far as I can see it'll be the same as any other 'head to rebuild although the bottom end might need locking into to place (unless there are timing marks to work from?) to avoid any nasty fighting of the valves and pistons when it goes back.

As for specific tools, a valve spring compressor, torx's bits possibly?

Also, I remeber reading somewhere on the this forum about the oil pump wearing causing the prob in the 1st place?!?

Cheers
Eric

[Karan]

I've thought about doing this to mine also, how much is the kit from eurocarparts?

As far as I can see it'll be the same as any other 'head to rebuild although the bottom end might need locking into to place (unless there are timing marks to work from?) to avoid any nasty fighting of the valves and pistons when it goes back.

As for specific tools, a valve spring compressor, torx's bits possibly?

Also, I remeber reading somewhere on the this forum about the oil pump wearing causing the prob in the 1st place?!?

Cheers
Eric

ok this is gonna cost u about Ԛ£350 minimum with new rockers/tappets, cam, belt, gasket set etc..... this is just parts

i did it on my old 318i and u can do it with the haynes manual.. its pretty involved but can be done....

[Simon13]

there is a tool u can buy or make which locks the crank in place at TDC down near the gearbox (i think), which makes life alot easier. Not a hard engine to work on as it's simple and only has one cam! good luck

[Karan]

there is a tool u can buy or make which locks the crank in place at TDC down near the gearbox (i think), which makes life alot easier. Not a hard engine to work on as it's simple and only has one cam! good luck

its harder than an m20 i reckon cos of the goddam hydraulic tappets....

[Martinaston]

I had an old tatappety fiesta that had self adjusting tappets that work the same way as the M40.
And being tight rather than buy Ԛ£40 worth of tappets i took them out and slowly crushed them in a vice to get the old stale oil out of them.
When you do an oil change there is no way to get the old oil out as it does not circulate through them, so it just hardens inside them and eventually stops them compressing causing the noise.
They then have to be soaked in oil to remove the air otherwise it can take some time for them to reach the right pressure when back in the head.
This was a cheap bodge that worked for the ford engine but i've never tried it with an M40.
You could do all that and then find out it is a worn oil pump anyway.
But they cost Ԛ£80 so i know what i would try first

[nico2580]

The Kit is just on Ԛ£300 and so far have not found out any info from Eurocarparts regarding the quality or manufacturer.

My car has 155k on it now and the only things showing it are the drivers seat and engine (...and the cracked rear light from one of those invisible bollards in the Ikea car park!)

Even more undecided as to what to do with the car now after reading the thread regarding chucking a Mini Supercharger on the M40... still requires sorting mine out first though.

Cheers for the help, if there is anyone with first had experience of this could you let me know any possible pitfalls or what the quality of the Eurocarparts kits are like?

Cheers
Nic

[gazza]

just done it this week...parts from gsf cam etc were oem whole lot cost Ԛ£301...including the oil filter you have to buy to get the warranty on the whole kit...includes new cam,tappets,rockers cam oil seal,rocker gasket you will need new thermostat gasket , gsf sell a cam locking tool for about Ԛ£8 and it includes the flywheel locking tool...and as a matter of course a new cambelt(good time to change power steering/alterator belt)
i will post more details when i get a minute...the overall result is brilliant
its like a 20 hp bolt on kit its smoother,no misfires,pulls with ease,and its so quiet....well worth doing it

[Jos]

http://www.motormec.co.uk/engine.html

Special Offer
M40 Camshaft Kit only Ԛ£199.00 inc VAT & UK Delivery

Sample Prices
M40 Camshaft Kit includes:1x Camshaft,8x Rocker Arms,8x Hydraulic Tappets.This is the Minimum you must replace when fitting a replacement for a noisy camshaft,otherwise you will not cure the problem

You would need gaskets on top of this though.