Cracked head- what would you do?

Post Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:53 pm

Pressure test results today showed my head has cracked between cam bearings 4 and 5.

In light of the fact I reconditioned the head (but never had it pressure tested

)1500 mls ago, I reckon the best course of action would be a new bare head from gsf at Ãƒ”šÃ‚£235, and stick all my good guts in.
But I wondered about the pros and cons:

A 2nd hand head would be cheaper,I could probably strip, test and rebuild it for around Ãƒ”šÃ‚£150, but with no guarantees.

New bare head would not be BMW original so no logo's of stamps on the casting which would affect the 'purity' of the car, if you know what I mean, and what will the quality be like anyway?

So what would you do?

I'm not exactly flush with excess cash right now either......

Post Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:01 pm

if u go 4 a second hand head pm me and we'll chat as i got 2 and will guarntee good to go one wid 120 and other 140

Post Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:05 pm

Hi Dan
I would be very surprised if the head wasn't made in the same factory using the same moulds as the original BMW ones as these moulds are very expensive. A second hand one could be more trouble than its worth as there may be some hairline cracks in it that may propogate into one big one. At least if you get a brand new one you will get a 12 month warranty with it.
Andy

Post Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:24 pm

You could sell the remaining engine and ancillarys and drop in a 2.7 mate.
It probably would'nt be much dearer to be honest and the extra performance is always nice, + should increase value of your car. IMHO

Post Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:36 pm

I would do as Rowemeister suggests mate

Post Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:41 pm

I bit the bullet and bought a new one ...not original BMW - hoping all goes well as I should be finished in the next day or two with installation. But there is a lack of heads available in Denmark and I didn't want one that had already been skimmed ..... you don't skim one without reason !!!
At least I know it's new but you pay the price ... and I wasn't gonna change a 70000 km engine for a second hand with 190000 -
Tough choice, mate

G

Post Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:10 am

TOURINGDADDY wrote:if u go 4 a second hand head pm me and we'll chat as i got 2 and will guarntee good to go one wid 120 and other 140

Someone else looking for one under "another cracked head"

Post Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:20 am

Did anyone ever see the tv show with Fred Dibner when he was talking about stitching the the cracked boiler by drilling, tapping, screwing in a bolt and then grinding the heads off all the way up the crack.

Sounds like tons of work but could work if your that commited

Post Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:22 am

get one from gsf mate,

Matt

Post Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:13 am

cheers brianmooore

Post Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:16 pm

Really helpfully, GSF can't get them any more.
Everyone else wants to sell me a complete (recon) one for silly money.
The tosser at Euro car parts said he wouldn't send the one he has in stock to my local branch because he wouldnt earn any commission (I don't want it anyway for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£449) I wonder what his boss thinks of that.......

Could be a second hand one after all.