DIY HEAD GASKET.

[palerider325icab]

Well guys i want to try and repair the 320i myself if i can,the rad and all the pipe work is already out so where do i start.
I have seen a few cyclinder heads for sale on ebay would that be my best bet or do i stick with my own and get it tested and skimmed.
I have also notice diff prices on head gaskets sets what the score on them.I have also seen a bolt set for Ԛ£100.
So can anybody tell me what bit i will need and what my first step should be.
Nearly forgot pulled the catch to pop the hood worked no problem shut no problem,tried again and it wont pop open now.How do i get in to the engine bay now lol.

Cheers

[Fushion_Julz]

If you buy a head on eBay and fit it without having it crack-tested and checked for flatness, you are playing with fire, as it were...

Why go to all the bother and not do it properly?

If it were me, I'd start by checking over your head...Is it flat? You can do a crude check with a steel rule...If it is, and has no obvious other faults, then get it crack-tested...Then do whatever work you want/need like valve seats, cam bearings, etc, before assembling it onto the block.

At least, then, you will know it is good!

[Turbo-Brown]

Think I paid about Ԛ£120 (or was is Ԛ£210?) for ahead set which has all the gaskets and seals needed to recondition yer head (in terms of stuff leaking anyway)

The head bolts were less than Ԛ£15!

[jonb]

palerider325icab

this engine you got. whats the score, overheating? oil in the water? vica versa? if so then your head is cracked. well 99% of the time.

dont waste time getting it tested. take the head off, remove cam, then closely inspect all the journals. you may find a hairline crack along a few of them.

the head i have is in great condtion. fully working order, and will be inspected on removal.

get an epc gasket set. about Ԛ£60.

[TOURINGDADDY]

dude i've got a stunnin 320 head guarnteed good and not long been rebuilt ie new cam,rockers etc the head has been welded up but is spot on, fowler has seen this as we were gonna fit it to his but his block was dead so we fitted a 325 instead. this could b yours for Ԛ£100

[fowler]

can garentee this head is a minter was going to put it on mine but was dead as a doddo

[palerider325icab]

This is the story so far,car was bought with a blown head gasket oil in water and water in oil the guy has removed the rad.
I know its only a 320ise but hey its in great condition interior is like a brand new car and stacks of service history plus its a nice colour with all the SE bits and low miles [silver]
I have sorted the bonnet release catch so thats fine.
I have since removed the battary plus all the plugs which were all oiled up with black oil.
I am now lost as i do not know what my next move is.
I suppose getting a second hand head of the zone would be the best bet, then getting somebody to fit everthing.

What is the next stage in removeing the head do i need any special tools as i do not want to do any damage.

Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

the only semi specialist tool requirtd would b a set of torx sockets and a tork wrench and a viscus cuplin spanner

ps. i also have the head as above

[tourer-dan]

Get the car running up to temp first, then remove the rocker cover with the engine running and check to see any escaping beads of water/steam from cracks along the cam line.
Buy your head gasket set and bolts from GSF, and if you buy everything else at the same time (belts, oil and filter, plugs etc) the chap will probably do you a trade discount if you ask nicely. this brings the price of the gasket and bolts down to about Ԛ£60.
It's definately a job you can do yourself. Take plenty of time, label all the electrical connectors by writing on masking tape and make notes about cable routing. Label the hoses at the front as it can take a while to work them all out when you've got all 3 in your hand and you can't remember where they go! Drain the block by removing the plug hidden by the ex. manifold under spark plug 5 and there will be less mess when the head comes off. Buy a new plug too, the old one will probably be rotting away.
I enjoyed doing mine!.......BOTH TIMES!

[fowler]

I have a comple 320 head set fdrom euro if you want un-used
also loads of other gear as well

[Richy325iTouring]

ii got the head that i was ripped off with
rebuilt but for a 320
731 is the number on casing
sensible offer for it as it cost me 225

[palerider325icab]

Guys i have now got the manifold off and the rocker cover,what a job but hey its done.I have now got to get a spline set i think thats what you call them i might be wrong its like a star shaped nut there is quite a few of them.What happens next after i remove them i take it that the head is below.
Does halfords stock such a set and how much.
Is there any cheap mods that i can do 2 the m20 engine while its all in bits.
Also the engine bay is dirty now with loads of gung a oil what the best to clean up the engine bay.

Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

halfords do sell these 4 Ԛ£25 sheets are u gonna remove the inlet or remove it all as 1 ? (head & inlet manifold) but yes if all is disconnected and the head bolts out then lift off but b warned this will b very heavy so a second pair of hands would b good and the seal between the head and the block will b tight also just lift it will come

[palerider325icab]

Cheers m8 so i take it that they are called spline nuts, you know the top end of manifold the bit thats got the throttle cable well i have that off its just pushed to one side but its away from the block.
I think i have a few more nuts right at the bottom of the block which i think have to come off.
The rocker cover is off and i have a clear veiw with the oil spray bar in veiw it just them strange nuts.
What happens next when i lossen them bolts are they the stretch bolts that you have to buy again.
It hard to put all this in writing i must sound like a right numb nut,but its the first time i have done any thing like this.
Once the head is out and i have a replacement i will then take it to my bmw specilist and hopefully he will be able to put it back and get it going hopeing i just hope i have not made a bollocks of it as i have taken a few pipes off and the breather unit which has the ecu i think but he should know where everthing goes.

Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

yes they r the bolts u need to replace but its unusall that ur bmw specialist is takin the job on once u have stripped it down, they dont normally do that


ps my 320 head is only Ԛ£100 and just been rebuilt

[palerider325icab]

I phoned him this morning and have booked it in for the 12sep, i asked him what i could do in the meantime,and he said strip it which i have nearly done.All he would have to do it slip a new head in with all the gaskets and rebuild saves on time and time = labour charges which saves money he says it will take him 3 hours,not after i am finished with it lol.

What does your head come with would i still have to get it tested and how much for p/p.

Cheers
Ryan

[TOURINGDADDY]

head is complete and no testin is needed its mint and been welded already. inc p&p Ԛ£130 should cover every thing

[palerider325icab]

I bought a spline set this morning at halfords,and have now got all the bolts out.There are now 2 bolts to come out at the bottom of the manifold on the drivers side towards the back of the car and i can just not get in its a real pain in the arse.Would i be better jacking the car up and trying from under the car any ideas.

Touringdaddy i will have that head from as soon as i am ready will keep you posted.

Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

na u can leave the manifold on and un bolt the front pipe then remove once off but if u wann remove before the head comes off then best from top

[palerider325icab]

I just hope i have not made a stuff up,even with 2 bolts to go and all the spline bolts out it wont move an inch plus the last 2 spine bolts are out but yiu cant remove them as there is no room these are the last 2 towards the back of the car if you know what i mean.

Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

i know what 1s u mean so long as there loose, and it will be on there youll need a bar of some sort to use as a leaver to get it lose

[palerider325icab]

Well i will first have to try and get the 2 bolts out on the manifold,then what you are saying is lever the head off some how,will i not do any damage.
So close and yet so far.

LOL

[palerider325icab]

Touring daddy what about any mods for the 320 do you know of any,maybe a 325i throttle body [just guessing]

Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

might i say might but very unlikly bend a valve but ur not using ur head so it wont matter

[palerider325icab]

What about any modes to improve.

[TOURINGDADDY]

325 throttle body would b nice if u can find 1

[palerider325icab]

Would it work,and what diff will it make.

Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

ask dazles im sure he done it recently i got 2.5 rightness

[palerider325icab]

Cheers, i have also got a 325i MOTORSPORT CONVERTIBLE i should have bought 1 of the zoners 325i sport mtec 1 instead of messing around with a 320i but it was the condition of the car that done it for me and besides i wont be raceing anybody.

Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

thats what cabs r all bout, crusin

[palerider325icab]

Hi guys i have got the last 2 bolts out and the head is free but still wont come out due to the houseing in the front.
All the bolts are lose aside from alittle red/orange thing that has funny screws i think they are call torque i have just priced a set of torgue allen keys at a tenner and the place closes at 4.
Do i need to remove those screws to get the head out please guys i need to know asap.


Cheers

[TOURINGDADDY]

yes mate that needs to come off

[palerider325icab]

Its all done got it off this afternoon,turned out to be just a standard allen key,wasted Ԛ£8 on a torque allen key set.

Thanks.

[palerider325icab]

Guys just a thought,would a 325i complete manifold and head bolt on 2 my 320i block would this work.

Cheers.

[E30Mark]

no to the 325i head fitting...

by the way it's 'torx' bits not torque