Anyone fixed the head gasket on a 318is?

[tekta]

After taking too long to fix a leaky radiator and ballsing up the refilling of the coolant I am now the proud owner of an overheated, busted 318is. Local garage says there is definitely a leak and the head needs reskimming, and quoted 400ish +vat to fix it.

Unfortunately my bentley manual doesn't cover the M42, so I have no idea whether I could attempt this myself. Found prices of Ԛ£120ish for gasket kit and bolts, reskimmimg around Ԛ£70, but obvioulsy would like to save on labour costs.
Engine has done 174,000 and ran well up til my 'problem'. Changed oil regularly and never take it past 3000 til warm, but only thing ever replaced is the timing chain tensioner. So just wondering also if other things should be replaced at the same time, if I were to attempt this job.

Cheers
Mark

[redrobbie]

I know this was posted a couple of months ago but has anyone changed the head gasket before? Im doing a bit of research on the head gasket on the m42 and have just found this old post.

Any links etc..
Cheers

[tomstickland]

Well from what I've read in the Haynes E36 manual and from what I've seen chaning the timing chain I don't think it's a particularly bad job to do.

[redrobbie]

How well does the e36 haynes manual cover the job as I don't have it. Thanks

[tomstickland]

E36 manual has a complete chapter on the 4 cyl engines including the M42 and M43. Loads of photos. It's a must have for the 318iS really. I bought mine on Ebay for Ԛ£6 or something.

[matcox77]

We have just replaced the profile gasket on a friends 318is, it was not that difficult to do. He sourced all the parts from BMW and I think it came to about Ԛ£250 but we replaced the water pump, thermostat and bits of fuel line while we were at it.

There is a post on here with pictures at various stages, we got lots of information from people on the Zone which gave us the confidence to do the job - zone to the rescue again!

Matt.