e28 m5 headgasket......

[e30-EVN]

Someone I know called me up as he had someone fix the headgasket for him. Now when turning over it goes clack clack which sound terrible when running lol

I've said that it maybey a tooth out, but after gathering info on who did it and the procedure they carried out (their technique I mean) I was horrified to hear that the head was taken off, not stripped of its cam, valves ect ect and sent to be skimed

He said some of the valves are shaved (obv the ones that were down!)
My reply was "WHAT.!! So your tellin me you sent it to be skimmed with the valves still in situ"?
He said yes!!!

Oh god.........
What would you guys do in this situation as I don't wanna waste my time going there to time it up and it be proper fuked.!

[B7]

Sounds like a complete abortion of a jobs been done and one to swerve IMO. Sounds like a potential nightmare!

[e30-EVN]

Exactly what I was thinking mate to be fair. I was called in to check timing but when I seen it and heard the bloody thing plus gathered info ect I was like "woah, let me ask a few guru's first because in my mind right now its a new head situation and timing isn't going to do shite"!!

Only way I will touch it now is if he got a complete running m30 and I go in to replace the lot lol.

Another thing I can't help but think is, even though its not a tidy example its such a waste of what "could be" a good classic
Sin of sins imo!!

[Rav335uk]

If its going Clack Clack, and had a skim so far as to shave the valves, I bet it's out of timming and also had too much skim that the pistons are hitting the valves. .

Did the guy put on a standard H/G back on, or go for a thicker one?

[Andyboy]

Only way I will touch it now is if he got a complete running m30 and I go in to replace the lot lol.

Sorry, is this a 24 valve M5, or an M535i?

Sounds like an M535i with the old M30 engine. For the valves to be touching the pistons, the head would need a LOT taking off.

[snakebrain]

You said m30? Is it an m5 or an m535i? Good condition m30 head is a lot cheaper and easier to find than the m5 equivalent...

[e30-EVN]

Sorry, yes its an m535i........ From what I've seen and what I've been told I won't touch with a barge pole! Unless he wants me to change the whole thing, as if I try ammending the "abortion" as put above and its still fooked I'm not having my reputation damaged by other peoples incompitance

I personally reckon a known good replacement m30 is the way forward.

Rav - he didn't say but if I know them they would have used the normal replacement headgasket

[harry_p]

it might sound silly, but loads of cars could get away with a head skim with the cams still in place, especially on stuff with pretty mild cams.

last head i took in years ago the people who did it were surprised i'd stripped it right down and removed the valves, they said they usually just have the cams removed. seemed sensible to me wilst it was off to strip and clean everything. re-lap the valves etc

[Rav335uk]

If it's the M30, they would have had to skim well ove 2mm off the head.
IIRC, there is a mark on the head which tells you how much is tooo much to take off.
There is one on here that's had a full 1mm skim with no issues of anything touching.
Marc, AKA Zaust has a M30 head he's selling.

[rhubarb]

I wouldn't get involved with someone else's fuck up..

I bet its something simple like valve clearances need adjusting proper, or oil starvation

[Simon13]

i'm sorry but i can't see how you can skim a head with the cam still in and valves pocking out.

You certainly can't on my old mans machine thats forsure.

[alan1272]

i'm sorry but i can't see how you can skim a head with the cam still in and valves pocking out.

You certainly can't on my old mans machine thats forsure.

surely any half-decent machinist wouldn't attempt it either!

[Rodderz]

And what about the swarf and shit that is going to get everywhere?

[e30-EVN]

This is what he told me lol, I have to stress that if he'd employed me in the first place I'd have sent a bare head to be shaved.

It was when I asked "did you have the head skimmed?" And he replied "yes but some of the valves are shaved"

I said what, so you didn't take the cam and valves ect out? And he replied "NO, are you supposed to"?

Don't understand how it could have been put on the machine myself but obv amateurs who did it

[B7]

Aahhhh. so it's a 12v m30 not a 24v!

The other thing to remember is that with the cam in, there will be pressure on various different points of the head (where the valves are open). Therefore if you did try to skim it like this (and as above, f*ck knows what machine shop with half an ounce of knowledge would try it), it will have zero chance of being true once torqued down.

Anyone will tell you that a spare head in storage should ALWAYS be stored flat and with the rockers removed or it will bow or distort under the pressure of the compressed valve springs.

Same as, sounds like a complete f*ck up. Swerve it is my advice.

[e30-EVN]

Will take that advise mate, thanks everyone who have contibuted

[Andyboy]

The head is almost certainly scrap, so a replacement head should sort it. You'll be paying £350 for a really, really good sensible mileage E28 3.5 engine now - one that you can hear running, that is. Pacerpete has one.

M42 heads, even with the cams out, can just get a smidgin taken of the edge of the valves when skimmed.

[HairyScreech]

my biggest concern would be the swarf that's now floating around in there somewhere.

if the head was skimmed built who knows where the swarf ended up.

[e30-EVN]

I share your concern there mate to be fair.!

I've since told him the only way I'm gunna put my hands on it is if he gets a known good running m30 and then I will change it out for a fee. I will not damage what people know about me for a fuk up job