320i breather pipe problem

[bmwe30mtech]

Hi all,

I have just done the headgasket on my 1988 (facelift) 320i touring, because the oil and water were mixing badly, and the oil was entering the cooling system. I suspected the head may be cracked as well, so I swapped it for another 320i head I had spare and knew was a good one.

However, problem is that now I have put the new head on, the breather pipe which runs between the block and the underside of the inlet manifold is not long enough. It is about 1cm too short, and does not fill the gap. Both cylinder heads had the same code on them, and I think were identical.

Am I missing something here (literally?!). Isn't it just the breather pipe with a rubber o ring one end, and a spring, washer and o ring the other?

Do the breathers come in different lengths depending on the 320i head? Seems unlikely.

Thanks in advance,

Paul

[bss325i]

The head has nothing to do with it, the pipe runs between the block and the inlet.

All M20 heads are the same height.

[bmwe30mtech]

I know it does Barry, but it filled the gap when I took the thing apart, and now it doesn't! The only thing I have changed is the head, and so it doesn't make sense. I have been working on M20s for years now and never come across this issue.

Thanks

[bodger]

got the spring on the wrong end?

[bmwe30mtech]

Spring is on the right end!

I just went out and looked at the pipe closely and you can just make out that the end has sheered off it, but cleanly so it wasn't obvious.

....and of course the end has fallen inside the sump, so there goes my weekend

Thanks for the replies anyway