help from an m30b35 expert please

[wixsy]

pretty sure my headgasket has gone or the head is cracked in my track car. im having a real job to bleed the cooling system. i had the car running for an hour, jacked up on the header tank side, i had the tank removed and as high up as i could get if and was constantly bleeding it but as soon as i turned it off it pressured and spat water out of the expansion pipe and gurgled a huge amount of air into the expansion tank. no oil in water , no water in oil so im thinking that the air is getting into the system somewhere. #
bit of a pig cos today was its shakedown day. all temps and oil pressure and temp all ok. So i think im gonna need a link to the head removal of a m30b35. please help as i need this sorted as soon as i can.

[leeparkes]

M30's can be quite tough to bleed, i drill a tiny hole in the top of the thermostat to help get the air out, try this first before you pull the head off.

If you still have no joy here's a good head removal link.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=209885

[Rav335uk]

Had this on mione to, but only once.
No h/g problem though, I filled it up and it settled.
As lee said, drill a small 3mm hole in the thermostat at the top.

[wixsy]

Thanks Lee, thats a superb link. im thinking i may just replace the whole engine. it'll probably be quicker. mine runs coilpacks so is dizzyless, does that make a difference reguards that head link. Also i forgot a bout the heater, mine has been removed ( i think, id better check), does this make an difference to the bleed procedure

[leeparkes]

Bleeding should be easier if you dont have the heater matrix providing the two original hoses are joined together.

[zaust]

I fill up with fluid to the level indicator on the bottle. Then crack the bleed screw and put my mouth over the coolant bottle and blow till fluid comes out the bleed screw then you should be done or top up and repeat.
If your still pressuring then cylinder leak test is needed.
Can only be head gasket or cracked block.

What condition is your pump in ?

[wixsy]

will check tomorrow am. thanks again lee. im not too disappointed as everythingslse worked as it should and it looks the bollox. when you say drill a 3mm hole in the thermostat i actually took that out to make it easier, is that a negative step. im a cossie/gtr man so all the bmw stuff is new to me but im having fun and that what matters.
Anybody from north essex who knows all about these. A hand would be good, food, drink, monies or the wife available for a hand

[leeparkes]

Iirc running without a stat can cause hot spots in the engine, it should bleed better though without it fitted.

Any pics of the wife?

[zaust]

Put the stat back in. Drill the hole where the little arrow is stamped on the stat.
And as above pics please.

[wixsy]

ill dig some out tmrw!!!
What difference will putting thermostat back in, even with a hole drilled in it. im lost

[wixsy]

also looking at pics of a 535 engine bay i notice that the header tank sits above the thermostat housing, height wise that is. on the e30 the tank is lower, is this right. ive seen a few conversions and they all seem to use the e30 header tank in that original position i presume it works even tho it doesnt seem right

[zaust]

If the car is running correctly then it won't matter if the coolant bottle is on the floor.

[wixsy]

why would it pump loads of bubbles into the header tank when i turned it off, i dont get that bit

[zaust]

It shouldn't. Get a cylinder leak test done. That will show if ypu have head gasket failure or not. My last one had a cracked block such showed nothing on any tests but just constantly pressurized the system. Its common for them to spider crack round the head bolts if not cleaned before replacing a head or if been sat for a long time dry.

[wixsy]

That sounds about right, ive had it tested on the header tank and it was ok, was gonna do cylinder test done tomorrow. I think i'll just b uy another bloody engine. pacerpete has a runner for sale, i presume he's a sound guy

[zaust]

Pete is but he told me he has none !

I did a head swap today on mine due to a cracked head. Just got to see if it drives ok and then maybe a new lump for me too if not.