Advise re potential dispute with garage re head gasket

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:16 am

Hello
I have a 1990 e30 325 Touring, really nice, low miles, etc. Last week on Thursday my local independent specialist did some work on it, replacing the intake manifold gasket, which seemed to sort the rough running. The very next day my wife drove the car approx 10 miles, by which time smoke was coming out the exhaust, the oil level light was on, and the temp gauge was up to red. AA attended and found oil in coolant, and air/steam on releasing the bleed valve on thermostat, and said head gasket blown, and that mechanic who worked on it day before had probably not checked for air locks when he topped up coolant after doing the intake gasket. The car is back with that mechanic who is going to take head off, diagnose etc. My contention is that car never had overheating prob before, and has now blown up the very next time it's driven after he worked on it, so he needs to bear some of the costs of fixing it. He seems to be angling at it being an unlucky coincidence.
Thanks for reading my long post.
I'd be very grateful for any advise or opinion that might help in looming dispute with garage.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:33 am

It's certainly possible that the head gasket failed due to an air lock cooking the head and it warping or cracking it as the 2.5 head does not like to overheat.

A gasket kit is in the region of £100, but you'll also need new headbolts as these cannot be re-used, but the head may need skimmed or welded also if its salvagable.

Sounds to me that it's there fault, M20's can be a PITA to bleed properly.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:50 am

Thanks for quick response. It sounds like a big job, just as I feared. My worry is that mechanic will try to come up with an alternative technical explanation that avoids him taking responsibility. He is already saying that the intake manifold gasket replacement did not require him to bleed the coolant, that he only toped it up, 'just as a favour'. To me, it seems too much of a coincidence that this should happen the very next day after he did the job.
Does anyone have advise re how to make sure mechanic carries the cost, or most of it?
Thanks.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:57 am

It will be difficult to prove conclusively who's at fault. Keep it friendly if you can, hope for the best, but expect to have to pay for parts while they do the labour.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:03 am

not much coolant is lost removing the inlet manifold-i have never had to re-bleed the coolant after doing a inlet manifold gasket.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:33 am

Thanks Z31 and sweep. I'd be ok with paying for parts if he pays for labour. I hope it stays friendly, but in case it doesn't, do you think there is any point in an independent inspection? That costs me money obviously, and will delay things, and it may be too late if mechanic has already began taking it apart.
Any more thoughts on likelihood of this being mechanics fault vs. coincidence would be much appreciated.
Thanks