320i exhaust manifold gasket

[bazza93]

hi guys !
just got back from tesco's, thought i would check the old girl over abit,
found that the exhaust manifold is blowing ( from the head ).
is this an easy repair as i have heard some stories about the studs, also are the gaskets readily available.
cheers
chris

[Simon]

hi guys !
just got back from tesco's, thought i would check the old girl over abit,
found that the exhaust manifold is blowing ( from the head ).
is this an easy repair as i have heard some stories about the studs, also are the gaskets readily available.
cheers
chris

Gaskets are available from BMW, ones from ECP are poor quality, GSF ones are similar if not the same as dealer ones.

I've done this job twice on 2 different cars of mine, and I was suprised how easy it was, all nuts came off easily, and a couple brought the stud out with them, not a problem!
It's when the studs snap the problems start.

Don't assume yours will be this easy, as I've read a few different experiences on here!
Order the new gaskets from BMW, and get some new studs and nuts while you're there.

[Chris-W]

With respect, Simon, the ECP gaskets I get are as good as BMW (not the nasty floppy numbers). Maybe it's a branch thing?

[Simon]

With respect, Simon, the ECP gaskets I get are as good as BMW (not the nasty floppy numbers). Maybe it's a branch thing?

OK, maybe it's the other way around, I did buy some once, and they didn't have the metal strip around the outer edge, and were made of a worse material as you say.

Perhaps they've stocked both types at one stage.

[Chris-W]

Like you/I say, might be a branch/stock at that moment issue. I always get the metal-edged numbers from ECP.