Replacing head gasket on 520i e34

[SiK-E34 0]

Hey guys im new here, buying an e34 and has a cooling problem thats y its so cheap, sounds like a head gaskit prob, is it easy to DIY? or would it be easier to save hassle and buy a new engine?

help would be greatly appreciated.

also if i was to go for a bigger engine like a 2.5 or 3lte will my 5speed gearbox bolt up to these engines and what sort of certs will i need to be legal?

cheers

Rob

Edited November 12, 2009 by *Glenn*

[melowpuf 19]

Hey guys im new here, buying an e34 and has a cooling problem thats y its so cheap, sounds like a head gaskit prob, is it easy to DIY? or would it be easier to save hassle and buy a new engine?

help would be greatly appreciated.

also if i was to go for a bigger engine like a 2.5 or 3lte will my 5speed gearbox bolt up to these engines and what sort of certs will i need to be legal?

cheers

Rob

What engine is it?? m20 or m50? the gearbox will bolt onto the 2.5l engine as long as it is of the same family (m20b25 or m50b25). M20's are fairly easy.. make sure you get the head tested and skimmed. m50's are a little trickier, prob best to buy a replacement engine to drop in if its an m50. Plenty around fairly cheap.

[*Glenn* 854]

^^^ What Lance said. We need better information to give you the right advise. Legaly, you need a cert for 25% or more CC's or 25% power gain on the original motor. If you dont change engine type...no one would be any the wiser and I dont think you'd get caught out. Unless you were changing to a completely different motor for that model. Head replacement or headgasket replacement is best done by someone with mechanical knowledge, not really DIY unless you have some mechanical skills and all the right tools.

[SiK-E34 0]

pretty sure its the m20 motor, just the single cam head, hidious looking thing, what other motors will my getrag bolt onto? might just do a motor replacement.

[dirtydoogle 383]

2.7 ETA time?

[e30ftw 396]

Check my auction on trademe for a 2.7 stroker.. I might even still have a 5 series oil pan you could chuck on it to fit your e34..

[SiK-E34 0]

Check my auction on trademe for a 2.7 stroker.. I might even still have a 5 series oil pan you could chuck on it to fit your e34..

think ill just replace my head gaskit for now, how do i find out what motor i have exactly??? m20b20?? or would it be different? its an 1988 E34 520i

[melowpuf 19]

think ill just replace my head gaskit for now, how do i find out what motor i have exactly??? m20b20?? or would it be different? its an 1988 E34 520i

Will be an m20b20. I would suggest getting the head checked for warpage and cracking... and also get the surface skimmed if it checks out ok.

Do your cambelt at least while you are in there, also recommend your waterpump and check your cambelt tensioner while you have the front off.

[SiK-E34 0]

Will be an m20b20. I would suggest getting the head checked for warpage and cracking... and also get the surface skimmed if it checks out ok.

Do your cambelt at least while you are in there, also recommend your waterpump and check your cambelt tensioner while you have the front off.

what is the head gasket worth? and what will the head skim cost me? and is there any1 on here aroud waikato that can do that? or maybe help me replace the head gaskit Edited November 16, 2009 by SiK BeeMa Bro

[SiK-E34 0]

also who would stock these gaskets?

[BM WORLD 1262]

also who would stock these gaskets?

try bm warehouse in hamilton

[melowpuf 19]

Need to get the head checked by a cylinder head specialist who will also be able to skim it. Price depends if you have any contacts in the industry.

You WILL need to get new headbolts aswell. Once again depending who you know depends on how much.

All going well I would budget at least $500-$600, on your headgasket replacement if your head is not cracked and can be salvaged.

Things to put on the to buy list:

Headbolts

Headgasket

CamBelt

Tensioner(maybe)

Waterpump(maybe)

Thermostat(maybe)

Radiatior(maybe)

Cooling hoses(maybe)

Oil

Filter

Antifreeze

Also most importantly what caused the blown headgasket in the first place (usually overheating which is why I listed the "maybe's"), What ever caused it to fail will need to be fixed otherwise no point replacing it.

Have to look at how much you are prepared to spend on the car to be honest. By the sounds of things you are needing a lot of things.

I have a 520i manual that has been sitting on my front lawn for over a year now, may be a cheaper and faster option to buy this one and swap the few things that need replacing on it i.e Shocks, maybe the gearbox a couple of years down the track depending how you drive it, rather than fixing the one you have now..

Edited November 16, 2009 by melowpuf

[SiK-E34 0]

ok got a price, $421 exactly for the head gasket kit and timing belt and tensioner. this is from repco, forgot to ask about the head bolts thought. can you use the old bolts or do they HAVE to be replaced?

[c.robertson00 11]

You HAVE to replace head stups everytime they have been torqued down

[euroitalian 60]

Bimmersport price for Head Gasket Set (OEM quality!), Head Bolt Set, Cambelt, & Tensioner $431.27 inc GST. Sent freight Free NZ wide.

[SiK-E34 0]

Bimmersport price for Head Gasket Set (OEM quality!), Head Bolt Set, Cambelt, & Tensioner $431.27 inc GST. Sent freight Free NZ wide.

Mate ill be intouch with you!!! repco wanted 420 for head gasket kit and belt and tensioner...... extra 138 for head studds!!!

[e30ftw 396]

Repco headgaskets are shocking.

Ring's only on one side of it, that surround the cylinder. Not even joined only on one side. Oil passage holes didn't even line up right. Wouldn't take much to blow such a Sh*t headgasket.

The ones from Gavin are Victor Reinz. Those are the biz.

[SiK-E34 0]

Repco headgaskets are shocking.

Ring's only on one side of it, that surround the cylinder. Not even joined only on one side. Oil passage holes didn't even line up right. Wouldn't take much to blow such a Sh*t headgasket.

The ones from Gavin are Victor Reinz. Those are the biz.

Sweet as mate, will get onto that. does anyone know a rough price to get a head pressure tested, crack tested and skimmed?

[e30ftw 396]

Got mine done at a local machine shop, Just $100 + GST. But that was after I took it back after having it rebuilt so I think they chopped the price down abit.. But I guess ball park figure for you.

[SiK-E34 0]

Got mine done at a local machine shop, Just $100 + GST. But that was after I took it back after having it rebuilt so I think they chopped the price down abit.. But I guess ball park figure for you.

Sweet as mate, what did the rebuild cost you?

[e30ftw 396]

Sweet as mate, what did the rebuild cost you?

Ah, Got the receipt somewhere.. It was about $400 ? + the cost of 12 valve guides.

That included crack and pressure test, install 12 new valve guides, new valve seats, grind the rockers, good cam put in (they gave me one), new valve stem seals, head skimmed etc..

Had to get the head skimmed and pressure tested again though (Blew a headgasket), that was what the $100+gst was for.

[SiK-E34 0]

Ah, Got the receipt somewhere.. It was about $400 ? + the cost of 12 valve guides.

That included crack and pressure test, install 12 new valve guides, new valve seats, grind the rockers, good cam put in (they gave me one), new valve stem seals, head skimmed etc..

Had to get the head skimmed and pressure tested again though (Blew a headgasket), that was what the $100+gst was for.

Oh yep sweet as, just a question... will an m20b25 bolt straight up into my E34? like are they the same engine virtually with a bigger capacity or will i need to do some mods?

[e30ftw 396]

Oh yep sweet as, just a question... will an m20b25 bolt straight up into my E34? like are they the same engine virtually with a bigger capacity or will i need to do some mods?

Yeah if it's from an e30 you'd need to use the e34 engine arms, e34 sump. Other than that you just need all the electrics etc from the m20b25 like loom and ECU and it's straight bolt in..

[SiK-E34 0]

Yeah if it's from an e30 you'd need to use the e34 engine arms, e34 sump. Other than that you just need all the electrics etc from the m20b25 like loom and ECU and it's straight bolt in..

sweet as, would the sump off my m20b20 bolt onto it?

[e30ftw 396]

Yup, You can use the arms and sump of your current motor.