Blown Head Gasket

[firstjuly 0]

Hi there,

Am new to these forums but would like some advice about what to do with my 2004 BMW 318i.

Whilst driving my BMW the other day, I noticed the temperature go up into the red zone. I continued for about 200m to get to somewhere safe and let it cool down. I did not know what was going on, but when I turned the engine back on again, it was fine, and so drove from where I was (Twizel) to Oamaru. The temperature was fine the whole time until I got to Oamaru, where at low speeds, the temperature went back up into the red area.

I got the car towed back to Dunedin with AA plus, and found out that there was milky fluid in the coolant. My mechanic says it is probably a blown head gasket and that it will cost me quite a bit to have the gasket repaired and all the milky stuff flushed out of the system.

I am just wondering:

1) Are blown head gaskets the usual cause for the cloudy coolant and engine overheating?

2) How much should I be charge for having it repaired?

3) Are there any other options for me?

4) My mechanic did an engine oil change and change of spark plugs about 6 months ago. Ever since then, the orange engine oil level sign would come on whenever I turned the engine on, and stay there for about 10 seconds afterwards (it never happened before the servicing). However, because the light always went away, I never thought much about it. Do you think that this could have been a warning sign of some thing wrong with the servicing/spark plug replacements, which might have lead to this blown head gasket? In other words, do you think that there could have been any negligence on their part?

Thank you very much for taking the time to review my questions. I would really appreciate it if any one could provide me with some helpful answers. Many thanks!

Cheers!

[RAH 6]

Hi there,

Am new to these forums but would like some advice about what to do with my 2004 BMW 318i.

Whilst driving my BMW the other day, I noticed the temperature go up into the red zone. I continued for about 200m to get to somewhere safe and let it cool down. I did not know what was going on, but when I turned the engine back on again, it was fine, and so drove from where I was (Twizel) to Oamaru. The temperature was fine the whole time until I got to Oamaru, where at low speeds, the temperature went back up into the red area.

I got the car towed back to Dunedin with AA plus, and found out that there was milky fluid in the coolant. My mechanic says it is probably a blown head gasket and that it will cost me quite a bit to have the gasket repaired and all the milky stuff flushed out of the system.

I am just wondering:

1) Are blown head gaskets the usual cause for the cloudy coolant and engine overheating?

2) How much should I be charge for having it repaired?

3) Are there any other options for me?

4) My mechanic did an engine oil change and change of spark plugs about 6 months ago. Ever since then, the orange engine oil level sign would come on whenever I turned the engine on, and stay there for about 10 seconds afterwards (it never happened before the servicing). However, because the light always went away, I never thought much about it. Do you think that this could have been a warning sign of some thing wrong with the servicing/spark plug replacements, which might have lead to this blown head gasket? In other words, do you think that there could have been any negligence on their part?

Thank you very much for taking the time to review my questions. I would really appreciate it if any one could provide me with some helpful answers. Many thanks!

Cheers!

Firstly. It sounds definitely like a blown head gasket.

Once blown there is only 1 real course of action and that is get it replaced as the car is useless atm.

The repair can be expensive.

Parts needed are

- New Head Gasket kit

- The head will need to be re-machined to remove any distortion due to overheating.

- It normally is advisable to get the head pressure tested at this stage to ensure its not cracked as well.

While you are at this stage its a good idea to consider replacing the cambelt and waterpump but this clearly increases your costs

Then you need to pay a Guy to do all this.....

Prices can vary greatly from car to car.

costs can easily be between $800 and upto $1500 upwards with cambelt etc

As to your oil light that sounds like a seperate issue to me

[Jono51 59]

cambelt??

chain driven

to OP

Oil light is a seperate issue and nothing to do with blown headgasket, no negligence

as for cost, pretty much as long as a piece of string

get it to a garage and quoted etc, but it might need a replacement head, you've driven on it for 150km after overheated and it's gone custard

Edited April 11, 2013 by JKSE

[RAH 6]

cambelt??

chain driven

to OP

Oil light is a seperate issue and nothing to do with blown headgasket, no negligence

as for cost, pretty much as long as a piece of string

get it to a garage and quoted etc, but it might need a replacement head, you've driven on it for 150km after overheated and it's gone custard

True...if its a chain drive then you wont need to touch that

[*Glenn* 855]

What motor ? M43 or N42 ?

[firstjuly 0]

Thanks guys! This has been really helpful.

The engine is a N46B20 and the car is chain driven so no belt to replace!

Got quoted $4-9k for the job which seems a bit much. So will have to be asking round for better quotes and see if it is still worth the repair. The car's only done less than 100,000km!

[charles28 138]

Thanks guys! This has been really helpful.

The engine is a N46B20 and the car is chain driven so no belt to replace!

Got quoted $4-9k for the job which seems a bit much. So will have to be asking round for better quotes and see if it is still worth the repair. The car's only done less than 100,000km!

Mmm 4-9k is a big variation.

It might be better to send the car to CHCH and get a specialist to do the work, ie Kevin Burt, which may still cost as much, but hopefully closer to 4k

Edited April 12, 2013 by Charles32

[RAH 6]

What motor ? M43 or N42 ?

omg thats expensive.... send it to Auckland. I will do it for a fraction of the cost.

Just finished a m20b25 this afternoon so can start on yours next lol

[HELLBM 1560]

N42/46 is a different proposition to a M20 when it comes to repair.

Replaced a few N42/46 motors now and have sold a couple of heads.

Replacement motor will set you back $2-$3 add $800 for install.

Or can do you a head (non overheat)for $1200. This will require setting up tha valvetronic gear etc. with a compatent mechanic/woorkshop.

Watch the misinformation that is often offered on this forum.

Edited April 12, 2013 by HELLBM

[RAH 6]

N42/46 is a different proposition to a M20 when it comes to repair.

Replaced a few N42/46 motors now and have sold a couple of heads.

Replacement motor will set you back $2-$3 add $800 for install.

Or can do you a head (non overheat)for $1200. This will require setting up tha valvetronic gear etc. with a compatent mechanic/woorkshop.

Watch the misinformation that is often offered on this forum.

I quote from this comment......

Got quoted $4-9k for the job which seems a bit much. So will have to be asking round for better quotes and see if it is still worth the repair. The car's only done less than 100,000km!

$4k- 9K is rediculous Ray hence my reply.

M20b25 are very different....thanks for stating the obvious

Edited April 12, 2013 by RAH

[steve1 0]

On 4/12/2013 at 12:03 AM, firstjuly said:

Hi there,

Am new to these forums but would like some advice about what to do with my 2004 BMW 318i.

Whilst driving my BMW the other day, I noticed the temperature go up into the red zone. I continued for about 200m to get to somewhere safe and let it cool down. I did not know what was going on, but when I turned the engine back on again, it was fine, and so drove from where I was (Twizel) to Oamaru. The temperature was fine the whole time until I got to Oamaru, where at low speeds, the temperature went back up into the red area.

I got the car towed back to Dunedin with AA plus, and found out that there was milky fluid in the coolant. My mechanic says it is probably a blown head gasket and that it will cost me quite a bit to have the gasket repaired and all the milky stuff flushed out of the system.

I am just wondering:

1) Are blown head gaskets the usual cause for the cloudy coolant and engine overheating?

2) How much should I be charge for having it repaired?

3) Are there any other options for me?

4) My mechanic did an engine oil change and change of spark plugs about 6 months ago. Ever since then, the orange engine oil level sign would come on whenever I turned the engine on, and stay there for about 10 seconds afterwards (it never happened before the servicing). However, because the light always went away, I never thought much about it. Do you think that this could have been a warning sign of some thing wrong with the servicing/spark plug replacements, which might have lead to this blown head gasket? In other words, do you think that there could have been any negligence on their part?

Thank you very much for taking the time to review my questions. I would really appreciate it if any one could provide me with some helpful answers. Many thanks!

Cheers!