Head Gasket Question - BMW Forum

marema · 04-12-2009, 10:26 PM

Hello
This is my problem-I bought this 95 bmw 325i and was told it has a blown head gasket and they started to take apart(rad and things lick that but not the head yet)
I never heard it run but the story they told me was that it overheated on the highway and the lady who onwed it said the macanic said it needs a new head gasket so she sold it and bought new bmw.
The car has 300.000 miles on the motor so im sure the head gasket has been changed at some time.
I took out the plugs and they seem to be perfect no oil or antifreeze on plugs all dry and when i checked iol dipstick it is black oil not milky.
The car has been sitting all winter and im starting to work on it now.
How would i tell for sure if the head gasket is gone to be sure before jumping into somthing as big as this job.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

johnnyBgood · 04-12-2009, 10:35 PM

Signs of a blown head gasket, coolant in oil, oil in coolant, & sweet smelling white smoke coming out of the tail pipe......& naturally coolant loss & overheating.

johnny,

marema · 04-13-2009, 06:33 PM

Thanks Johnnybayonne
I bought this car not running, the rad was out and was told the head gasket was gone but when i took out the plugs they were all good no antifreeze and i just drained the oil and NO milky anything just thick OIL.
Do you think the head gasket is gone?
Do you think that i should just put rad back in and fill so i can run it to see what happens?
Thanks for Your Time

marti5 · 04-15-2009, 02:42 AM

I would reinstal the rad, could be there's a coolant leak else where and the chap thought it was the head gasket, also if you get smoke out of the back could also be PCV ( its a part of the intake system normally at the rear of the head) valve if you have one fitted on that model, im not sure check here:

RealOEM.com Online BMW Parts Catalog

Shadetree · 04-23-2009, 11:12 PM

The 325i is notorious for coolant system problems (as I unfortunately found out long after I got mine). If you don't have the tell-tale milky oil, then the problem is not a blown head gasket (as I also unfortunately did have). Re-install the rad and make sure that you fill the system properly with the bleeder valve open. You can find the full flushing and refilling procedure here.

olds72 · 04-24-2009, 07:56 AM

I would definitely put it back together, bleed the cooling system out properly and run it to see if it gets hot. I've gotten both of my e36's hot. After I put my vert back together, while test driving it, it got hot. I was seven miles from home. I drove it home hot. I re bled the system several times and I have not had a overheating issue what so ever. That was last spring (08)

saltycdawg · 04-26-2009, 04:09 AM

Hows it coming along marema?

SHAHAB323IS · 04-26-2009, 09:46 AM

pressure test

marema · 04-27-2009, 11:19 PM

Things seem to be ok so far engine in pieces right now.
I didn't know weather to change the head gasket or not so when in doubt change it and to my suprise the gasket was in tacked and head was never planned down still origanel not bad for 300.000miles.
I do have one Question and that is when you torque down the engine in stages how long do you have to wait between stages since they are stretch bolts?
I THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND FOR GIVING YOUR TIME!