Head Gaskets? Hard To Replace

[BMW-ATI]

Like bmw head gaskets,when they go out, are they hard as hell to replace?

and how much do they typically cost?

[abemcclellan]

i blew a head gasket in my e30, and i didn't feel like fixing it then, so i took it to the bmw shop and paid like $600 to have it done.

[BMW-ATI]

Oh, I thought it was some big complex procoess or someting?

what exactly is a head gasket? lol im a newb, well just dont know much about cars that is

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by BMW-ATI@May 22 2005, 07:17 PM
Oh, I thought it was some big complex procoess or someting?

what exactly is a head gasket? lol im a newb, well just dont know much about cars that is

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i just replaced a headgasket yesterday on a e30 325i. the timing belt was the biggest PITA part of it. since you have a e36 you dont need to worry about that aspect... should be relatively painless.

just depends on how comfortable you are with ripping apart 1/2 of the engine bay into its various pieces.

[abemcclellan]

to replace the head gasket, you basically have to take off the top half of the engine block. please correct me if i'm wrong.

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by abemcclellan@May 22 2005, 11:08 PM
to replace the head gasket, you basically have to take off the top half of the engine block. please correct me if i'm wrong.

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you basically seperate your exhaust and intake manifolds off of your head, and then take off the valve cover, then unbolt the timing chain sprockets, and tensioner and then unbolt the 14 hex bolts and c'est voila! the head comes off.

[BMW-ATI]

so for a dealer to do that it's quite expensive eh?

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by BMW-ATI@May 23 2005, 07:44 AM
so for a dealer to do that it's quite expensive eh?

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yea. my friend has a supercharged 98 m3 and he is getting charged $900 to change out his headgasket, and to have some other small work done.

[BMW-ATI]

Do they happen alot on bmw's?

i drive a 94 325is