Replace head gasket, or engine swap..

[dcruzgsxr]

So i just bought a 98 BMW 318ti with the M44...Love it... Got it cheap, needed a few things, and figured out the head gasket was blown.. Would it be easier to do a head gasket job or just find a motor and swap it.. I heard it was a pain to swap the gasket because of BMW's VANOS.. im mechanically inclined.. done a few head gasket jobs... just never on a euro.. any input would be appreciated!

[pdxmotorhead]

No vanos on M44. Its just a twin cam... No big deal. There are several write-ups on here about it.

Just make sure to check the straightness of the top of the block not just the head...
Its possible to have a uneven deck surface and that would make it a waste of time to do the head without machining the top of the block as well.

Good Luck.

Dave

[dcruzgsxr]

makes me feel much better now knowing that it doesnt have vanos... What gasket kit would you guys recommend, and a haynes or bentley manual.. Some said torque specs arent accurate in the bentley..

[pdxmotorhead]

I'd order the bentley, then have the dealer pull up their spec sheet for the head and check the values for the head bolts, they are the critical ones, I'd buy the haynes manual as well just because they usually do a good photo instead of a drawing on many parts, and they give you torque numbers as well. other than head bolts MOST bolts are consistent based on size for torque. so 13mm bolts will be in a pretty close range unless going into plastic or squeezing rubber gaskets (Valve cover or oil pan) so if all of a sudden you see a 10mm bolt with 40 lbs of torque stop and cross check...

I like felpro gaskets, I've used them on many different marques and had very few issues, usually related to a missing gasket that some idiot engineer changed mid model..

If you buy a "Top-end" gasket set at NAPA its a felpro usually... There are not many "sets" available for these cars you have to buy the gaskets individually unless you buy a major overhaul set. You'll often have the buy the o-rings for the valve cover bolts separately.. Whether you buy a top end or overhaul set..

Good luck!
Dave

[dcruzgsxr]

What about a victor reinz set? Found this set on ebay with the head bolts for 185...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Head-Gas...209#vi-content

I doubt it has the valve cover bolt o-rings but i should be able to pick those up at any auto parts store right, nothing special about them?

[drivinfaster]

not sure about that. maybe napa, but i always got them from the dealer. they're not that much, really, and the places online, like pelican and such, were (usually) always more than my dealership.

shipping was always cheaper at the dealer as well, so i would give them a shout to see what is available.





df

[pdxmotorhead]

The o-rings for the valve cover bolts are molded BMW magic, LOL VR sells them as well.
The O-ring has to match the valve cover bolt shoulders to apply proper pressure to the gasket... They cost about 2/3 the cost of just the valve cover gasket. .8- cents each and you need like 15 or 18 cant recall.. The dealer price was not too bad maybe an extra 20 cents each?
Dave