Replacing HG

[whonneb]

How hard is this to do? I am pretty handy with my tools. I have replace the clutch and front struts, rack pinion and all major maintenance parts. My car now has a blown Hg. It isn't that severe being that the car will idle for an hour without over heating. You also can drive it for about 2 miles before it gets to the point of overheating. I got another head from a machine shop. I have ordered bolts and a gasket kit from pelican. It seems like simply unbolting everything and bolting back up, which I think i can handle. I have the money to pay someone to do it, but there is no joy in that for me. I like working on my car. Any one on here that has done one, let me know some of the point of difficulty. If it is out of my skill level I will just take it to a shop.

The car = 97 318I Sedan, with 182,000 miles

[Drone]

I love to see people willing to learn and push the comfort zones working on their own cars...this one might be a bit much though.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/101-Projects-17-Head-Gasket/101-Projects-17-Head-Gasket.htm

It's a pretty intense job, that can have some devastating results if things are done just the slightest bit incorrectly, only you can decide if you're up to it.

[gettingthatflow]

replaceing the HG is rated at 18hrs at the book, i belive

so i would plan on 20hrs +

[DeanR]

I think what is most difficult is having the patience to get the job done. Between the Pelican and Bently manual, both of which can be downloaded, there is great instructions. There are several tools which make the job easier. I would plan on spending about 20 -25 hours labor and not being able to use the car for a couple weeks. Plan on taking pictures during the dis assemble and I would label the wire connections.

[gettingthatflow]

i would set aside two full weekends or a full four days if you dont have to work, and get it all done right away. Its not a job that you wanna drag on and do some here some there.

[drtweak1992325i]

Been working on my car for a month now...well between inital engine tearing down, waiting for new head which was shipped a week late, and dad working grave yard and only haivng 3-4 hours a day to work in it...

i got a NON Vanos so its easy...or at least i think it is...the big part is timing and remembering where everything goes...everything else is cake in my opinion...

[eye145]

You seem pretty handy with tools and all, doing a rack, struts and clutch. I'd bet you could handle the HG to.
How do you eat an elaphant? One bite at a time...
On big jobs I like to take nuts and bolts and put them in old oil filter boxes then label the box, i.e: valve cover bolts and nuts, another box for intake nuts, one for exhaust ect. ect. if you are not familiar with the wire harnes mark the plugs with masking tape and sharpie as you go.
Make sure you get your timing spot on and crank the engine over by hand with out plugs in to make sure it is smooth and nothing is hitting. Be sure to completely clean the head bolt holes out, no fluids or debri in them. keep in mind it is sometimes easier to leave some components in the car and just pull or push off to the side, some folks like to leave the exhaust manifold on the head and bust loose at the down pipe, then take off head once out of car.
When you first start the car it will run like crap and smoke a little for a few seconds, that is normal, just give her some gas and push the crap threw.
I'd bet you can handle this, Go for it! :buttrockand enjoy the pride of fixing it yourself and saving some cash.
Just remember, Its only nuts and bolts.

[WTFGERMAN]

the hardest part is taking the cam out if you choose to do so and/or timing the car later one

[DeanR]

I found the instructions from Wayne at Pellican on how to remove the cam without a special tool to be very useful. I think that is a two person job. One person to hold the cam from moving from its sweet spot. It tends to want to not remain in place on the lobes. The torx socket to remove the head bolts is a must. I used a regular socket not the special BMW one. The other tool I thought helped alot is the cam locking tool. When used according to the instructions the timing should not change. Personally I did not use the crankshaft pin or the timing chain tensioner tool.

[drtweak1992325i]

My dad version of cam removal with only ONE person! worked really good though! and he did the pellican DIY on the cam removal and said it wasnt hard at all. Just VERY dedious. and if your not careful when you get to the very end of the bolt with the nut it can pop off...

http://thetweakingzone.com/pics/BMW/headjob/IMG_6255.JPG

[kevinqjhps]

Take LOTS, and LOTS, and LOTS of pictures. You will be glad you did.

[Bluebimma]

If its non-vanos, its pretty easy. The hardest part would seriously be removing and installing the camshafts. Once installed, use the cam locking tool at the rear of the head to make sure they dont rotate and youll be fine. Vanos, by the book, seriously takes no more than 10-15 mins more than a non-vanos to put back together. I just did the head gasket on my non-vanos and the cams moved every so slightly and messed up timing a bit. I was able to correct it in 3 hours which included complete disassembly of the timing system, TDC relocation, Cam timing, and reinstallation to start up. Very simple project and straight forward if you ask me. It took me a total of 9 hours from initial start to restart with bad timing, then another 3 hours to take it all back apart since i didnt use the cam locking tool.

The only reason it would take longer than 11 hours is due to cam removal, otherwise, its easy and straight forward.

[m2pc]

I did this on my car with little prior experience doing this type of work. It wasn't too bad and I learned a TON about the internals of these engines (and appreciate their design even more so now).

Top advice:

1. Take lots of pictures
2. Take your time
3. Replace as many bolts as possible (even the tiny head bolts). I had broken bolt problems bigtime!

[Bluebimma]

Yea, those m6 bolts up top, make sure you DONT overtighten them, theyre so fragile that it makes sense. They get torqued to sometihng like 67in-lbs.