2001 540i m62tu head gasket job

[Mossly84]

Can i spin the cams 180 on the 5-8 side while i already set tdc on the crank and tourqed head bolts to 22 so far

[bmwdirtracer]

You must back off the crankshaft by ~20 degrees. The heads need to be fully torqued - that's not a problem - but you can't spin the cams freely when any pistons are at TDC, or you will hit the valves on the pistons.

Back off the crank, then set the cams and then rotate the crank to locked position and set the vanos properly, using the proper tools.

You're obviously not using the proper instructions....that's extremely dangerous. Why would you be setting the timing when the heads aren't even bolted on yet?

You need to use the correct directions, and you need to use the correct tools.

[Mossly84]

Thanks. I did buy the ebay stuff, and did a ccv delete,copper coated head gaskets,really cant lose. I did my homework and purchased this silver tank with 90 thousand and everything thing replaced. Really not a bad find. When i picked it up it had coolant comeing out of the valley , so i sealed it twice, once with hi end gasket and smashed it and second with hi heat rtv and it held. It didn't leak from the rear seal so thats good. I started it up for a minute and it popped coolant out of the head on the pass side and white smoke. I then pulled it all apart and cleaned everything with seafoam, checked the heads for warp and they are perfect down to .002 lol. Cam chains show no wear and the guides are new, someone must have fixed what broke but didn't fix what causes it.

[Mossly84]

Oh yeah, in what direction 20 dagrees. And i have the digital mech. book but its not that clear and there are dif models. I watched all the youtube vids and read everything i can get my hands on . i understand the torque specs on a 2001 m62tu head bolts are 22 pounds and then 80 dagrees and 80 dagrees again ,please correct me if im wrong, not being sarcastic.

[bmwdirtracer]

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/

Here you will find the actual factory directions. You'll see the recommended degrees to back of the crankshaft is 45. 20 would accomplish the same thing, but follow the directions.

[Mossly84]

Nice! Sounds good.

[bmwdirtracer]

Don't set timing without the heads bolted down fully.

[Mossly84]

Alright, I kinda knew that. I just wanted wanted to see how I was going to put the chain back on the car. It looks like I need to take off the guides, put the chain back on and put the guides back on after

[Mossly84]

Can i hand crank the 5-8 cams, If so where on the cam. I already started to torque the heads before i checked the numbers. They are 180 off.

[bmwdirtracer]

In your last thread, I gave you a link to the factory directions. I recommend that you look at them.

Among other things, the direction show pictures of turning the cams using a wrench on the hex which is built into the cam, just for this purpose.

[MauiM3Mania]

Threads merged.

[Mossly84]

Nice, i got it! Yay me!