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Thread: Anyone have experience buying a new head from Condor Speed Shop?

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Anyone have experience buying a new head from Condor Speed Shop?

    As the title suggests, has anyone gone through this process before? Any suggestions or recommendations? Is there work I should consider doing on the block as well?

    They charge $1,850 and complete the following work:

    M20 2.5 liter 885 cylinder head. We source and replace the following with brand new parts:


    Intake valves
    Exhaust valves
    Intake and exhaust guides
    Valve stem seals
    Inner and outer valve springs
    Camshaft
    Rocker shafts
    Heavy Duty Rocker Arms
    Rocker Eccentrics

    Work Performed:
    Complete Disassembly & Cleaning.
    Water passages are pressure tested to 80psi.
    Head is inspected for thickness and warpage.
    Valve seats are machined to maximize the valve job to spec e30 rules.
    Valve guides are replaced and sized to each valve stem.
    Every valve is checked for trueness and machined.
    Valve springs are tested and set up to maximize performance.
    Fully Assembled.
    Valves will not be adjusted (for shipping purposes).

    https://www.condorspeedshop.com/prod...=7565379567662

  2. #2
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    Seems like a lot of money for an essentially stock build.

    Can't say I really trust the stance bro supply shop, either.
    2011 M3 Sedan
    2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD LBZ
    1999 323i GTS2
    1995 M3 - S50B32/S6S420G/3.91
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    Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo
    Hers: 1989 325iX


  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd View Post
    Seems like a lot of money for an essentially stock build.

    Can't say I really trust the stance bro supply shop, either.
    What would you recommend? I have no idea how many miles the car has done due to having a broken odometer and not being the original odometer.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by sdremsw View Post
    What would you recommend? I have no idea how many miles the car has done due to having a broken odometer and not being the original odometer.
    I'd like to know what the issue is to start with.

    If you really need a replacement head, these folks have a decent reputation and are close to half the price:
    https://bimmerheads.com/collections/...-cylinder-head

    Or take it to a decent machine shop. There is nothing difficult about rebuilding an M20 head.
    2011 M3 Sedan
    2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD LBZ
    1999 323i GTS2
    1995 M3 - S50B32/S6S420G/3.91
    1990 325is
    1989 M3 - S54B32/GS6-37BZ

    Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo
    Hers: 1989 325iX


  5. #5
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    Anyone have experience buying a new head from Condor Speed Shop?

    Quote Originally Posted by sdremsw View Post
    As the title suggests, has anyone gone through this process before? Any suggestions or recommendations? Is there work I should consider doing on the block as well?

    They charge $1,850

    https://www.condorspeedshop.com/prod...=7565379567662
    The link you sent indicates a price of close to $2100 for their product.

    At $1800 it looks like a lot of value, though I do wonder what their “new” parts threshold is.
    Stock?
    Supertech?
    What valve guides?
    Who’s rockers, rocker shafts, and cam?
    Who’s eccentrics, etc., etc.?
    Core charge?

    The Bimmerheads head is just as pricey, plus a core charge, could be a good value @ $1300 if it weren’t for the fact they are using ‘used’ valves and used springs at that price point

    I think I’d try to go local, unless you are having some exotic porting done.


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    Last edited by bluptgm3; 12-07-2018 at 03:33 PM.

  6. #6
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    Those are both helpful links. I think what I really need to do is have it taken into a local shop and determine exactly what needs to be done first before going out and spending money on something like this.

  7. #7
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    No e30s, again :(
    dos your car run fine? what is the reason you want a new/overhauled head? just because the odometer is broken and the miles are unknown?
    No e30s again.

  8. #8
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    I think I started it by recommending he reseal and gasket the motor. He said he has a lot of grime and we all know how well original gaskets/o rings seal on m20s nowadays. It sounds like he could get away without replacing the head gasket, but my suggestion was to consider rebuilding/freshening up the head if he was going as far as the head gasket. I guess I should have asked him if any of his valvetrain was clattering or if he was lacking power at all, because mine was doing both up until a rocker arm snapped. So I guess if his valves are sounding normal and he is happy with the way it runs/idles and it has good compression, then it’s totally optional I suppose. But, his thread started off as having 3k to spend on his car, and engine work was not listed at all in his list of maintenance history.

  9. #9
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    No e30s, again :(
    ok. I was just wondering if there was trouble that was causing the need for it
    No e30s again.

  10. #10
    richardodn's Avatar
    richardodn is offline Old Guy BMW CCA Member
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    I'd highly recommend you head over to the regional forums https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/f...ons-amp-Events

    Find the right one and search/ask for recommendations for a decent machine shop familiar with the old heads. Drop your head off there. They'll clean it, inspect it and then tell you what it needs. At this age it will likely need new valve seats and guides and probably cam. You might also need new eccentrics for the rockers. It's likely all the other hard parts can be reused. Normally you'll have the option to source the needed parts yourself.
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