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Thread: M30 Head gasket job - what else should I plan on replacing?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
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    1988 735i

    M30 Head gasket job - what else should I plan on replacing?

    Well full disclosure is probably best - I'm a flipper, and I just grabbed an '88 735i without seeing it run or drive for $1000. The rest of the car is in good shape. Excellent shape for an '88. It has the usual head gasket symptoms, but of course I don't know for sure. I'll get the car to my house tomorrow and find out for sure.

    I'm new to BMWs, so I don't know, what else should I plan on doing while I'm in there? Timing chain guides? I believe in doing the whole job, and doing it right, so all you e32 fans can rest easy. I don't like comebacks.

    Thanks. I have a PDF of the Bentley service manual.

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    Basically go thru this list https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...power+ultimate
    while you do the headgasket, change all fuel, vacuum, coolant and hydraulic hoses in engine bay. Probably you also have to check front and rear axles, thrust arms, lower arms, steering links etc.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  3. #3
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    1988 735i
    Excellent, that's the kind of thing I was looking for, thanks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    1988 735i
    The head is at the machine shop for a valve seat that had come out, which caused a stuck open exhaust valve. It dinged the piston, but not too badly. It also bent the valve a little bit, so it will be replaced as well. And one of the guides that I accidentally scored with pliers when pulling out the seals.

    A little tip for driving the rocker shafts out - a piece of 19/32" drill rod is $25 tops, and makes a perfect pusher. I didn't mushroom or crack them using that.

    Head seems to be warped a little, but not enough to cause the cam to not rotate freely. I don't own a good straight edge, so I can't be confidant in my straightness checking, but since the engine very likely did overheat, I'm a little scared of it. The machine shop says they don't want to mill the head if it is warped, because of the cam tunnel on top. So am I left with baking it if it is warped? Anyone have any experience with straightening heads in an oven? And what is the allowable warpage? Bentley manual doesn't give a number. If it's bowed .010 out, how likely is it to seal up just fine? 0%? My guess is that the spec is .002 - .005 or so, but they will usually seal fine a little past that, using a composite gasket.

    Over all the level of wear is quite low. One cam lobe has a little pitting, but nothing to worry about. The cam bearings and tappets are also good. Hardly worn at all.
    Last edited by nnimrod; 03-21-2019 at 10:27 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    check here in the workshop repair manuals, those details like machined limit are under nominal values, specifications, tightening torques on top of the list https://www.bmwtechinfo.com/repair/main/
    and there in the list from 1988 model year
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  6. #6
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    Looks like just head thickness, like the bentley manual. Thanks tho, there's lots of stuff there, I'm sure it will come in handy.

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