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Thread: Wire caught under cylinder head

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
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    Watsonville
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    97 M3, 97 328i, 95 318ti

    Wire caught under cylinder head

    Boi, you guys aren’t gonna believe this.

    So i got my car back from the mechanic. he did a headgasket replacement. i trailer it home, and i rolled off the trailer, thank god i didnt turn the thing on. i looked around and saw a wire kinda dangling so i went to get it out the of way and found it snagged. i checked where it was snagged and guess what??? it was squashed underneath the cylinder head at the part where the thermostat canals are. i was so pissed and now don’t know what to do. so should i run it and see if it will hold compression, the head sits flush with the block and everything looks sealed? I spent $950 on this replacement because it was a old friend and he hooked it up, but i dont wanna take it back and spend more money if the issue can be resolved at home. if not then i guess ill spend more money, but i gotta hear from the pros about this one.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
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    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
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    E39M5, E500 4WD
    Take it back. The head's got to come off again.

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Agreed. And you'll need a new set of head bolts (one time use). And I don't know that I would reuse that head gasket either.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
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    Watsonville
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    97 M3, 97 328i, 95 318ti
    so theres no way that squashed wire can hold compression? it is on the edge if the block not too much of it is snagged underneath the head.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    NW suburban Chicago
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    16,302
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    hiss by my window
    between the head and block, really?!

    Do you maybe mean the valve cover?
    If so it's a re-do, w gaskets and bolts, inspect the head & block surfaces too.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Houston, TX
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    My Cars
    36 Cylinders
    I definitely want to see a pic.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
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    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  7. #7
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    Jeez bro. If you're not going to take our advice, then don't ask for it. Clearly your mechanic did a crap job and screwed it up. You paid him for the repair that wasn't done up to standards. Either take it back and have him fix it, or take your chances with a botched repair. Old friend or not, he screwed up. I know what I would do.

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
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    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    Me too. This isn't even a question.

    Look, I have made a lot of mistakes, over the years. I've caught the O2 sensor wires in the valve cover gasket, and had to redo that job; 4 .5 hours. Last week, I lowered the lift with a Mini on it, and a jack handle poked a hole through the lower valence. $200 which I paid for, because it was my own very stupid mistake.

    $#!+ happens; the mechanics needs to fix his mistake, with a new set of head bolts and a new gasket. The guy made a huge mistake, and it's completely his fault.

    You have two master techs telling you that they would absolutely have to fix their mistake. There's no other answer, period.

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
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    Ca
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    6,981
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    2001 525it
    Exactly who hasn't made mistakes while at work, everybody.

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