Another camshafts and followers worn thread

Talking of heads, would it not just be easier to replace the head from an engine being broken off ebay? Could probably be done for a few hundred quid?
 
simonlpearce said:
Talking of heads, would it not just be easier to replace the head from an engine being broken off ebay? Could probably be done for a few hundred quid?
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I don't think there is anything wrong with the head though, and a replacement head would still need a new head gasket and fitting?
 
Sure but a replacement head is childs play for most mechanics as a pose to replacing all the gubbins inside the head. Most likely work out a lot less labor intensive and therefore cost a bunch less in the long run. In fact i reckon i could probably DIY a head with basic tools and a decent workshop manual, its hardly rocket science.
 
simonlpearce said:
Sure but a replacement head is childs play for most mechanics as a pose to replacing all the gubbins inside the head. Most likely work out a lot less labor intensive and therefore cost a bunch less in the long run. In fact i reckon i could probably DIY a head with basic tools and a decent workshop manual, its hardly rocket science.
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It's sooo much more work than swapping a set of cams and followers.
 
Just had a chat with my indy about this as the car was in for an interim oil change pre-roadtrip next week. His advice for prevention, which applies to bearing shell issues too - change the oil more than you have to according to the service schedule, and display some mechanical sympathy. Which matches the received wisdom on here. Doesn't help the OP really, but for anyone following this in future, it really is that simple.
 
Z4M-2006 said:
For what it costs it stupid not to do an interim oil change......
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+1 My cars always get an oil change at least once a year - even if they've covered less than 1k in that period
 
Good practice........... In the scheme of car ownership its brass buttons...

Can believe some people scrimp on spending £80 on a £10k engine.......... :headbang:
 
PerryGunn said:
Z4M-2006 said:
For what it costs it stupid not to do an interim oil change......
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+1 My cars always get an oil change at least once a year - even if they've covered less than 1k in that period
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Mine gets 3-4 a year :thumbsup:
 
So what is the mileage interval when the service indicator is reset? Want to get a guide as to when my midpoint is.
 
mj2k said:
So what is the mileage interval when the service indicator is reset? Want to get a guide as to when my midpoint is.
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Based on a 15,000 mile schedule, the midpoint would be 7,500 miles, but anything that only gets used for short trips might reduce that to 6,000 miles.

Mine seems to be about every 6,000 as that lines up with my Ring trips - but it also gets whatever it needs at the scheduled service too. So I might get another oil change 2-3000 miles after a ring trip when an inspection is due.
 
Mines just under 6k to an Insp2. I am going to do this about halfway through each service period from now on as I do 15k+ miles a year. As above, £80 for oil and a filter every 6 months is nit unreasonable - skimping on that is beyond even my Scottish tendencies.

Chap said he had a 59 plate V8 X5 in today that had the bearing shell issue... So it's not just our cars that suffer this. Serviced to schedule, but 60k miles and driven quite hard. From what I could understand it had munched parts of the components in the bottom end, and the bill was looking like 8k+ including labour. That wasn't with a brand new bottom end either - that bill would have been £15k. Don't ask questions - I understand no more than that :P
 
mmm-five said:
mj2k said:
So what is the mileage interval when the service indicator is reset? Want to get a guide as to when my midpoint is.
Click to expand...
Based on a 15,000 mile schedule, the midpoint would be 7,500 miles, but anything that only gets used for short trips might reduce that to 6,000 miles.

Mine seems to be about every 6,000 as that lines up with my Ring trips - but it also gets whatever it needs at the scheduled service too. So I might get another oil change 2-3000 miles after a ring trip when an inspection is due.
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A few years ago I had my service interval indicator recalibrated to halve the normal interval (any indy should be able to do this for you). Previously I would do two (or sometime three) oil services between Inspections. I don't cover so many road miles now though, so I tend to do an oil change every 2-3 track days, which might mean as few as 1-2k miles between services. The Inspections are done as per schedule or sooner if I'm paranoid that the valve gear is noisy.
 
You can start to understand the labour costs now. In the E46 M3 there's room to slide out the camshafts without removing the bumper...
 
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