Help head gasket shot!!!

+1 on the continuing to drive with suspected blown head gasket

Alloy heads and blocks + too much heat = warps and cracks

Warps and cracks in alloy heads and blocks = expensive repairs or beyond economical repair

There are companies out their who will supply and fit second hand or even recon M54 engines for around £1,500.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-330i-530i-Engine-M54B30-Supplied-Fitted-/130744782128?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e70ff0d30
 
Hi guys another update.
A lot happier today I went down to my friends garage as a last resort because of the state of the road. Managed to crawl for 40 mins at 3 mph to get there. He carried out a more accurate sniff test using a sealed unit and it came back negative!!! He ran the test for a good ten mins and the fluid stayed a nice dark blue. So for the garage that told me my head was shot what a load of rip off bas*ards!!!!!!! Thank god I got a second opinion. I supposed I just panicked as it was near the end of my warranty. Thanks guys for everyone's comments.
 
Z6187z said:
Hi guys another update.
A lot happier today I went down to my friends garage as a last resort because of the state of the road. Managed to crawl for 40 mins at 3 mph to get there. He carried out a more accurate sniff test using a sealed unit and it came back negative!!! He ran the test for a good ten mins and the fluid stayed a nice dark blue. So for the garage that told me my head was shot what a load of rip off bas*ards!!!!!!! Thank god I got a second opinion. I supposed I just panicked as it was near the end of my warranty. Thanks guys for everyone's comments.
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New owner jitters are quite common, anyway I'm glad it worked out OK :)
 
Hi Guys,

I hate to revive the thread but just been told (after i thought that i just needed the expansion tank replacing) that it looks as if my Head Gasket is gone/ about to go.

They have performed a compression test - cam back ok but then they carried out a dye test (i think that's what it was called) and there appears to be an issue.

They haven't provided me with a quote yet but looks like it could be around £1700 and i've only had the car just over a month :cry:

Any ideas of what other tests i can have done to know conclusively whether i will need this doing or not? Is £1700 about right for cost? They reckon it will take 12-14 hours labour + part costs which aren't cheap!

Any help really appreciated guys.

Thanks,
 
Time for a cool head (no pun intended) I've had many cars with HGF over the years (not BMW fortunately) and the symptoms are pretty similar, one thing being for sure that a minor HGF rarely stays that way for long with obvious symptoms developing quite quickly, particularly on performance engines.

What's the mileage? Do you know the overheating history of the car? if it's very high mileage or boiled badly and cooked the engine then a HGF is possible, if not it's a bit unlikely on these engines.

Have you got other symptoms like excessive exhaust vapour, creamy mayo in the oil filler cap, emulsion deposits in the oil, oily taint in the coolant, poor running, loss of coolant or overheating? If not then again it's unlikely.

A compression test will not specifically diagnose HGF as low comp can be caused by many other factors. You need a proper pressure test where the cylinder is filled with compressed air with both valves closed and decompression is monitored against bubbles in the coolant and any pressurisation of the cooling system. A chemical sniff test is useful but only a guide.

I'de ask for a more in depth examination and report or maybe seek a second well qualified opinion.
 
Ewazix said:
Time for a cool head (no pun intended) I've had many cars with HGF over the years (not BMW fortunately) and the symptoms are pretty similar, one thing being for sure that a minor HGF rarely stays that way for long with obvious symptoms developing quite quickly, particularly on performance engines.

What's the mileage? Do you know the overheating history of the car? if it's very high mileage or boiled badly and cooked the engine then a HGF is possible, if not it's a bit unlikely on these engines.

Have you got other symptoms like excessive exhaust vapour, creamy mayo in the oil filler cap, emulsion deposits in the oil, oily taint in the coolant, poor running, loss of coolant or overheating? If not then again it's unlikely.

A compression test will not specifically diagnose HGF as low comp can be caused by many other factors. You need a proper pressure test where the cylinder is filled with compressed air with both valves closed and decompression is monitored against bubbles in the coolant and any pressurisation of the cooling system. A chemical sniff test is useful but only a guide.

I'de ask for a more in depth examination and report or maybe seek a second well qualified opinion.
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Firstly thanks for the in-depth response! Mileage is currently 77k, i have had the car for over a month and done over 1k miles and this is the 1st overheating issue that i have had with it.

I haven't noticed excessive exhaust vapour, and when i bought the car i could see no creamy mayo in the oil filter (i had an MGF before so knew what to look for) although haven't checked since.

I think i will ask for a proper compression test and try to get a 2nd opinion as it's costing me too much not to get checked i think. Going to head over to the garage shortly and get a full cost breakdown and try to possibly tow the car to another garage if they have not done or cannot prove they have done a full compression test. How would i know that they have done this. It is not that i don't trust the garage, it is just i am stuck in an area i am not used to and have not used the garage before.

Thanks,
 
Hi Jonny,

You said that the car requires towing if you need to move it, is this simply because you've lost coolant or the car refused to start after it overheated. If the later then unfortunatley fingers would point to the head gasket, other wise I would be tempted to fill it with coolant and take it elsewhere for a second opinion / check the cooling system yourself with a fine tooth comb for external leaks, it's not only the expasion tanks that leak.

Hope it works out well :thumbsup:

Stu.
 
I've always been told that these engines are pretty bullet proof. I'd want to be really sure that you have a problem before you go forking out a load of cash mate. 77K MILES is not even run in.!!!

Goodluck :thumbsup:
 
We're back to the warranty question. Did you call the warranty company and log the problem?

You've got some protection as a serious fault within a certain time can be classed as pre-existing and you can go back to the dealer.
 
stupot67 said:
Hi Jonny,

You said that the car requires towing if you need to move it, is this simply because you've lost coolant or the car refused to start after it overheated. If the later then unfortunatley fingers would point to the head gasket, other wise I would be tempted to fill it with coolant and take it elsewhere for a second opinion / check the cooling system yourself with a fine tooth comb for external leaks, it's not only the expasion tanks that leak.

Hope it works out well :thumbsup:

Stu.
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Hi stu. Was able to drive the car out to another mechanics where it is at the moment. They are performing a full compression test tomorrow so will know once and for all after that.

Stuart Truman said:
We're back to the warranty question. Did you call the warranty company and log the problem?

You've got some protection as a serious fault within a certain time can be classed as pre-existing and you can go back to the dealer.
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I don't have a warranty on the car unfortunately. I bought from a private seller and didn't get a warranty out myself so may regret that decision! My fingers and toes are still crossed and I'm hoping it's something far less serious.
 
JonnyB, you may need to sell me your CSL's cheap to pay for your head gasket woes :oops: , seriously though, heres hoping for a simple fix solution.
 
Took the coupe to a 2nd garage and after plenty of tests to make sure it was decided it is definitely not head gasket but a water pump failure which I think is much more common?

Can pick up the car again tomorrow and can't wait! OEM water pump was £350 though and 2 1/2 hours to fit, so not a cheap job but feels like a win after the shock of the first garage thinking it was a head gasket failure! Still have all my new cleaning products to use so I think that is bank holiday Monday sorted :D
 
JonnyB said:
Took the coupe to a 2nd garage and after plenty of tests to make sure it was decided it is definitely not head gasket but a water pump failure which I think is much more common?

Can pick up the car again tomorrow and can't wait! OEM water pump was £350 though and 2 1/2 hours to fit, so not a cheap job but feels like a win after the shock of the first garage thinking it was a head gasket failure! Still have all my new cleaning products to use so I think that is bank holiday Monday sorted :D
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Result :thumbsup:
 
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