BMW S52 head gasket replacement

Chuck Scull · **Posted:** Sat Oct 10, 2015 5:05 pm

Hi Guys,
I have a 98 M3 that looks like it's going to need a head gasket replacement.( temp not spiking but a lot of pressure building up after shutting the car off)
I was trying to see if anyone had a suggestion on who it take it to get it done reasonably... I know that's an oxymoron but trying not to put big bucks into it.
I'm over around Chapel Hill but I'll drag to wherever it takes.
Thanks as always.
Chuck

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:10 pm

Dave Davis over near the NC farmers market. I've been going to Dave's for years and he's the best in my book. 919.829.9599. Great independent and does great work at a fair price. He is the oxymoron.... I meet Dave back in 03 and I've not taken it to anyone else since. HIGHLY recommended....

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2015 6:48 am

This is my indy and they have always treated my right at a reasonable price.
http://www.stgbmwservice.com/

Chuck Scull · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:54 am

Thanks Rodney and Chris for the help...
Mitch Moore had given me Dave's name before and I lost it so thanks...
Was thinking of ShadeTree as well.
Again, thanks and I'm getting ready to pucker up I think.
Chuck

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2015 4:44 pm

Chuck Scull wrote:

Thanks Rodney and Chris for the help...
Mitch Moore had given me Dave's name before and I lost it so thanks...
Was thinking of ShadeTree as well.
Again, thanks and I'm getting ready to pucker up I think.
Chuck

Call them both before you head out and get a price...

Chuck Scull · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2015 6:26 pm

Good idea Rodney...I saw a thread where they were talking ridiculous money so it may be a parts car if it's half of the $5-6k they were talking about.
Thanks again.
Chuck

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:28 pm

I reread your first post and I think you are "assuming" it's a head gasket. Have you checked to see if there is oil in the water in the radiator or if the oil is white w/ water under the oil cap? Are you blowing white smoke or steam from the exhaust and/or are you losing water? If you aren't seeing any of these traits then I'd think it's not a head gasket issue. Building up pressure might be a symptom of something else and might be a cheaper fix. Make sure you describe everything as accurately as you can to each repair shop. Hopefully they can point you in the right direction.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:48 pm

I just picked up a jeep cherokee with a supposed bad head gasket. It's not mixing oil/coolant but when I pulled the plugs the rear plug obviously had coolant on it. It also misses on a cylinder when cold, but goes away when it warms up. The OBD has all 6 cylinders registering a misfire, but not sure why, it doesn't sound like it's missing on other cylinders.

This one is also pressurizing the coolant system though, if you just crank it for a couple minutes and shut it off it's got enough pressure to puke some coolant from the radiator cap.

Luckily for me the 4.0L is a bit more simplistic, even remanned heads are ~$400. I'm sure if I paid somebody to do the work though the labor and parts would exceed the value of it.

Chuck Scull · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:15 am

I'm hoping that it's not the head gasket but not hopeful.
No water in oil or visa versa. Not much smoke either.
Replaced all the hoses, water pump, thermostat, belts, pullys, etc.
Made sure that I hade it bled properly. Drove it 8 miles, bled it...Next day 15, bled it. Following day 50 miles(including a gas stop) with no indication of movement in the temp gauge. Thought that I had fixed it but no.
Went back out a couple hours later and it had blown out the lower rad hose.
Re-bled it yesterday but still a few are bubbles. Even overfilled the system and to clear any air pockets and then used a turkey baster to lower the reserve bottle....Pressurized the coolant system and it did lose a pound of pressure in 15-20 minutes without a coolant leak.
Was going to do a leakdown and compression test next...Figured that I was running out of options for my skill level. Also looked like there are a number of specialized tools necessary that I don't have.
Seems like a lot more complicated job than the Fiat.
Keep you posted and thanks for the ideas.

Chuck Scull · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:30 pm

I spoke with Dave and it's common to get a head gasket failure where a bit of the exhaust gas is getting out of the combustion chamber building pressure in the cooling system(explained that it probably started when it was hot and sitting in traffic...dead on)...Rodney, I can see why you like him...Seem like a great guy.
Thanks for everyone's help.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:39 pm

Chuck Scull wrote:

I spoke with Dave and it's common to get a head gasket failure where a bit of the exhaust gas is getting out of the combustion chamber building pressure in the cooling system(explained that it probably started when it was hot and sitting in traffic...dead on)...Rodney, I can see why you like him...Seem like a great guy.
Thanks for everyone's help.

I've sent a lot of people Dave's way and no one has had anything negative to say. He's a one man operation, so his hours are a little weird, but there's no else I trust. Dave is a big reason why I buy BMW's, he's a great resource to have and trust.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2015 1:40 pm

Chuck Scull wrote:

I spoke with Dave and it's common to get a head gasket failure where a bit of the exhaust gas is getting out of the combustion chamber building pressure in the cooling system(explained that it probably started when it was hot and sitting in traffic...dead on)...Rodney, I can see why you like him...Seem like a great guy.
Thanks for everyone's help.

Yeah, that appears to be the case with the 4.0L jeep motor i'm working on, the rear most spark plug is obviously fouled with something, it smelled of gas and stained likely from coolant. It appears the gasket is blown between the cylinder and a coolant passage only.

The guy I bought the jeep from said it had just had all the fluids changed, i'm wondering if the cooling system had a big bubble and it overheated and blew the gasket.

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BMW S52 head gasket replacement

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