XSeries-forum

Hello everyone,

In short engine overheated, now showing signs of headgasket failure. 4.4i V8 sport 2001 auto. Should I go along with my local independant BMW indie, he has quoted £800 for skim, test and refit, and a further £500 if piston rings damaged.
Second hand engines fetching between £2 - £3K - but no proof of mileage only their warranty (what good is that if you have to pay an indie labour to take it out again).

Car started initially after RAC dropped it off home, but now does turnover but does not start.

Has anyone had to go down this root. Many people are saying that the engine will never run properly after a rebuild due to the tight tolerances - is that true?

Can anyone recommend a tried and tested rebuilder who has rebuilt these engines before?

Should I go along with my local independant BMW indie, the engine has 180K on clock - would it be OK just for a headgasket job?

Thanks in advance.

What are the signs of headgasket failure you have got? Mayo on the oil cap? Are you sure that the headgasket has gone?

Turning over but not starting could be lots of things thats all...


Turks.

This is when it was starting, No Mayo, pressure build up in cooling system.

I have had the LPG gas serviced regularly and have had a new eavaporiser fiited last year because the gas crossed over into the cooloing system and caused pressure although symptoms were of a blown gasket, the car started and only overheated when driving.

The RAC man checked it as well and said it was the Head Gaskets after he saw how hot the engine went when it overheated. The funny thing is that the car drove onto the rescue truck, and drove of it, and started a few times for me to reconfirm the pressure build up in cooling system. I put a Head Gasket stop leak (K-seal), it started and I was hoping it would fix the headgasket, but the car would not start after that.

Any ideas, or can you recommend a good experienced mechanic who has done this job before?

1. Impossible to sensibly comment as to whether you should use the indy or someone else in abscence of shared experiences&/or testimonials. Maybe check my posts for links to garage guide or stating roughly where you live if seeking a local to you recommendation.

2. I'm no mechanic but believe true extent of damage to a non running engine wont be known until it's stripped, (consider piston damage or cracked head scenarios). If considering a repair then maybe ask for price on likely worst case parts & labour in worst case scenario(s).

3. Post repair issues hard to rule out in abscence of a full engine strip down. This may sound pesimistic but I have lost count of numbers of folk I know whose cars, (not X5's), have had head gasket associated work done yet only to end up with engine ailing again a few months later, (I can only speculate as to whether down to poor work, or prior hidden consequential damage).

4. I dont know much re K-seal - but doubt a mechanic will thank you for using it. I'd only use it to limp home in expectation of buying a new engine later.

6. If it's an early car showing 180k & non runner you may struggle to sell as it is is for more than £3-4k. Harsh reality- it could be worth more as spares. Sad I know but a car with half your miles & slight 3rd gear issue was recently advertised for sub £5k link here..(it may have sold for less). Early cars without disclosed issues are getting within asking or haggle prices £6k upwards.......On paper, (at least), there are some bargains, (as well as lemons).

7. I am not advocating this but some would fix cheaply, put it in an auction then if money allowed buy a well maintained early X5 near the market start point.

Tough decisions to make & genuinely sorry to hear of your situation.

Out of interest :

(i) When & what mileage was coolant last changed &/or level checked ?
(ii) Was it running hot before it failed ?

[quote=""kalsingh1""]This is when it was starting, No Mayo, pressure build up in cooling system.

I have had the LPG gas serviced regularly and have had a new eavaporiser fiited last year because the gas crossed over into the cooloing system and caused pressure although symptoms were of a blown gasket, the car started and only overheated when driving.

The RAC man checked it as well and said it was the Head Gaskets after he saw how hot the engine went when it overheated. The funny thing is that the car drove onto the rescue truck, and drove of it, and started a few times for me to reconfirm the pressure build up in cooling system. I put a Head Gasket stop leak (K-seal), it started and I was hoping it would fix the headgasket, but the car would not start after that.

Any ideas, or can you recommend a good experienced mechanic who has done this job before?[/quote]

In my experience, I wouldn't trust what an RAC man says. They might be right most of the time but they can get it wrong. My girlfriends father was a mechanic for over 30 years and the amount of times he had customers where the AA, RAC etc wrongly diagnosed problems was untrue.

Pressure building in the cooling system doesn't always point to headgaskets on BMW V8's. They are a pretty robust engine. I would be looking at the Water Pump first as this is well known for causing pressure build up in the cooling system. If it has a tiny leak, when operating it can draw air in. If it is the Water Pump then putting in K-Seal into a healthy engine will not have done it any good. I have seen alot of times headgaskets getting replaced, costing a fortune and not fixing the problem.

I would (if it drove) take it to another indy for a second opinion. If not I would ask him to look at the Water Pump and if that turns out to be the fault, get it changed and flush the engine.

Hopefully this is the case and will save you alot of cash... if it is the headgasket then you have to decide if it is worth it?


Turks.

There are tests to show if there are combustion gases in the coolant which should show if the head gaskets are blown. You can also pressurise the system which might show leakage into a cylinder with the engine stopped. Thats a high mileage to be just skimming heads, if thats the problem, as something else will probably crop up. To put the quotes in perspective, 4.6 head gaskets are about £50 each, and £500 to do rings is a good quote as its a big job to get the sumps off to get to the bottom end bolts. You might be better taking the engine out and fitting a recon engine if you think the car is worth that much. Look at £2000 to £2500 for spares from BMW for a full overhaul