Head gasket BMW E36 M3 - who has done one?

[Bob Pl]

Did a complete cooling system rebuild & bled several times on a steep slope (got all the air out). Car runs fine but needs a 10 oz coolant top off every day (20 miles use). NO visible leaks. There is some pressure in the overflow tank in the morning (cold).

Oil seems OK (milkshake symptom - coolant in oil).

Need a BMW pro to confirm my diagnosis & suggest repair.

More tests/diagnosis?

I may do most of it myself but need a machine shop to shave the head. Other stuff while it's out? Valves/springs/other?

Thanks.

[Tin Bui]

I had a head gasket issue with my 1997 M3. Between cylinders 5 and 6 had a very small leak.

I didn't have any milkshake symptoms, but my car would overheat just slightly during the summer months.

I had SouthBay Independent check it out and they pointed it was the head gasket. Be careful, I believe you can't shave much on the M3 heads.

I heard Victor Reinz head gaskets are no good, these have the reputation of failing. Best to go BMW.

While the head is off, check the valves. Mine were all in spec, and decided not to replace anything. I heard people replacing these attempting to fix the ticking noise after hard driving, the actual result is no change in ticking.

Also check the bearings for the VANOS, mine had failed around 112k miles and had to replaced it.

[Bob Pl]

Thanks Tin.

Anyone ever use the liquids, Steel Seal, etc? For a small leak.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

I had SouthBay Independent check it out and they pointed it was the head gasket.

Hoa Nguyen, the owner is Yoda for BMWs. It's where I take my car. But he's in Gardena and Bob's down in San Diego.

[Mike Simanyi]

Thanks Tin.

Anyone ever use the liquids, Steel Seal, etc? For a small leak.

I'd *really* discourage that Bob. You have an aluminum head on a cast iron block. Cooling is paramount for that, and there's no way to control what's "fixed" by that kind of additive. It probably guarantees when you do pull the head that it goes on the scrap heap rather than being refreshed and used on the car.

Mike

[Bob Pl]