Expensive Mistake - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Bryn · 16th August 2003, 17:05

Well it looks like I ran the engine too hot when changing the coolant last week, and I now have an oil leak most likely from the head gaskget

I know its a pig to replace - has anyone had it done, and what did it cost?

I guess its not all bad as a top end rebuild can only be good for the engine and performance. I'm afraid my knowledge of engine internals is pretty poor, so can someone tell me if the vavle clearances will be done as part of replacing the head gasket?

Cheers,
Bryn.

Steven · 16th August 2003, 21:24

Sorry to hear about your overheating. If I'm not mistaken the whole motor must come out to remove the cylinder heads(2). I'm not sure if you'll need to seperate the cam tray from the head. Once the heads have been removed you should always adjust the valves after the final torquing sequence. Best of luck

Bryn · 16th August 2003, 23:00

Thanks Steven,

My mate who is doing the job says the engine can stay in, but it makes it much more difficult, so it is often best to take it out anyway. Not sure which approach he is going to take yet.

Is there anything exciting I can do whilst the head is in bits? Performance cams perhaps?

Cheers,
Bryn.

mblaster · 17th August 2003, 02:07

Have the head ported and polished to improve air flow, you'll be gead you did. Maybe cam's if you got some money to spend. Check out Dinan, they make some hotter cams for the E34M5

Mmm-Five · 17th August 2003, 15:58

Bryn,

Is this just some excuse to put in those wilder Schrick cams

Will add about £1k to the price of the rebuild though, but you will get an extra 15hp or so!

g boyd · 17th August 2003, 20:22

Bryn,
Sorry to hear your story

I recommend you getting them to check your valve seals and valve guides anything more than 100k and they will be worn (ask the guy from BMW magazine going back a few years now but he removed the head twice) as for the cams I fitted them to one of my M5 and sorry not impressed only good for track not everyday driving,
I have got a 3.6 with 3.8 sprockets fitted and I recommend it to everybody,

Is yours a 3.6 or 3.8?

Graham

g boyd · 17th August 2003, 20:22

Bryn,
Sorry to hear your story

I recommend you getting them to check your valve seals and valve guides anything more than 100k and they will be worn (ask the guy from BMW magazine going back a few years now but he removed the head twice) as for the cams I fitted them to one of my M5 and sorry not impressed only good for track not everyday driving,
I have got a 3.6 with 3.8 sprockets fitted and I recommend it to everybody,

Is yours a 3.6 or 3.8?

Graham

Bryn · 18th August 2003, 11:00

Hi guys,

The car is a 3.8 with 51k miles on the clock.

I read Graham's post from some time ago about how he wasn't impressed with the cams - is anyone aware of someone who has installed wilder cams in the 3.8 engine?

Obviously I don't want to do it if its not going to improve the engine characteristics.

And does anyone know if Schrick have a website? I can't seem to find anything through google.

Also, do you think 15bhp on top of 340 will be noticeable? Maybe if I have it remapped for 98 ron fuel as well?

Here's an interesting thread on the subject, but it seems no-one has done it yet! Maybe I'll be the guinea pig for you guys!!

Cam thread

Cheers again,
Bryn.

Mmm-Five · 18th August 2003, 12:07

Schrick Website - English

Schrick Website - German (may have more info than the English version)

Link to the Schrick camshafts PDF (over 12 months old though)

BTW, anyone know how Rob Levinson got 380bhp from just a chip (no other performance mod listed on his website)?

Bryn · 18th August 2003, 13:48

Thanks for the info...

Anyone know how much power the standard transmission and drivetrain is good for?

Cheers,
Bryn.