BMW X3 E83 M54 Head Gasket Replacement DIY: Reassembly Part 1

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This video is for entertainment purposes only. 50sKid assumes no liability for any repairs or modifications performed by the viewer as a result of the information contained in this video.

[@speralta1]

You're spot on at the end where you mentioned that you have to torque the bolts using the "angle method". The science behind it is this; The bolt's are being stressed passed their elastic limit probably during the first 90 degree tightening sequence past the initial 40Nm. The bolts are now in their plastic region and any further torquing continues to physically stretch the bolt and they are now becoming strain hardened or work hardened in some circles. They are essentially becoming tougher and less "springy" (as they would have been if left in the elastic region). What's very interesting about a material once it goes plastic is that any further work done on it (turning by your wrench) goes into stretching the bolt and not necessarily "tightening" it. It was cool that you observed this with your torque wrench when the measured torque did not appreciably change on the second 90 degrees. As a matter of fact if you go too far, the measured torque will actually start to decrease and further continuation will lead to a fracture of the material. That is why it is not good to torque these kinds of bolts to some final value. If you do, you may be getting dangerously close to failing the bolt once it's put into service. Hope that helps explain why they are called "torque to yield". Parenthetically, that's kind of a misnomer. The bolts have been torqued past their yield which is the limit of the elastic region for a material. Great work on these videos!

[@metinhakyemez581]

my car is e39 engine m54. Thanks to you, I do almost everything myself. i love you so much 50skid

[@thormcgee968]

Steel wool fibers will clog the heater core. They will score the water pump seal. They can cause the heater control valve and thermostat to hang open as the fibers gather in between the close tolerance pistons. Grinding the outside corners off a new razor blade and carefully scraping off the old crude without scoring the aluminum works well. Using a vacuum during the scraping keeps crude out off the block.

[@mikesavage8379]

I do like this series - A reasonably-priced head gasket job while the engine is still in car. I would mention time-serting the block. You didn't do it this time because your head was not warped and your engine likely did not overheat. But most people who do this job will be trying to fix an overheated engine. Time serts are the way to go. Also, I wish you hadn't used the steel wool to clean block/head. The steel wool residue can get into the oil galleries, bearings, etc. I recommend the razor blade scrape method (hold the blade upright/change blades frequently). I also spray shaving cream in all holes to seal and capture the gasket bits and suck it out with a shop vac.

[@50sKid]

the razor blade method works to scrape away the residue from graphite head gaskets, but this stuff is different and a chemical cleaning is the way to go. There are only two main oil channels coming up from the block into the head and I made sure to stay away from those.

[@anunciosportuano4798]

@@50sKid hi dude! Do you think i can install a 328 iron short block from a e36 to my current e46 323i? Im basicaly tryna stay away from the insert job and benefit from the 2.8lt in favor of the 2.5lt. Any info would be apreciated.

[@dantheman1337]

Just run a vacuum next to the scrubbing.

[@danielruskin3620]

I'd always resurface the head, it's around $70 and well worth it. Saves doing a head gasket again and while it's apart, it's the right thing to do. You know this Jason obviously and you are right, you should have let him do it.

[@50sKid]

It didn't really need it dude, it was flat as a pancake. I couldn't get a 0.0016" feeler gauge underneath my straight edge stretched across the head.

[@damaestro5667]

It is sunday, I'm happy cuz 50skid is releasing a new video, however im sad cuz its the end of the weekend. lol

[@50sKid]

me too!

[@HektorBandimar]

You are a very capable guy, well done! interesting video, you must be blessed with a lot of patience.

[@petar443]

I know a guy with 1.2 SOHC engine(AVEO) did not resurfaced the aluminium head when did head gasket job. Now 50 000 km, still no problems :)

[@50sKid]

all depends on whether it's flat or not

[@sterlingwitherspoon5709]

Petar did y’all sand down the block?

[@twindragon731]

A good technician would do it right the first time or not do it at all. Not letting small stuff possibility come back to bite you later om. If you should do it but don't then your letting it to chance. Not the way to do it right the first time. Preventive maintenance is a good thing. Also never put a head on any surface face down unless you are putting it into its place. You can scratch the surface and create a new problem for yourself

[@LI_RAIZO]

i have a 2000 323ci that i love i have a few problems with it i wish i can talk to this guy

[@js6498]

Wanted to ask if you can remove the head with the camshafts in place? Don’t want to bother with disturbing the timing or the extra work of removing and reinstalling the camshaft if I don’t need to. Thank you very much and great videos.

[@dennisrobinson8008]

Good question. It seems hard to retrieve head bolt and head bolt washer with the cams in place. I'm curious what the official answer is.

[@graysgarage2142]

I did mine at the first 90 degree turn and it was around 80 Newton meters

[@graysgarage2142]

I have a customer with the same exact engine. Cylinder number 2 has 15 psi and the rest are around 170 to 180 no water has mixed with the oil. The cam lobes look fine so I’m going to have to pull the head to get more info

[@50sKid]

Leak down test will tell you were the compression loss is

[@graysgarage2142]

@@50sKid ok it only builds enough to barley register on my gauge

[@50sKid]

@@graysgarage2142 that's on a compression test, which is measuring how much compression the cylinder can build while cranking, but a leakdown test introduces external air into the cylinder when its set to TDC so that you can hear where the air is leaking out of. This will tell you if there's a damaged valve or rings or a head gasket issue so that you at least know what's wrong before you do all that work.

[@graysgarage2142]

@@50sKid I’ve been doing this kind of work for about 2 years and let me tell you something man! I have never heard of this before and now that you have told me and I’ve watched a few videos on a tester! I have been missing out for a very very long time! Thank you so much !!!!

[@50sKid]

@@graysgarage2142 Glad to help dude!

[@scmafia7515]

Looking for information for a 2002 325i misfire with fuel cutoff, also a head gasket replacement for my yr. Thank you for your videos.

[@leestauf]

What about the valve stem seals? I'm sure they have worn. And have you ever seen what solvent does to rubber?! You have done a lot of work to just replace a head that is now questionable at best.

[@TheCowgirlNiamh]

Love Elring gaskets! Only brand I use :)

[@DavidPalmberg]

Very detailed and good series!

[@dennisrobinson8008]

Hi, 50s kid. I replaced headgaskets and bolts 9 months back. Sent the head to get milled and pressure checked. Had to timesert the block. After a few months it appeared I was having head gasket leakage. Retightened the bolts, a couple some how loosed up, and everything appeared fine. Just recently the issue re-occured. There was no coolant in oil, but it appeared to be pressure in the exhaust system. I was tightening the head bolts back down in the proper sequence and one of them hit 50 ft-lb and just kept spinning and lost torque. The bolt spins freely either way. I can't imagine the timecert itself is stripped, I imagine the torque to yield bolt snapped and is spinning. What are your thoughts?

[@BlackCode511]

Thanks for the great video. is it correct to use some oil on the head bolts? should you use thread locker instead?

[@abumannocchi]

Do we have to take off the exhast

[@manuelcolon874]

After doing all the work on my head car runs great. But I have a battle I cannot seem to win. A dreaded p0011. I did a new oil change after the build an than another one. I also swapped out all the vanos solenoids. Still p0011. Than I did a drive test with both disconnected. At that point p0011 went away but than I got p0010 an p0013 because both a & b solenoids where disconnected. So I went ahead an connected both codes went away but p0011 returned. Code states 0011 OBD-II Trouble Code: Camshaft Position A - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1). It’s a 2004 X3 6 speed a gem I found mis treated or loved an one point long ago. It runs great except for this code an a lack of power out out when I try to give it Gas in higher gears. Any pointers ?

[@brucemader5989]

After removal of the head on my overheated E46 with an M54 engine, I looked at the deck of the block, and it appears that the cylinder liners are sticking up about .008 above the deck surface. I have looked all over the internet to see if this is acceptable, and I can't find anything. Is this a usual occurrence? Do I have to strip down the block and have it surfaced? Any insight you can give me is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@laloarguello]

I recently got my e83 3.0 head gasket replaced and it does crank and start no overheating just idles poorly and misfires also shuts off after about 10 mins of it turned on any tips or what it may be?

[@Xanzeri]

Great job! I noticed you did not use a sealing compound (3 Bond 1209 or others). Is this not required?

[@50sKid]

It's only required when installing the black plastic valve cover itself -- refer to my valve cover gasket replacement video

[@Xanzeri]

@@50sKid Thanks a bunch, and please, do keep up with the good work.

[@abumannocchi]

But can you add more seal for extra saftey so no coolant gets in

[@chucklechuckle7127]

Can you give me the absolute best tips for replacing the timing chain guides with the engine still in the car please? M54/52tu

[@josephguzman4737]

The timing chain cover plate is wedged between then head and oil pan. You have to remove one or the other. Also need to pull the harmonic balancer so the plate can slide off. Now you have access. Remember get a new timing chain cover GASKET when changing the guide. HOPE THIS HELPS

[@UrbyTuesday]

13:38-13:40 the upper timing chain suddenly appears! was the guide there the whole time? how on earth did you lower that in there without breaking the timing chain guide?! damn impressive given the weight of that assembly. I am pretty strong and it was all I could manage to wrestle it out over the radiator. and in the process i snapped off the upper chain guide : ( oh..and I believe the dowel size is 7/16ths if you want it to fit perfectly. I think you say 5/16ths. Not nitpicking, just wanting to contribute!

[@50sKid]

Yeah it was like that the whole time. You saw how i did it -- just little by little, baby steps. :-)

[@UrbyTuesday]

@@50sKid Almost single-handedly, YOU have gotten my kid thru high school in her beater e53. Gave it to her with 177k and she's at 205k after 2.5 years, lol! She nicknamed it "Bruiser" and she and her friends have beaten the every living $hit out of it. PERFECT car for the high school parking lot. Love dings on every panel. She'll remember this car for the rest of her life. She scoffs at the inferior driving performance of her friends' cars. She got rammed from behind by a Civic fanboi at 40 mph and Bruiser just laughed. Had to replace the rear mufflers. Civic? Totaled. Without your videos this car would have never made it. She's off to college and I just couldn't send this thing to the junk yard. If I get this cyl head replacement done and the timeserts hold, it'll be good for another HS kid for another 50k miles - assuming they are proficient at changing window regulators and door handle carriers on the reg! EDIT: THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[@50sKid]

@@UrbyTuesday haha that is awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@kingjuve3231]

Is it best to put the head in with the cams off or on? I’m worried about bending a valve.

[@sterlingwitherspoon5709]

When getting the head resurfaced, what grit should they have used? Machine guy said he used 40 grit to make it flat. So it wasn’t smooth as a baby’s bottom. Is it supposed to be?

[@50sKid]

They're not supposed to use sandpaper. The head has to have a perfectly smooth finish. It needs to be done on a resurfacer with a PCB cutter.

[@aleksankazakov]

This procedure of 90 degree torque is misunderstood even by the most savvy mechanics. Lets just simply ask a question where does this 90 degree procedure come from? The answer is from the factory, but also what NONE realize as a definitive fact is that at the factory they use machinery that does this process on the brand new engine block that was never torqued. Just listen to me and save some time and money. This is not the same when you work on a used block, you no longer can repeat 90 degree turns, If you can, you're lucky or that was the last time you ever torqued the head, you will more than likely strip the bolt threads or the block threads one or the other. What matters is the FINAL torque not the degree at which you end the turn. That is very important. I suggest replacing the M10 stock bolts to M11 from Audi, but not to get in details of how to re-tap the hole, I just don't recommend to try to re torque your M54 head using this process of 90 and 90 turns, you will F# it up using standard M10 bolts more likely than not

[@g.martinhiner6938]

Saw some of you vidios, what is with the deal with European cars. They are junk. Been doing this for 40 years. Those junkers are not worth my time. Wait till them proccesrs go out. Good thing that got You.

[@John_Doe_6996]

I have always owned american cars...all crap...Love my Bmw though...seems most bmw problems come from old gaskets....replace ur gaskets and save urself from a blown engine...neglect can destroy any engine in any car...

[@g.martinhiner6938]

Try a zero tolerance, less comebacks. They suck enough the first time.

[@JAMAEL89]

Hello been food ing your channel for awhile. Is it worth to fix head gasket 2000 528i. Car is solid being sold for 300.00

[@mikesavage8379]

depending on the car's mileage and condition. Yes. I have two of them. They are great cars.

[@DjDestinyChicago]

I'd definitely buy it as long as the body was clean. Did you pick it up?

[@mX-ip1wi]

Ever consider copper wool?

[@50sKid]

i didn't know they made it!

[@dylanprasad99]

I don’t like the fact you didn’t resurface it after you knew the headgasket was blown and it over heated

[@50sKid]

Actually the head gasket wasn't blown, it was totally fine. And the evidence shows that it didn't overheat seriously--otherwise the head would have been seriously warped. But it wasn't, I couldn't even get a 0.0016" feeler gauge under my straight edge. This head was totally fine to be put back on as it was.

[@dylanprasad99]

50sKid that’s room for compression to leak...

[@g.martinhiner6938]

Be sure to replace all those plastic parts, while you can see them. Just more junk that wears out. Just saying.

[@HunterOfHalfLife]

Head is curved from factory..? Uuhh.. Maybe, if the machine that surfaced it was broken and german that operated it overdosed with beer, then yes. Where did you get that info from? No, seriously, why would it be curved? Minor variations.. Yes , the engine will start up, it will work, but the question is for how long? Ultimately all those thing are what adds up, and decides, whether the engine will run 50kkm or 250kkm. On a car like this, that you plan to flip or whatever, I understand that there's not so much enthusiasm, but if somebody will plan to keep the car, why not to do it properly? I've never heard of any problems with engines, that were torqued without angles. Angles do work, but it is not the best solution out there.

[@brokenmotorwagen1328]

The bowed head sounds strange but totally makes sense. Why? He explained it right there in the video. It wouldn't be difficult to machine it like such, they don't need to be drunk.

[@HunterOfHalfLife]

Broken Motor Wagen sorry no, this doesn't make any sense. It's causing unnecessary stress on parts, and consider that metal expands when it gets hot, so there will be a lot of uneven stress. Not only that, but gasket will be pressed harder in some places, than in other. What's good in that? There is a reason, why people want their surfaces perfectly flat.

[@brokenmotorwagen1328]

Good points.

[@HunterOfHalfLife]

Broken Motor Wagen i by no means claim to know it all, but there is a lot to this stuff that is not obvious and requires certain experience and tested and backed up knowledge, which is hard to find. It is very hard to find the "real/ the true" information on this topic, and that because someone said something what makes sense, doesn't mean that it is right(even bmw itself), even if it sounds 100% logical, because some other fact is overlooked. I hope you got the idea. I don't know english sources about engines, because I'm leaning on russian теория двс channel, so I can not cite anything for you english people. Just trying to spread the knowledge

[@brokenmotorwagen1328]

Of course there's a lot of miss information out there and it takes a lot of research to come to a useful conclusion. You made good reasoning and I also realized it actually didn't make much sense. First of all, how do we know if a head better be positive bow or negative bow. And yes the gasket is probably the happiest between two flat surfaces. On the other hand, manufacturers do try different stuff from time to time that doesn't turn out successful. They put out new ideas to be tested over millions of miles of real life use. It could have been a not-straight head. Also, we don't know the rigidity of aluminum. A 6 cylinder head may just comfortably stretch a mill or two under torqued down pressure as long as there are no hot spots and chips.

[@chihou1327]

😭