BMW Head Gasket Teardown (WARNING)

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tips and tricks inside this video hopefully help you
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BMW E46
We show you how to strip the engine down so you can replace the head gasket
How to remove the intake manifold BMW
How to remove exhaust manifold to BMW
How to remove the head BMW
you have to be very careful with these engines as they are known for stripping the head bolts
We show you how to check them to know if you're going to have any issues in future
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Bodgit And Leggit Garage, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. Bodgit And Leggit Garage assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Bodgit And Leggit Garage recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Bodgit And Leggit Garage, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained

[@mazdaman1286]

Whilst the inlet manifold is off ...replace everything... like the car.😉

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@chadglass7705]

One of the best videos on this. Many thanks for taking pains to capture the process. Very educational. Makes me realize it's more practical to just replace the engine than do this.

[@sidm3300]

Slightly more complicated than when me and my mate, as apprentice mechanics back in 1967 did a head gasket on a sit up and beg Ford Pop with nothing more than a screwdriver, a pair of pliers and a set of mole grips.

[@CarsExposed]

Quite an intricate job and lots of good info mate As always , getting another engine is probably the way forward , would be nice to see the vanos rebuilt 👍👍👍 thanks for the vid

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

thanks a lot mate it's a long video I tried to get as much information as I can I will see what I can do with the VANOS rebuild

[@maxautouk]

Hit like before I even watched the video. You're always a class act, no need to expect any less

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Lol thanks mate

[@chrisp.5272]

Yeah definitely overheated my M53 2004 BMW X3 3.0i a few times. Thanks to a frayed wire in my fan, while idling, it overheated and the expansion tank blew out. Head gasket now leaks, it’s not horrible, replaced the radiator that was leaking too. I’m not going to do this properly, going to attempt to use some head gasket in a bottle repair and see if it’ll hold on for a little while longer. At 180,000 miles, definitely a shame, reliable vehicle for 5+ years. Topping the coolant off every week or two isn’t horrible… 🤷🏻‍♂️ Really just want to use it to haul my bikes to the racetrack.

[@abumannocchi]

Mines leaking in cylinder 2 coolant i gotra go down n change the gasket?

[@MechanicMindset]

Got to love the M54 (warts and all!), BMW guys know. As far as BMW engines go, they’re pretty good 😂

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TomFlaTTop_BMW]

Cheers for the Great video. My Father & I are both BMW mechanics, restorers, & collectors. The Old Man's missus has an E46 325i that suffered a cooling system failure, which resulted in cylinder head issues after she cooked the M54 before she realised there was a problem. Chicks will scope their iPhones & iPads constantly even while driving, but you get blank stares when you ask them about the temp gauge! 😶🙄🤣 Anyway, he was thinking of pulling the head to attempt a repair, but your video helped me convince him it would likely be better & more economical to source a good 2nd hand engine, IF they decide to keep the car, than bother trying to rescue this one, as it's highly likely to have at least a few stripped threads in the block. It was overheated pretty terminally, and is losing coolant through the head while running on 5 cylinders. In all my years turnin' spanners, having worked on all-alloy motors from just about every manufacturer (Peugeot, Renault, Volvo, Fiat, Alfa, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, etc, etc, etc), I'd never encountered engines with thread issues like these M54's. The Old Man couldn't believe it when he first heard about it from the Master Technicians he worked with at the BMW Dealer he was employed at. I'll stick to the old skool engines like the M30's in my E23, E24's, & E32, and the M10's & M20's in my E30's. Those things are bullet proof tough in comparison, and easier to repair/recondition if needed. Thanks again, Brother. We Aussies have our own terms, but I think in your lingo, you'd be what's known as a "Diamond Geezer"! 😎😁👍🤘 kind regards from Down Under.

[@watercarepro9610]

I agree about the temperature gauge, when you talk about kids not paying attention to their temperature gauge, I don't think most adults know to pay attention to their gauges anymore, it's pretty sad. I taught both of my daughters to constantly keep an eye on all of their gauges, and where they are supposed to be, and I told them the most important gauge is the temperature gauge. To this day they constantly keep an eye on their gauges and know to shut the engine down if the temperature gauge starts creeping up.

[@TomFlaTTop_BMW]

@@watercarepro9610 I probably shouldn't say anything as my comment was kinda sexist, though I intended it tongue in cheek, but I was talking about Women not paying attention to the gauges when driving, as it was my Father's Girlfriend who cooked the M54 in her E46 3 Series, but we're both correct, as usually kids are just as bad at monitoring the Engine's vital signs even though the gauges are right in front of 'em. Commendably, you have taught BOTH of YOUR daughters to drive correctly, to be aware of the vehicle, why it's important to monitor, what to monitor, how to, and what to do if things go cattywampus, like pull over and shut down if temp. starts to increase anything over normal....that's important by the way, as "normal" operating temp. is in the centre of the gauge's range from cold to hot, and to stop their customers getting paranoid or overreacting, in the late 1980's BMW began placing a diode in the temp. gauge circuit to "dampen" it's movement at the centre mark and keep it still there, as previously the normal movement of the indicator dial 1-2mm either side of centre as temperature slightly rises & lowers through variable airflow in traffic gave some of them anxiety issues. With these diodes, the dial indicator will remain perfectly still at the centre of the gauge, as the diode won't allow the gauge indicator to move up or down at all until the actual engine temperature alters more than 10 deg Celsius above or below the optimum normal operating temperature of 88 deg Celsius. So given, by the time the gauge moves UP AT ALL, the temperature is already around 98 deg Celsius! Anything over 100 degrees risks engine damage, with the odds & severity increasing in proportion to the rising temp. If you see that gauge move AT ALL to the hotter side, it means the cooling system has an issue, at least in it's early stages, and is much cheaper to rectify ASAP than a warped or cracked cylinder head, with a side order of stripped head stud threads in the block. I think the diodes aren't a good idea, as I'd much prefer to put up with the normal, if more sensitive, miniscule movement of a temperature gauge at around normal temperature, and know the moment it rises over that, than be falsely reassured by a still gauge indicator, when the engine temperature could really be 10 degrees Celsius up or down, and I wouldn't know it until the gauge suddenly registers it beyond that, giving less time to pick it up visually and find a place to stop, especially in traffic.....Hopefully that's a little tip you can pass on to the kids to expand their already admirable knowledge. You get my vote for Top Notch Father Skills! As my Father said to me often when I worked for him as an apprentice mechanic, "Look after your car, and it will look after you." It was sage advice then, still is, and I never forgot it. Cheers mate. All the best!

[@kyplummer3657]

Great video Thankyou so much very thorough!

[@kyplummer3657]

Why would you take the whole is a star after you cut the bolts you’re gonna have to get them out anyway and put new ones back in so you might as well do it now hammer them out or drill them

[@kobbeydewarren2212]

Currently working on my 525i 02 bmw head gasket is warped. It sucks i haven’t driven it since 2021 so its been over a year and im just now working on it

[@prevost8686]

BMW has hopelessly lost its way from where they used to be. They are the Chrysler of Germany now.

[@jakkoplaysfornite]

i just got done doing a head gasket on my 04 325xi and i got everything back together i tought but maybe not, i tried to turn it on and there was no crank, then when i tried to turn the key again it was like locked, they key wont fully turn, any help

[@TrueBlueEG8]

7:35 metal tool on windscreen :( My da would clatter me for that :))) great channel, and good work lad.

[@fatjonfati]

I will never complain about my 2 mercedes om606 and om647 , this engin e design looks stupid from a maintenance pov

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

👍

[@mikesmith-yc3os]

Great Video Leon And Well Explained

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks mate

[@kris4362]

Leon, bloody excellent mate ........ 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks mate

[@SupermotoZach]

Nice video. (I don't own a BMW but just like to see the inner workings of many engines) Should get a tripod just wack the camera on so you can film and use both hands 🙂

[@angeljoel1724]

How do you know you didn’t strip the block threads re torquing the head bolts

[@kyplummer3657]

Ouch man bmws! That’s rough, and all that time just to tear off the head!

[@dharradi]

Great video mate. Thanks for sharing. Learning a lot from you. Thanks.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks mate

[@andy_v4443]

who would be a mechanic these days, glad i never went down that job option route, great work leon

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Yes mate it's certainly not good I am too stupid to do anything else though unfortunately

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Good vid, very well explained. Seeing that amount of light coming under the straight edge when testing for head warp is never a happy sight, and that head looked to be so warped that I’m surprised the cams can even still turn!

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Yes mate with these engines do suffer with this quite badly have seen a lot of these heads that are very badly water and the cams can still turn

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

bodgit and leggit garage BMW l6 engines anyway been bad for it. I’m sure it was on the M20 the the head could be warped but just taking them off wrong 🤷‍♀️ Still love my ewd Beemer’s though.

[@phillloyd8625]

Leon, done some of this to my 3.0 so i feel your pain, but not the head i am glad to say. Suggest you change the oil filter housing gasket too while you are in there. I replaced all the evap hoses and ccv too. It runs sweet as now. Great video btw 👍

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Boom SORTED thanks mate

[@BensWorkshop]

Interesting. I hate that sort of engine! I much prefer the security of a cast iron block and head where you don't have to worry about these things! PS, you can get helicoil kits which might work for the head bolts.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Yeah you can buy a special kit but they are very expensive because you need special pots for them to make them work and last that's what I want to show in the next video don't know if the customer will do it there

[@BensWorkshop]

@@bodgitandleggitgarage I've used straight forward helicoil kits on a cast iron block once. Do you know what the thread size is?

[@JMUDoc]

God, the M54 is a picky engine - too hot, the heads warp; too cold, the oil control rings and CCV clog up! One thing I would recommend is swapping the expansion cap for a 1.4 bar version; 2 bar is too high, and I would rather the cap fail than the tank explode😁

[@PDSVIDEO1966]

Great video,been waiting for this since the teaser video.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Lol thanks mate

[@yamahattr6006]

Money pit BMW the cost of repairs must be more than the value of this rough looking BM

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

German engineer and don't you just love it

[@danielroma2370]

What can you do if they are stripped? How would you go about rethreading them?

[@danl4222]

Can a Machine shop level the surface of that head? Great video... tks

[@kickinitwithlos7800]

Do this happen to the 528i e39 too or just the m52 and m54? Thread issue

[@vaughn4756]

Do you need to use the locking pins ??

[@JohnnysSpeedShop]

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Wow you must be bored

[@allothernamesbutthis]

microfibre cloths are great for catching and mopping up oil

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Ok

[@conradgieblewicz8220]

Awsome video...!!! Thank you....!!!

[@kennethhoward8118]

Hi I was I’m a BMW mechanic and in school we Learn to use Cylinder head Screws only one time wants I was wondering and then replace with new ones when you replace the head because the boat stretches only once that you user in the head can only be used once could it be that you may have cars that it couldn’t go to six all the way to second 90° because of the boat was already been stretched once Before So what I’m learning from that is that you may have damaged the cylinder head because I’m not using a new Stretch cylinder head screw And a new head gasket I think it could work but only with new bolts

[@paulclifford4469]

Its definitely not your first rodeo Leon lol. Great video

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks mate

[@matthewbaxter277]

Another great video Leon all the best from Whitby North Yorkshire.👍👍

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks mate

[@jimtheman5598]

Brilliant Leon what a nightmare that was great video

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks mate

[@tomjohntig]

Can’t wait for you to get back to normal Leon in your own shop, thanks for the info on the BMW lad I don’t have one lol.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks a lot mate much appreciated it won't be long now

[@henokgebremariam8383]

Thanks you are professional

[@Simon-ui6db]

I have a strong feeling on De-ja-vue

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

🤣🤣🤣

[@patrickkenny3326]

Great video very helpful! Just one question tho... Is there no need to lock the cams in place once you have them lined up correctly? Because I see a lot of people use a cam lock tool when taking of the head Thanks!

[@sylvainst-laurent3631]

You don't need the tool to remove the head . The tool is more useful when you put the chain back on

[@bmaity2002]

I think he just stripped those threads by re-torquing stretch bolts. Those bolts are already stretched and so won't match the original threat pitch of the block anymore. That's why they never reuse those bolts.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

I explained everything in the video these have a big problem with this everyone who knows about this problem does exactly what I have done this is the only way to test it are you going to put all the money into buying all new parts putting it all back together and then when you put new headbolts on you have this exact same problem this will cost you a fortune this is why I made sure there was an issue or wasn't an issue before I continued you need to know the vehicle And the common problems on them before you can make comments If you would have just put new bolts in you would have spent a fortune and wasted all that money I'm showing people how to do things properly so you need to know what you are talking about properly before you make comments

[@bmaity2002]

@@bodgitandleggitgarageI am not an engineer or expert but I understand this... A torque to yield fastener (TTY) or stretch bolt is a fastener which is torqued beyond the state of elasticity and therefore undergoes plastic deformation, causing it to become permanently elongated. Therefore, most elongated bolts are normally in the middle of the block where the mysterious bow is. Since those used bolts are no longer as they used to be. So they should not be used for testing threads. We may probably use new.

[@Vauxaholicx]

Lmao that looks like the viens ! You got tattoo with you from fantasy island 😂😂😂

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Vauxaholicx]

bodgit and leggit garage haha glad you enjoyed that

[@chrishoughton510]

Fookin hell, would it not be cheaper to buy a new car?? Lol Every credit Leon, how the fook you remember where everything goes is beyond me🤯🤯🤣

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

lol

[@esesosa911]

Why don't you just use the head gasket stop leak liquid?

[@duggy788]

could the head be straightened in a press before skimming , would cost too much i suppose ?.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Yes mate that's always certainly a possibility but it all comes down to everything price

[@vdubs6068]

Great Vid Leon 👍

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks mate

[@GHOOGLEMALE]

ffs - how much labour involved in that job! - Brave bloke. I'd have been perusing Autotrader for my new car about a thousand bolts ago....

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Lol

[@evieemaya88]

Great video leon love these in depth style ones to see exactly. A watchers advice for you. Maybe change the music, its alittle much to be able to just sit back and relax with the video. The ambient noise of garage and working sounds I always prefer. Just my opinion mate. Keep it up

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks a lot mate I will certainly keep that in mind what's appreciated

[@kirk1907]

Gone are the days when you went to parts department and got a decock kit, head off tidy it up head back on sorted

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Lol

[@harveysmith100]

Really enjoyed that one Leon. That is where guys like you earn your money. The knowledge and experience to tackle one of them. Hats off to you. Really interesting you found some vanes from the water pump. Possible the culprit of the overheating that caused the head to warp. Never been a big fan of plastic vanes, I guess the are fine if you change the water pump as the service intervals say, but people don't. What are your thoughts on the new BMW sixes. People are saying they are better. The new Grenadier is going to use it so I am interested what you think of it.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Personally I would never buy a BMW unless they had lots of money and I can't get rid of it after a couple of years but I love seeing them come into the garage because they always do need a lot of work

[@harveysmith100]

@@bodgitandleggitgarage I think that tells us everything we need to know!!!

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

@@harveysmith100 👍🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tonyc2837]

Great video. How old was the vehicle out of interest.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Hi mate I cannot remember unfortunately

[@huwdavies6650]

In other words, look after your cooling system to minimise the need to replace the head gasket. 🤣

[@lukey3507]

And avoid cars known to cost a lot of money to maintain and service. The vast majority of 2006- German's are ticking time bombs soon as they hit 100k miles or 10 years old.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Yes yes yes and yes to all the questions lol

[@jemhollanders8024]

So much unnecessary work this video is hard to watch. Just did this job and you don’t need to remove half of the stuff he says to remove. There’s no reason to remove the entire front clip, dip stick, ac compressor, engine mount, steering shaft, exhaust, skid plate, Jesus! You’d go broke having this guy fix your car. Removing the exhaust headers is very simple and it takes 30 minutes. Simply remove your engine mount nut on the exhaust side and loosen the one on the intake side, Jack up the engine a couple of inches and then unbolt the headers. Half of the bolts you can reach easily with the electric ratchet, and the others just get with a hand ratchet just have a a few different sized extensions. Pull the manifold away from the engine and use some wire to hold it back. Head comes off easy. So much unnecessary work making people think this job is way more complicated than it actually is

[@LMAutoRepairs]

Aluminium block... I seen it happening... Thanks for sharing it!

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

yes mate it's not good but it could have been a lot worse at least I checked it before the customer spent a fortune on getting their head done you need to know your stuff to save the customer a lot of money as you well know

[@johnocallaghan9252]

John OCallaghan Great video.Not a job for the home mechanic I think. Best left to the professionals .

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks 👍

[@sodster68]

Are all modern cars this convoluted in design or is it just BMW?

[@MrRohanThomas]

It's a BMW that's why, most cars are not

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Yes mate BMW Mercedes are certainly one of the worst

[@themechanic6117]

When almost everything has to get replaced due to age... Id imagine most people will throw in the towel.

[@forevercomputing]

Someone did that - left it in the engine. Someone else left a rag and a turbo drew it into the intake.... nom, nom, nom.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Don't you just love the engineering mate lol

[@geraldrosener9703]

Do you no of him

[@A3jettaftw1]

yep ima just get a junkyard motor og hg

[@bobmirdiff2043]

WOW! That wasn't Mechanics - It was like watching Open Heart Surgery!

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Lol

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

lol thanks mate

[@garypeatling7927]

Ford agent wanted to do head gasket on my Ford to stop water lose turned out to be radiator

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Boom SORTED

[@alancuck2048]

Lets be honest.... these are a nightmare car!

[@IBenZik]

The first thing that car needed was a pressure wash of the engine bay.

[@pauldavies6037]

Even though you didn't repair it I hope you charged the customer for all that labour !

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

👍

[@eddieMurphy11111]

i really like the video about doing the car but please either turn the music down or switch it off it is not good for us oldies.LOL

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Lol no problem mate will do

[@othniellewis3972]

I would have just dropped the sub-frame with the engine and gearbox.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

ok

[@richardsedorski1206]

My god what a job felt unwell watching you are some guy well done.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Thanks a lot mate hope you feel better soon just watching other one of my videos you'll feel better lol

[@adaneryurbina-cruz3843]

Simple! 😆😁

[@jeffreypugh5191]

Good video but loose the terrible music if that is what you call it!!!!

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Lol ok no problem mate will take that on board

[@malcolmcroll7556]

this must have cost a great deal of time & money ??????

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

Ok not sure what you're trying to get at

[@malcolmcroll7556]

@@bodgitandleggitgarage what i was getting at was the cost of the job as you say was it worth it to replace the head gasket you did a lot work to-be fair to you ;

[@kylekane8275]

That nearly made me sick.. Poor fukr. New engine.. Or off it for what parts are left.. Why did it happen in the first place I wonder🤔

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

The water pump vanes in the water jackets answers that question.

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

☝️☝️

[@bayerischemotorenwerke5252]

Original plastic impeller water pump never changed, owners didn't do proper maintenance

[@bayerischemotorenwerke5252]

Lol get a real straight edge

[@rayswann7618]

Note to self, Never ever buy an over engineered piece of european junk like this. I will stick to chevy thanks

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@DAGGERS8879]

Chevy 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣