How much for a head gasket change?

[Reck]

E21 316 1.8 1981

I've been unable to solve my overheating issues. All stemmed from an incident where the old radiator burst in the middle of town and I was on my way to an exam at uni. Couldn't stop as I would've missed the exam so ended up driving for 2 or 3 miles with no water in it at all! I knew the consequences but I had no choice...

New radiator, hoses, thermostat and don't think it's the water pump. Still overheating. Reckon I've f*** the head gasket (and hopefully not much else). Can anyone give me any idea how much it might cost to change the head gasket? And if/where I can get hold of a head gasket set for my model?

Thanks
Jason

[e21-Mark]

GSF or EuroCarParts should have a gasket set or even Ebay?

With parts & labour you'll be looking at £250 plus I would imagine.

[alschux]

I'd recommend doing this yourself if you're remotely technically minded. Did mine recently - first major engine related job and really not difficult. Budget £70-80 for a full top end gasket set (got mine from walloth and nesch), so you know you have everything you need before you start and can do the valve stem seals while you're in there, made a big difference to the smoking on mine. If you've majorly overheated it I'd say get it skimmed, another £40-50. So £110-130 all in. Some people say change the headbolts, but I think I'm right in saying they're not stretch bolts on the M10 engine, so just make sure the threads are clean and re use the old ones. Re-torque in 3-stages as per the haynes manual.

Give it a go!

[tommi_e21]

head gasket is the easy part.

Problems which will arise during the job are

- manifold studs are a bitch to get off so dont bother, just drop them off the down pipe.
- if any snap then you will have to replace them and helicoil them
- is the head warped? good to get it skimmed which means releasing the valves.
- you do need new headbolts (£20)
- oil coolant etc (£20)
- While its out you might aswell do the valve stem seals and give your head an overhaul.

just an idea but why not upgrade to an e30,2002 or e12 head and get some nice big valves

[alschux]

Don't all the big valve head options lower your compression ratios significantly if you just slap them on a standard block?

[tommi_e21]

not if you get the head skimmed down when your refitting.

the increase invalve size will outweigh any compression changes