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Hi, I’m working on changing cylinder head gasket and maybe there is a thread for it which i just didnt find? It’s a 1981 318i and I would like some tips and tricks.

Should I remove the intake manifold from the head or not for example? I mean, which is easiest..?

Do u use any gasket paste on the gasket or not?

I’ve never done it and I intend to learn and it takes me sheit loads of time to research

Any tips are welcome and I dont really have many specific questions!

Thank yall

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But I think it is easiest to remove the manifold since it is so large. I will put on a new gasket within some weeks and I do not intend to use any paste. Only around the oil holes the Haynes recommends to put something.

But carefully check whether the head is not warped or unflat. The flatness should be within 0,1mm. If it is more than that, contact a machine shop to flatten it. Don't forget the cover since it needs to be decreased in height the same amount.

What is the reason you are replacing the gasket?


Here are some pages from the BMW Blue Book:

Tackar @wilmo! Var i Sverige befinner du dej?

I’m changing the gasket because I have noticed white smoke from the exhaust pipe and i while back i had my engine overheating and i checked the coolant fluid in the radiator and found out it had leaked out alot. The weird thing is that I refilled it to full again and it hasnt leaked anything since then (roughly 1000 kms later)?? So my plan is to change to see if it helps and I also wanna learn the procedure so I do it partly cause of that too.

Before removing the head, I would apply pressure to the cooling system and monitor a pressure gauge for any leak. Unless you really want to learn the removal procedure.

Agree, better check out the cause first, quite some money and effort wasted if not necessary imho (gasket set, head bolts, preferably valve grinding, valve seals, timing set, all fluids). Perhaps a small tear in a hose or a leak in the interior heating matrix, and it may be good to do a compression test as well.