please help

[werm's e30]

i bought an 89 325i in mint cond. It had a need tranny put in new head gasket , valves all that stuff. But recently i noticed oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil . Got the engine pressure tested it was all good straight edged the head for warpage it was fine , no blowout in the head gasket. Me and the guy doing to work for me which is the same guy i bought the car from are stumped does anyone have any other suggestions please let me know i work to hard for my money to just let it go to waste in a car that regestered and insured thats not working thank you very much ...

 

[slav325e]

did you have the air intake manifold gasket checked ???

 

[Big Daddy]

It had a need tranny put in new head gasket

Not sure what you are saying here, it had a new tranny and a head gasket? Was the block checked for cracks and or warpage at the head? I would have had the head shaved from the previous gasket failure, or was it obviously the gasket? I am not sure how you would get an oil/coolant mixture from an intake gasket?

 

[E30m42cab]

Definately has nothing to do with the intake mainfold gasket. Who did your head gasket? Did they shave the head, use new head bolts, torque them properly, and give them the proper degrees of turning after torquing? You may still have coolant/oil mixed from the first time the job was done, if the coolant and oil weren't changed to begin with.

 

[Kirby]

Engine Pressure tested? Do you mean magnafluxed? Pressure testing an engine will NOT reveal a cracked block or head. Cracks can be very tiny, only magnafluxing will show them.

 

[werm's e30]

he didnt shave the head or magnaflux it. It had a new tranny put in a few years back , and the head gasket was replaced last year and has only been driven 2000 miles since. the head isnt warped and also the head gasket looks like it seals nicely . As far as new bolts put in and torqued correctly in not sure, should the bolts been replaced?

 

[kenika65]

he didnt shave the head or magnaflux it. It had a new tranny put in a few years back , and the head gasket was replaced last year and has only been driven 2000 miles since. the head isnt warped and also the head gasket looks like it seals nicely . As far as new bolts put in and torqued correctly in not sure, should the bolts been replaced?

Replace the bolts every time because the bolts stretch so that the aluminum head doesn't crack when it initially heats up.

 

[werm's e30]

so it looks like i should send the head to a machine shop get it magnafluxed /shaved or replaced , replace head gasket and head bolts and flush all the collant out and replace oil. Im gonna go now to do this im keeping my fingers crossed . any other suggestions?

 

[Kirby]

Short of pulling the block and magnafluxing it also, you are taking the right steps. It is more common for an aluminum head to have cracks than the block having cracks.

 

[Doughnut]

It is more common for an aluminum head to have cracks than the block having cracks.

+1
You'd be doing well to crack a iron block!

 

[Big Daddy]

But I have seen iron blocks cracked!

 

[werm's e30]

so when all this is done other then i have a cracked block(which i hope not , and dont suspect since an old lady drove it prior to me) it should be all good again? should i replace any sensors or other parts while im at it

 

[Doughnut]

while the heads off, may aswell do inlet manifold gaskets and exhaust gaskets, do a bunch of coolant hoses and all your vacuum hoses while your at it.

 

[E30m42cab]

and you timing belt, belt tensioner, & water pump.

 

[werm's e30]

so im just going to replace the head anyone have an idea where to get a decent priced used one?

 

[Doughnut]

There is only one bay, and that bay, is eBay!

 

[E30m42cab]

There are probably more e30 m20's in scrap yards than there are left on the road.

 

[werm's e30]

well i ended up finding a used motor for a good price were rebuilding it and getting into the car soon.