BMW head gasket help!?

See if you can track your model on this site: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/

Good luck

Richard is right. Convertibles trail their sedan counterparts by roughly 2 years. This means that a 1991/92 BMW 325iACabrio would be an E30 body style, with the old M20 engines. Also, in 1991 BMW E36 vehicles started with No-VANOS engines (in 1991 ONLY). In late 1992 BMW introduced the variable inlet camshaft technology, commonly known as the VANOS. The best way to know for sure which gasket you use is to get the VIN number of your vehicle, call the local dealer, and ask them for the price and part number for the parts that you want.

Other things to note:

1. There is a cylinder head gasket, and there is a cylinder head gasket set. The set has EVERY single gasket that you would need for a head job (vanos, valve cover, head gasket, intake, exhaust, valve seals, o-rings, etc.) while the head gasket is just that. Specify this to the dealer so that you get the exact part that you need because the price difference between the two is ~$200USD.

2. Find out whether or not you need a standard or over sized gasket. If machining was done to the head, more than likely the machine shop shaved off some of the aluminum on the surface of the head. There is an oversized gasket that is about .02 mm thicker that needs to be used instead. If you haven't machined your head, then go with the standard gasket.

In a nutshell, you want to find out whether you car is an E30 or E36, and then find out if your engine is M20, M50, or M50TU. You can find out more about the chassis, engines, and technologies at wikipedia; and you can decode your vin at realoem.com

Hi I have owned loads of bmw 5 series and i know what im talking about. 1.The first thing you should do when you buy a bmw is get well aquaited with your nearest bmw SPECIALIST not and i repeat MAIN DEALER. Sometimes problems can be hard to find but this guy is an IDIOT. It would'nt suprise me if the thermostat HOUSEING had been leaking for ages and the head has indeed gone. By taking your car to the experts on a regular basis even for a winter checkup could of prevented this. Unfortunately you don't no much about cars because if you did you would have done no.1 Im not going to help you with this problem as you are half way into it. But i will give you valuable advice for the future. Modern cars run a lot hotter than they did in the past.(hot engines are more efficient) better mpg The downside is they hate to overheat. You should get the water pump changed as a pre cauction with every major service that includes a cam belt change. Anti freeze is vital and must be checked weekly along with oil and all fluids. I have no sympathy if BLOKES fail to do this. Get it fixed and trade it for another. WHY Because it will be a constant reminder of how this prat mucked you about and cost you money. Bmw are awsome cars and need to looked after, unfortunately you never know how hard it was driven by the previous owner. I would buy a 728i on a t up to w plate with 160000 mile on it with bills for thousands. Because on them cars all the problems arise between 80k and 140k miles. Buy the time its got 160k on it abd 15k worth of bills it will go for another 100k. And will cost you about 3 grand. I hope this helps!

Honestly just take it to the dealer. I don't want to sound like a jerk but I'd rather someone be mad at me and take it to the dealer and not have a torn apart head that they don't know how to fix then sit back and watch someone spend a lot of time and money on a bad idea. BMW's are very fical vehicles and require a special touch. if you do not know your engine well enough to order the head gasket, I'd just take it to the dealer and let them order it. And this way if they order the worng one they pay for it not you.

If you choose to get it yourself then here's the one you want, this is american part number so it may be different there #03-HG6009-0031 this is to the 92 DOHC and it's the full BMW recommended kit.

It will be the later year gasket for the M50 engine. The reason some 92's have the older ones is because the 92 3 series CONVERTIBLES were E30 body style with an m20 engine. The 92 2 and 4 door, coupe and sedan were E36 body style with M50 engines.

Mmm Gary you sound a bit like D head

Ring the Bmw dealer give them the engine number this will give you the correct one even if its not the original engine.

They do vary and some may vary in the slightest way but it will matter.

If you know they engine has not been changed then use the model number of the car.

Check for cracks on the head VANOS or non VANOS there is a 80 to 90% chance the heads cracked IF its been overheated slightly to extreme abuse..

believe there's two different motors available, the M20 SOHC or the M50 DOHC. So, check it if you have the a single or dual cams. Don't know about euro models.

Exciting question, a question that has been asked for the last two hundred and twenty years by many people, likewise. I must warn you this question that you have this moment asked is not easily put to rest.

yes gary d head.