Headgasket

msg11

Just a question, I have a BMW 520i 2004 2.2 .. In the garage today just pricing a oil change anyway I asked the guy, if the headgasket went on the car how much would it cost to fix.. He said 2000EUR .

Anyone able to confirm this? INDY to by the way !

Alanstrainor

Head gaskets don't just go. It'll happen if you let it over heat.

msg11

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Head gaskets don't just go. It'll happen if you let it over heat.

Yeah true that's why I was asking him about it. Bit hard to tell the temperature in the e60 there's no gauge for it !

Although, it is blowing out cold air fine when I switch it to cold and then back to hot it is switching fine so no problems.

Alanstrainor

msg11 wrote: »

Yeah true that's why I was asking him about it. Bit hard to tell the temperature in the e60 there's no gauge for it !

Although, it is blowing out cold air fine when I switch it to cold and then back to hot it is switching fine so no problems.

I wouldn't worry too much. My dads e60 523i suffered a failed water pump, and it bloody let you know it wasn't right. Warning notifications everywhere!

msg11

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much. My dads e60 523i suffered a failed water pump, and it bloody let you know it wasn't right. Warning notifications everywhere!

Yeah it's a bit sensitive, it even tells the ghost in the passenger seat to put there seat belt on.

Nissan doctor

Unless you did more damage then just a head gasket failure then there is no reason for it to cost as much as 2k IMO

The 2.0 4 cylinder BMW petrol engines normally run to between €850 - €1100 approx depending on damage and the 6 cylinder would be approximately the same.

dgt

Don't the 2.2's have double vanos?

msg11

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Unless you did more damage then just a head gasket failure then there is no reason for it to cost as much as 2k IMO

The 2.0 4 cylinder BMW petrol engines normally run to between €850 - €1100 approx depending on damage and the 6 cylinder would be approximately the same.

Well the computer just said, "Warning coolant level low, Check coolant level."

So I check it an it was indeed low so I topped it up. I did notice before hand there was quite a lot of steam/vapor coming out the exhaust. I checked the oil cap for signs the gasket is gone, and there was a the white gunk, but I can't tell if it is overheating as there is no temp gauge and the computer is not saying there is anything wrong. The car is what can only be described as driving fine. Can't understand it, if I could get the engine coolant temp I would know straight away.

Yes I agree, 2000 is a serious amount. It's what looks like a lot of work but not 2000 Euros worth.

Anything I can check out, I checked to see what way the air was blowing, when it's on the cool temp setting it is blowing air that is more hot than cold.

Also the mechanic in my option is shady to say the leased and he would let me run it till it blows to get the more expensive repair option.

I know a fair bit about cars and my sixth sense is telling me, the water vapor coming out the exhaust is not ok at all and the computer is not telling me about a problem yet because it's only developing to a serious stage where the computer will tell me before it's too late.

Nissan doctor

msg11 wrote: »

Well the computer just said, "Warning coolant level low, Check coolant level."

So I check it an it was indeed low so I topped it up. I did notice before hand there was quite a lot of steam/vapor coming out the exhaust. I checked the oil cap for signs the gasket is gone, and there was a the white gunk, but I can't tell if it is overheating as there is no temp gauge and the computer is not saying there is anything wrong. The car is what can only be described as driving fine. Can't understand it, if I could get the engine coolant temp I would know straight away.

Yes I agree, 2000 is a serious amount. It's what looks like a lot of work but not 2000 Euros worth.

Anything I can check out, I checked to see what way the air was blowing, when it's on the cool temp setting it is blowing air that is more hot than cold.

Also the mechanic in my option is shady to say the leased and he would let me run it till it blows to get the more expensive repair option.

I know a fair bit about cars and my sixth sense is telling me, the water vapor coming out the exhaust is not ok at all and the computer is not telling me about a problem yet because it's only developing to a serious stage where the computer will tell me before it's too late.

TBH, if it was overheating or was having any major issues, your dash would be lit up like a Christmas tree.

The steam from the exhaust and white residue can just as easily be caused by condensation, especially if the car does low mileage or lots of shorter trips.

There are very little checks you can do your self to confirm or rule out a head gasket issue other keeping a close eye on the coolant. BMW's can suffer coolant leaks from various places so a leak may well be possible but unless the car has overheated(warning lights on the dash, steam from bonnet type overheating) or you are topping up an empty coolant reservoir every week, I wouldn't be panicking about a HG failure.

A combustion gas leakage test(sniff test) and a cooling system pressure test would both combine to tell you if you have a problem and what it may be.