Head Gasket Failures - survey

[Pip1968]

Hopefully there will not be any cover ups or brushing under the carpet . I was reading on PH and someone was mentioning how common the head gasket failure was becoming on the e46 M3. Looking specifically at the CSL though can I ask who has suffered or done a preventative gasket replacement. The poster mentioned seeing x3 CSLs in for head gaskets failures. I am guessing that heavily tracked cars are possibly more susceptible as well as higher mileage.

Perhaps a cut and paste with me to start. Feel free to bastardize my layout but was thinking Y/N or P - preventative with rough mileage and if it is tracked or not. You may also with to mention if you have had a compression test done.

So here goes me:

N 41,000 miles - tracked - no compression test (yet) - Pip


Pip (scaremongerer)

[Matt21]

My warranty is about to expire so want a compression test. How much are they and where should I go?

[Monkey]

My warranty is about to expire so want a compression test. How much are they and where should I go?

You need a cylinder leakage test, not just a compression test.

[Jon8710]

monkey

can you send me your contact details at work I need to talk to you about a few bits once back from Spa

cheers

[shimmy]

Hopefully there will not be any cover ups or brushing under the carpet . I was reading on PH and someone was mentioning how common the head gasket failure was becoming on the e46 M3. Looking specifically at the CSL though can I ask who has suffered or done a preventative gasket replacement. The poster mentioned seeing x3 CSLs in for head gaskets failures. I am guessing that heavily tracked cars are possibly more susceptible as well as higher mileage.

Perhaps a cut and paste with me to start. Feel free to bastardize my layout but was thinking Y/N or P - preventative with rough mileage and if it is tracked or not. You may also with to mention if you have had a compression test done.

So here goes me:

N 41,000 miles - tracked - no compression test (yet) - Pip


Pip (scaremongerer)

Nothing going on here....move down the bus please :whistle: (is there a members section?)

[alexk]

105k kilometers, tracked, ECU map stock, no HG failure. Leak test done twice.

[MisterCorn]

My car is on 70k miles, I believe that it did have the head gasket done before my ownership. I assume it has been on the track, why else would somebody fit lovely big AP brakes?

MC

[pops]

Mine had the HG done at 75K as part of preventative maint.

No prior signs of failure but according to Barts, it couldn't have been any closer to potential disaster. Had split between cyls 1 & 2, 5 & 6

Tracked prior to me owning it but no idea how often.

[Jon8710]

Had my HG done at about 70k
went in for a service and Gareth at Elmes did the HG at the same time as he said it sounded funny but I didn't notice it, all sorted on warranty along with a new gear box. thanks very much

I tracked it a few times and don't think its had a particularly hard life before me.

cheers

[nw942]

You need a cylinder leakage test, not just a compression test.

If your compression test results are good, what issues would the leak-down test actually check/identify?

Cheers

[Monkey]

If your compression test results are good, do you need to conduct a leak-down test aswell?

Cheers

Yes, definately! A compression test will not show up a head gasket that is only just failing, where as a cylinder leakage test will prove beyond any doubt if there is a failure, no matter how small.

In my experience if you get to the point a compression test is required, a fault is already pretty evident and all you're trying to do is locate the cylinder the fault is on. The next step is to carry out a cylinder leakage test anyway, to determine what the cause of the low compression is (valves leaking, blow past the piston rings, head gasket, cracked block etc).

If the head gasket has gone on these engine quite badly, you can normally hear it in the exhaust note at idle too.

Seen a few big end bearing shells go shortly after a head gasket replacement as well, something to be aware of.

[pops]

Seen a few big end bearing shells go shortly after a head gasket replacement as well, something to be aware of.

Had these done at the same time.

Belts and braces and all that. :whistle:

[billyboysm3]

Mine went on 43k miles. New engine needed as warped head and block.

[MCSL]

Mine failed test at 31k miles. Ended up needing new engine - luckily had BMW warranty. Gareth said HG failure is common on CSL. £16k warranty work!

[GregorFuk]

40k miles on my engine, 3 track days and hard road driving. Redish did a compression test when it was down for it's subframe repair last winter. Even after siting for weeks unturned it returned good uniform compression so I assume the HG is good.

It's worth noting that before you do a compression or leak down test you have to have the valve clearances done to ensure you are getting good sealing.