Whats involved in replacing a head gasket?
#1
Whats involved in replacing a head gasket?
My buddy gave me a call earlier and asked if I would be able to help him install a new head gasket on his Mini Coop...Its an 03 type s, to be exact.
I am no professional, but I can figure most things out, I mean I have installed a fair amount of aftermarket parts and whatnot....exhaust, intakes, short shifters, etccc.
I told him that we would probably be able to do it, what do you guys think....Whats exactly involved?
I am no professional, but I can figure most things out, I mean I have installed a fair amount of aftermarket parts and whatnot....exhaust, intakes, short shifters, etccc.
I told him that we would probably be able to do it, what do you guys think....Whats exactly involved?
#2
AZ Community Team
My buddy gave me a call earlier and asked if I would be able to help him install a new head gasket on his Mini Coop...Its an 03 type s, to be exact.
I am no professional, but I can figure most things out, I mean I have installed a fair amount of aftermarket parts and whatnot....exhaust, intakes, short shifters, etccc.
I told him that we would probably be able to do it, what do you guys think....Whats exactly involved?
I am no professional, but I can figure most things out, I mean I have installed a fair amount of aftermarket parts and whatnot....exhaust, intakes, short shifters, etccc.
I told him that we would probably be able to do it, what do you guys think....Whats exactly involved?
Looking at this photo, I'm guessing it has a timing belt. Looks pretty tight.
#4
Drifting
Like Legend said, there's a lot of work involved. You need to remove pretty much everything from the head, lots of hoses, wires and tons of hard to reach bolts. Plus you'll have to redo the timing and make sure nothing gets dirty and everything gets put back together again correctly.
I've done it a couple times of classic cars and even that was a pita. It depends on your level of experience and how confident you are. Personally I'd look around to find a low price on getting it done by a mechanic.
I've done it a couple times of classic cars and even that was a pita. It depends on your level of experience and how confident you are. Personally I'd look around to find a low price on getting it done by a mechanic.
#5
One on the right for me
Lots of work. Keep track of everything (label if you have to). Just take your time. If you have access to all data or some other program it will be beneficial with certain steps.
Not really like installing a short shifter but worth a shot if you are up for the work.
Not really like installing a short shifter but worth a shot if you are up for the work.
#7
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The best thing to do is get your hands on a 2003 Mini Cooper service manual and see what the procedure is. Don't forget, that thing is BMW designed so there may be specialized tools required to do one thing or remove another, etc. If your experience is installing bolt-on stuff on other cars (like me), understand this is a whole new ballgame. Very involved, no room for error, plus that's the supercharged model meaning even more crap to deal with getting to the head gasket.
Just be aware of the false economy of saving some money tackling this at home, only to miss something and lunch the engine....turning that savings into a 5-fold bill for a new powerplant.
Just be aware of the false economy of saving some money tackling this at home, only to miss something and lunch the engine....turning that savings into a 5-fold bill for a new powerplant.
Last edited by TheMirror; 01-21-2010 at 12:58 PM.
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#14
F1 cart racer
it's beamer made so odds is that it uses star types of bolts and sockets. real pain in the ass. my brothers beamer we have to take to my cousins because he has all of the special sockets and what not to remove the bolts. since it's an OHC and a tight area it's gonna be a shit ton of work.
we need to invest in a set just to work on that car.
we need to invest in a set just to work on that car.
#15
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And now the owner is shopping the work to the lowest bidder?
The opportunity for disaster here is widening. The best advice here is to have him find the best shop in the area and pay what it takes to do it right.
The opportunity for disaster here is widening. The best advice here is to have him find the best shop in the area and pay what it takes to do it right.
#18
Someday, an RS6 Avant+
Find a mechanic..... And pay the little bit extra now.
Or get ready to pay the shade tree guy, then a down payment on a new engine.
Or get ready to pay the shade tree guy, then a down payment on a new engine.
#19
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
There is a time to learn and a time not to, this is one of those times. If the OP's friend and him don't know what an interference engine is they really should not be doing this job.
#20
HG jobs aren't something I'd do if I didn't have experience doing them on multiple cars and/or I didn't have someone who did it at least once on the same car or knows what they're doing. Tell your friend to get it serviced at a reputable shop
#21
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
I agree to what's been said.. if you guys are going to tackle the job anyways.. check the timing belt / water pump service interval. If your buddy is close to replacement interval, you might as well get that taken care of as well.
#22
I now drive an accord....
For the love of god don't do it!!!!
My explorer now has a junk yard motor in it from my father and I replacing the intake gasket. The motor was in suck bad shape inside that we couldn't stop the debris from going places it shouldn't. That motor never built oil pressure again.
Who knows you might even lose a friend as well its things go bad
My explorer now has a junk yard motor in it from my father and I replacing the intake gasket. The motor was in suck bad shape inside that we couldn't stop the debris from going places it shouldn't. That motor never built oil pressure again.
Who knows you might even lose a friend as well its things go bad
#23
My Garage not
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legend2tl, did you do hg replacements on acura legends? the head gasket on my legend blew in '06 and i got rid of the car. to get the hg replaced would have cost about what the car was worth.
#25
Senior Moderator
And to play devils advocate even a first timer has to start somewhere. If you get your hands on a decent manual and dont mind getting dirty AND following the directions it can be done. Take your time, take pics and buy a bag of ziploc bags and label them and place the bolts you remove in them (and if you take pics write the pic # on the bag to make things easier)
#26
Team Owner
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I would get the manual and see what's involved. Then I would take a look at the engine compartment and see what you will have to remove. Then I would pay someone to do it.
If the gasket needs to be changed and the head it warped at all, you will have to shave the head. I'm not sure you will be able to do that on your own.
If the gasket needs to be changed and the head it warped at all, you will have to shave the head. I'm not sure you will be able to do that on your own.
#27
Thanks for the info guys....He has been in contact with a specialized Mini guy, and is going to take the hour ride tomorrow and see if he will be able to do the job. The guy wants to see whats up before he gives a price, and a definite yes or no if he can tackle the job.
#28
AZ Community Team
No, never on the Legend. My 1G Legend had all the upper/lower valve cover gaskets replaced. They're nothing to replace compared to a head gasket. On either 1G or 2G Legend C motors they're a bitch to replace from what it looks like. On my Legend the most I ever tore it down was for 3 timing belt and water pump replacements.
#29
AZ Community Team
Alot of folks here have given some great suggestions (replace the water pump, timing belt, get the real shop manual for the MINI,...). In terms of the risk I can see both side of the issue, I have seen a couple people over the years screw up a motor but the majority take their time and get it right. It's a risk but you gotta learn sometime and not be afraid.
Below is a photo to what my dad came home to after a business trip to the west coast when I was 16. Our faithful Toyota Corona timing chain tensioner went bad. So in order to replace it you had to remove everthing but the block to get the timing chain cover off. I called my Dad in California and said I could probably fix it, he said give it a try. So this was the first time I ever tore a engine down to the block. Took two days and my dad came home in the middle of it and looked worried that I'd gotten in over my head on this job. My best friend and I took our time and got through it, I was really relieved when it cranked over and started just like normal. Never figured out where those 3 extra bolts and nuts were suppose to go after we reassembled it but the engine ran OK until we donated the car.
Below is a photo to what my dad came home to after a business trip to the west coast when I was 16. Our faithful Toyota Corona timing chain tensioner went bad. So in order to replace it you had to remove everthing but the block to get the timing chain cover off. I called my Dad in California and said I could probably fix it, he said give it a try. So this was the first time I ever tore a engine down to the block. Took two days and my dad came home in the middle of it and looked worried that I'd gotten in over my head on this job. My best friend and I took our time and got through it, I was really relieved when it cranked over and started just like normal. Never figured out where those 3 extra bolts and nuts were suppose to go after we reassembled it but the engine ran OK until we donated the car.
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