Hi
I have a 1985 245ti and Ihave put many posts on the brickboard about my car overheating and one cylinder loosing compression. Well I gathered all the advice I got from the brickboard and decided that it probably is the head gasket. I wanted to take it into a shop to check and you guys were right. The head gasket is bad. I wanted to undertake this repair on my own, but my father wouldn't let me. Now it's in the shop and the repair will cost $1000. Someone on the brickboard wanted me to update them on if the head gasket was bad, so here it is. Thanks for all the help. Now I can say to my dad "I told you so". :)

Charles 1985 245ti 134K

If you have no head damage (nothing major anyway, these engine are pretty tough), then 1000$ is at least twice what you should be paying for a head gasket replacment.

Greg

Hi

In January, I had the same thing. I'm a bit older than you, (50 next month), but have never had an engine requiring internal repairs. The gasket was Ok, but I had some leaking valves (4, it turned out). My son is 16, and interested in cars, but hasn't done a lot of hands on stuff, (preferring to drool over desirable ones, or watch motor racing).

We jointly made the decision to do the job ourselves - at least the removal and replacing. The head turned out to be cracked as well, requiring welding. Australian Dollars probably aren't directly comparable, but I was quoted about $1000 to do the job, and about 2-3 days. We ended up doing it for about $500, replacing the valves and having the welding done. We only had one problem - the inlet manifold gasket weeps slightly and I've just bought a new gasket to have another go(on the carb models it is water heated). Oh, and another wire in the rotting wiring harness gave up the ghost (to the distributor), and had to be replaced. We took photos with a borrowed digital camera all along the disassembly way, just in case we couldn't figure out what connected to where. Only had to consult it once.

We had a Haines manual. We had the car off the road for about 5 days, and fortunately my daughter was staying with us, so I could borrow hers to deliver and collect the head.

Both of us learned a lot. Paul was so interested afterwards, that he has arranged to go for a weeks work experience with a mechanic next month, as he thinks he's like to now do it for a living.

I guess you have to make your decision and run with it, balancing all the factors. If it was just the gasket replacement, it would be a low cost job from a parts point of view, (gasket kit and head machine) and I'd guess you could afford to re-do it 6 or 7 times for the cost of the professional doing it. If you can afford to have the car off the road that long, that is.

Alan

"I told you so...."

well, maybe dad has your long-term interests at heart where he want the car to "be done right" so it will last a good long while. He probably made an economic decision.

I'm a dad, too, so I understand that reasoning.

However, I also am a fairly decent shadetree mechanic after many years of having to do it myself to keep my money in my own pocket (which has holes, enough). Consequently I have learned a heck of a lot of things. Most importantly, I learned which things to do myself and which to take to a pro.

Sometimes you do a thing yourself not because it make financial sense, but because it is a learining opportunity (and you get to rationalize the purchase of another "needed" tool!)

Right now, for example, I may be looking at needing to replace an AC compressor on my '89 740 Turbo. Well, it is an R-12 system which could also stand conversion to 134a and the electric fan mod. What is more, I have some R-12 cans (my '86 244 is also R-12) so that means I have two cars with similar technical needs. And three other cars with AC of the othter kind.

I'd take a beating on servicing these systems if I took each one to a pro.
So, I am going to invest in my education (and toolbox).

It is possible he missed an opportunity to let you get an education in engine work, at least so far as taking the head off so you could take to a local machine shop. Also, it would have been far cheaper, I believe. Then the time factor is another big consideration. Is there a need to turn this job around in a hurry, or, could time to learn as you go be afforded?

I don't know your knowledge and experience.

Or your tool box. Or your family's need to have this car back on the road again soon.

So, I can't second guess your dad.