Re: How much does reworking the E21 Head cost? (archive)

If you are hearing ticking at low rpms, it's possible that you may be hearing an exhaust leak. My '77 320i had a ticking sound at low rpms and it turned out to be a small crack on the exhaust manifold (Thermo-Reactor). Also, I had another experience with a 2002 that ticked a lot. It was obvious that the head was worn, because the valves wouldn't adjusted enough to bring it to its proper gap. I believe there is a small cap on the market that you can use to put on the end of the valve stem to take in the slack. But, of course this only a temporary solution to prolong the life of the cylinder head. If your pistons and rings are still in an acceptable condition, the most common cause for excessive oil consumption and smoking are worn valve-guides and/or seals. You can get an idea of how much wear they have by running your car up to about 5500-6000RPM in second gear, then very abruptly let your foot completely off the accelerator pedal for 2 or 3 seconds, then accelerate lightly. If you look in your rear view mirror, most likely the car will momentarily leave a trace of smoke. If it doesn't, then you probably have strong running motor. On the other hand, if it keeps on smoking for the next 20-30 seconds or more, you'll probably want to start saving up some money if you plan to keep the car. RIMCO was going to re-surface my cylinder head for $30-, but when they inspected it, they noticed an unrepairable crack. Now it's just a giant paper weight! New valve guides and seals w/installation will probably run you under fifty bucks, then you'll want to have the valves cleaned and re-seated (no idea of the cost, but it's mostly all labor). Be sure to have the machine shop inspect all your parts, first. You don't want any hidden surprises down the road. Happy motoring.

Grego

I'm hearing excessive ticking at lower rpms and seeing oil loss at a rate of a quart every 500 miles. What is the usual course of action here? I'm guessing valve and gasket replacment but am not sure and have yet to find a reputable shop I can trust. How much does a head rebuild usually run?

Thanks for any input

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