Author Topic: e36 m42 head gasket kit differences between years ? (Read 3941 times)

elcangri · « **on:** October 10, 2011, 02:49:16 PM »

Hello all,

I'm looking to buy some parts for my e36 m42 over at pelican
One thing I need is a head gasket kit, but I see they have 3 choices.. I don't remember what year the engine is so how do I choose the correct one ?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/catalog/shopcart/BE36/POR_BE36_ENGcyl_pg4.htm#item19

perhaps someone can help me out ? I have some pictures

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/705/img2010120100007.jpg

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/442/img2010120100016.jpg

elcangri · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2011, 04:34:24 AM »

no one knows ?
Is there somewhere on the engine I can check what year it is ??

colin86325 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2011, 05:20:17 PM »

I think the kit for the latest date range includes provisions for the air shrouds for the fuel injectors. I would try to step through the diagrams in bmwfans.info and see what has changed over the years.

wannam42 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2011, 11:57:56 PM »

Looking at your first pic, it's definitely one of the first two head gaskets since the crankcase vent hose is still beside the oil fill cap. The last iteration of the M42 had this hose at the back of the valve cover.

Run the last 7 digits of the VIN number (of the vehicle this engine originally came from) in realoem.com. If your production date is before 9/92, get 11-12-9-063-333. Otherwise, get 11-12-9-065-439.

Since you're taking the head off anyway, you can always send back the headgasket if you get the wrong one.

elcangri · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2011, 02:25:12 AM »

thanks for the info's guys .. I'll do some more investigating based on what you've told me.

is the VIN also marked on the engine it self ? because I bought the engine for my E30 and I don't know the VIN beloning to the engine..

The dme for the car has nr: 0 261 200 950, perhaps this can help narrow down the year ?

edit: I found this list which has the DME on it , says year 90-93:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/motronic/all_motronic_part_numbers.html

some more pictures:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/img2010120100004.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/img2010120100005.jpg/

colin86325 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:28:06 AM »

You should be able to measure the valve stem thickness. The earliest M42s had 7mm stems vs the later 6mm valves.

elcangri · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:38:02 AM »

Quote from: wannam42;107366

Since you're taking the head off anyway, you can always send back the headgasket if you get the wrong one.

is the headgasket the only difference ?

My biggest problem is that the engine is in Aruba (caribbean) and I'll be there only for the month december so if I order wrong parts I might not get them changed back in time..

dsm2002 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2011, 02:46:38 PM »

I'd say the head gasket is the same across all kits. Looking at realoem, there are two head gaskets, 11121721546 which is 1.74mm and 11121721550 which is 2.04mm (+0.3mm). The latter obviously is for skimmed heads.

As wannam42 said a significant difference between early and later M42s is the valve stem size. I think they also changed from double to single valve springs which may be easier to check than stem size. Little things like valve seals etc could account for difference, rather than head gasket itself.

I'd check with Pelican to see if you can but two different HG kits and return sealed which ever is not used. I understand BMAparts.com will do this.

Otherwise a bit of research on realoem for E36 318iS from different months/years i.e. before 09/1992 and 09/1992-09/1993 for the part numbers for HG kit components could highlight the difference.