Ok, we all know that the ORIGINAL profile gasket on the M42 was a failure point on these engines and that if in doubt when buying a used M42, that it should be serviced... The profile gasket on my M42 was replaced with a brand new gasket (as well as many other parts/pieces when it was rebuilt by bmwpower).
I have some questions that I don't see answered in many of the threads relating to either the profile gasket or the R&R of profile gaskets:
1) why did or what caused the original profile gaskets to fail?
2) how was the "new" profile gasket improved over the original?
3) what is (or should be) the lifespan of a new profile gasket?
4) has anyone who has replaced their profile gasket experienced any failures (yet)?
5) was there ever a recall campaign by BMW for profile gasket failures? If so, was this a voluntary TSB where the original owner's had to pay for the repairs or was it an actual recall in which BMW covered all costs of the repairs? Of those early profile gasket failures, if the engine was damaged severely, did BMW replace complete engines on the house?
6) (mainly for newbies) - how can one tell IF the profile gasket on their M42 has been replaced or not (is there really any way of knowing or telling)?
#1 I believe that coolant would sit on the gasket in that area and quickly ate away the gasket.
#2 I believe they used a "special" designed gasket and later found out it was a failure
#3 I'd guess normal gasket life... what? ~100k?
#4 Never heard of it. Never know mine might leak some and maybe thats part of my disappearing coolant
#5 I do believe BMW did have a recall for the gasket. I read that somewhere, i believe the failure happened before the factory warranty ran out so it was all covered. I doubt there was any engine failure because of it but if there was we all hope they would cover it on a brand new car..
#6 I don't know of anyway to check your gaskets status. I assume that everyone who has an M42 has more than the 30k or w/e it takes for the failure so 99% of them should have been already replaced with a non faulty gasket.
Topic: The M42 Profile gasket thread (Read 4141 times)