Head gasket replacement
 

My X5 is a 2001 4.4 with 137,000 miles. 580 miles from home, I noticed a stumbling idle late at night, leaving a restaurant, which cleared up in a few second. Next morning, it wouldn't start; just a "clunk" like the starter engaging, but the engine wouldn't turn over. Called AAA. The responder had a strong 'jump box' which turned over the motor, and it started; but, it was blowing white vapor out the left tailpipe. Smelled like anti-freeze. Air bubbles showed up in the expansion tank. I'm pretty sure it's a blown head gasket; the original 'non-start' was due to hydraulic lock, when the cylinder was partially filled with water from the residual pressure in the cooling system, after shut-down the night before. So I drove home, with the radiator cap very loose, stopping every 30 miles to add a gallon or so of water. Still have strong bubbling in the tank. So I'm going to pull the left head, and replace the head gasket.

Questions:
1) Bentley's X5 book says to get the BMW tools to hold the cams in place. What is their purpose? Is there a work-around, or should I purchase those tools? Cost?
2) I intend to keep this vehicle for a long time. Are there other things I should do, while it's down? Are valves, valve guides, cam chains, etc., problematic? Should I pull the other head as well?
3) I intend to pull the head(s) with the engine in the vehicle. Is this best?
4) Is a leaking head gasket a common problem? I didn't notice a high temperature on the gauge, but I was driving around a strange town, late at night, trying to find a motel and a restaurant. It might have over-heated, and I didn't notice. On the other hand, prior to over-heating, there's usually a "check coolant level" message, with the accompanying "ping". I didn't hear that. Water pump was replaced about 10K ago, so I don't suspect a coolant leak. Checked water and oil levels before I left home; all OK. It doesn't leak water, or use oil, usually. I don't know why the head gasket sprang a leak. Any suggestions?

Thank you, in advance, for your help!

Bruce, in West Palm Beach, FL

Questions:
1) Bentley's X5 book says to get the BMW tools to hold the cams in place. What is their purpose? Is there a work-around, or should I purchase those tools? Cost?
You will need them to set the cam timing correctly, especially upon assembley because, if its off you may cause alot of damage to valves and such. Id reccomend getting them
They look something like these:
http://www.denlorstools.com/shop/ima...lignment_2.JPG
And it would cost about 200-500$ a rough guess.

2) I intend to keep this vehicle for a long time. Are there other things I should do, while it's down? Are valves, valve guides, cam chains, etc., problematic? Should I pull the other head as well?
Yes, when the head is off, take it to a head guy so he can resurface it and check whats wrong with it, also id do the valve seals since about 25% of us on here are smoking at extended idle due to worn valve seals. Maybe chain rails they go bad sometimes, also get new chain tensioners, febi bilstein ones are good. Valve cover gaskets.. Also dont forget new headbolts since you cant reuse them.

3) I intend to pull the head(s) with the engine in the vehicle. Is this best?
Honestly im not sure, ive only done this to a 550, its the NOT same engine, so everything is NOT the same. But we just dropped the engine out with the subframe and gearbox becaue it was much easier to do that and there was more space. here it is:
http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6e2e9b70.jpg

4) Is a leaking head gasket a common problem? I didn't notice a high temperature on the gauge, but I was driving around a strange town, late at night, trying to find a motel and a restaurant. It might have over-heated, and I didn't notice. On the other hand, prior to over-heating, there's usually a "check coolant level" message, with the accompanying "ping". I didn't hear that. Water pump was replaced about 10K ago, so I don't suspect a coolant leak. Checked water and oil levels before I left home; all OK. It doesn't leak water, or use oil, usually. I don't know why the head gasket sprang a leak. Any suggestions?
Not sure, someone else should chime in. But its not Very common i dont think, pretty rare. The 550 i worked on had other problems and was overheated a couple times which ruined the seals, guides, and gave the head a slight uneven surface, "twist" to it

Hope any of that helps :)

the 550 and a 2001 X5 4.4 are not the same engine :(

One is a N62 and the other is a M62. I agree tho, you would want to drop the whole subframe assembly out to accomplish what you are trying too do and will need the cam lockout tool.

Thanks! Excellent response - exactly the type of information I was looking for. I might be back, as I get further into it.

Thanks, again.

Bruce

Shoot sorry i didnt pay attention to the year i was just automatically thinking of my 4.4 :dunno:

Which changes the part about valve seals , most of us with the N62 are smoking, but i would still do them anyway

Kinda embarrasing oops. :(

You-all are way ahead of me - I'm still taking off the intake manifold. So it's NO PROBLEM to make small errors, and correct them later.

Thank you both!

Difference between thickness in head gasket
 

So I'm having a blast ordering parts for my used, but new to me 4.4 motor when I come across a choice when ordering head gaskets. 1.74mm or 2.04mm. How do I choose which is right for my engine?:dunno:

You wait to see how much material is taken off the heads when they are machined. The machine shop will tell you if they needed to take off enough to require the thicker one.

And BTW, for my 3.0i M54B30 engine I rebuilt last summer, the choices were 0.7 mm (what it comes with) and 1.0 mm (the thicker option when rebuilding). My head was warped slightly (and was in fact the single problem that required the rebuild), but still, not enough was milled off to require the thicker replacement gasket.

I also wanted to get all the parts ready. They sell "head gasket kits" with all the common gaskets, including the standard thickness (0.7 mm for the M54B30) HG. But they also sell HG kits that come with all the stuff except the HG. Kind of funny, but that is why. And you can be working with the rest of the kit until you get the verdict back from the machine shop, and then buy the HG separately.

That's the ticket! Thank you!! I dropped off at the machine shop today and he said he'd let me know which one to buy.