e 30 head bolts

[Tony Canike <canike@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bill -

Get them replaced.   Sounds like you've read about the problems.   I doubt 
if it is necessary to do it immediately, but as it's been said on this 
list, working on engines is fun!   If you "have to" spend Saturday in the 
garage, isn't it better then going to the mall and shopping?

Regarding whether your mechanic should have noticed:    My indy mechanic - 
a very good one - didn't bring the head bolts up, but the moment I 
mentioned them he wanted to replace the head bolts the next time I had the 
car in.   Seems to me that mechanics are people too, so I cut the guy some 
slack and didn't think any less of him for it.  He does a much better job 
then I ever would of dealing all day with <profession deleted to not offend 
the innocent> that think they're special.

Also, you've reached the point, through interest and research, that you can 
have an informed conversation with your mechanic about what needs to be 
done.  If your mechanic is willing to really engage in such a 2-way 
conversation with you and they follow through on the agreements, you 
probably have a good mechanic.   I try to keep the conversations short - 
any more then a few minutes and you're wasting his time.

You probably know all that, so I'll shut up now.

Tony.

87 325  219K   (new head bolts at 150K)


At 10:12 PM 12/14/01 -0500, you wrote:
>Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 17:18:12 -0800 (PST)
>From: Bill Bouvier <wpbouvier@domain.elided>
>Subject: e 30 head bolts
>
>Hello All:
>
>As I am becoming more familiar with my family's newest member (1989 325ic) 
>I saw a tech article on bmwe30.net referencing the need to switch from 
>hex-shaped head bolts to torx-shaped head bolts and of course, I have the 
>hex head. So my questions are these: Is it really something I should rush 
>out this weekend and do? Can it really be done one at a time as outlined 
>on bmwe30.net? And should my mechanic (independent BMW) have noticed this 
>when he adjusted the valves?
>
>Thanks as usual,
>
>Bill

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