328i newbie question

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   Hello all,
I have a 96 N reg 328i SE
Was travelling home on tuesday on the m4, car was running fine, then all of a sudden it started getting hot, so i pull off the motorway and let it cool down. Rang the AA and their guy came out and diagnosed a headgasket faliure and recovered me home. 
Anyway it had built up a huge amount of pressure in the cooling system but didnt overheat at tick over the needle was bang in the middle, it was only over heating when driven.
My question is, is it possible to replace a head gasket on the m52 yourself? im quite handy with a spanner and have replaced head gaskets before, but never on an engine like this! and do you think the mechanics diagnosis is correct?
Thank you

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Owain_328i Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11-May-2006 Location: Cardiff Status: Offline Points: 8	Topic: 328i newbie question Posted: 11-May-2006 at 12:50
	Hello all, I have a 96 N reg 328i SE Was travelling home on tuesday on the m4, car was running fine, then all of a sudden it started getting hot, so i pull off the motorway and let it cool down. Rang the AA and their guy came out and diagnosed a headgasket faliure and recovered me home. Anyway it had built up a huge amount of pressure in the cooling system but didnt overheat at tick over the needle was bang in the middle, it was only over heating when driven. My question is, is it possible to replace a head gasket on the m52 yourself? im quite handy with a spanner and have replaced head gaskets before, but never on an engine like this! and do you think the mechanics diagnosis is correct? Thank you

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pm9575 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member I Joined: 04-July-2005 Location: North Scotland Status: Offline Points: 337	Posted: 11-May-2006 at 19:17
	It's likely, and the temp rise is attributed to load on the engine when driven. You could probably attempt the job yourself, but it involves a few specific head tools and torx bits whch unless your mates with a local Snap-on van man, it is a job best left to the humble mechanic - if such people still exist? Are you getting any obvious smoke signals from your exhaust, i.e.: water mixing with oil in the combustion chamber?
	Performance ECU Tuning Without a Performance www.reloadmapping.co.uk

Owain_328i Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11-May-2006 Location: Cardiff Status: Offline Points: 8	Posted: 12-May-2006 at 04:37
	Yes there is steam coming from the exhaust, my lovely quiet engine also started to make a tapping noise, so im assume the water has thinned the oil out. :(

BlueBeemer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 12-August-2004 Location: Flintshire Status: Offline Points: 161	Posted: 12-May-2006 at 08:11
	In all honesty for something like that if your good with a spanner do it yoursef. Personally I would always take my car to a specialist for that type of work.