BMW 3 series cylinder head

BMW cylinder head broken?

The timing and adjustment of your BMW 3 series engine is important. If this is not correct, the valves will usually become deformed due to the piston hitting them. The cylinder head can be damaged considerably in the process.

Therefore, it is important that the timing belt or chain is always properly adjusted and replaced on time when worn. Although chains are more durable than timing belts, they can also wear out or break down. Many of the engines that we replace suffer from these issues.

It can also happen that the cylinder head of your BMW 3 series is not getting enough cooling or that the lubrication is not quite right due to for example wrong oil, clogged oil channels or other cause. Then overheating may occur and cracks or other defects may appear. To prevent overheating, pay attention to the gauge on your dashboard and honor any warnings immediately. Do not drive too often and for too long at high revs and let your engine rest now and then after intensive use. 

It is pretty common for the cylinder head gasket to leak due to the high temperatures and pressures. A leaking head gasket can often be recognised by white smoke from the exhaust, compression loss, contaminated cooling water and/or engine oil or simply by lots of oil on the outside of the engine.

BMW 3 series cylinder heads

The BMW 3 series is built from 1991 to 2023 and consists of 10 generations, with 3 different fuel types and 8 different body shapes. When requesting a part, it is important that you choose the correct version.