How do you cahnge a head gasket?

Need to know if a mechanically inclined, non-mechanic can change a head gasket on a BMW? I can fix just about anything, have changed a starter and other minor things before, very little auto mechanic experience, but not afraid, willing, and intelligent. Is there anything other than un-bolting, removing and replacing, re-bolting? Or is this something that an experienced mechanic should tackle? Input appreciated.How do you cahnge a head gasket?
Basically you remove or disconnect all wires hoses etc. on top of engine, get brackets out of way (if any attached to head)! Disconnect exhaust pipe from manifold! (You can leave carb, or air intake on )--Then you of course have to have valve cover off to access headbolts! You have to un-hook and remove pulley for timing chain! Best to do this with crankshaft sitting at %26quot;TDC%26quot; so you can get timing marks lined up right again when re-assembling! Once all the headbolts out, - you should be able to lift the entire thing out %26quot;as an assembly%26quot;! I usually leave manifolds on if possible,- as I don't need to buy more gaskets for them --! Now you need to clean both surfaces up real good, - be careful that you don't %26quot;gouge%26quot; the aluminum head!! You need to check surface of head (down middle, and corner to corner both ways), - to see that it is not %26quot;warped%26quot;! You can't put warped head on and have new headgasket %26quot;not leak%26quot;! If head warped, then you are going to need to remove both manifolds, and take to a machine shop to have re-surfaced (if warp is vey small), -- or possibly heat treated to remove warp, and then machine surface to make perfectly %26quot;streight%26quot;! Also have machine shop check head over and see if any other damage that would make it un-useable! I worked in BMW garage in 70s they were a %26quot;piece of cake%26quot;, but there is quite a bit to doing it now because of all the pollution stuff!



Go buy a Haynes Auto Repair Manual for your year and model, and it will give you step by step information, -- and from there you can decide whether you want to do it! Cost is around $20 or less at AutoZone (where I by mine), --and lots of other %26quot;better%26quot; auto parts supply houses! Don't settle for %26quot;Chiltons%26quot;, - Haynes is a better manual, and has wiring digrams in back of book too! Covers everything on car except rebuilding transmission!How do you cahnge a head gasket?
I've been a tech for 30 years and have not ever done nor do I want to do one. But its more a matter of your comfort level. First thing to do is buy a quality repair manual, and see if there are any special tools needed to do the job. That would pretty much dictate to me whether i want to invest in the special tooling to do one job, and if it would be worth it to do so or pay an experienced, tooled-up tech to do it. Unfortunately, the BMW dealer here is over $115 per flat rate hour so it may be worth it to attempt it yourself in spite of the tool costs.....................

And be aware of the tolerances that BMW specifies, things don't just fit together, they have to match.How do you cahnge a head gasket?
If the engine is in running condition go to a parts store and ask for for a liquid head sealer they will point you in the direction of off- the-shelf products which promise to repair the damage (cracked heads poor gasket fit etc.) . otherwise, take her head out for a magna flux at the rebuild shop, flush the coolant jacket and radiator core,replace the head ,exhaust and intake gasket and reset the timing to bmw manual spec. Truly a time consuming and spendy job when done alone, but I did it and so can you.How do you cahnge a head gasket?
not the best one to do as a beginner, go buy the book and read it twice and go step by step.