Replacement parts 325XI 2002

I went to the Dealership for the first time after purchasing my vehicle used about 7.5k miles ago. (I would have gone sooner but haven't gotten the chance as it is so far away from where I live).
I got a courtesy check and these are the problems that were listed,

Cylinder Head Cover Gaskets

Oil Filter Housing Gasket

Both Outer CV Boots (Cracked)

Brake Pads and Rotors on the front

Brake Fluid

Drive Belts

With the first three and Drive BeltsI'm just going to have the dealership do what they have to do to replace them.

With the Brake Fluid I was thinking about using either Motul Brake Fluid; the brake pads and rotors I was looking at Textar or Akebono pads and Stoptech Rotors.

I also noticed that the labor seems to be the most of the cost to have them replaced, I want to have them replaced by someone very trustworthy and preferably BMW Certified that isn't over the top expensive, anyone know of any trustworthy places that could be in Wisconsin? If not I'll let the dealership do their thing.

I'm very open to opinions, let me know different suggestions.

Find an Indy. Don't go to the dealership.

Ate super blue brake fluid. Rotors from BMW. Performance friction pads.
Stay away from akebono pads.

All of that work will be about $4000 from a dealer. Gaskets and brakes are easy to do yourself.

Originally Posted by wasted0087

I went to the Dealership for the first time after purchasing my vehicle used about 7.5k miles ago. (I would have gone sooner but haven't gotten the chance as it is so far away from where I live).
I got a courtesy check and these are the problems that were listed,

Cylinder Head Cover Gaskets Why in the world do they want to change the head gasket??? By this do you mean the valve cover gasket? If yes, DIY, it's easy.

Oil Filter Housing Gasket DIY, it's easy

Both Outer CV Boots (Cracked) Indy shop to get it done, DIY isn't hard but is time consuming the first time.

Brake Pads and Rotors on the front DIY, it's really really easy.

Brake Fluid DIY, this is the easiest yet. Buy a brake bleed kit and have at it.

Drive Belts DIY, if you can't do this, return the car.

With the first three and Drive BeltsI'm just going to have the dealership do what they have to do to replace them.

With the Brake Fluid I was thinking about using either Motul Brake Fluid; the brake pads and rotors I was looking at Textar or Akebono pads and Stoptech Rotors.

I'm very open to opinions, let me know different suggestions.

See above. Buy a set of tools if you don't already have one and get to work. It's not hard, read some DIYs, ask some questions, and have some fun (and beer). Welcome to the joys of owning an older BMW.

I think any DOT4 brake fluid is fine, Motul is a good brand. FWIW, I use ATE Blue. I'd do BMW rotors and Textar pads.

Do NOT take your car to the dealership unless there is recall work to do. They WILL rip you off in every way possible. Find a trusted indy shop (check the WI forum in the regional section for references) and go that route.

Alright thank you very much, a couple more questions if you don't mind. The brake fluid I was planning on using is DOT 5.1, would that be better or worse as it's asking for DOT 4? Also what exactly is an Indy? Sorry if I sound like an idiot, but I try to be inquisitive to learn heh. Also I have an oil leak that's why they have the Head Gasket up there.

Just use the ATE superblue. It has the highest wet boiling point.

Indy stands for independent BMW mechanic- BMW expert that's not the dealer.

Originally Posted by wasted0087

Alright thank you very much, a couple more questions if you don't mind. The brake fluid I was planning on using is DOT 5.1, would that be better or worse as it's asking for DOT 4? Also what exactly is an Indy? Sorry if I sound like an idiot, but I try to be inquisitive to learn heh. Also I have an oil leak that's why they have the Head Gasket up there.

Head gaskets are not changed for oil leaks... I think you mean the valve cover gasket which often fails and leaks.

How much did they quote you to fix this part alone?

Also, you don't sound like an idiot, those are all good questions. At least you don't type like you're sending your 14 year old BFF a text message.

Thank you Kubica.



There's the Cylinder Head Cover Gaskests for $462.30 ($351.40 for labor)

Rubber Seal: 118524 x12 for $15.60

With

Set of Profile Gaskets: 118522 for $56.19


Then there is the Oil Filter Housing Gasket for $662.73 ($572.10 for labor)

Gasket:119500 for $6.41

Gasket Ring:329500 x4 for @2.92

Oil Pipe:111060 for $76.74

It doesn't state in any of the pages they gave me about their reasoning for wanting to replace the Cylinder Head Cover Gaskets but if I remember right when I went so he could show me what all he was looking at he showed me the oil leak on the top of the Engine looking down (Right next to the Power Steering and Air Filter Housing) with a flashlight and I'm fairly sure that that is where he had mentioned it in the showing.

Also I was looking in the WI forum for a Indy but when I try to go to the Forum it brings me to the list of Members who are in WI

^

That's a totaly ripoff dude. First of all, they are screwing you on part costs and then on top they are screwing you on labor.

Please, please, please learn to DIY. Your wallet will thank you since you can do this whole job for less than $60 and a day of your time.

Also, the WI forum won't give you a list. Just ask in the general WI chat for recommendations in your area.

PS, which dealer is this? Did you go to Concours? (I went to college in Milwaukee)

PPS, that's not the head gasket. It's the valve cover, head gasket job would have been in the thousands.

^head gasket cover = valve cover.

Originally Posted by wasted0087

Cylinder Head Cover Gaskets 2 hours max + $70 in parts

Oil Filter Housing Gasket 3 Hours + $10-60 in parts

Both Outer CV Boots (Cracked) 4 hours + $50-$700 in parts

Brake Pads and Rotors on the front2 hours + $300 in parts

Brake Fluid 1 hour + $15-30 in parts

Drive Belts 1/2 hour + $40-50 in parts

$1750-$2500 for an Indy to do it, depending on if you buy axles and which ones. I could bang it all out in a weekend for less than $450 in parts (plus axles or cv boots).

Heh seems a little misleading for it to say Head Cover Gasket instead of Valve Cover, sorry about that;

DIY sounds good I guess, I kind of figured it was a ripoff but I actually like the ease in knowing that it was done correctly, I'll just have to be babysat whilst I work on it by a friend heh.

I went to Zimbrick BMW in Madison

Originally Posted by wasted0087

Alright thank you very much, a couple more questions if you don't mind. The brake fluid I was planning on using is DOT 5.1, would that be better or worse as it's asking for DOT 4? Also what exactly is an Indy? Sorry if I sound like an idiot, but I try to be inquisitive to learn heh. Also I have an oil leak that's why they have the Head Gasket up there.

Absolutely stick with DOT 4. Do not substitute Dot 5.1. Stick with OE fluid or ATE, no reason for any thing else.

Sounds like the dealer is milking you. Find the oil leak yourself, replace one at a time, and take your time. It is a journey learning to do this stuff for yourself, so don't bite it all off at once.

Alright, so I'm going to do this one part at a time. I'm thinking of starting with the CV Boots, where would I find a reliable boot kit (for both boots) for my car?

I used to use ATE Super Blue in street cars until I discovered ATE 200.. it has the same wet boiling point and seeming same fluid without the blue dye. The dye is insidius and stains your mitivac and everything else it touches.

this is a link to the product but I don't endorse or know this supplier: http://www.frsport.com/ATE-Type-200-...-1_p_1280.html

I was just thinking, should I just do the Rotors and Brakes at the same time as the CV Boots as I'm going to have to go through the Rotors to get to the CV Boot? (Or am I skimming through this one article and misunderstanding it?) Was also wondering if I should also replace the calipers since I'm replacing the Rotors and Brake pads?

Should I do the Drive belts at the same time I do the valve cover?

Brakes, axles, vcg, and belts are all separate jobs. Brakes take 5 minutes each when the wheels are off for the axle job. Belts are cake on this car too. A lot of people are doing vanos seals with the vcg/plugs.
Calipers are probably ok unless leaking or seized