Forums Forums BMWJoe: BMW E36 316i

lol yours wont be ready for another few years the rate you're going at

I'm just getting a standard head. Not really looking to improve performance much as it's only a 1.6 so not really worth it.

The only thing I wanted to do with the engine was to get rid of the horrible knocking noise, but seen as I'm going to pay £500 for a head with a standard cam, why not pay the extra £100 and get a performance one already fitted

Finally got round to buying a re-con head.

Will be getting delivered in 2 weeks as the high performance cam is getting specially made for me in Germany.

All new exhaust studs, exhaust nuts, inlet studs, cam cap studs, camshaft caps, oil plug, exhaust valves, inlet valves, spring bases, springs, spring caps, collects, new guide seals, new lifters, new thrust pads, new rockers (cam followers), spray bar and oil seal.

Removed all my interior which is now sitting up in the attic lol ready for thick black carpet and leather interior to go in.

Once the head is on, induction kit, de-cat twin exhaust system, electric fan, new HT Leads (anyone know where I can get performance ones from?) and a few other bits to buy and fit.

All the trim is colour coded, just got my mirrors left to colour code.

Really made up for you joe,
we kinda forgot about your car due to you saving up.

But so pleased that this is the start of its road back
to being on the road again

made up its comin together for u mate, cant wait to finally c ur motor !!

Not me though he is at his almost everytime i go to mine.

Good to hear things are moving forward matey made up for you seen all the work you have put in.

cheers for the comments guys.

an Tony, might need your help soon after the engine is in. I'll PM you

Got the pm matey not a problem let me know once you have the bits and we will have it sorted.

Shouldnt take long matey.

Head is finally coming tomorrow!

Should have it fitted over the weekend if its not raining.

Once thats fitted, gotta pick up a new cam belt, ATF oil, oil filter housing gasket, an exhaust from the scrappy (to de-cat)

Thinking of gettin a port & polish on the inlet manifold.
Is it worth getting exhaust manifold done too?

Any ideas of where I can get this done and how much??

Don't fancy messing it up, unless someone has a detailed guide of how I can do it myself?

Is it worth getting exhaust manifold done too?

you mean port the exhaust manifold? i wouldn't just buy a performance one.

yeah, so you think its not worth it?

I'd be looking at around £400 for a performance manifold and I'm not really looking to spend much more on performance.

Would it give much of an improvement getting the exhaust manifold done?

Rather than initial flow, Manifolds are more about being tuned length so where the pipes join, in to 2 or 1 (on a 4 branch) the gasses from the bang on each pot follow each other through, rather than meet and cause turbulance.

If your spending money on a performance head (cam, bigger valves, port polish) you need to make the most out of the flow it will give, and also concerntrate on getting air / fuel in / out of the head rather than just getting the mix through the head.

to be honest joe as much as I like your car, and I dont mean what i am saying to sound nasty. But the 1.6/1.8 and 2.0 were never a performance car and give a 3 series a poor power to weight ratio. Your never going to get amazing results for the amount of £. I think your best option is to keep the car for its looks and that is all. If you want performance it will be cheaper to upgrade to a 325i when your insurance comes down or cheaper again would be to fit a 2.5 lump. I wouldnt consider polishing and porting now you have the new head and as it has already been asembled especialy if your not expirienced, this may also void any warranty given with the head

Yeah I understand, I know that the 1.6 and 1.8 are crap for performance, thats why I don't fancy spending any more on performance such as buying a performance exhaust manifold.

Just wanted some advice to see if it would be worth getting it P&P, and theres my answer

I was thinking about trying to put a 2.5 in this one, but its a big project to do for a learner like myself, and it'd just be too much cost to run for just getting to work and back and going out the odd night, so I decided against it.

Head arrived today anyway, so it's finally moving on!

I noticed the shape of the cylinder on the head is slightly different to the old. (see below) any ideas why? I thought it may be the wrong head at first?

Got new head bolts, a head gasket set too and a new water pump (had to smash the old one out to get the rear cam belt cover off)

has it had a skim? have you a vernier/micrometer to measure the heads for the thickness?

no skim.

It is a recon head, but they didn't require skimming it to save myself the cost of buying a thicker head gasket and a gasket set separately.