R55 replacing head gasket – what else should I look at

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Jan 16, 2023 | 04:49 PM

badafada

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Joined: Jul 2021

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replacing head gasket – what else should I look at

So what turned out to be a little check of the spark plugs has turned into...

replacing valve cover

replacing timing chain

replacing head gasket!!

There's a lot of great videos and info out there on replacing timing chain - but I haven't seen a lot on the head gasket replacement on the S MINIs (I did see one video showing the process but on non turbos). I do have the ISTA BMW software and that's what I'm going by, although sometimes the illustrations aren't the best.

My question is, while I'm in there, what else is "cheap" and worth replacing? I'm going to be checking the head for flatness and lapping it.

Going off this listed "head gasket kit" on rockauto: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...1097&jsn=11097

I see a lot of gaskets, but there is no description and I'm not sure what some of them are. I can make out:
- valve stem seals
- valve cover gasket and spark plug well gaskets
- intake manifold gaskets
- oil filter o ring and oil pan washer

Surprising there's no description anything to see what everything is. I like FCP Euro's site for this reason, but there's a lot of stuff they don't have.

For reference, in the process of "replacing head gasket" in the ISTA software I could only see the following gaskets/bolts mentioned needed to be replaced:
- solenoid valve gaskets (x2)
- oil dipstick sealing ring
- valve cover gasket (1 on perimeters, 2 around spark plug wells)
- cylinder head bolts + washers

Jan 17, 2023 | 10:09 AM

ECSTuning

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From: Wadsworth, Ohio

Hello, those i would do. Those other seals dont need replaced most of the time, the new screen on the solenoid valve, check that some people just replace them since they come with new seals and the updated screen. The older design with no screen tends to clog with burnt oil or lack of oil changes. We have actual pictures so you can tell the gasket and what it should look like new. I would also clean the intake (carbon cleaning) and exhaust ports since you have the head off. Check for cracks or anything weird.

- valve stem seals
- valve cover gasket and spark plug well gaskets
- intake manifold gaskets
- oil filter o ring and oil pan washer

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