I believe you need to remove cam box to get some of the head bolts out, ant aligning tools omly required for re assembly

 

You may well have to remove the cams to get the heads off mate. it depends if you can unbolt the head studs with the cams in place.

I know with ARP studs it is possible to do it but not tried it as a whole TBO

They can be removed without the special tool but the cam caps MUST be kept meticulously in order (numbered or whatever) with their own cam journal.

I cant remember if the journals are numbered but if not number as you remove .

On a 325i I had to drop down the oil pan, rand remove the vanos unit and timing chain to help a friend do his head gasket. But we had the Cam removal and alignment tools and he installed Schrick cams at the same time.

Does anyone know a BMW special tool hire source in the yUK?

its a major PITA not being able to get some of the tools as they are so expensive for single use jobs

This is a very good article on removing them even tho its the US engine

Cam removal

 

i have a mate who works for bmw so ill ask him if he can borrow me the tool from work.

another friend gave me this link i havent read it yet though

 

Looks a good guide.
A combo of the two should cover all the bases.

If you can get hold of the special tools gimme a shout...

 

i should be able to get hold of the tool, but it will be with him present theyve got very funny about lending out special tools and hes the assistant manager lol

 

official word from my mate at bmw is that their mechanics dont uses this special tool and have never had one in his dealership they just unbolt them very slowly. i didnt look for the sweet spot thats described in the write ups but just undid the intake cam 1/4 turn at a time its still in tacked as far as i can see

 

You would know about it if the cam snapped mate.
As they are hollow they are brittle as well...

It is possible to improvise and make up a tool to do the job, as long as the cam is evenly held down along its length it will be fine.

Its undoing one bolt then the next... and so on that will give big problems!

 

yeh i did the old criss cross trick took ages just to get one out lol

 

lol

Still, it works out much cheaper than the cam removal tool!

that costs hundreds so Ive heard

 

both out ok now head off all look well little (just little spots) bit of rust on the bores probably becuase i took the engine out while it was pissing downand had to remove the plugs.

 

Yeah, dont worry about little spots of surface rust from rain etc
its pitting or really deep corrosion that is a concern

 

oh yeh mate i know its only surface when i feel little better ill strip the lot out (crank etc) clean the crud off the block/head and ill rub some fresh oil over the bores etc before wrapping it up for machining

 

Where are you getting it machined mate?
Fresh engine oil coating is defo a good idea

 

not sure yet it would be nice if i could find somewhere local to me.

 

For sure local would be nice.
You got any recommendations around your way?
I think I told you about bassett down balancing?

Would be worth a call and also Swindon race engines I think theyre called.
neither are local I know but they may do free collection? or cheap courier