2006 e61 n52 broken head bolt
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From: Minneapolis
My Ride: 535xi sport wagon
Model Year: 2010
2006 e61 n52 broken head bolt
I was in the process of changing the oil cooler and oil filter housing gaskets and found the broken head of an aluminum bolt laying just behind the oil filter housing and under the intake manifold. This engine has been leaking oil for quite a while and finally I had time to deal with it. After changing the two gaskets, the oil leak is still there and might even be worse!
Apparently this is a common issue with these engines? The dealer has an aluminum head bolt set of four bolts for $16. I plan on extracting the broken bolt and replacing it.
My question is: should I expect more of this? Should I replace the head gasket and all bolts?
Apparently this is a common issue with these engines? The dealer has an aluminum head bolt set of four bolts for $16. I plan on extracting the broken bolt and replacing it.
My question is: should I expect more of this? Should I replace the head gasket and all bolts?
Thread Starter
New Members
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
My Ride: 535xi sport wagon
Model Year: 2010
OK the good news is that the broken bolt wasn't too difficult to replace. After removing the intake, it was easy to back the bolt out. I replaced it, torqued to spec and put it all back together. It is no longer leaking in that area.
The bad news is there is a small leak on the front side of the head soooooo I removed the cylinder head cover...
Two more broken bolts inside the head, under the VANOS... fuck.
I had purchased the set of four bolts for only $16 at the dealer.
MY NEW QUESTION is how difficult to remove the VANOS units to replaced the other three bolt?
My Bentley manual talks about a couple special tools required to lock down the cam-shafts...UGH!
The bad news is there is a small leak on the front side of the head soooooo I removed the cylinder head cover...
Two more broken bolts inside the head, under the VANOS... fuck.
I had purchased the set of four bolts for only $16 at the dealer.
MY NEW QUESTION is how difficult to remove the VANOS units to replaced the other three bolt?
My Bentley manual talks about a couple special tools required to lock down the cam-shafts...UGH!
Thread Starter
New Members
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
My Ride: 535xi sport wagon
Model Year: 2010
I procured and cam timing tool kit by Baum Tools on Ebay from El Paso Tools for $369 and free shipping.
After two hours of searching, I found the location of the plug and installed the crankshaft locking pin. It is below the starter fyi.
Installing the camshaft locking tool was straight forward.
I removed the two cam gears and without too much trouble was able to extract the two broken bolts on the front of the engine inside the head.
That makes a total of thee broken long bolts replaced.
Replacing the fourth (short bolt) requires removal of the timing chain. This bolt is NOT BROKEN. I am contemplating just leaving it versus even more engine dismantling..
From what I see on the threads about this, most engines seem to have three out of four broken, just like my engine.
Should I gamble and not replace the fourth bolt???
After two hours of searching, I found the location of the plug and installed the crankshaft locking pin. It is below the starter fyi.
Installing the camshaft locking tool was straight forward.
I removed the two cam gears and without too much trouble was able to extract the two broken bolts on the front of the engine inside the head.
That makes a total of thee broken long bolts replaced.
Replacing the fourth (short bolt) requires removal of the timing chain. This bolt is NOT BROKEN. I am contemplating just leaving it versus even more engine dismantling..
From what I see on the threads about this, most engines seem to have three out of four broken, just like my engine.
Should I gamble and not replace the fourth bolt???
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