Question about new head for '95-318i

[pcmcmeans]

I was on here about a month ago with the mechanic that couldn't figure out what was wrong with my car (it's now been about 9 weeks). He called and said he thinks they have found the problem. Something with the hydraulic lifts. They have to be replaced at $30 a pop, there are 16 or them, plus labor of course. He put a new head on my car sometime in Aug-Sep, plus new radiator and some other things - $2500 worth of stuff. Am I wrong or do the lifts not come with the new head?

thanks
carol

 

[Jacko]

I was on here about a month ago with the mechanic that couldn't figure out what was wrong with my car (it's now been about 9 weeks). He called and said he thinks they have found the problem. Something with the hydraulic lifts. They have to be replaced at $30 a pop, there are 16 or them, plus labor of course. He put a new head on my car sometime in Aug-Sep, plus new radiator and some other things - $2500 worth of stuff. Am I wrong or do the lifts not come with the new head?

thanks
carol

I believe you were and are being taken.
Get a second mecanics opinion

 

[pcmcmeans]

Thanks. I still don't know if the lifts come with the head or not. I've pretty much already figured out that I've been had. The guy has my car and says he has to put it back together before I can have it towed somewhere else. I'm just about as sick as I can get over the whole thing. The guy has a great reputation and is a certified BMW mechanic. I really don't know what has gone wrong. But anyway, thanks for responding. I wish more people would.
Thanks again
Carol

 

[mjbst111]

depends on what you mean by new head. We would need to have more details.

Was the old head warped? Did he reuse the old valves, lifters and rockers?

There no way we can tell you if lifters came with the new head or not. I depends on the kind of work he did. If he bought a rebuilt head with all that included then all that stuff should be new. If he rebuilt the head himself with a new "head shell" Then he might have reused some old stuff.

In dealing with a mechanic you have to sound like you know what you are talking about. You almost have to be "armed" with a little car knowlegde. Otherwise you will be taken advantage of. In reading your other thread now: made mention of a "radiator belt," You might want to have a few other people with you when you talk to this guy. Might make him nervous enought to tell the truth, but i'm guessing its too late.

 

[scooter3]

agree with the other post. Most of the time if a new head is being put on the valve train will be reused. Most of the time there is nothing wrong with them. The valves can be remachined with the correct angles. Pretty much most can be reused. You really needed to find out if they installed all new parts the first time or just the head. Either way it looks like your stuck.