Get the Best Priced BMW 528i Head Gasket

The BMW 5 Series has had a good, long run, but the 2016 model is expected to be the last of its generation. It has aged well with its traditional looks, responsive driving dynamics, and some of the world's best powertrains, chassis and safety features. The 5 Series is diverse, from sedans to Gran Turismo hatchbacks, and engines including an economical turbo four, smooth inline six-cylinder, turbocharged V8, hybrid and diesel, all offering the expected BMW ride and handling.

Despite all this, the BMW 528i has a reputation for blowing head gaskets. The head gasket forms a seal between the engine block and the cylinder head, sealing both the engines combustion chamber and coolant passages. The head gasket must seal extremely hot high pressure combustion gases as well as engine coolant, which can be vary from cold ambient temperatures to the engines normal operating temperature. Due to the wide range of temperatures and large surface area, it is not unusual for head gasket leaks to develop over time.

Because much of the gasket can't be seen without disassembling the engine, it can be difficult to diagnose head gasket leaks. Since a visual inspection usually will not uncover head gasket leaks, it is important to know the other symptoms so you can accurately diagnose head gasket problems.

What are the symptoms of a Blown Head Gasket?

BMW 528i head gasket failures are often due to an overheated engine, but can also be caused by high mileage and/or age. An early sign of a failing head gasket is a rough running engine when first starting the vehicle, especially if it's been sitting overnight. The rough running will generally last for only a few seconds. The only externally visible sign of a blown head gasket is coolant leaking externally from below the exhaust manifold, but a leak resulting from a blown head gasket is also probable if there is a significant loss of coolant with no visible leaks.

Where is the leak most prevalent?

In the engine, between the combustion chamber and the coolant passage

What is the milky white substance on my dipstick?

Once your engine is turned off the coolant still left in the engine cylinder will seep past your piston rings into your engine oil. Coolant mixed with oil will blend into a white milky substance.

Why is white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe?

A cold engine on a cool day will produce a small amount of water vapor which will look like white smoke from your exhaust pipe. If the exhaust has a sweet smell to it then it mostly likely is a head gasket problem.

Try not to drive a vehicle with a head gasket leak. The hot gases and cold coolant moving through the hole in the gasket can quickly erode or warp the metal head or engine block, leaving you with costly machining bills or having to purchase new heads or a new engine. To prevent an expensive, recurring problem, the integrity of the entire BMW 528i's cooling system should be inspected and tested when a head gasket is replaced.

What is the BMW 528i Head Gasket replacement cost?

The average price for a BMW 528i head gasket set from PartsGeek is $147.33. Individual head gaskets can be had for as little as $37.48.