| ineedabrew |
Posted
Wednesday, Nov 22nd 12:43am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Member
Post nr. 18
Stone Mountain, GA
1979 BMW 323i |
Ok guys...I have seen a couple posts on reusing head bolts and none of them were very definite. I just replaced the old hex head bolts with new torque head bolts. Long story short, I had to pull the head again because of a valve...should I get new head bolts??? I need some advice....can I reuse them? |
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| phillbriggs |
Posted
Wednesday, Nov 22nd 1:16am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Member
Post nr. 231
Suffolk - United kingdom
BMW E21 320/6A CABRIO, PRE 09/1979 FACELIFT, ONLY 1 OF ITS KIND |
i would buy new headbolts, mainly because i always do and also some headbolts are what you call stretch bolts and some can old bolts can also change from heat etc, alot of people think there is no need but others do, its sort of a 50/50 thing. |
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| Tricord |
Posted
Wednesday, Nov 22nd 2:15am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Administrator
Post nr. 1000
Belgium, Europe
323i Baur |
Especially because they're not expensive (about 15EUR for a full set) you should always use new ones. I know I do. |
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| aussie323i |
Posted
Wednesday, Nov 22nd 5:53am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Member
Post nr. 541
australia
1979 323i |
Seeing as you have only just replaced them, I'd say you're pretty safe to reuse them... I know they've been stretched once, but my old euro engine building mate (30 years of reconditioning BMW, VW, Porsche and Mercedes engines) had measurements for the bolts (both length and diameter) to check whether you could reuse them... unfortunately I can't remember the measurements for you to check.
I reused mine on my motor as they were within his tollerances, and I have had no problems at all (more than 50,000km on engine now).
(the bolts are actually quite expensive down under... way more than $15!)
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| Greg323i |
Posted
Wednesday, Nov 22nd 6:39am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Member
Post nr. 260
Melbourne, Australia
1982 Hennaröt 323i |
| aussie323i wrote: | | (the bolts are actually quite expensive down under... way more than $15!) |
Yeah, I think I paid $125 a couple of years ago.  It's enough to make me want to move back. The dealer wanted $45 each for the standard rubber steering rack mount bushings. I have urethane ones on the way from my sister for US$40! |
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| sunbeam*** |
Posted
Wednesday, Nov 22nd 9:05am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Member
Post nr. 202
wirral UK
1982 323i |
Phill is right its 50/50 but i have allways re-used head bolts once, i wouldn't re-used the same bolts time after time though! |
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| BruceH |
Posted
Wednesday, Nov 22nd 3:20pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Member
Post nr. 1043
Atlanta, GA USA
81 323 Baur, 85 745 |
You can *sometimes* reuse head bolts successfully but I wouldn't. As others have said they are stretch bolts and if torqued properly they have been stretched.
If the car is going to be with you long term you can stud the head which replaces the bolts with studs. More expensive hardware initially tho. |
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| sunbeam*** |
Posted
Thursday, Nov 23rd 12:30am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Member
Post nr. 208
wirral UK
1982 323i |
Stretch bolts are usually torqued using the angle method, if you want to re-use them knowing they have already been torqued/stretched just revert back to the 70lbs/ft specification of the earlier hex bolts?
Or if your unsure just replace them? |
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| ineedabrew |
Posted
Thursday, Nov 23rd 6:52pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car] |
Member
Post nr. 19
Stone Mountain, GA
1979 BMW 323i |
 Thanks guys for the info. I will hedge on the side of safety and buy the bolts...just wanted to get her finished over Turkey Day..I will be patient and wait for the bolts to show up!
Thanks. |
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