BMW M30 rocker arm replacement? Help please.

^which is why the head has to come off to change a rocker... it's pinto cam syndrome all over again! (you could take the engine out instead....)

on m20s you can slot the rocker shaft out the front of the head.

i changed this rocker on my old touring.


had to take the rad out, strip the cambelt, cam pulley off, rocker cover.... drop the adjustment off all the rockers on that shaft, take all the rocker locater clips off, pull the shaft locating thingy off...
then used a varity of levering and different sockets to push the shaft forward.
my worn out rocker was on cyl 2.

Did this before on my old 528i.

The rockers are fitted on four rails, which simply push out the front and the back of the head, two on each end. I believe you can remove said rails for cyl's 1-3 with the head in situ if you remove the radiator and anything else in the way. On later heads, these rails have torx screw-head in the end, makes twisting them to withdraw them easier. My D plate 528i had them but the donor head (from an earlier car) didnt.

On mine however, I took the head clean off, as the camshaft was damaged and that needed to be replaced as well.

Bag up and label everything thoroughly, and take plenty of photos.

If you do decide to take the head off, Be very careful removing the manifold studs and any other studs. Mild steel studs into ally castings was not a BMW strong point. soak them in penetrating oil for a good week or so and go very, very careful. A few of my manifold studs came out instead of the nuts, but I didnt snap a single one. If you do, Time for the drills and taps.

Remove the chain tensioner, a 19mm bolt on the exhaust side of the front casing, along with its spring. Remove the camshaft sprocket, and tie it to the timing chain in-situ with string. It will only go back on the camshaft hub one way, and doing this saves having to re-time it. put the tensioner back just so it doesnt get lost.

When you put it back together, its reccomended (though not essential) that you use new head bolts. Also, make sure you put the oil spray bar back on correctly. note which way it came off (theres a V stamped in one end), and make sure it goes back that way (assuming it was correct in the first place, of course). get a pair of new banjo bolts from BMW for it (about £4), the type that are supplied with loctite.
Get this wrong, and half the cam lobes will get no lubrication. M30's snapping rockers is not unknown and this (along with banjo bolts loosening) is sometimes half the reason.

Hope this helps, Drop me a mesage if you need to know anything more

Dave