In the process of replacing my head gaskets and I doubt the PO changed the oil when they should have... if at all.
Check out the rocker and valves. Notice the sludge in the second pic? Special.
Given the state its in I'm tempted to pull the pan too. The question is should I finish the gaskets, do a ATF flush then pull the pan or do it now?



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[IMG]local://upfiles/11682/9F9674255AC542619547970948BC0754.jpg[/IMG]

 

This does not look bad at all. When I first read the sludge word, I imagined a 1/4 inch of sludge covering your rockers and cyclinder head surfaces.

I would pull the pan and clean it and clean the oil pickup.

How many miles on the engine.

 

Also replied on the other thread about valley pan gasket. It's got 96k on the clock.
It just seemed a lot of crude for under 100k. It's flaking of the rockers and the inside of the covers too.
Have to clean them up with varsol before putting them back.
I'm concerned the engine was neglected since I've had to fix so many things so far.
Green coolant (probably cause of the leak)
Three amigos (faultmate helped but still have to replace squealing pads)
New radiator
New condenser
New heater hoses.
New tie rod and drag link
New SLS pump
New PAS hoses
ACE needs fixing (possible pressure transducer)
Driver side headlight fills with water (drain holes applied :-))
Heated windshield not working (except for 2" on driver side)
Rebuild driveshaft (par for course)
Passenger side lower bumper skirt shattered (-26C) around fog light. Looking at ARB replacement.
When she was running after about an hour of driving I get a weird vibration. Almost felt like a thrown belt. Wheel speed dependent
but only after driving for a while. Let it sit and cool, noise gone. I'm thinking its a grabbing caliper but not had chance to look at it.

Remind me why I'm into this vehicle so much :-)

 

Do not feel so bad, mine are actually worse. I am waiting to just rebuild the heads until it is worm enough to drive the BMW again. I did however pull the pan and clean it out, it is fairly easy so I say just do it now.