M30 head bolt removal mystery--advice sought

[632 Regal]

Claimed into a blind hole so nothing should corrode or otherwise cause malfunction... mechanical error perhaps?

*** WHATEVER YOU DO... don't force them out.***

The holes are tapered towards the top of the head. The gunk builds up around the bolts in teh cavity, and when you want to pull/push them out (only way out is up) it up has nowhere to go, forcing it may CRACK the head. Another example of Frederick's bastardry. M30 parts are strong, but don't risk it. Happened on mine, only a few were really hard- I was lucky, but was worried until the tank test put me at ease. Only wokred it out after we got them out.

Just use some carb cleaner/degreaser to soak the gunk away and/or break it up. Shoudl just ooze out when you puch them, instead of jamming up if you leave it long enough.

Nick

[Dash01]

So far, I've let the sticky bolts soak in penetrating oil and carburetor cleaner, and this seems to help.

The gunk on them is like tar, and the prior suggestion about working them a bit in and out helps with loosening, as it seems to allow the penetrating oil/carburetor cleaner to seep further down. Actually, given that the thread grip on the bolt ends is only ~1", it seems the tar is the only thing holding them in.

Perhaps I'm being too gentle with these bolts, but better safe than sorry.

What would cause the oil to become so tar-like? Would such cause also damage the engine? (Again, this engine is from a junker, so I don't know its history.)

[genphreak]

Old oil and short trips causes it I think, good to hear you are taking it easy. That is the only way with these things, the hammer never wins much progress on a BMW- in fact it usually screws things up Royally.