Subject: Finished!!! Author: matt535i : 210 posts Posted on: 2010-08-29 09:59:23

You know what the most tedious job in the world is? Trying to put 64 valve spring retainer collets onto the valve stems of an M62. Because the springs are way down inside the lifter bores, you have to stick the tiny collet halves onto a tiny screwdriver with a dab of grease, and guide them down onto the grooved valve stems and try to line them up. Fiddly as anything and I'm glad thats done with!!

Anyway, got them assembled. Then put them up onto the milling machine to machine the mating face. Man, these things were dead straight- 0.03" was all the machining they needed...

Looking at how BMW designed the valvetrain in these engines, everything is made just precisely- from the ports to the collets, to the way they cast the cylinder heads and the grade of alloy they used- it machines like butter. The M62's really are a beautifully constructed engine, from start to finish. BMW went through a lot of trouble with these. Its easy to see- the attention to detail is everywhere in these engines.

Total cost for cylinder head remachining: $0. Just a lot of my time in the workshop, with me & my father.

Cleaned cylinder head parts for assembly.


Setting the heads up.


Remachining.






Freshly machined.



Lots of M62 cylinder heads (dirty ones are my spare pair, machined one in the corner is one of my rebuilt pair. The other is being machined as I took this pic)


Finished products, ready to be bolted back on:






The final money shot:




1996 E39 535i- 3.5L M62 V8, 5HP24 stept. trans
Exterior: #303 Cosmos Black Metallic + Shadowline trim
Interior: Black on black leather + factory 'High Polished Black' interior trim
Wheels: silver BBS RK 17x9.5" Tires: Maxxis MA-Z1
M-Sport suspension, TV-in motion, High OBC unlocked, 'Grom' USB stick-compatible audio system.

• Thats the end of my 535 I think... - matt535i 2010-08-13 05:30:38 (1908 views)
  • Re: Thats the end of my 535 I think... - mattey 2010-08-13 12:34:53 (1642 views)
    • Thanks for the advice Matt - matt535i 2010-08-13 20:14:43 (1630 views)
      • Turns out its got a burnt exhaust valve- - matt535i 2010-08-17 22:03:42 (1683 views)
        • Re: Turns out its got a burnt exhaust valve- - duggan776 2010-08-18 18:11:05 (1586 views)
          • Re: Turns out its got a burnt exhaust valve- - matt535i 2010-08-18 21:14:50 (3279 views)
            • Got the heads off - matt535i 2010-08-24 03:51:15 (1639 views)
              • Well... There's yer problem!! (pic) - matt535i 2010-08-24 09:48:20 (1765 views)
                • Few more pics (pic) - matt535i 2010-08-24 10:06:35 (1763 views)
                  • Impressive work - keep the pictures coming (nt) - Roderick 2010-08-25 00:15:10 (1558 views)
                    • Good news.. - matt535i 2010-08-25 23:16:01 (1569 views)
                      • One other thing while I'm here - matt535i 2010-08-25 23:48:39 (1590 views)
                        • Progress! (pic) - matt535i 2010-08-26 07:38:36 (1679 views)
                          • Finished!!! (pic) - matt535i 2010-08-29 09:59:23 (627 views)