# BMW Help M3 E36 Head Bolt **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [December 23, 2009, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523 "2009-12-23T08:31:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/1 "2009-12-23T08:31:13Z")
Ok so I thought my valve cover was leaking but it isn’t. I’m now missing a bolt where the red arrow is in my picture. What the hell is this thing anyways (where the blue arrow is pointing)? I think an M8 or 5/16 bolt was in there, but the threads are all gone. Can I tap this out for a M10 or 3/8? Why is there oil leaking out of here? ![http://www.nyspeed.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11395&stc=1&d=1261585842](http://www.nyspeed.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11395&stc=1&d=1261585842) ---
**Author:** ![turbociv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@turbociv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbociv)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/2 "2009-12-23T08:33:15Z")
thats the vanos valve that opens and closes to let oil pressure into vanos to turn it on or off. oil is leaking because the gasket inbetween is full of oil from the head. you need that bolt to keep it tight so it wont leak. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 8:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/3 "2009-12-23T08:55:46Z")
So since I have no threads left, can I drill right through the head and use a sealed nut/bolt to hold it together, or should I try tapping it out to an M10 / 3/8? ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/4 "2009-12-23T09:00:15Z")
If you have nut clearance on the other side, I’d go right through and use some sealant on it. Definitely better than tapping up a size. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/5 "2009-12-23T09:04:42Z")
> [@newman](#): > > If you have nut clearance on the other side, I’d go right through and use some sealant on it. Definitely better than tapping up a size. Pretty sure there is more then enough clearance on the other side. Maybe I’ll attack this today. There is oil all over my engine bay. It used to be pristine. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/6 "2009-12-23T09:13:14Z")
why are you not just buying another OEM bolt? look up the part number from [realoem.com](http://realoem.com) then either call your dealer or order cheaper from one of the vendors on bf.c it’s probably only a $3 bolt ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/7 "2009-12-23T09:15:21Z")
The head is stripped ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/8 "2009-12-23T09:17:17Z")
my bad, I missed that… ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/9 "2009-12-23T10:23:51Z")
why not helicoil that summabitch ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/10 "2009-12-23T11:31:57Z")
> [@Viper966](#): > > why not helicoil that summabitch That was what I was going to do at first, but a 5/16 or M8 Helicoil ends up taking out just as much material as re-tapping it for a 3/8 or M10 bolt. I think I’ll go home and drill it out tonight and run a 5/16 bolt & nut straight through it. ---
**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/11 "2009-12-23T13:00:43Z")
aluminum threads suck, id helicoil it ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 1:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/12 "2009-12-23T13:08:10Z")
> [@LXIFLYBY](#): > > aluminum threads suck, id helicoil it Or not have any threads and use a nut like he’s going to… ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/13 "2009-12-23T13:13:58Z")
> [@newman](#): > > Or not have any threads and use a nut like he’s going to… Id just be worried about drilling through and finding something in there i wasnt expecting… but if your sure its clear (i cant see from teh pics) then drilling through and putting a nut should work fine… I wonder how it will effect the strength of the lifting eye ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/14 "2009-12-23T13:14:43Z")
probably not at all. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 1:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/15 "2009-12-23T13:21:06Z")
> [@LXIFLYBY](#): > > aluminum threads suck, id helicoil it There is only about 1/4 of aluminum around the M8 - 5/16 thread. If I open that up to helicoil it that leaves me maybe a heavy 1/8 and I’m afraid it might crack. > [@Viper966](#): > > Id just be worried about drilling through and finding something in there i wasnt expecting… but if your sure its clear (i cant see from teh pics) then drilling through and putting a nut should work fine… > > I wonder how it will effect the strength of the lifting eye I’m not sure if anything is behind it, I’m going to go ahead and assume nothing is. There is a valve cover bolt pretty close behind it as you can see in the picture, so I’m hoping they didn’t try to snake something in there. It might weaken the head if that lifting lug is used to pull the engine. I’m willing to take that risk. The only time I’ll ever pull this engine is if I blow it up, and if that is the case I won’t care about it anyways. Well care about the engine I’d probably care if the lifting lug broke clean off and the engine crushed the front clip. W/E It will be fine. (I hope lol) ---
**Author:** ![turbociv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@turbociv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbociv)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/16 "2009-12-23T15:13:50Z")
you CAN drill it through and nut and bolt it. but that kinda seams ghetto to me. i believe that bolt hole is dowelled so i wouldnt try drilling it too large. just clean out the threads and run a bolt/nut same size. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-help-m3-e36-head-bolt/77523/17 "2009-12-24T08:48:10Z")
> [@turbociv](#): > > you CAN drill it through and nut and bolt it. but that kinda seams ghetto to me. i believe that bolt hole is dowelled so i wouldnt try drilling it too large. just clean out the threads and run a bolt/nut same size. Already done seems to be fine, no oil drip yet and I didn’t have a problem drilling it out.