The most obvious symptoms are "milky" (coolant saturated) oil and white smoke (evaporating coolant/water). If that's the case, get some lube. It's not a cheap repair and not something that most people can DIY.
My buddy paid out something like $2500-3000 USD to have the head gasket replaced on his E36 M3 (I'm sure there are shops that will do it for less, but it's going to be expensive regardless). Understanding the head gasket problems associated with the BMW E46 is essential for maintaining the vehicle's performance and longevity. By being proactive and attentive to symptoms, you can avoid the costly consequences of a blown head gasket.
The O-ring is BMW part #13621743299 Yellow mayo is not always an indicator of a blown head gasket. I would do one of 2 things at this point. Get an oil sample and send it out for analysis, this will confirm 100% if there is anti-freeze in the oil.
Or spend about $7-$8 and just put these in the radiator/expansion tank. How to Tell if Your BMW Has a Blown Head Gasket If your BMW has a blown head gasket, you'll usually see a mix of symptoms such as overheating, white exhaust smoke, loss of coolant with no visible leaks, milky oil, rough running, or unexplained pressure in the cooling system; confirming it typically requires tests like a cooling-system pressure test, a chemical block test, or a compression. Bimmerforums is the preferred online BMW Forum and community for BMW owners.
At Bimmerforums, you will find technical how. In this video you will learn the process that I go through to diagnose a blown head gasket on a BMW and how I typically find coolant leaks. From everyones experience, what are the symptoms of a blown head gasket? I've read people have a constant rattling sound at 2-3k throughout all gears.
My car is experiencing a rattling sound around the same rev range but only in the lower gears (2nd and 3rd usually). The sound does go away when the car gets up to temp and. Your vehicle's head gasket keeps pressure in the combustion chamber to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly, but what happens when you have a blown head gasket? about the symptoms of this automotive issue here.
There were some basic symptoms of a failed head gasket or cracked head. There are of course more possible symptoms, but this is a good start. Now I will explain some basic diagnostic tests you can do to confirm or debunk your suspicions.
Compression Test. Discover common BMW head gasket problems, symptoms, causes, and effective solutions to keep your vehicle running smoothly.