Cylinder head

Engine problems that are contained to the cylinder head are uncommon but do occur. These problems can range from softening, warping or cracking of the head to issues with the valves and camshafts.

All late-model BMW engines (post 90s) utilise the DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) configuration.

In DOHC engines the cylinder head sits atop the engine block, closing the top of the cylinders to form the combustion chamber. It accommodates both intake & exhaust camshafts, intake & exhaust valves, spark plugs (in petrol engines), and fuel injectors (in direct injection systems.)

The DOHC cylinder heads also incorporate complex BMW variable valve (VVT) systems such as Vanos and Valvetronic.

Most engine codes will typically share the same head, but there can be non-exchangeable variations between models and generations.

The best way to determine fitment compatibility of a cylinder head is to match the BMW part numbers from the catalogue. This can be done by decoding your vehicle’s VIN in a BMW EPC (electronic part catalogue.)

If you don’t have access to an EPC, provide our team with your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN—and we’ll check our stock for a compatible match.

Some cylinder heads are interchangeable between models with the same engine code.

However, it is worth noting that some engines within the same family, despite being similar, have important design differences that make the heads non-interchangeable.