Head Gasket project - whats this part??

[Bodhi-z]

Hi Gents,

I am currently replacing the head gasket on my 2000 BMW Z3 1.9 with the M43 B19 engine - first time I have tackled this, but the potential cost of paying a garage meant I had to have a go!
I successfully removed the head today so halfway there, but when I was tidying up at the end of the day I found a part on the garage floor that seems to have fallen out from somewhere. I didn't remove it , but there it was.
It looks like either a spacer or a pipe insert, it's about 30mm long and 13mm diameter, photo attached. Does anyone have an idea as to what this is??
I suppose there's a chance it might have been lurking around at the back of the engine bay after falling in there years ago and I just dislodged it when lifting out the head.
But I'm really worried that it might be important , and after putting everything

back together I will have coolant or oil pouring out from somewhere.

If anyone has an idea as to what it could be , I would really appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks,

Pete

 

[Rudyrov]

Possibly an oil gallery guide or duct. Could also be a locator for alignment of the block to head, I have seen this type of thing in a few engines I have worked on. Unfortunately, I have never done a Valve job or head gasket on a BMW so I am guessing.
I would see if it fits any of the holes on the gasket side of the head or the block, additionally, you could check a parts breakdown on one of the many sites that have diagrams and exploded views, like realoem.com https://www.realoem.com/

 

[Duncodin]

I've never had me head off - or even me rocker cover for that matter so I've never seen one in the flesh, so to speak.

But is it a spark plug tube?

 

[Rudyrov]

I've never had me head off - or even me rocker cover for that matter so I've never seen one in the flesh, so to speak.

But is it a spark plug tube?

That's a good possibility! Hard to say since the picture offers no size reference.

 

[t-tony]

Looks too "heavy" for a spark plug tube I think, looks more like a mechanical part to me. Also I don't think it is something which has been loitering around the engine bay for long as it is still clean and not corroded at all. My guess is it's from the timing chain area.

Tony.

 

[Bodhi-z]

Found it!!
You were right Tony, it's from the timing chain area.
The part is a bolt sleeve that sits in the plastic chain guide on the left hand side of the chain.
Must have fallen out when I was wrestling the head off, I count myself very lucky that it fell on the floor, and didn't fall down into the timing chain area with me not knowing, could potentially have been a right disaster.
So - if you do this job, after removing the 13mm bolt that secures the chain guide on the left hand side, do yourself a favour and slide out the bolt sleeve so that you don't lose it by accident.
Phew........