Anybody did their N52 valve cover themselves?

It was changed once under warranty. Still leaking 2-3 years later - poor design IMO. I wouldn't touch it (1 ltr / 2200 miles) but starting the car cold, I see some smoke from that area if I open the hood.



It is a job I did on other cars but this one is a bit nasty and not your regular one. 5-600$ at the dealer I was told. However looking at my Bentley (113-3/4/5), it doesn't seem that bad. I know that 2007+ were upgraded with different bolts.

Any actual experience?

Originally Posted by Saintor

It was changed once under warranty. Still leaking 2-3 years later - poor design IMO. I wouldn't touch it (1 ltr / 2200 miles) but starting the car cold, I see some smoke from that area if I open the hood.



It is a job I did on other cars but this one is a bit nasty and not your regular one. 5-600$ at the dealer I was told. However looking at my Bentley (113-3/4/5), it doesn't seem that bad. I know that 2007+ were upgraded with different bolts.

Any actual experience?

Yup, lots. Can't say why, but that area where yours is leaking seems to be where 9 out of 10 leak. Then it runs down the head right onto the hot exhaust manifold and that's why it is such an annoyance.

Try the job yourself. If you can follow a guide, and there's lots of them, you can do this without a hitch. Be careful unclipping the coil harness, and watch out for the wires at the back of the cylinder head especially when you're reinstalling the cover. You sure don't want to trap them between the cover and the head when you torque down the cover.

Use new aluminum screws of course. Use a complete new gasket set with all the seals in it. Be sure to use a dab of sealer on the head next to each cam end seal corner. We use red silicone, you can use the BMW stuff if preferred.

Look closely at the space between the cover and the head before you take off the old cover. It's uneven, and will still be when you install the new gasket set. If you don't notice this varying gap before you start you will go nuts when you're done thinking you did something wrong. No, it was the BMW engineering dep't which spec'd it wrong. It's plastic and should have been aluminum.

[My guess as to why it's still leaking after being changed on the warranty: It wasn't changed. The area was cleaned up with sovent cleaner (usually brake cleaner), then the screws were tweaked down a little tighter and the job was shipped.]

DSX,

Just curious - the OP's 328 is an '07. From your experience, was this issue resolved on newer 328's?

Thanks.

Well I am happy that I didn't bite on that one by doing it myself. The valve cover itself needed to be replaced. Expensive repair, though (1040$+txs).

I have done a few. It is not that difficult at all.

Originally Posted by Saintor

It was changed once under warranty. Still leaking 2-3 years later - poor design IMO. I wouldn't touch it (1 ltr / 2200 miles) but starting the car cold, I see some smoke from that area if I open the hood.

It is a job I did on other cars but this one is a bit nasty and not your regular one. 5-600$ at the dealer I was told. However looking at my Bentley (113-3/4/5), it doesn't seem that bad. I know that 2007+ were upgraded with different bolts.

Any actual experience?

I personally have posted the DIY for this & eccentric shaft sensor twice in the past few days....

Have you seen it?

Then again, you might want to use the BMW maintenance procedure directory.

Before you click on the last, you got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?"

Well Saint, do ya?


.

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

I personally have posted the DIY for this & eccentric shaft sensor twice in the past few days....

Have you seen it?

Then again, you might want to use the BMW maintenance procedure directory.

Before you click on the last, you got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?"

Well Saint, do ya?


.

Not interested in this kind of smart-ass replies, like "Let me Google it for you". Anyway it brings a DIY for a M54 engine, * irrelevant *.

No, it was the BMW engineering dep't which spec'd it wrong. It's plastic and should have been aluminum.

If you are talking about the cover itself, you are 100% right.

Originally Posted by Saintor

Not interested in this kind of smart-ass replies, like "Let me Google it for you". Anyway it brings a DIY for a M54 engine, * irrelevant *.

Aha! Not interested, yet you checked it and were compelled to post on it.

The answer to your issue's in there.