Valve cover gasket

neonnblack · 03-21-2019, 06:27 PM

Just trying to gather opinions on this...i need to do my valve cover gasket soon and was pondering buying an entire new valve cover also, the Hamburg or genuine.

Refreshing the cover itself and getting a fresh pcv seems kinda nice. I also don't want to pull the old one to find its cracked and need one anyways.

Thoughts?

neonnblack · 03-21-2019, 06:45 PM

Some more information. 72k miles on original, I'm assuming. Im FBO with tune and will continue running that way.

Orion4 · 03-21-2019, 08:45 PM

Probably a good time to replace the cover and PVC- especially since you are FBO. I'm stock at 106K and just had to replace mine as the PVC had finally failed,

John in VA · 03-23-2019, 09:27 AM

Our 2013 with 45K miles had a leak due to a warped cover, apparently. Just replaced yesterday with some warranty help.

IraHayes · 03-24-2019, 11:50 PM

Since you are going to go through the hassle of removing the cover, just replace it, one and done. I know for myself that I would be extremely irritated if I replaced the valve cover gasket, and then five or 10,000 miles down the road the PCV failed, or the valve cover cracked and I had to do the job all over again. I would go genuine.

By the way, where are you buying the parts from?

Polo08816 · 03-25-2019, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IraHayes

Since you are going to go through the hassle of removing the cover, just replace it, one and done. I know for myself that I would be extremely irritated if I replaced the valve cover gasket, and then five or 10,000 miles down the road the PCV failed, or the valve cover cracked and I had to do the job all over again. I would go genuine.

By the way, where are you buying the parts from?

Good question. The genuine BMW valve cover is ~$450. There are some OEM ones on RockAuto for $230.

Polo08816 · 03-25-2019, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orion4

Probably a good time to replace the cover and PVC- especially since you are FBO. I'm stock at 106K and just had to replace mine as the PVC had finally failed,

What were the symptoms?

Orion4 · 03-25-2019, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

What were the symptoms?

In my case (yours may vary), rough idle and uneven acceleration. Biggest give away was the hiss/whistle from VC area even at idle. Other dead give away was the amount of vacuum on the oil filler cap when I removed it. it was hard to pull off.

cfm56d7b · 03-26-2019, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IraHayes

Since you are going to go through the hassle of removing the cover, just replace it, one and done. I know for myself that I would be extremely irritated if I replaced the valve cover gasket, and then five or 10,000 miles down the road the PCV failed, or the valve cover cracked and I had to do the job all over again. I would go genuine.

By the way, where are you buying the parts from?

Once the valve cover is removed, the aging gasket is unlikely to provide a perfect fit after re-installation. Best to replace it.

neonnblack · 03-26-2019, 01:06 PM

I think it was ecs had a hamburg brand cover for 250. I'm willing to buy the oem but if the cheaper option is just as good, I'll use that. Never heard of the brand before this.

Polo08816 · 03-26-2019, 01:12 PM

While you're doing the valve cover and valve cover gasket, are there any other items that are low hanging fruit to do while you're in there?

neonnblack · 03-27-2019, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

While you're doing the valve cover and valve cover gasket, are there any other items that are low hanging fruit to do while you're in there?

Not that i can think of. Might as well do spark plugs since you're in it, if you need them.

lens · 03-27-2019, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

While you're doing the valve cover and valve cover gasket, are there any other items that are low hanging fruit to do while you're in there?

injectors.

Polo08816 · 03-27-2019, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaungo

injectors.

Injectors seem expensive. I'm not sure I would do them prophylactically.

lens · 03-27-2019, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Injectors seem expensive. I'm not sure I would do them prophylactically.

I mean our injectors aren't too expensive, I believe if you get the bosch ones, they're around 50$ for one. If you're going to remove the valve cover, you should do the injectors at the same time as its easy access, or else if it ever fails on you later, its a couple hours job and a new valve cover gasket to put new ones in.

Polo08816 · 03-27-2019, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaungo

I mean our injectors aren't too expensive, I believe if you get the bosch ones, they're around 50$ for one. If you're going to remove the valve cover, you should do the injectors at the same time as its easy access, or else if it ever fails on you later, its a couple hours job and a new valve cover gasket to put new ones in.

I think they are about $75/injector or approximately $500 in parts for the job.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-13647639994kt

Also, ISTA doesn't indicate that you need to remove the valve cover to change them...

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...lines/ITkr1aNI

lens · 03-27-2019, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

I think they are about $75/injector or approximately $500 in parts for the job.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-13647639994kt

Also, ISTA doesn't indicate that you need to remove the valve cover to change them...

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...lines/ITkr1aNI

Oh well that's a surprise.

Polo08816 · 03-28-2019, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

I think they are about $75/injector or approximately $500 in parts for the job.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-13647639994kt

Also, ISTA doesn't indicate that you need to remove the valve cover to change them...

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...lines/ITkr1aNI

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaungo

Oh well that's a surprise.

So I was just wondering if other's people's experience, does removing the valve cover make the job substantially easier? This goes to why I really like two have 2 sources of information (ISTA workshop manual and another Youtube video or forum DIY post) when I'm doing a procedure that I'm not familiar with.

lens · 03-28-2019, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

So I was just wondering if other's people's experience, does removing the valve cover make the job substantially easier? This goes to why I really like two have 2 sources of information (ISTA workshop manual and another Youtube video or forum DIY post) when I'm doing a procedure that I'm not familiar with.

From what I heard, it makes the job much easier where you don't have to swear. I always assumed you needed to remove valve cover to get to the injectors.

03-21-2019, 06:27 PM	#1
neonnblack First Lieutenant 139 Rep 302 Posts Drives: 335i 6MT/e46 330xi Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reno, NV iTrader: (0)	Valve cover gasket Just trying to gather opinions on this...i need to do my valve cover gasket soon and was pondering buying an entire new valve cover also, the Hamburg or genuine. Refreshing the cover itself and getting a fresh pcv seems kinda nice. I also don't want to pull the old one to find its cracked and need one anyways. Thoughts?
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03-21-2019, 06:45 PM	#2
neonnblack First Lieutenant 139 Rep 302 Posts Drives: 335i 6MT/e46 330xi Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reno, NV iTrader: (0)	Some more information. 72k miles on original, I'm assuming. Im FBO with tune and will continue running that way.
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03-21-2019, 08:45 PM	#3
Orion4 Lieutenant Colonel 478 Rep 1,568 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Sport Line Sedan Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, FL iTrader: (0)	Probably a good time to replace the cover and PVC- especially since you are FBO. I'm stock at 106K and just had to replace mine as the PVC had finally failed,
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03-23-2019, 09:27 AM	#4
John in VA Colonel 983 Rep 2,193 Posts Drives: 2015 228i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Leesburg, VA iTrader: (6)	Our 2013 with 45K miles had a leak due to a warped cover, apparently. Just replaced yesterday with some warranty help. __________________ ____________________________________________ 2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
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03-24-2019, 11:50 PM	#5
IraHayes First Lieutenant 154 Rep 387 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Since you are going to go through the hassle of removing the cover, just replace it, one and done. I know for myself that I would be extremely irritated if I replaced the valve cover gasket, and then five or 10,000 miles down the road the PCV failed, or the valve cover cracked and I had to do the job all over again. I would go genuine. By the way, where are you buying the parts from?
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03-26-2019, 01:06 PM	#10
neonnblack First Lieutenant 139 Rep 302 Posts Drives: 335i 6MT/e46 330xi Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reno, NV iTrader: (0)	I think it was ecs had a hamburg brand cover for 250. I'm willing to buy the oem but if the cheaper option is just as good, I'll use that. Never heard of the brand before this.
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03-26-2019, 01:12 PM	#11
Polo08816 Brigadier General 1606 Rep 3,943 Posts Drives: 2014 335i M Sport Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	While you're doing the valve cover and valve cover gasket, are there any other items that are low hanging fruit to do while you're in there?
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