Replacing a valvetronic motor gasket.
Discussion
After my waterpump debacle and subsequent replacement on my N52, im slowly starting to come around to gradually sorting things out on the car. I toyed with getting shot of it afterwards but used car prices are still nuts.
The one thing thats ongoing is an oil leak coming from the valvetronic motor gasket and im going through more oil than id like.
Ive got a rough idea of the procedure through youtube videos but wondered if its an ok job to do with no bmw diagnostic software ( as you have to get the motor to relearn its position)
Id ideally ask a specialist to do it but im struggling to justify it after forking out a considerable amount for the waterpump.
However I understand that if you stuff it up, you can cause damage to the valvetronic gears which is an expensive job to rectify…
The one thing thats ongoing is an oil leak coming from the valvetronic motor gasket and im going through more oil than id like.
Ive got a rough idea of the procedure through youtube videos but wondered if its an ok job to do with no bmw diagnostic software ( as you have to get the motor to relearn its position)
Id ideally ask a specialist to do it but im struggling to justify it after forking out a considerable amount for the waterpump.
However I understand that if you stuff it up, you can cause damage to the valvetronic gears which is an expensive job to rectify…
Edited by E82_125i on Wednesday 21st June 21:22
Courtathor said:
I've removed it twice with no issues. The videos on YouTube are fine. When you go to reinstall it, just reinsert, wind the motor until it bottoms out on the cylinder head and do up the bolts. Cycle ignition twice, and start.
This. It’s dead easy to change. Be careful tightening the bolts for f the new one because it’s easy to strip the threads in the cover (a garage did it to a friends car).
You may as well do the rocker cover gasket whilst there.
I did this job the other month on my E86 Coupe and like you looked at some videos online.
I took my time and all was fine. The valvetronic motor is very easy, nothing to worry about.
Remember that bolts holding the rocker cover down are single use so factor these in when buying the parts. I got everything from Autodoc and it cost me around £35 all in.
I did this job the other month on my E86 Coupe and like you looked at some videos online.
I took my time and all was fine. The valvetronic motor is very easy, nothing to worry about.
Remember that bolts holding the rocker cover down are single use so factor these in when buying the parts. I got everything from Autodoc and it cost me around £35 all in.
curvature said:
You may as well do the rocker cover gasket whilst there.
I did this job the other month on my E86 Coupe and like you looked at some videos online.
I took my time and all was fine. The valvetronic motor is very easy, nothing to worry about.
Remember that bolts holding the rocker cover down are single use so factor these in when buying the parts. I got everything from Autodoc and it cost me around £35 all in.
They’re only single use on the magnesium covers. The black tops (plastic cover) bolts can be reused.I did this job the other month on my E86 Coupe and like you looked at some videos online.
I took my time and all was fine. The valvetronic motor is very easy, nothing to worry about.
Remember that bolts holding the rocker cover down are single use so factor these in when buying the parts. I got everything from Autodoc and it cost me around £35 all in.
Just out of interest on these. Would a leaking valvetronic gasket be enough to make the oil drop at quite a rate. I have no other oil leaks and topped up a quart early last week and its already dropped one notch from max.
I use my car all week with town driving and had a few longer stints over the weekend.
Ive not seen the oil drop at that rate before which is why im a tad anxious.
I use my car all week with town driving and had a few longer stints over the weekend.
Ive not seen the oil drop at that rate before which is why im a tad anxious.
E82_125i said:
Just out of interest on these. Would a leaking valvetronic gasket be enough to make the oil drop at quite a rate. I have no other oil leaks and topped up a quart early last week and its already dropped one notch from max.
I use my car all week with town driving and had a few longer stints over the weekend.
Ive not seen the oil drop at that rate before which is why im a tad anxious.
That’s quite a loss; if it was the valvetronic gasket leaking that much it’d be visible as it collects in the grooves / gaps above plugs 3 and 4.I use my car all week with town driving and had a few longer stints over the weekend.
Ive not seen the oil drop at that rate before which is why im a tad anxious.
How many miles have you done since it was topped up?
Have you checked things like the oil cooler / filter housing gaskets? They’re a common leak as well.
Court_S said:
That’s quite a loss; if it was the valvetronic gasket leaking that much it’d be visible as it collects in the grooves / gaps above plugs 3 and 4.
How many miles have you done since it was topped up?
Have you checked things like the oil cooler / filter housing gaskets? They’re a common leak as well.
That's right, its currently pooling between 3 & 4. Im not sure exactly on how many miles but I usually do around 20 - 30 miles a day so I reckon about 120-150 miles in total. How many miles have you done since it was topped up?
Have you checked things like the oil cooler / filter housing gaskets? They’re a common leak as well.
Oil cooler and filter gaskets appear to be dry as a bone. Im partly worried do to a scare after I had to get my water pump replaced ( You might have seen on this forum) So automatically my worries are going straight to head gasket even though ive had no coolant loss and no milky residue on the oil cap or coolant fluid.
E82_125i said:
That's right, its currently pooling between 3 & 4. Im not sure exactly on how many miles but I usually do around 20 - 30 miles a day so I reckon about 120-150 miles in total.
Oil cooler and filter gaskets appear to be dry as a bone. Im partly worried do to a scare after I had to get my water pump replaced ( You might have seen on this forum) So automatically my worries are going straight to head gasket even though ive had no coolant loss and no milky residue on the oil cap or coolant fluid.
If it’s dropped by one notch, that’s about 250ml of oil which is quite a lot for 150 miles. That would be a big pool around cylinders 3 and 4. It’s either burning a bit, or there’s another leak. Is the sump gasket dry?Oil cooler and filter gaskets appear to be dry as a bone. Im partly worried do to a scare after I had to get my water pump replaced ( You might have seen on this forum) So automatically my worries are going straight to head gasket even though ive had no coolant loss and no milky residue on the oil cap or coolant fluid.
Yes not ideal. Just a bit concerned that some damage has been done when the water pump died on me (it didnt reach red coolant warning, i also pulled over straight away)
Sump gasket was replaced some time ago, the only oil leak im aware of is the valvetronic one and another seeping through the Eccentric shaft sensor gasket. Its always consumed a bit on the high side but this is looking a bit excessive. Its just passed its MOT today with thankfully no advisories and im seriously considering getting rid of asap!
Sump gasket was replaced some time ago, the only oil leak im aware of is the valvetronic one and another seeping through the Eccentric shaft sensor gasket. Its always consumed a bit on the high side but this is looking a bit excessive. Its just passed its MOT today with thankfully no advisories and im seriously considering getting rid of asap!
Not confirmed if the pcv is ok or not but i do not have the usual symptoms. No smoke and no excessive vacuum on the oil cap.
Only other thing id say worth mentioning is a slightly lumpy but steady idle.
Ive kept a very close eye on oil and coolant condition and all seems ok i think.
Unfortunately anything oil consumption related on this car puts me on edge, actually anything slightly suspect does but it probably doesn’t help when you start reading on forums etc about high oil consumption.
Only other thing id say worth mentioning is a slightly lumpy but steady idle.
Ive kept a very close eye on oil and coolant condition and all seems ok i think.
Unfortunately anything oil consumption related on this car puts me on edge, actually anything slightly suspect does but it probably doesn’t help when you start reading on forums etc about high oil consumption.
Its been a while but im looking into doing this job myself based on it being straightforward procedure.
However i understand it is advisable to disconnect the battery for this job. I am reluctant to do so as i previously had my FRM module crash after a battery replacement and had to have it reflashed (apparently a known problem on these cars?)
So im wondering if disconnecting the battery to do such a job is necessary as i want to avoid the module crashing again.
However i understand it is advisable to disconnect the battery for this job. I am reluctant to do so as i previously had my FRM module crash after a battery replacement and had to have it reflashed (apparently a known problem on these cars?)
So im wondering if disconnecting the battery to do such a job is necessary as i want to avoid the module crashing again.
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