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      01-26-2015, 06:29 AM   #1
darknetone
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Am I warped (Valve Cover)

So I was getting ready to to a VCG replacement (along with some other stuff) and I noticed this (see picture). Now before I open her up I wonder, do I need a new valve cover? Is mine warped or do they all look like this. From what I could see doing a picture search I do see this a lot. So my question to this group is this, am I warped? What does yours like?

Thanks for any and all responses/comments!
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      01-26-2015, 10:13 AM   #2
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Anyone??
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      01-26-2015, 10:23 AM   #3
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Looks normal to me. Keep in mind that the plastics on these car hardly ever warp but will develop cracks under high stress and heat.

When replacing, just take your time to evenly torque the bolts as if you were doing a wheel. If you need more information, e46 use the same m54 motor. The only difference is that we have an aluminum heat shield by the exhaust manifold which can be slightly bent in order to access one of the valve cover bolts.

Most packages come with the valve cover gasket, spark plug wells, and half moons (vanos). Make sure you get the valve cover bolt gaskets as well. Part numbers are the same as e46 m54. You can choose to use RTV on the half moons, but I chose not too. I believe the tsb and other articles say you can, but a General rule of thumb is that you never use a combination of a gasket and rtv.

These gaskets typically fail around 60-80k. Usually it's around a half moon, above the echaust manifold, or the spark plug well. If you ever notice a light smoke coming on the passenger side followed by a burning smell, it's typically oil dripping onto the exhaust manifold heat shield. This is the typical indicator since the cam head is slanted towards the passenger side. If you see oil in the spark plug housing, it's clear you should change it asap. If you're experiencing none of these symptoms, I'd leave it off until it starts becoming more apparent.
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      01-26-2015, 10:26 AM   #4
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Disregard the last statement. Clearly you can see oily residue on the bolt pictured. Time to change it out!
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      01-26-2015, 11:32 AM   #5
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Never mind the oil leak, I was planning on a VCG as I do have leakage issues. However, I really question how the valve cover looks. Makes me wonder if it is warped, it does not look as if it seats all the way. However looks can be deceiving. So wanted top know of if this gap around the curved edge looks normal, if so then I wont but a new valve cover. Any one face a picture of their? or further comment?
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      01-26-2015, 02:24 PM   #6
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Appears abnormal to me.

About a year ago I replaced a vc seal on a recently acquired M54 equipped E39. Leak continued. Finally determined vc was split. The new replacement I obtained from BMW actually was not flat. Torqued down OK and hasn't leaked though.
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      01-26-2015, 02:30 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekSelmanRacing View Post
Appears abnormal to me.

About a year ago I replaced a vc seal on a recently acquired M54 equipped E39. Leak continued. Finally determined vc was split. The new replacement I obtained from BMW actually was not flat. Torqued down OK and hasn't leaked though.
Thats kinda what I was thinking... I was hoping some one would post a pict of theirs...

I may just go on a buy a new VC $$, just to be sure...
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      04-14-2015, 06:52 AM   #8
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I ended up with a new VC, just in case. and I did a Dr. VANOS replacement while thinks were apart.
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      04-14-2015, 10:03 AM   #9
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Does the new VC look the same (with a slight gap as pictured above)?
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      04-14-2015, 11:31 AM   #10
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The gap is much less pronounced.
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      05-28-2015, 05:58 AM   #11
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Yes the gap was a smaller by a fair margin. The VC was not horribly expensive, and I needed to be sure...
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