07 Z4 Oil Leak

RonRock · 01-18-2016, 10:02 AM

My wifes 07 Z4 seems to have a small oil leak. At times she can smell burning oil. So I pulled the engine cover to take a look. There is a small amount of oil puddling up under this device. So I think I am going to replace the valve cover gasket. Any DIY threads to guide me? How does this device remove? Looks pretty straight forward, but I don't want to remove the bolts and have things go flying. What all will I need? I am sure I need a cover gasket, but what else?

Sorry about the photo. I could not figure out how to upload it into my post. So I used the Attach File option.

gas-can · 01-18-2016, 10:09 AM

I'd guess it's the valvetronic motor gasket + valvecover gasket...

It's a simple job. You need a good torque wrench that reads lb inches. Tricky bit can be if any of the valve cover bolts are broken (common). The stubs may be difficult to remove, depending on location. Also, don't drop them in the engine!

I also highly recommend changing the eccentric shaft sensor gasket while you have the cover open. That gasket is ~$6, while that sensor is >$300.

There are several diys on this. Do a google search for the n52 valvecover diy.

-gc

dc_wright · 01-19-2016, 04:58 PM

Valve cover gasket and valvetronic motor gasket for certain. Here's a good DIY for the job. It's on an X3, but once he gets past all the stuff you have to move to get to things on the X3 the job is exactly the same. The bolts that hold the valve cover in place are torque to yield type so they can't be reused. You need to buy both a gasket kit and the bolt kit

RonRock · 01-19-2016, 06:44 PM

Thanks guys.

So where is the "best" place to buy the gasket and bolts? I am not very impressed with the local dealer, and have seen several references to a couple different online dealers. So do the forum DIY'ers use local or online parts?

StickMon · 01-19-2016, 07:25 PM

On-line.
There's at least a few:
ecstuning
getbmwparts
thebmwminipartstore

Get the part numbers from the diagrams on realoem, then shop and compare.

3002 tii · 01-22-2016, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonRock

Thanks guys.

So where is the "best" place to buy the gasket and bolts? I am not very impressed with the local dealer, and have seen several references to a couple different online dealers. So do the forum DIY'ers use local or online parts?

I have both valvetronic and eccentric shaft sensor gaskets for sale. They're both new and I'll let them go cheap. PM me.

dc_wright · 01-22-2016, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonRock

Thanks guys.

So where is the "best" place to buy the gasket and bolts? I am not very impressed with the local dealer, and have seen several references to a couple different online dealers. So do the forum DIY'ers use local or online parts?

Usually anything in the $10 or so range I get from the dealer, just simply because the shipping cost from the online sellers usually pushes the total cost higher than the dealer cost, particularly if they give you the 10% BMWCCA member discount. Your signature indicates you're in Iowa so ECS Tuning (located in Ohio) is the closest to you geographically so you're shipping cost should be lowest and ship time shortest.

RonRock · 02-02-2016, 08:22 AM

Received and installed the Valvetronic gasket from 3002 tii. Appreciate the deal on the gaskets. I could see where oil had been leaking from the valvetronic gasket and puddling up in the valve cover. I'm going to have her run it with the new valvetronic gasket for a while and keep an eye on it for leaks. Hopefully this was the only issue. If not I'll go to the valve cover gasket.

Cheers

m3griff · 02-06-2016, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonRock

Received and installed the Valvetronic gasket from 3002 tii. Appreciate the deal on the gaskets. I could see where oil had been leaking from the valvetronic gasket and puddling up in the valve cover. I'm going to have her run it with the new valvetronic gasket for a while and keep an eye on it for leaks. Hopefully this was the only issue. If not I'll go to the valve cover gasket.

Cheers

Glad that worked. I think you can expect the valve cover to leak eventually - more a question of when, not if. When that happens, be sure to buy the right gasket and bolts. I think 2007 was when BMW went from Al cover and Al bolts to a composite (aka plastic) valve cover.

RonRock · 02-06-2016, 11:25 AM

Yes it is a composite cover. I'd have gone ahead and done the valve cover gasket at the same time, but don't want to have to deal with breaking aluminum bolts if I don't have too.

WickedNy · 02-06-2016, 12:24 PM

And I think they changed from aluminum VoLTE to steel ones for the 07-08 models

jeebus87 · 02-07-2016, 07:49 PM

Yep. Just did my VC/valvetronic/eccentric shaft sensor gaskets today... mine is an 07 mfg date 12/06 and it has the composite cover with steel bolts. Didn't purchase replacement bolts because of this. The change occurred on models manufactured after 10/06 IIRC.

01-18-2016, 10:02 AM	#1
RonRock New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Iowa iTrader: (1)	07 Z4 Oil Leak My wifes 07 Z4 seems to have a small oil leak. At times she can smell burning oil. So I pulled the engine cover to take a look. There is a small amount of oil puddling up under this device. So I think I am going to replace the valve cover gasket. Any DIY threads to guide me? How does this device remove? Looks pretty straight forward, but I don't want to remove the bolts and have things go flying. What all will I need? I am sure I need a cover gasket, but what else? Sorry about the photo. I could not figure out how to upload it into my post. So I used the Attach File option. Attached Images
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01-18-2016, 10:09 AM	#2
gas-can Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2006 3.0i Roadster Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I'd guess it's the valvetronic motor gasket + valvecover gasket... It's a simple job. You need a good torque wrench that reads lb inches. Tricky bit can be if any of the valve cover bolts are broken (common). The stubs may be difficult to remove, depending on location. Also, don't drop them in the engine! I also highly recommend changing the eccentric shaft sensor gasket while you have the cover open. That gasket is ~$6, while that sensor is >$300. There are several diys on this. Do a google search for the n52 valvecover diy. -gc
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01-19-2016, 04:58 PM	#3
dc_wright Captain 249 Rep 758 Posts Drives: 2006 Z43.0si Roadster Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	Valve cover gasket and valvetronic motor gasket for certain. Here's a good DIY for the job. It's on an X3, but once he gets past all the stuff you have to move to get to things on the X3 the job is exactly the same. The bolts that hold the valve cover in place are torque to yield type so they can't be reused. You need to buy both a gasket kit and the bolt kit __________________ Top Down 365
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01-19-2016, 06:44 PM	#4
RonRock New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Iowa iTrader: (1)	Thanks guys. So where is the "best" place to buy the gasket and bolts? I am not very impressed with the local dealer, and have seen several references to a couple different online dealers. So do the forum DIY'ers use local or online parts?
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01-19-2016, 07:25 PM	#5
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	On-line. There's at least a few: ecstuning getbmwparts thebmwminipartstore Get the part numbers from the diagrams on realoem, then shop and compare. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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02-02-2016, 08:22 AM	#8
RonRock New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Iowa iTrader: (1)	Received and installed the Valvetronic gasket from 3002 tii. Appreciate the deal on the gaskets. I could see where oil had been leaking from the valvetronic gasket and puddling up in the valve cover. I'm going to have her run it with the new valvetronic gasket for a while and keep an eye on it for leaks. Hopefully this was the only issue. If not I'll go to the valve cover gasket. Cheers
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02-06-2016, 11:25 AM	#10
RonRock New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Iowa iTrader: (1)	Yes it is a composite cover. I'd have gone ahead and done the valve cover gasket at the same time, but don't want to have to deal with breaking aluminum bolts if I don't have too.
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02-06-2016, 12:24 PM	#11
WickedNy Get Some 225 Rep 759 Posts Drives: 07 Z4 3.0si Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island iTrader: (1) Garage List 07 z4 3.0si [0.00]	And I think they changed from aluminum VoLTE to steel ones for the 07-08 models
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02-07-2016, 07:49 PM	#12
jeebus87 Second Lieutenant 32 Rep 292 Posts Drives: '11 atacama yellow Z4 35i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (4)	Yep. Just did my VC/valvetronic/eccentric shaft sensor gaskets today... mine is an 07 mfg date 12/06 and it has the composite cover with steel bolts. Didn't purchase replacement bolts because of this. The change occurred on models manufactured after 10/06 IIRC.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

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