New valve cover gasket leak

[TF07Z430i]

Hey all. So last weekend I replaced my VCG. Went very well, or so I thought. I drove it for the first time today and it wasn’t quite running as smooth as it should. So digging around I found oil in the far two spark plug holes. The gasket over them must have come out when I was putting on the valve cover. So my questions are..

Should the gaskets be fine to reuse?
Can I use some RTV to hold those gaskets around the spark plugs in place?

It’s frustrating because there is no way to know those three gaskets are seated correctly after you put the cover on. I don’t want to do this a third time!

[07ImolaRot]

what brand gasket did you use? OE seals best !

[gkgsvensson]

Get rid of all aftermarket and put genuine oem bmw stuff in there. Including spark tube gaskets. Put black RTV at the half moon corners and the vanos unit, torque to 10 nm and you’re done

[maupineda]

I used zero rtv with genuine gaskets and no leaks.

I used elring and leaked within 4 months

[Clearancediver]

As stated in the previous post…

RTV is required in the half moons and Vanos joint…. as per the TIS

Gaskets are inexpensive and using new gasket is a given. Doesn’t have to be OEM ..BUT quality replacement is advised (ie.. not the cheapest).

I did mine 3 times in a row due to being anal about the issue and did reuse the main gasket on the 2nd before using a new gasket on the final go around. Basically I wasn’t sure I did it right so did it again until it was right. 6 years later still no leaks.

[maupineda]

I know, I have TIS, but I still chose not to, and I have zero leak, not even zippage. I did use some RTC at the from where the VANOS joins the head, but since the moons wrap around, if they are new, they should not leak

[joeyTbagz]

Does anyone have photos of where they put RTV? I replaced my valve cover gasket and noticed yesterday it was Smoking. I didn’t replace the cover like others have recommended on the web.