Timing Cover Leaking

kevinlindley1 · 04-24-2015, 05:36 PM

Hey guys, so the upper and lower timing cover on my 2008 BMW Z4M with 67k miles is leaking. Does this mean I need to get a rebuilt/repaired VANOS or do I still have some time? Or is that normal? One of the mechanics I took the car to said that the car should be fine for the foreseeable future, but I had another mechanic look at it and they said it should be replaced soon.

StickMon · 04-24-2015, 05:49 PM

Probably not "normal", but it depends on how badly it's leaking.
If it's leaving a puddle in the undertray, I would want to get it fixed.
If it's just a little moist, I would wait until it gets much worse or you're ready to get some refurb done at 100k miles.
At 100k miles you'll need a timing chain tensioner anyway, and it would be a good time to rebuild the Vanos.

kevinlindley1 · 04-24-2015, 06:12 PM

OK cool, my main concern is that the mechanic that said I need to replace the VANOS seemed to be suggesting that I may blow something if it continues to leak.

blitzkrieg989 · 04-24-2015, 10:29 PM

There is a gasket there that could be the culprit. I had a similar issue last summer. Unfortunately, the fix wasn't cheap but neither is my mechanic I use.

04-24-2015, 05:36 PM	#1
kevinlindley1 New Member 3 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 2008 Z4M Roadster Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	Timing Cover Leaking Hey guys, so the upper and lower timing cover on my 2008 BMW Z4M with 67k miles is leaking. Does this mean I need to get a rebuilt/repaired VANOS or do I still have some time? Or is that normal? One of the mechanics I took the car to said that the car should be fine for the foreseeable future, but I had another mechanic look at it and they said it should be replaced soon.
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04-24-2015, 05:49 PM	#2
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Probably not "normal", but it depends on how badly it's leaking. If it's leaving a puddle in the undertray, I would want to get it fixed. If it's just a little moist, I would wait until it gets much worse or you're ready to get some refurb done at 100k miles. At 100k miles you'll need a timing chain tensioner anyway, and it would be a good time to rebuild the Vanos. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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04-24-2015, 06:12 PM	#3
kevinlindley1 New Member 3 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 2008 Z4M Roadster Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	OK cool, my main concern is that the mechanic that said I need to replace the VANOS seemed to be suggesting that I may blow something if it continues to leak.
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04-24-2015, 10:29 PM	#4
blitzkrieg989 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 39 Posts Drives: Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (1)	There is a gasket there that could be the culprit. I had a similar issue last summer. Unfortunately, the fix wasn't cheap but neither is my mechanic I use.
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