Valve shims w/ local expert Kevin

blender · 08-18-2012, 07:55 PM

Today Kevin ("KAIV" on the M3 forums of bimmerpost) did valve check & shim adjustments on my '06 Z4MR, in my garage, in about 90 minutes, successful and painless. Car is just over 40K miles. I did the VANOS filter myself the day before.

Six shims needed to be replaced. I got to watch & learn. I used the gasket kit from Turner Motorsports to replace the spark plug gaskets, VCG, etc.

Attachment 736962

Not a terribly complicated procedure; you just need to be meticulous. Kevin was a real pro who clearly knows what he's doing. He works as a mobile service, doing anything up to a full Inspection II. If you're in SoCal, I hightly recommend you contact him as an alternative to a full shop or the Stealership.

StickMon · 08-18-2012, 11:49 PM

The gasket set from Turner is twice the price of the one I got from ECS.
Does anyone know if Tischer has a similar set?
I'm not fond of ECS's shipping charges, or the fact that they folded the valve cover gasket in the shipping container.

StickMon · 08-19-2012, 01:41 AM

Started looking up the individual parts from Tischer and just with the valve cover and the spark plug gaskets it was nearly $100.
ECS seems like a good deal, even with shipping.

inTgr8r · 08-19-2012, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickMon

Started looking up the individual parts from Tischer and just with the valve cover and the spark plug gaskets it was nearly $100.
ECS seems like a good deal, even with shipping.

instead of looking up individual parts, look in the club section. They have lots of package deals there.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...egoryID=123145

the kit is $95 with Tischer

Pheonix · 08-19-2012, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickMon

The gasket set from Turner is twice the price of the one I got from ECS.
Does anyone know if Tischer has a similar set?
I'm not fond of ECS's shipping charges, or the fact that they folded the valve cover gasket in the shipping container.

I am with you on the fact that they fold the gasket. It was such a pia to re-install valve cover. It was one of the most difficult part of the job (until we used small amount of high temperature RTV at a few locations to the gasket in place)
ECS had the best price when I bought mine.

blender · 08-19-2012, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickMon

The gasket set from Turner is twice the price of the one I got from ECS.
Does anyone know if Tischer has a similar set?
I'm not fond of ECS's shipping charges, or the fact that they folded the valve cover gasket...

Yes, that's why I went with TMS... got the gasket kit and two vanos filter kits for < $200... and I wanted to support TMS since they've helped me out in the past, and I've had previous bad luck with an ECS kit. That said, no vendor is perfect... caveat emptor, etc.

kennyfrc · 08-19-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rclem05

Today Kevin ("KAIV" on the M3 forums of bimmerpost) did valve check & shim adjustments on my '06 Z4MR, in my garage, in about 90 minutes, successful and painless. Car is just over 40K miles. I did the VANOS filter myself the day before.

Six shims needed to be replaced. I got to watch & learn. I used the gasket kit from Turner Motorsports to replace the spark plug gaskets, VCG, etc.

Attachment 736962

Not a terribly complicated procedure; you just need to be meticulous. Kevin was a real pro who clearly knows what he's doing. He works as a mobile service, doing anything up to a full Inspection II. If you're in SoCal, I hightly recommend you contact him as an alternative to a full shop or the Stealership.

For those of you who have DIY the valve job,

How are you rotating the engine over?

Wrench on the cam?

Special tool on the crank?

inTgr8r · 08-19-2012, 03:16 PM

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showpost...5&postcount=55

kaiv · 08-20-2012, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the feedback, Rob!

And thanks for the ride. I might have to go with KW CS after all!

kaiv · 08-20-2012, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyfrc

For those of you who have DIY the valve job,

How are you rotating the engine over?

Wrench on the cam?

Special tool on the crank?

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showpost...5&postcount=55

I personally remove the front TOP plastic cover and slide the radiator fan up and out. It's only held by one screw and one expansion rivet. No need to go underneath the car. No special tool, just a regular 32mm socket and a ratchet. Of course make sure the car is in neutral to rotate the engine

SD ///M4 · 09-11-2012, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiv

Thanks for the feedback, Rob!

And thanks for the ride. I might have to go with KW CS after all!

I'm sending you a PM. I need a valve adjustment/Inspection I on my 2006 Z4MR and I'm also located in San Diego.

BruceJ · 09-11-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyfrc

For those of you who have DIY the valve job,

How are you rotating the engine over?

Wrench on the cam?

Special tool on the crank?

Push the car back and forth or 32mm socket on the crank - PITA to get on but it works. A short socket or grinding it down would ease the clearance

StickMon · 09-11-2012, 11:21 PM

Like kaiv said. The fan comes right out and leaves you plenty of room for a standard ratchet and standard 32mm socket on the crank pulley.

Mirko · 09-12-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyfrc

For those of you who have DIY the valve job,

How are you rotating the engine over?

Wrench on the cam?

Special tool on the crank?

32mm socket, inside my garage I have a hole in the floor that provides access between the cellar and the garage. Dad in the cellar cranking the engine via socket wrench while I was above watching for cam shaft position.

You could add an extension to the socket wrench but this way was easier for us. However, if you do the extension you might have a challenge turning the wrench intially to get the handle to the top, after that not an issue.

thekurgan · 09-12-2012, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyfrc

For those of you who have DIY the valve job,

How are you rotating the engine over?

Wrench on the cam?

Special tool on the crank?

I put it in 4th and rolled the bitch

nooooorb · 04-15-2013, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiv

I personally remove the front TOP plastic cover and slide the radiator fan up and out. It's only held by one screw and one expansion rivet. No need to go underneath the car. No special tool, just a regular 32mm socket and a ratchet. Of course make sure the car is in neutral to rotate the engine

Kevin did the valve adjustment on my Z4 ///M last weekend. I couldn't be any happier with someone taking my money from me. He was on time and had everything ready to go once he arrived at my house. He was very professional and very meticulous. I got to watch and learn the process (although I think I'll still be calling him on the next Inspection). I had him adjust the valves, replace the spark plugs, and gaskets.

Overall score: 10/10.

After watching a master do the adjustment, I now wonder how the dealerships or even some independent shops charge the kind of money for what is essentially a 2-hour job.

XMetal · 04-15-2013, 10:52 AM

Agreed...Plus the fact that you get to watch and knowing the adjustment is actually being done and done properly (I have trust issues with dealers, as you can tell

). You also get the peace of mind that the VANOS hubs are being checked at the same time

As long as Kevin wants to do this, he has the "valve adjusting and inspections job" for my MC

08-18-2012, 07:55 PM	#1
blender Custom User Title 149 Rep 661 Posts Drives: black Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: n iTrader: (0)	Valve shims w/ local expert Kevin Today Kevin ("KAIV" on the M3 forums of bimmerpost) did valve check & shim adjustments on my '06 Z4MR, in my garage, in about 90 minutes, successful and painless. Car is just over 40K miles. I did the VANOS filter myself the day before. Six shims needed to be replaced. I got to watch & learn. I used the gasket kit from Turner Motorsports to replace the spark plug gaskets, VCG, etc. Attachment 736962 Not a terribly complicated procedure; you just need to be meticulous. Kevin was a real pro who clearly knows what he's doing. He works as a mobile service, doing anything up to a full Inspection II. If you're in SoCal, I hightly recommend you contact him as an alternative to a full shop or the Stealership. Last edited by blender; 11-21-2012 at 10:30 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-18-2012, 11:49 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)	The gasket set from Turner is twice the price of the one I got from ECS. Does anyone know if Tischer has a similar set? I'm not fond of ECS's shipping charges, or the fact that they folded the valve cover gasket in the shipping container.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2012, 01:41 AM	#3
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Started looking up the individual parts from Tischer and just with the valve cover and the spark plug gaskets it was nearly $100. ECS seems like a good deal, even with shipping.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2012, 03:16 PM	#8
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2435 Rep 11,669 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	http://www.zpost.com/forums/showpost...5&postcount=55 __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-20-2012, 02:10 PM	#9
kaiv IG: limited.slip 338 Rep 1,927 Posts Drives: E46 M3 in a 325i Touring body! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (31)	Thanks for the feedback, Rob! And thanks for the ride. I might have to go with KW CS after all!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-11-2012, 11:21 PM	#13
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Like kaiv said. The fan comes right out and leaves you plenty of room for a standard ratchet and standard 32mm socket on the crank pulley.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-15-2013, 10:52 AM	#17
XMetal Colonel 1167 Rep 2,882 Posts Drives: Anything Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Z4M Coupe [10.00] 2018 Audi S3 [0.00] 2004 X5 [8.50]	Agreed...Plus the fact that you get to watch and knowing the adjustment is actually being done and done properly (I have trust issues with dealers, as you can tell ). You also get the peace of mind that the VANOS hubs are being checked at the same time As long as Kevin wants to do this, he has the "valve adjusting and inspections job" for my MC
	Appreciate 0 Quote