S65 Valve Cover Replacement, HydroDip, Repaint?

Anyone have any idea what to do with the OEM valve covers on the S65?

When I open the valve cover from the oil cap, I notice the valve cover is flaking off slightly.

My gaskets are sweating and I'm thinking of replacing them soon.

While the covers are off, is there anything I can do to restore them? Aside from replacing the gaskets?

Has anyone played with the idea of hydrodipping them? Is the finish durable and will it affect anything on the inside of the valve cover?

Any pictures or advice would be great! Thanks!

gordon@ wrote

Anyone have any idea what to do with the OEM valve covers on the S65?

When I open the valve cover from the oil cap, I notice the valve cover is flaking off slightly.

My gaskets are sweating and I'm thinking of replacing them soon.

While the covers are off, is there anything I can do to restore them? Aside from replacing the gaskets?

Has anyone played with the idea of hydrodipping them? Is the finish durable and will it affect anything on the inside of the valve cover?

Any pictures or advice would be great! Thanks!

I powder coated mine because of the same reason!
It stopped the constant leaks... paint was cracked up and it was leaking around gaskets through paint cracks... looks better now



Want more pics or advice just pm me your number..

Cbozz wrote

I powder coated mine because of the same reason!
It stopped the constant leaks... paint was cracked up and it was leaking around gaskets through paint cracks... looks better now



Want more pics or advice just pm me your number..

Looks great, but your strut bars are on upside down. Pm'd you.

I did mine in wrinkel black

gordon@ wrote

Looks great, but your strut bars are on upside down. Pm'd you.

cant's be... I never touched them...

Cbozz wrote

cant's be... I never touched them...

yeah mine were like that in the photo and I checked 3 other M3s, and it was upside down for sure.

Cbozz wrote

cant's be... I never touched them...

You may not have, but somebody put them on upside down.

Covers look good!

deansbimmer wrote

You may not have, but somebody put them on upside down.

Covers look good!

maybe when they were changing my valve covers they took them off for some reason... does that even matter?? I can change them back no problem

deansbimmer wrote

You may not have, but somebody put them on upside down.

Covers look good!

deansbimmer so do you recommend powder coating the valve covers also? even on the inside? Will the powder coat hold up and not come out and contaminate with the engine oil?

gordon@ wrote

deansbimmer so do you recommend powder coating the valve covers also? even on the inside? Will the powder coat hold up and not come out and contaminate with the engine oil?

I don't suggest attempting to coat the inside. It's too difficult to prepare the magnesium for good adhesion, and I don't see coating the inside as being successful long term even if you were able to get the surface perfect. The original coating is a two part high temp ceramic coating so that would be my first choice (I use Cerakote), although PC works well when well prepped. The factory didn't fully coat the inside. There is overspray inside, which is what flakes off first.

I had a buddy hydro dip his intake on an LS1. It held up very well over the few years I was around.


And no, you don't coat the inside

deansbimmer wrote

I don't suggest attempting to coat the inside. It's too difficult to prepare the magnesium for good adhesion, and I don't see coating the inside as being successful long term even if you were able to get the surface perfect. The original coating is a two part high temp ceramic coating so that would be my first choice (I use Cerakote), although PC works well when well prepped. The factory didn't fully coat the inside. There is overspray inside, which is what flakes off first.

Yeah I know someone here in Canada that does a very good Cerakote, if you say that works then I will probably take my valve covers to the guy.
I assume you'll need to sandblast the inside and outside of the valve cover then cerakote it completely both inside and outside?

gordon@ wrote

Yeah I know someone here in Canada that does a very good Cerakote, if you say that works then I will probably take my valve covers to the guy.
I assume you'll need to sandblast the inside and outside of the valve cover then cerakote it completely both inside and outside?

Don't coat the inside. You won't likely be able to prep it well enough to get it to adhere properly long term.

Has anyone done there's in red or other brighter colours ? cos the Audi's RS5's V8 is in red , looks so good .

Check the ess supercharger thread. Different intake, but all kinds of colors

So, data point, a new set of valvecovers from BMW comes dressed with gaskets, vent valves and new bolts (the ones with seals on them you should technically replace each time the cover is off) for ~$530 per bank depending on the vendor. Something to think about. Does not come with spark plug tubes, but that's about $100 in parts for each side you'd probably want to replace anyway when refinishing, plus you get a brand new factory finish. I just bought a set because mine are bubbling and I have a couple very minor leaks that I want to knock out before they turn into actual leaks during my next winter down period

Used covers go for decent enough money (had a few $300-500ish quotes for a pair depending on condition iirc?) for people wanting to do a refresh themselves, so not the worst option financially

deansbimmer wrote

Don't coat the inside. You won't likely be able to prep it well enough to get it to adhere properly long term.

Revisiting this thread, I'm sandblasting and coating mine tomorrow. Is it okay that I sand blast the under parts and leave them as is?

I would soda blast them. If any particles aren't removed, they just dissolved. I've gone to soda blasting for almost everything now. Exhaust valve carbon removal, engine block and head cleaning, etc.

My gasket on the passenger side is weeping. Given I have all winter to fix it, I am considering re-finishing them. Does anyone know the approximate cost to have the valve covers properly finished?

And I would really love to have them finished in a deep glossy red...

Just got my valve covers back.

They were first glass bead blasted. Cleansed in brake cleaner and scrubbed out, then baked for three hours. Later they were powder coated with gloss black epoxy. They look incredible. The coating appears to be really well bonded. Next I'm going to spray the tops with wrinkle blue VHT paint.

that is purdy..

GORDON.M3 wrote

that is purdy..

I ALMOST left the tops gloss black, but I had already bought the wrinkle blue paint and already started work on my plenum so I want it to match and think it will stand out more.

I love how beautiful is it underneath and I feel like the finish will last another 60K miles after coating. It's a shame I won't see it.