just bought my first M3 E93 6 Speed need advice

Hello everyone this is my first post in a while, I got my dad his dream car! I need some advice, the car has extensive service history which I will add the carfax below. I got a full PPI as well before purchasing the car and I will link that as well. It has some seeping at the valve cover and I believe the upper timing cover. PPI link. The car was taken to Lang from the previous owner and the one before that for some services. The valve cover gaskets got done there around 9-10k miles ago but they offer a warranty up until 2 years 24k miles so I’m hoping they can fix that issue. Other than that I’m open to hearing you guys out I really don’t know much about this car I mainly got it to put a smile on my dads face and to have something we can share for the rest of our lives. carfax

Congrats on the acquisition

Great place to begin & reference contained in this thread.

Congrats and welcome to the vert club. 🤙🏻

Replacing the valve cover gaskets usually won’t solve that issue long term. The OEM magnesium valve covers will warp over time, and once that happens, the only real true fix is replacement. You can go OEM again, but many owners opt for NRW or MLT Engineering aluminum covers, which will never warp.

As a preventative measure and for peace of mind if the rod bearings haven’t been replaced yet (and you don’t have the receipt proof), I’d highly recommend addressing that as well. They can be a ticking time bomb.

There’s a ton of great information on this forum, so you’re definitely in the right place to research. Enjoy the new M3 with your Dad!

Yorksdsu
If you look at the service records on the car fax it got replaced not too long ago. My main concern is the leaking if you saw on the pics. Cause the valve cover gaskets literally got replaced 10k miles ago

Alex.jarian wrote

Yorksdsu
If you look at the service records on the car fax it got replaced not too long ago. My main concern is the leaking if you saw on the pics. Cause the valve cover gaskets literally got replaced 10k miles ago

Valve covers vs valve cover gaskets. He’s pointing you the right way — replacing the gaskets but keeping the covers kicks the can down the road and not even all that far.

Alex.jarian wrote

If you look at the service records on the car fax it got replaced not too long ago. My main concern is the leaking if you saw on the pics. Cause the valve cover gaskets literally got replaced 10k miles ago

The s65 valve covers are magnesium. The problem is the paint on the valve covers starts to separate/flake off, especially around the gasket channel, from the cover and this is what leads to the leaking/seeping issue.

I highly recommend swapping to the NRW aluminum valve covers which can be powder coated in several different colors. This will virtually eliminate any leaking/seeping issues. BTW, the s85 oem valve covers are aluminum and they do not leak/seep. The s65 aluminum valve covers weigh 1.5x the weight of the magnesium valve covers which isn’t a concern because the oem magnesium valve covers are pretty light.

M3SQRD wrote

The s65 valve covers are magnesium. The problem is the paint on the valve covers starts to separate/flake off, especially around the gasket channel, from the cover and this is what leads to the leaking/seeping issue.

I highly recommend swapping to the NRW aluminum valve covers which can be powder coated in several different colors. This will virtually eliminate any leaking/seeping issues. BTW, the s85 oem valve covers are aluminum and they do not leak/seep. The s65 aluminum valve covers weigh 1.5x the weight of the magnesium valve covers which isn’t a concern because the oem magnesium valve covers are pretty light.

Is the seeping something to be worried about at the moment?

Alex.jarian wrote

Is the seeping something to be worried about at the moment?

Nice car, and son!

Maybe the pictures are bad but it didn't look like much seeping to worry about. Search and you will see what S65 leakage can be like... mine started to leak after opened for vanos cover fix. Like the guys says, replacing gasket only can make it worse. I'd leave it for now and whipe it clean now and then.

Alex.jarian wrote

Is the seeping something to be worried about at the moment?

Not a significant issue initially but it will eventually become more of a concern with time or potentially aggressive track usage. Only fixes are having the oem magnesium valve covers stripped and repainted or switch to aftermarket powder-coated aluminum valve covers.

If you haven’t replaced the oem plastic Vanos spring covers, which become brittle with time and fail, then I’d recommend swapping them with aftermarket bolt-on Vanos spring covers and, at the same time, replace the oem magnesium valve covers with aftermarket aluminum valve covers. I’d use NRW, Carbahn or mporium bolt-on Vanos spring covers and NRW aluminum valve covers. I personally stayed away from BavAuto’s Chinese-made aluminum valve covers.

M3SQRD wrote

Not a significant issue initially but it will eventually become more of a concern with time or potentially aggressive track usage. Only fixes are having the oem magnesium valve covers stripped and repainted or switch to aftermarket powder-coated aluminum valve covers.

If you haven’t replaced the oem plastic Vanos spring covers, which become brittle with time and fail, then I’d recommend swapping them with aftermarket bolt-on Vanos spring covers and, at the same time, replace the oem magnesium valve covers with aftermarket aluminum valve covers. I’d use NRW, Carbahn or mporium bolt-on Vanos spring covers and NRW aluminum valve covers. I personally stayed away from BavAuto’s Chinese-made aluminum valve covers.

Thanks for the reply. VANOS was done 10k miles ago. So other than that I think I should be good then.

Interesting that the PO was knowledgeable enough to bite the bullet on the mporium covers, but didn’t do the nrw covers. Oh well — good sign either way that they ponied up for the better solution there.

kolosy wrote

Interesting that the PO was knowledgeable enough to bite the bullet on the mporium covers, but didn’t do the nrw covers. Oh well — good sign either way that they ponied up for the better solution there.

They could've done Mporium valve covers too. Their 'B' grade are half price. But I think more important is the Vanos Cups, so definitely good decisions by the PO and well looked after car.

Congrats on the purchase and being a good son. Dad must be proud